Does anyone know who this bow design is...I saw it on some princess V40s in europe but the ones in the US are the standard pointed bow design. Is this a European requirement or preference?
If by "pointed bow" you mean as opposed to the somewhat "squared" bow (as you can find in some Azimuts, for instance), the one in your photo is also "pointed". It might not look so, but that's just an effect of the perspective from where the photo was taken. In any case, there's no such thing as any "EU requirement" on that.
I am talking about the apparent "U" in the bow rail. Vs bow rails that are horizontal with no "U". My post wasn't very clear.
Perhaps when paying for dockage, the skipper can give an accurate LOA without questioning whether a bowsprit is included? That and a fold-up transom would make calculations easier, or at least more honest ;-) You raise an interesting question. I too will be looking for a more plausible reason.
as stupid as it gets... having a cutout there is just dangerous. Only possible use would be to get off onto another boat or pier but I can’t see a situation where anyone would need to do that on a boat that size ...
Still a foot tripper for boarding thru the bow. I fear just a weird way of looking different. Ha, just figure it out, the bow rail was in the line of sight for the helms person.
In parts North in Europe, as UK, Scandinavia and Dutch they have the habit to moor bow into the berth, especially inland berthing and high jetties. So this is made to make you pass easy.
Going forward, still looks like a hazard foot tripper. Why not just remove the cross tube completely.