Dashew`s latest yacht the incredible FPB97

IMHO, it's one ugly boat.

Form follows function.

Quite a few modern vessels of the same size are uglier than this one.

Excellent idea with all the solar panes: The boat can probably sit for anchor several days without running the generator, and polluting the anchorage with noise and fumes.

Time to update the Ugly Boat thread.

Sorry guys, in the ever subjective world of pretty/ugly/whatever, this is NOT an ugly boat.

Props go out to the Dashew crew (even from a die-hard power boater guy!) for bringing a much needed freshness to the boating community

Thanks for resisting the overused Itialian Motoryacht look/Blob with Bulging Curves/or the hideuos Split Salon Window B.S. that shows up in the name of "style".

+1

Finally somebody with a bit of taste around here...

The Dashews have a proven track record with Windhorse. This new iteration looks good and includes the "shoulda-woulda-couldas" gained from their experiences. I hope that they do well with this model.

"Thanks for resisting the overused Itialian Motoryacht look/Blob with Bulging Curves/or the hideuos Split Salon Window B.S. that shows up in the name of "style"."
YES!

I kind of like it actually. As mentioned earlier, form follows function and Dashew yachts are extremely functional as long distance cruisers. I like the solar panels, slim hull, large greenhouse and the out-riggers. What the Dashew firm has done is to apply the lessons learned from the 64 and 83 and have applied it to the 97.

How New

Isn't this an older project that just never found a buyer?

I really do not see the sense in this boat.
It is like a sailboat with out the advantage of sails. Then it is like a motor yacht with out the advantage of living space.
What would the advantage be for this vessel?

They designed a 115' version of the FPB, but have never said anything about anyone ordering one.

With the 115 and this new 97 design, they seem to be wanting to go for the largest possible boat that an experienced couple + (maybe) captain could handle.

As I understand it, the FPB series are good at long range cruising. They are fairly economical and are fairly good in a variety of sea conditions. I would say that, as a floating condo or for short hops, they aren't the best choices.

I just received a private message telling me that apparently these Dashew vessels are built very well with large amounts of thought towards engineering and mechanical design to them. Unlike the floating condo, they are built more like a brick sh** house. (That is an compliment)

This post sums up the design philosophy: SetSail Blog Archive Why FPB?

Not that I can afford one, but the things that appeal to me about their designs are:

• large structural safety factors
• designed to cope with extreme weather conditions
• efficiency (Whey found it was cheaper to operate the 83' FPB than their 87' ketch Beowolf that they had before. When you include rig and sail costs, the cost of diesel and maintenance was less for power.)
• ease of maintenance

I like the long, lean hull shape, and the functional cabin and deck plans. Of the different designs to date, I think the original 83' Windhorse is the best overall, but I'd take any of them over one of the floating apartment block designs that seem to be most common.

Interestingly enough, I seem to remember similar comments about Nordhavns. They seemed somewhat ungainly, but their form followed their functional design for long-distance cruising. In my view, both designs are pretty nice, but are really different from each other.

The "ugly" commenters should read Steve Dashew's blog first.

The FPB is an working horse like the older sail yachts.

Do you know the difference between an designer and an engineer ? You see the difference in the designs! You want a nice looking ship or an ship you can trust in all conditions?

For me it is #1 for a circumnavigation. very long ranges, eco-friendly, low maintenance costs, fits in any fisher harbour, small draft etc..

Looking for the big spender now ;-)

Yeah, clearly this one didn't get a designer .

Yes, the boat is extremely functional, but at least let a designer have a go at making the exterior (possibly interior) a little bit easier on the eyes. One could quite easily design it in such a way that it would keep its credentials, but look SO much nicer. It would increase their market overnight.

There’s more to a design than just numbers.

Far