It could be said that the
'classic' cruiser/racer yacht reached its zenith over the period from
the 1930s to the early 1960s with
designers such as Alan Buchannan, Laurent Giles, Nicholson, Holman, Uffa Fox, S&S
and their peers. What a shame then that in this modern world their work,
if not their name, is almost forgotten in favour of characterless computer designed production
yachts that all look the same.
Classic yachts have a
unique feel and sea-keeping qualities that provide a comfortable safe
ride, without the slamming of modern flat sectioned, fin keeled yachts,
ideally suited to open water and passage sailing. A number of classic
designs have been produced using GRP and even metal construction and
while this reduces maintenance, the weight ratio is significantly
altered, resulting in totally different handling qualities compared to
their original, traditional timber constructed, counterparts.
Owning an original
classic yacht is mostly confined to enthusiasts where the expense of
professional work can be afforded or the perceived "black arts" and time
consuming maintenance of traditional boats, daunting to many, is not a
chore. A sector of the boat owning world which excludes many yachtsmen
from the pleasure of owning one of these truly classic yacht designs.
Revival Classics can
recreate these classic yachts from the drawing boards of respected
designers of the past, using modern techniques and woodworking methods
to produce low maintenance yachts of similar weight ratio to the
original design, affording the unique feel of their predecessors for the
yachtsman of today.
Wood-epoxy composite boat
building is a tried and tested method of one off construction and lends
itself well to semi-production systems. In a relatively swift build
time, it produces a very strong, abrasion resistant and long-lasting
hull that requires little maintenance and problems with osmosis are
almost unheard of. Degradation through rot, the one major problem that
has always plagued wooden boats, is solved by sealing the timber with epoxy resin .
Timber has one of the highest ratios of stiffness and tensile strength
to weight of any material. By having a timber core, the boats can be
built close to their original design weight, thereby retaining their
sea-keeping and handling properties. They are naturally insulated and
don't suffer from the condensation problems that can plague the interior
of uninsulated solid fibreglass
or metal hulls, so rendering a more comfortable, year round, accommodation space.
To view a few
selected designs Click Here or, if you have a
favourite designer or a particular classic that you would like to own
and would
like to discuss the possibility of building in epoxy strip-plank please Contact
Us Here
