Click for Westport Click for Westport Click for YF Listing Service Click for Delta Click for JetForums

This is why car designers shouldn't design yachts...

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by YachtForums, Oct 4, 2017.

Page 1 of 2
  1. YachtForums, Oct 4, 2017
    #1
    YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    20,642
    Location:
    South Florida
    ...windows on the rub rail!

    I haven't been a fan of Nissan's design language for years. Now I know why. I won't publish the name of the designer. I'll just post the pic... ;)

    Attached Files:

  2. Pascal, Oct 4, 2017
    #2
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,610
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    This kind of things drives me nuts.

    It looks like the hull flares out under the rub rail making it useless and it also seems like the windows bulge out.

    That said in Europe they don't use rub rails like we do here with our wooden pilings so it doesn't make much of a difference. But then they try to sell boats here without rub rail!!
  3. Ward, Oct 5, 2017
    #3
    Ward

    Ward Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2010
    Messages:
    277
    Location:
    Vancouver BC
    The design of the Infinity doesn't grab me, but it's ok. The boat, however, is hideous. Although you didn't post the name of the designer, you did leave a clue for those of us who wouldn't have been able to figure it out, and that led me to some more pictures... The picture you posted is probably the most flattering angle of the yacht, it's awful from every other angle.
  4. YachtForums, Dec 20, 2017
    #4
    YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    20,642
    Location:
    South Florida
    Came across a few more fails at waterborne wheels...

    The first is Toyota's attempt at a Dutch shoe...



    Here's an example of typical Mercedes engineering. Make everything more complicated, then program it to fail after a specific number of cycles, which is usually a few days after your warranty expires. (skip forward to 2 minutes, 30 seconds)...



    Next up is a Lexus design exercise that may launch a new nautical term; the 'spindle' bow. Great for piercing waves as well as surfacing sea life...

  5. 30West, Dec 20, 2017
    #5
    30West

    30West Member

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2016
    Messages:
    246
    Location:
    Holland, Michigan
    I've been a fan of Toyota engineering for a long time, including their boats. Their Lexus division seems to like going off the design rails, but regular Toyotas are pretty straight-forward in design and engineering. I'd like to come across an old Epic.
    .
    Ponam 26.jpg Ponam.jpg Ponam-35.jpg epic-21.jpg epic-sx-22-612033.jpg
  6. YachtForums, Dec 20, 2017
    #6
    YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    20,642
    Location:
    South Florida
    Agreed on Toyota engineering. I'm a 4runner fan, but engineering excellence aside, Lexus seems overstyled. They all look alike, even the new flagship LF-C.

    We published a news piece on Toyota's sport boats a number of years ago but I didn't know they ventured into ski boats too.
  7. Kevin, Dec 20, 2017
    #7
    Kevin

    Kevin YF Moderator

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2004
    Messages:
    3,090
    Location:
    Montreal, Qc, Canada
    I guess I really am in the minority that loves the current Lexus styling...

    (But not on a boat.)
  8. 30West, Dec 20, 2017
    #8
    30West

    30West Member

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2016
    Messages:
    246
    Location:
    Holland, Michigan
    I knew there had to be someone.
  9. olderboater, Dec 20, 2017
    #9
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,126
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Well, they are selling very well so you're apparently not the only one.
  10. 30West, Dec 20, 2017
    #10
    30West

    30West Member

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2016
    Messages:
    246
    Location:
    Holland, Michigan
    Toyota is extremely good at market analysis, I don't doubt there are people with more money than I who like their Lexus designs. If people like me were running things, they would have a lot of new diesel, stickshift Land Cruisers sitting unsold on their lots.
  11. olderboater, Dec 20, 2017
    #11
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,126
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    I learned many years ago that when in business, it's not what I like, it's what the consumer likes. When I first started to work, the President of the company had an incredible idea for a licensed product for kids. We made some and then held a focus group. The kids didn't like it, the moms didn't like it. Compared it to our competitor's product and 9 out of 10 who liked one or both chose the competitor. Our merchandiser starts to blame it on the focus group and wants to continue. The President said "it's dead. I was wrong. On to the next idea." I never forgot that and no idea, not even mine, was ever sacred. I know a young lady who just started a fashion line and the response to it is amazing. Who guided her? Sales clerks on store floors telling her what worked and didn't, looking at her designs, then her putting a few garments in the store and watching the reaction, and focus groups, not some VP's sitting in their offices.
  12. Kevin, Dec 20, 2017
    #12
    Kevin

    Kevin YF Moderator

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2004
    Messages:
    3,090
    Location:
    Montreal, Qc, Canada
    Just the other day I discovered, completely by accident, that you can get exactly that from Toyota in Gibraltar. 200 Series LC GX-R V8, 5 spd manual, with a 4.5L twin turbo diesel.
  13. 30West, Dec 21, 2017
    #13
    30West

    30West Member

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2016
    Messages:
    246
    Location:
    Holland, Michigan
    I see them all the time in Japan, less frequently in China and Europe. Would love to bring home a nice 70-series.
  14. Fishtigua, Dec 21, 2017
    #14
    Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2007
    Messages:
    2,935
    Location:
    Guernsey/Antigua
  15. Fishtigua, Dec 21, 2017
    #15
    Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2007
    Messages:
    2,935
    Location:
    Guernsey/Antigua
    Oh, and Yamaha also built a 33ft sailboat.

    I knew someone who had one in Antigua. As they were leaving harbour, his wife put the kettle on for a coffee and a dishcloth fell onto the burner. Yep, the whole thing caught fire and they lost everything before they even had got a mile away.
    yamaha 33.jpg
  16. Kevin, Dec 21, 2017
    #16
    Kevin

    Kevin YF Moderator

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2004
    Messages:
    3,090
    Location:
    Montreal, Qc, Canada
    Apparently it still sells in quite a few places. Personally, not a fan... it's too awkward looking, stuck in that nowhere zone between vintage/classic and modern.
  17. d_meister, Dec 22, 2017
    #17
    d_meister

    d_meister Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2010
    Messages:
    486
    Location:
    La Conner, WA.
    There was a 25' sailboat as well, not to mention all sorts of other craft. I was told, once upon a time, that Yamaha was the largest recreational vessel builder in the world. It appears that it may have been true circa 1983, according to THIS.
  18. OrthoKevin, Dec 23, 2017
    #18
    OrthoKevin

    OrthoKevin Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2010
    Messages:
    62
    Location:
    Greenville, NC
  19. olderboater, Dec 23, 2017
    #19
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,126
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    I like that better than the 50' AMG.
  20. Ward, Dec 24, 2017
    #20
    Ward

    Ward Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2010
    Messages:
    277
    Location:
    Vancouver BC
    There were a lot of the 30' and 33' sailboats sold in the early 1980s. 35 years later, there are still 3 of them (2 30s, 1 33) at the marina where I work. They had/have lots of interesting details, especially how various fittings were recessed into the decks. I don't recall ever seeing the 25' model around here, though.
Page 1 of 2