Have yacht designers ever been on a boat?

I think some Yacht Designers have been on a boat. But not many, if any, have worked on a yacht. Same goes with the Yacht Brokers and the Yacht Builders.

So most of the evolution comes from Owners, Captains and Project Managers. But when yachts are built on speculation anything is possible...

Just think of the daily maintenance, like cleaning windows hanging in a harness or like this, balancing with a lifeline...

Yep, you just think the boats are being built without the crew in mind that have to clean them...especially over the sides. Some may have little ledges like "Silver Shalis" pictured above but many have nothing to but your foot on so you have to strap on a full harness and dangle while you clean.

Cleat placement can be critical...

Oh boy, you can say that again.

I'd have to dig up old pictures, but our old boat (Italian builder) was loaded with these gems.

Hope they have some kind of mechanical lock devices on the pistons like a car lift has....

Pascal,

I've downloaded and attached your pics to YF's server. Remember, we don't allow hot-links because the host can replace files or remove them completely, leaving your post without an image... or worse, something less benign inserted in its place.

Thanks!

Carl

Sorry to be a PITA Pascal! I heard rumor that iOS6 makes provisions for attaching images, but I haven't upgraded or bought the i5 yet, so I can't confirm.

I can't stop laughing, Carl. You made my day!
There is no excuse for the shipyard who is capable of building such a big boy but came up with this.

Engine rooms etc.
With few exceptions, my Hatteras being one, the layout in the engine rooms have been very badly thought out. Just doing basic maintenance is a neck breaker. The UNIESSE 48 I had was a perfect example. To get to the outside of either engine was a contortionists job, then to actually do any work whilst there was another deal. Replacing simple things like fan belts on some boats was impossible unless you were docked and the engine was cool.
Eg. Read Capt J's post yesterday where there was no room in the ER for Racor filters on a $2mill boat. How does that pass the QC department? Then there was an OA I had, if you plugged in the shore power to the port side, then the stbd power socket was LIVE with no breaker! except for the one on the pontoon. Lethal.

When I was in Fort Lauderdale getting a survey done on one of my purchases, I met a dwarf (is that a bad word these days?) who worked for the yard. He was always busy because there were so many areas in the boats that needed work done where a normal sized person would never fit.

My bean pole step-son is doing very well. Where I can not reach, he can. I sub him out to other shops. Ah to be young, strong (smart?) and flexible again......

I think I know that guy.

Mexican, with a good sense of humour, popular with his co-workers.

I can relate to this. When I first started on a new 65m HDW yacht as a skinny teenager, I learned a lot about hydraulics the hard way.

The 2 stage sliding davits that launched the tenders amidships had a hydraulic union half way up the hollow boxsection carcass. As the second stage of the ram brought the boat back in, the hoses used to kink at the joint. After a while they started to leak all over the deckheads with oil.

Without taking half the boat apart to fix the problem, there was only one way to get to them. Insert a long, thin tool.... that'll be me then.

Access

How many times have we all been to a boat yard with a captain , crew, brokers and surveyors plus clients and then trying to get on and offostly at the bow with rails angled way out and the only help is some old step ladder. Travel lifts capable of lifting thousands of pounds but no one allowed onboard during the lift.

Mind you jumping on and off the boats 20 years was alot easier

In the last popular magazine, another boat test. Azimut 64 with the same short comings. Can't get on/off the boat. Of course, the author talks about the boat fitting like a glove, he makes no comment how he got on or off.

I've seen two large boats dropped while being lifted (strangely enough both were large azimuts) and I can tell you, I'd rather be on the ground watching rather than being on board during those lifts