Is this idiotic design the new trend in small yachts?

carelm, yeah but that was the 60's!

Yeah, I'd have to say it's more likely for someone to get hurt or even worse, with these particular features around a boat. It would be to easy to hit a cross wake from another boat at 20-30knots and getting bounced off the seat. Just a thought, Cheers

Far

I was also about 10 years old so I didn't know any better. My brother and I would also lie down on the bow area and peer over the bow, another bad idea it seems now.

I can see Pascal trying to back hand the computer , it was also an era where you didn't have to legally wear a seatbelt, right... unfortunately humans generally learn from mistakes . Cheers

Far

It looks like there is a area to walk that is lower than the surrounding seating and then a bit of a "pit" to stand it while all the way forward to secure the anchor line or forward lines. As captJ asked- how would anyone ever do anything on a sportfish bow with no rails? Just tell your people they can't go forward while the boat is underway. My boat has a tower- would you complain about that as "unsafe" as well? I tell my folks on board they are not allowed to climb it...

Now, ask your crew when it's blowing 25+knots with a decent swell to go up on the foredeck to secure a line or something that might foul the props...

Cheers

Far

If you want a rail because you charter the boat ... can you have a rail installed?
If the builder sells more boats because they think the foredeck looks better with no rail do you think they will install rails on all of them because you want it?
Not trying to argue but you seem angry because of the design...
Nearly every single time I go out with guests at least one wants to climb the tower. I can count the times they have actually climbed with my thumbs.

On some of the boats you can order them with or without rails. I am afraid, most people believe, the boats look better without.

See example below. (Copyright of the pictures Riva Yachts)

Good point HTM. Sometimes the stupid is the clients fault, not the designers.

Or a 50hz boat that was plugged into 60hz without a transformer!!!!!

Another thing is a lot of these boats in the above examples are usually the 'market' for the first time boat owner, or newish to the market at best. So my guess is they don't really know what they need/want, and don't know what to look for in regards to quality (wallpaper ) etc.

Yes, a S/F looks sexy without the rails, but downunder you would struggle to find a S/F without bow rails. The US would have a market down here if you made the boats more practical... One can only dream

Far

I know of two Hatteras' SF downunder without a bow rail....both members of this forum.....A bow rail is easy enough to have made for a SF.

Libery has a set on, I'm pretty sure Kafue now has a set on or is getting some last I spoke to him.

It's easier enough, but just another thing an owner has to open his wallet up too.

Far

There's a reason that rails were removed from SF awhile ago. They can interfere with your ability to fish. What the excuse is for other types of boat I haven't a clue. Maybe a fear that the shadow will leave tan lines?

The two problems I see is that they encourage passengers to hang around on fore deck in high speeds, which is dangerous and also limiting visibility. The rails also often produce glare from your navigation lights which is not desirable.

Yes my Hatteras now has bow rails. First thing I bought when she arrived was an anchor and plenty of chain, can't believe this is not done in Florida and yes I heard all about the fact no one anchors, but what if you HAVE to?, Then the bow rails. How would these interfere with fishing? If anything the rails allow for more access if I were to "bottom fish" which I don't do. In winter we have dozens of whales heading North and I usually head out with a bunch of friends and family to watch them, so the rails are necessary and I do not do over 8 or 10 knots on my way out and just idle when we find a pod. As for the rails interfering with visibility and reflecting navigation lights.....seriously? From the flybridge they make no impact at all.
If I want to stop passengers going forward while underway, I TELL them, don't need to remove the rails to achieve this.

Never assume what a guest will or wont do aboard.
I give all guests the standard safety brief.

But:

I recently had several guests aboard my 46 SF walk up on the bow while underway.

At first it startled me seeing passengers on the bow while underway, then it shocked me that all of them had a drink and must have shimmyed along the salon with one hand.

If I didn't order em back in the cockpit I bet at least one of them would have ended up on the bow pulpit in the Titanic pose.

I guess the lesson learned is never assume that your untrained gest or passenger will or wont do something.....