The Problem with Modern Yacht Design

[@Alex-cw3rz]

One of the issues I find with very modern boats is they have a real obsession with getting as much bedroom space as possible, but I'm fine with a small bedroom (not a tiny coffin but manageable) as it's only where you sleep and get dressed, I'd much prefer more living space, as you spend more time awake in those areas and that can be a lot more useful, espcially when others are around.

[@Alex-cw3rz]

@@vdsmagt well even with the bigger bedroom it's not a bigger bed it's just a bigger room, they don't want to put a bigger bed in because the entire point is to make the room look and be as big as possible.

[@Alex-e-Azam]

Yeah, it may be fine for you, but for me a bedroom requires a BIG BED and quite a bit more space as for walls distance and the ceiling (especially the ceiling) than boats had in 20th century - literall COFFINS for bedrooms. And the amount of beds in them - WOW. Someone likes being sardines!

[@tbonemc2118]

@@vdsmagt I'm the same but my biggest bug bear is not being able to move through any doorway or hatch without turning side on and heads with less room than a sardine can. For the money I want comfort and utility and not a camping experience.

[@johndavidwolf4239]

I agree with a good sized door, and a good sized bed, but I disagree with having to be able to get dressed in the bedroom, if you can't be naked getting dressed in front of your crew-mates, there is something wrong, and for the KZbinrs, that is what blurring is for. What about a big bed in the V-birth 3 ft, 1 meter above the floor of the cabin and a wide double door, with big long drawers that pull into the main cabin? Bins on the inside of the doors, for warm puffy robes if in cold climates, and to not be claustrophobic a long "bubble" plastic fixed "window" down the center of the room. like a fighter jet canopy.

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

@@Alex-e-Azam Go large or go multihull ...🤔

[@The-Travel-Man]

A Freedom 30 SV owner here. For me, I'd get rid of prop shaft and diesel engine altogether - I'm tired of constant uphill battle with shaft seals, water leaks, smell of diesel fuel, etc. I'd have an outboard on a collapsible braket to use only in and out of marina. This solves two problems: No propshaft throughhulls and no drag from the prop while under sail. Sailboats were never supposed to have engines, either diesel or electric. To add speed and stability, on monohull I'd have to double shoal keel with increased ballast. Then, increase the length and make a narrower beam for speed. Combine this with a free standing mast and I'd get myself a capable ocean crusier/racer.

[@rogerbayzand4455]

My Father was a Naval Architect and spent most of his lifetime designing yachts for his clients, before a pencil hit the draughting paper there was always a period of discussion as to how the vessel was going to be used and what were the expectations of the owners. Then there would be series of preliminary designs that were gone through and amended as needed before the final set of fully detailed building plans were produced together with a complete specification down to the last nut and bolt. When ever possible he would follow the build as it progressed with visits to the yard and be able to answer any questions that arose during construction. Some yachts took several years to come to fruition from the initial idea to the launch and sea trials and as is the same with houses not everyone can afford the services of a good architect so they go for the standard production model. The good thing about your "generic" production boats is that they enabled many people to get into sailing who would otherwise not been able to afford a bespoke yacht. Saying that there is still no place for poor design.

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

👍🏼The materials a boat is made from effect the way the vessel is built and can be fitted out. A steel hull typically needs little or no reinforcement up to a certain size.. so allows greater flexibility of layout.

[@clivewilliams3661]

This description is the definition of bespoke design, which we all aspire to. This principle exists whether it be for buildings , air craft, cars or boats but all of them have one underlying characteristic and that is they cost more than the production line, churn them out in their thousands, speculative design. Such extra cost is significant and can rarely be afforded above the fundamentals that are offered as 'production designs. All the suppliers in the above sectors allow punters to tailor their units to some degree but again variation is expensive. The other issue that I have come across when designing a bespoke package for a client is their general ignorance or inability to visualise, the best clients leave it up to a trusted designer.

[@FlesHBoX]

Yeah, and even with production boats that process still happens with the NA, it's just the builder deciding what they want, based on customer feedback and market research into what will be the most popular option among the "sea of similarities" out there. The process of having a boat designed for YOU is still 100% in existence, it's just going to end up resulting in a longer process and a fair amount more money than a production boat. The video seems a bit naïve about what exactly "production boat" means. These are specifically the tradeoffs you get when manufacturing ANYTHING at scale, and in exchange you get the benefit of lower costs and shorter wait times.

[@guliver1950]

Because costs - of construction, operation and maintenance - vary a lot (and exponentially) with size, I firmly believe that the best boat for the tight budget crowd that form the vast majority of potential users is simply the smallest one that fits the user needs. So, concentrate your research in finding the predominant profile(s) of actual and potential sailors and from then on concentrate in designing the smallest, more sustainable, equipped with the best really needed technology and safest boats (one, maybe two) you can come up with. Be sure that in this process you guys will need accurate skills and great courage to choose either the ideas to use or the ones to abandon. Good luck!

[@philgray1023]

I guess bulk buying can be an influence on pricing which can be hard to ignore. Moorings orders 40 yachts to be designed and built for their target market - one week charters. The French yards churn them out in very innovative ways and then you find a yacht which will do mostly what you want at say $300,000. Everyone knows the design, it fulfills the needs of many. However you want a custom built boat, then you aren't the typical purchaser. You are either very wealthy or experienced enough to know what you want. You also know why your starting price is going to be $600,000+. Let's face it marinas are full of boats that do one day a week at most around the cans, or do a few days coastal or island hopping. The boats meet their owners needs mostly. The owners that ask more of their boats are an infinitely small minority. I guess people like Jean Socrates is an outstanding example.

[@adematthewsracing]

If there is one thing I've learned in my life be it houses, boats or race cars the ideas you have for your first one are very, very different from what you have for the second one. It's only by the practical experience of living with the first one you really understand what is needed even if you spend months researching first.

[@Pocketfarmer1]

In my world of seagoing tugboats, it’s always the third boat in a new class that is the best. Any other sisters follow the lead of that third.

[@globalkiteapparel1891]

@@Pocketfarmer1 German saying “You build three houses in your lifetime, first one for your enemy, second for your friend, third for yourself”

[@c.a.mcneil7599]

And also do you need the roller cams? Accountants build the world I wish I could afford the dream. Buy. A 50 year old roof or the 25 year one. Market value is that so don’t get your point. Love to purchase something from you. As you spent so much for tomorrow. Your next door neighbor sold his place for same as you but didn’t do stupid. Market value.

[@kevinmills5293]

What a timely video! Struggling with a repair of the most stupid steering pedestal design, I’d put ease of maintenance and repair high up the list.

[@nunodafonseca8107]

As architects you must realise that, just like houses, boats are individual choices conditioned by financial constraints. However, as dreaming is not taxed (yet…) here goes my wish list: • Monohull. • About 15 metres long. (about 50ft for the non metric…) • Metal construction (maybe Steel, maybe aluminium, I’m not sure about it). This allows for greater flexibility in the interior design. • Watertight bulkheads. • Full integral keel (not exceeding 1.8m draft) • Skegg rudder. • Bow thruster (Fixed?). • Central cockpit and pilothouse. • Ketch rig. • No in-mast furling (Maybe boom furling, fully battened sails. Solent rig, mizzen staysail, etc) • Separate engine room (under the pilot house?) for all the oily bits (Engine & genset for a full diesel electric propulsion system; dive compressor, water maker, aircon and heater, workbench and tools). • Galley close to the boat CG, with cooker, oven, freezer and refrigerator. Stainless steel working surfaces. • Main cabin with double bed and private head, in the aft of the boat. • Two cabins sharing the second head. • A salon seating no more than eight guests, with a folding table. • A full forward facing navigation station, in the pilothouse with a clear vision to the sails, preferably located near the outside cockpit. • Fuel and water tanks that allow the boat to perform long ocean crossings or to stay at anchor in remote locations for extended periods of time. • A dinghy that can be used under engine power or sail and a place to stow it. Now allow me to go and pick my numbers at the lottery… 😆

[@Yahntia]

I just watch sailing vlogs and have no serious intentions of ever owning a boat. But I'd love to see monohulls where solar isn't an obvious design afterthought with two panels on the bimini and an optional one on the dodger. There could be so many more of them if the boat had been designed from the ground up with them in mind.

[@leandroflaherty]

Panels you can walk on are usually not all that great\cheap\durable. You generally want to safely walk on your deck when reefing, etc. So.. panels on an arch out of the way tend to make most sense.

[@angela1984a]

@@leandroflaherty There could be other places. On top of the amas on a trimaran for example.

[@Trishpage312]

Spot on

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

@@leandroflaherty Do away with floppy sails and use a telescoping wing sail thats covered in solar.

[@thatdudeinorange2297]

Never owned o boat, most likely never will. Am just a landcrab who LOVE the interior design you have in UMA as it looks spacious, probably more than it is. And yet much more pratical than it started out as. Also seriously suggest you two, Dan & Kika should redesign RV's to be more 'roomy' on a smaller space and yet more practical than current designs!

[@jamespullen8734]

Your boat is a marvel of design, where form and function share top billing. I have very rarely seen anything....houses, cars, boats....where this happens. This is very impressive. I enjoy your videos...very much.

[@NICOLAS25478]

You did a great job in rebuilding/modifying Uma. I'm a more sports sailor and i'm updating a 1980 raceboat. Restoring old boats like you did is realy ecofriendly instead of buying new, new, new. The planet cant not support it anymore...

[@tiesversteeg1753]

The problem is that the costs of a vessel increase when every boat has to be focused on one single client with his or her requirements. Big producers can’t spread out the design costs over a series when every series results in one boat sold.

[@timdunn2257]

Not just design costs, but tooling, meaning fiberglass molds for hull, deck, and some times, interiors.

[@sleipboerd]

I've had some ideas recently for a 35-50 feet long distance performance cruiser. Modern wide hulls give you the opportunity to have two big aft cabins, in which 2-4 people can sleep comfortably while in harbour and while at sea. Forward of the mast you could have a large storage compartment and a place to repair stuff (even in a 40 footer you could fit a smaller version of what Skip Novak has in his boats). On a bigger boat (say 43ft+) you could probably fit a smaller guest cabin here as well, so that 6 people can sleep comfortably in harbour (the entire crew won't sleep at the same time while at sea). This is what some race boats tend to look like (e.g current Sun Fast models), but I'd like to see it on a long distance cruiser as well. Modern boats tend to have large cockpits made for socializing, which is great, but it seems they compromise the steering position by placing it too far from the dodger. Why not place a smaller "sailing cockpit" directly behind the dodger, and then sun decks and tables etc? If you are crossing oceans you probably only have dinner around a table while at anchor or in a harbour, so why not raise the "socializing cockpit" to make a grandiose aft deck for when not sailing? Then you could have an enormous lazarette beneath the "socializing cockpit". And you could definitely fit a bimini (for sunnier waters) or a cockpit tent (for colder waters) above/around this aft deck so that it's protected from the weather when at anchor.

[@philgray1023]

Some interesting points. Even a Sirius 36 has a dedicated workshop under the dining area and you can steer the boat while eating dinner. Our boat at 4.2 wide sleeps 4 in two aft cabins, but the feature people want on a wide boat is 2 wheels. I wanted that but didn't get it. Having helmed both types at sea, I can tell you I would avoid twin wheels like the plague. Also German mainsheet systems. The excess sheet is never at the side you want. As for 50 ft vs 35 ft. Just check sail prices and weight, not to mention berthing rates. The difference in price for everything is a lot higher than people think.

[@MrNoclutch]

This was a very good video, there are people out here who will never sail, never step foot on a sailboat and have to only imagine it through books, pictures and videos from people like you. Aftermarket modifications for cars and bikes and home improvements centered around how they serve us and or make us feel. On a boat you live with limited choices based on space and necessity. I am amazed on how you do it.

[@stevezelen4651]

I love your show. My parents had a 1967 32 foot Morgan design sloop, I don’t remember who built it, when I was 10-13 years old. We only sailed around the Tampa Bay Area. I dream of sailing again. I like the idea of a “transition boat”. A boat for learning to crawl, then walk and finally run. And by run, I mean crossing an ocean. I look forward to seeing what comes from your efforts. Good luck 🙏

[@aprildawn6926]

I’m not a sailor but I can appreciate a combination of good design and good function. Personally, I would find a used boat with a hull design and exterior fittings that function well for the majority of the type of sailing I would be doing then gut and redesign the interior for true function. Your “Hefty Susan” was brilliant as are many of the other details you’ve incorporated in Uma. Top loading refrigerators like the one you removed, are one of the most puzzling features on most of the boats I see. I have considered adding a “Susan” to my home kitchen. So many ideas! Lol! Best of luck with this endeavour.

[@rodhinds4592]

I can defiantly see you guys heading into a Design Company future. Uma Design Inc ! Yachts , RVs , Houses , Tiny Houses , Space Ships ..... anything !

[@russellvollmer3368]

Hi UMA, love you folk. Love your different way of thinking about a yachts design, your creative angles. I own a 30ft monohull , owned a 41ft and done a transatlantic on a 55ft catamaran .... My biggest challenge is I'm a Quadriplegic , using a wheelchair ... and am a sailor .... So I look forward to how you design concepts evolve ....

[@skaraborgcraft]

I dont get it. Asking 1000,s of different people what they need/want is exactly why generic yachts are like they are! Yachting Monthly did a similar survey a few decades back, and commissioned a design for a steel cutter of 33ft based on all that information gathered. Im not aware of any boats other than the original being launched. What am i missing?

[@anitafarwell5325]

Perhaps the start of their business venture. And a decade ago I don’t think these “kids” were even thinking about yachting FT.

[@skaraborgcraft]

@@anitafarwell5325 My point is, if the search for the "ideal yacht" is a goal, it has already been done, though for sure, perhaps with todays requirements it my have more electrical power generation. The sailing ability/stability will always be in the same ballpark for an off-shore boat. As a buisness venture, i can totally see one-off projects being the way forward. They may even come up with a design that might work with a small scale builder, BUT, today, in comparison to decades ago, the world is full of plastic boats that can be re-purposed for cents on the dollar, rather than creating another object for landfill in 75 years, at great expense. Yeah, i dont get it.......

[@DanErikLindberg]

Well, a wider audience will result in a more generic design that doesn’t fit any particular group, which I think was their point that they think they have attracted a specific group of followers which may have less generic requirements. YM probably has a more generic group of subscribers so their design would be too generic. I think the argument has some merit, but if it’s a profitable business they are after then appliances should be more profitable than yacht design.

[@skaraborgcraft]

@@DanErikLindberg The YM design was catering for people doing what Kika and Dan are doing, voyaging. Im sure i am missing something, but if its about being paid consultants/designers, then more power to them. Im sure in time more will be divulged.

[@D60433]

@@skaraborgcraft there is an ideal yacht? Tell me more, I must have missed it!

[@JohnBobRoger]

My Sailing buddy watched UMA and their interior design concepts and later marveled at how my boat already incorporated them...Of course the outside design and sailing characteristics are way more important but its good to happy down below. My boat was designed in 1969, built in 1970 and won a prestigious race in 1971 and is irreplaceable. Cheers

[@johnlatrielle3219]

Great idea, remember, a camel is a race horse designed by a committee! I would have really enjoyed working with you to design the questionnaire as well as deciding on your methodology for the analysis. It will be very interesting for many of us to see the results. Great stuff, have much fun!!

[@Brgnalf81]

A camel is the ONLY way to cross the desert. A horse wouldn't make it.

[@charlesbechtel9976]

@@Brgnalf81 Two words: Arabian stallions.

[@Brgnalf81]

@@charlesbechtel9976 Clearly you know nothing about the desert travel. Arabian horses are super fast, but not on the dunes. The only way to cross dunes are, in fact, camels. Even cars won't do. And while comparing horses and camels, lets put sled dogs into the mix. If you want tough, you need to go specific. Sled dogs are perfect for THEIR environment, so are camels.

[@ArcticSeaCamel]

I prefer Camels... 😉

[@ricktroupin1755]

Been enjoying your channel for years. In your design discussion, consider the advantages of a modern ketch or yawl. They are proven all weather safe designs for couples and single handed sailing (Slocum's Spray and Amels),but modern builders are not making them. The lower mast makes them ICW friendly and easier for older, less able bodied sailers. Your thoughts?

[@SailingUma]

1 mast. 1 keel. 1 rudder. Anything else is just adding superfluous complication. The ICW is made for power boats.

[@brianstevens7241]

My ideal yacht would be cheap. Not just initial cost but maintenance costs as well. Cheap probably means small, around 30 ft.

[@andblom88]

30ft isn't really a "small" boat. But I guess it depends on where you live. In Monaco it would be considered a small sailing boat. :)

[@epicnavigator]

@@andblom88 Did You understand that you just said nothing?

[@JheregJAB]

The reason I don't have a boat is 100% funds. Got to afford the boat, then have to afford the work to maintain it. Old boats are more maintenance but new boats are much more expensive up-front (and still need maintenance, just hopefully not as much). Slip fees and fuel... it all adds up to more than I've got right now. I _will_ have a boat. but even when I do it'll probably be older than I am just because of the sheer cost of boats right now.

[@captainwin6333]

@@JheregJAB The two reasons I don't have one is 1. funds and 2. 100% sea sickness. The flattest, calmest sea sadly gave me a two day near-death sea sickness I've never wanted to repeat.

[@Cowboy.underwater]

I'm seriously considering a liveaboard sailboat. Based on my research a 35ft boat looked about right. I finally checked out a few and I couldn't stand up straight in any of them! It looks like I'm probably stuck in the much more expensive 38-42ft range if I want to live on the water😢

[@steveodeal1921]

You guys continue over all these years have never dropped the ball at being better and better. I have watched from your days of reconstruction, Never missing a video, and you have just rose the bar again. Many smiles to the both of you!

[@sr8377]

Great idea. Just keep in mind that designing a boat and manufacturing a boat are two different things. In the end, price point does matter to most people. If it is perfect but you can't afford it what then?

[@OgamiItto70]

Wait until it hits the used market.

[@Seansousa757]

It's not an accident that yacht builders do what they do. To one off a boat is a VERY expensive thing to do. That is why it is not done. If you don't build in a mold, finishing time is exorbitant, to build a mold for one off use is costly and impractical. A production boat that costs $400k if done totally custom would be north of $1m . You're right about the generic nature of boats today, but that is the only practicle way to keep cost low enough that the vessel is affordable.

[@thomasroy5833]

You got it. These kids are dreamers. (Which is fine). With their credentials I hope they dont waste a life on youtube amusements.

[@timdunn2257]

If the hull is a developed chine boat, you can make panels of flat cored fiberglass and assemble them on a simple, disposable framework. You can compromise this method with a radius at the chine.

[@davidellis2021]

A warm, well insulated boat, ideally that you could sail from inside. Proper door not washboards, and double glazing. A heat pump and heat exchanger - even better.

[@gregorychaney7604]

Excellent. It would be great to have a boat designed with a woodstove as part of the original design.

[@ArcticSeaCamel]

All of these features coming to my boat 😁 The heat pump with exchanger has come up in some discussions as well. I'll definitely take a look at that as well. It would be great to ditch the diesel or other fuels completely but if doing high latitude winter sailing I think it's just not possible...

[@davidellis2021]

@@ArcticSeaCamel Very difficult to go without diesel at high latitudes, but you can still run a heat pump and heat exchanger from electricity generated from diesel. It would be much more efficient than a diesel heater. Checking out your channel - looks interesting!

[@ArcticSeaCamel]

@@davidellis2021 Intresting! Diesel heater's efficiency is close to 100% (energy to heat) and generator's maybe 40%. But heat pump can be 300% efficient or even more, so that might be actually so! It would be great to have air-con system that acts as heater and the _only_ diesel gadget would be that smallish generator for "emergency" power.

[@davidellis2021]

@@ArcticSeaCamel The biggest thing stopping pure electric on sailing boats is regen. You simply cannot generate the electricity needed from the same propeller that powers the boat. You need a much bigger prop for regen. With that you could not only power the boat's hotel requirements but also have enough for a little motoring.

[@eveness612]

I started drawing yacht designs when I was in 3rd grade. I knew then how I wanted the layout and how many people would be comfortable down below. I wish I still had some of those drawings. My family always sailed and we had boats until 30 years ago. I have been nagging my husband for a boat since we got married in 1994. I finally convinced him and we are now proud owners of a 40 yo Endeavor 32. I looked for about a18 months before I found this one. Bought it 6 months ago. I love this boat. It is on the small side, but perfect for me - my husband is learning to sail - and he enjoys it. BOAT = Bring On Another Thousand. So true, but worth it.

[@mrfarmer532]

I built custom yachts. Everything we built was owner design input. Our Naval architect kept the designs in balance.

[@OnTourWithPattiSmith]

Where is the best place to sleep on a boat ... .. is the “center” but that is where boat builders always put the saloons. So instead you have to sleep hearing waves hitting the bow or the sound of the transom bobbing up and down against the water. The “center” is where there is the least movement and yields the most comfortable sleep.

[@SailingUma]

Agreed! We never sleep in our v-birth offshore or even in rolly anchorages.

[@Sommers234]

Brilliant. Never even crossed my mind

[@OnTourWithPattiSmith]

Sailing Uma I say put the dining and cooking in the bow. Bench seats on both sides of the “v” then have cooking near the mast.

[@yarpenzigrin1893]

@@OnTourWithPattiSmith Nah, put the head in the bow. Then the sleeping cabin midship, then stairs to the decksalon. Galley and the living area in the decksalon with 360 degree view and technical compartment under the deck salon accessed by removing the setee. Which is what Sirius yachts are designed like.

[@tomwilliams8675]

@@yarpenzigrin1893 I agree, I love the Sirius design. The interior design on them is exceptional. When I win the lottery I'll be giving them a call.

[@Artiz...]

It's called Interaction Design or User Centred Design... but you know that of course! With nearly 400k subs you guys certainly have a unique design opportunity to get, and appropriately use a mountain of quantitative feedback... especially when Uma's exceptional all electric 'self-sufficient' example has been such an astonishing cruising success even in near arctic conditions! You guys really have 'moved the discussion on' in such a short period of time too! Your determination to convert an old yacht into a self sufficient sailing 'home' based on renewable energy has been a stunning success... much luck with this new 'design' project... fiendish plan! Edit: Be nice to see you two take on an old 35-40ft blue water Catamaran and convert it to an all electric liveaboard! 'Always repeat success' as the saying goes!

[@angela1984a]

It would be even better if they took on a 40+ feet trimaran... Now that would be something!

[@FlesHBoX]

@@angela1984a It would be nice if their survey even acknowledged something other than monohulls, lol I found myself having to basically "lie" for answers because none of their options accounted for more than one hull on the water.

[@ronaldeyles1213]

It would be eeevvvveennn BETTER if they took a 100ft QUADmaran! Mirite?

[@angela1984a]

@@ronaldeyles1213 Are you right? No. Are you funny? Not really.

[@t4urus377]

What an innitiative! Filled out the form and really laughed about how some questions/topics were formalized haha. Eager to see what this will bring you guys!

[@dc14522]

I'll take the survey, but I disagree about boat builders not designing for what customers want. Customers generally want.. 1. A modern "apartment" for sleeping and entertaining at the dock. 2. A quick boat that will be first to the next anchorage. 3. Easy to sail with a couple or shorthanded. What is lost in most of the modern designs is ability to thrive (surviving while being relatively comfortable) in heavier weather. I sail a Reliance 44, which is a heavy displacement, narrow beam, full keel, ketch rigged boat. My boat misses the mark on all three criteria listed above, but I'll gladly give them up for a truly seaworthy bluewater boat.

[@danpatnet]

To some degree, it could be argued that the need for performance in heavy weather has been supplanted by modern communication and weather forecasting - when the chances of getting caught in a storm are much much lower, you can incorporate that reduced risk into the overall design.

[@greghorne8678]

Can you though? Cheaky Rafiki.

[@ozolli]

@@danpatnet Relying on communication technology to lower boat structural resilience is not what I would call a reduced risk. Weather forecasting still can't predict local storms, williwaws, bora, meltem and a lot more unpredictable weather phenomenas. I also experienced many electronics/communication blackouts onboard for different reasons. Then you are on your own and take the weather as it comes without a chance to escape. Fortunately, boat yards are required to have their boats approved by certification organisms so they can't go far in reducing the necessary boat safety factor.

[@gbalch]

@@danpatnet One time when I was crossing the Atlantic, our weather forecaster told us "Hurricane Paulette doubled and speed and is headed straight for you. You are scheduled to arrive in Bermuda at 18:00 on Sunday and the hurricane at 08:00 on Sunday. I suggest you hurry." With that, we took it off autopilot and hand steered for 48 hours and beat the storm. I would say the biggest safety equipment on board is your brains/experience, 2nd is weather forecasting and 3rd is a good performing boat and these three factors are far more important than any other safety factor such as an emergency life raft, etc.

[@shamoy1000]

@@danpatnet Most modern mass production boats are as sea worthy as any custom boat. Probably more reliable and sea worthy.

[@ianmajor4000]

Hi guys. Really good angle. I designed my own 46’ cruiser and took 22 years building her. An absolutely wonderful and spiritual adventure. Totally worth the effort. Ive been around the houses trying to decide weather it’s worth all of the hard work or just buying a hull, close to my ideal boat and kitting her out for my personal needs. The satisfaction of doing everything myself is rewarding beyond imagination. If I had to make that choice again.... who knows.

[@DanErikLindberg]

I like the rotating storage thing you guys have and would like to find the time to put something similar on my boat. In fact, I think you would have a better business offering those kind of good solutions that can easily be made to fit existing boats, instead of offering a whole new boat design. But if there was a modern long keel design available I would certainly think about trading up.

[@sanukcanuk1282]

Strongly agree with this, a Pinterest kinda thing with simple dimensions/instruction for solutions would be much more likely to get my interest. Having a custom boat designed around my specifications is so far outside my budget as to be laughable.

[@HistoryRats]

The hefty Susan is a great idea 💡

[@FirstMateSailor]

Ditto!!!!!!

[@Typhyr]

I have one in my home kitchen and it’s very handy indeed, clever way of using space that’s otherwise lost.

[@SL-jx2gr]

Thanks for the chance to take the survey, it was really fun! Like how some of the q's was compiled! We've been throwing some ideas around for a couple of years and started with a mould, which is still in progress....due to covid and live! We were able to build a wooden house and have the inside be what we planned for the yacht.... All a work in progress! Good luck with this venture! You guys have insightful knowledge to share. What is nice about you guys is the fact that you have a very green perspective and outlook on live! Keep on with the great work! Deon and Salome Lyons

[@rboston33]

Love your channel and enjoy your adventures. At 78, my sailing adventures are over but YT lets me dream

[@spadasinuldeserviciu]

I am an economist, therefore not an arhitect. But as an economist, I can suggest that the modern production yachts market is quite ideal, in the sense that there are enough players, producing significant volumes of products, with enough transparency on quality and price. The effect is that the winning products, the best sellers, reflect correctly the choices of the clients. Saying anything else is either done with an intention (so it is just another form of marketing, this time from your side, good for you) or plainly naive (I dont think that you are that naive). My belive is that the actual naval arhitects, after watching your promo, are doing now the ROFL routine.

[@timdunn2257]

The big market is for weekend, 1 to 2 week summer vacation yachts, not ocean voyaging yachts. Very few yachts see many hours of use a year. So, that's what stock boat builders build - lots of berths, minimally seaworthy designs.

[@mbirch1593]

Not a boat person, but am a travel trailer person. I wish more travel trailers were built like boats with regards to quality and use of space. All of your work on the solar and battery systems has been very useful to us. Currently upgrading our solar. Next is batteries.

[@danielbuckner2167]

It's not even all boats, we had a big house boat and it was pretty much a trailer on a hull! There was so much wasted space in that thing it was amazing! People who design travel trailers or power boats or tiny homes or anything like that should consult with a sailboat designers first.

[@ablemarine9072]

You Two Are Awesome! And this article makes me excited about something that has been in my mind for many years! I have been in the Marine industry for over 40 years, have had 4 Boatyards and have experienced a millennia of just what this channel and you two are now making available to a market of people that haven't really given it a good thought! Enjoyed watching your last passage and though a bit concerning for you and another experience of the power and Majesty of The Sea, and rough weather, I knew that your boat would handle more than you two as I have watched pretty much every one of your makeovers and work since your purchase. And was happy to see you design a boat that worked to serve your needs and at the same time go Anywhere! That's a Biggie. Mass marketed boats will never give what your vessel gas given you, there are a rare few that are definitely out there, just not Mass produced or too expensive and for lots of other reasons. You have definitely hit on a subject that hasn't really been answered in a large Platform as we now have with world wide internet. Great Idea!

[@tsurdyk]

Love your channel, and have been watching for years. Call me a bit of skeptic, but this was such a departure from the norm it feels like you were approached by a company looking to change the way design is done, and you're now part of their marketing team.

[@Garryck-1]

Myself, I don't so much think they've teamed up with some manufacturer.. as that they're now thinking "Hey, we're Architects, and we've done a lot of sailing... what's a Naval Architect got, that we don't?" Who knows? I wouldn't put it past them to succeed at it.

[@samfoster4144]

@@Garryck-1 Yeah, I agree, it definitely struck me that way initially but the lack of information about what project this data is going to be used for (other than "you could be a part of something really special") is a little suspicious. Regardless; if some big yacht building company is doing this type of research they're probably going to come up with a much better design than most other boat designers out there, plus Uma will get a windfall. It seems like a win-win to me.

[@gambleoak1]

I am so impressed with your sailboat. You have incorporated unique concepts and have done so with such beauty. I started the survey and then stopped. I did not think my uneducated answers would truly help you in your quest to design a better boat. Carry on and I wish you much success. There is not a better couple out there to come up with a gorgeous and practical design.

[@mikehardcastle8618]

I’ve done the survey, but if I can give some extra feedback. I’d like to sail without the responsibility of owning a boat. I have many hobbies that I do on an occasional basis, yet sailing is difficult to take up without committing to it. I’d like to join a sailing club where you can take a range of different types of boats out with experienced staff who will create experiences based around your interests. Because that doesn’t exist, I’m considering buying a sail boat, but would need to hire staff to look after it and run it for me. If I do this, you can design the boat, but I’d rather you opened a sailing club that catered to the hobbyist not the experienced sailor.

[@jonothandoeser]

interesting.

[@salnichols94805]

Actually, there are many sailing schools and clubs out there that provide EXACTLY what you desire.

[@tbonemc2118]

The opportunity you're after already exists in two different versions and neither will break the bank. The first is crewed chartering whatever takes your fancy. I imagine you could become as involved as much as you want on your charters without all the hassles and responsibility of actually owning a boat. The second is buying shares in a boat. 1/10th share for example gets you 5 weeks sailing a year in a professionally maintained boat. When you want a change just sell your share and buy another in something different.

[@mikehardcastle8618]

@@salnichols94805 Really? I’m not after chartering, nor am I looking to be taught. If they are as I described, do you have any examples on the South Coast of England?

[@mikehardcastle8618]

@@tbonemc2118 Yes, I’m familiar with both options, but neither is what I’m after. I charter boats at the moment and I am familiar with fractional ownership. My suggestion is different.

[@edwardfinn4141]

Let me just give you the short list… And I actually !filled out the survey. 40 ft, monohull , small diesel , big Alternator , cutter rig, hard dodger , tiller stick not a wheel. Rig the winches on the mast so that you can sit down on the deck when reefing , it’s so much safer. Partial skeg rudder, 1” SS tubing for lifelines - like an amel . Sugar scoop, lStern arch with some solar. A small locker for a Honda generator with venting- that will keep those batteries charged , even with electric drive. Mechanical room / engine room with a pipe berth… Build a toolbox into the companion way stairs. All that stuff above ‘works’

[@iptaylor]

"Lifting Keel" option is missing in survey. It is important as many expedition yachts have lifting keels which give the option to dry a yacht out in tidal water for cleaning/maintenance etc, it also allows for anchoring in shallower waters too :)

[@timdunn2257]

You mean like the one that just sank in Italy, the Bayesian?

[@scottsmith4612]

​@@timdunn2257I think I read somewhere that the keel was not fully down. Dangerous!

[@timdunn2257]

@@scottsmith4612 The previous master remembered 200 tons of inboard ballast in a stub fixed keel and 20 tons of lifting 'keel." The displacement was about 550 tons.

[@SuperPancake06]

Whatever y'all are doing, I'm excited about you both taking this next step!

[@ArcticSeaCamel]

I have done this already! And I’m starting to build it very soon. My key features for designing my boat was that I wanted to see outside very well in all conditions. I wanted to have easy to use rig for single-handed or shorthanded sailing. I wanted to have a good shelter from elements while sailing. I want to separate the smelly and noisy stuff from the interior. So It became a combination from Moody 54 DS, Garcia Exploration and Amel. It is called Arctic SeaCamel and you can check the plans from my KZbin channel. It would be very nice to have your thoughts of my design! Maybe there is something already right for you as well! You can find the PDF-files of the plans from the links in my videos. Cheers!

[@elanthys]

Looks pretty darn cool! I have the plans for a Garcia/Amel-inspired ketch myself somewhere in my files too... Great boats to take inspiration from!

[@baytep9148]

Nice concept, and cool project! Look like your channel is lifting off!

[@ArcticSeaCamel]

@@elanthys Yeah! I really like those boats! And when connected them to Moody's brilliant deck saloon I think the result will be spiffy! 🤩

[@ArcticSeaCamel]

@@baytep9148 Thanks! The progress has been a bit slow so far but I think when the boat build really starts, I will get a good lift. There has been some signs of it already! 😅 Also I have to step up my videos' quality... 🧐

[@petestuart1]

I love how your personalities really come out in the survey questions. What a cool couple of humans you are. I hope you nail this project and the next one and the next one and at least one more after that, and that I get to watch you do it. Super big cheers and good luck.

[@_JustinCider_]

I had trouble from the outset with the survey. "How do you envision yourself primarily using a sailboat?" = 6 months liveaboard sailing the South Pacific then parked up for 6 months with next to no use. Repeat for 4 or 5 years or until I get tired of it. Herein lies the issue with designing a boat to sell, as opposed to individual design for a person. 6 options for a basic question right off the bat and none fit me.

[@chrismktgpsu]

Good insulation, usable 2 full cabins with adjoining heads with separated shower, outboard rigging to allow free fwd access, dual anchors on bow and 1 on stern, factory flopper antisway attachment device at anchor, more solar capacity (panels + batteries)

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

Sometimes its a good idea to look back a historic vessels ...its one reason i watch Capt Q. You see layouts and solutions you just dont get now. ..sometimes it was done out of necessity other times it evolved to meet a particular need and others just a pure design feature. The first division will be Multi hull outrigger or Monohull and of course the user and the likely use environments.. The maxim most of the people most of the time ...is both the cause of the problem and answer... Custom builds are possible as of course DIY skills enabling ideas to translate into an individuals reality or an existing design adapted like you did with Uma.. Materials have a huge effect on design and costs as well as environmental impact. The days of the cheaper glass fiber boat or even high carbon fiber boat may be ending ...theres thousands of damaged and abandoned GRP boats all over the world with very limited options as to disposal let alone recycling. Basalt fibers might become a better and superior material for most moulded or laminated boats but they will be built to both last longer and they are recyclable. Its also cheaper ...widely available .. natural material, and its got a lower energy cost to produce than E glass or Carbon fiber .. its lighter than E glass and as strong a carbon its also more resistant to all sorts of damage that would undo Glass and carbon ... Its even better than steel or aluminium.. but with a lower energy cost and carbon footprint a lot of the time. Theres also new fiber materials made from flax, Hemp and Bamboo all of which lock up CO2 in structures for the life of the boat... Changes for Fashion are the worst and most wasteful reasons... The construction industry is the most wasteful on the planet 20-30 % of materials on any construction site end up being wasted and in landfill. Its also responsible for one of the biggest source's CO2 other than Agriculture.

[@Ethaara]

I just wrote kids in my "would you cruise with pets" section, I don't count them as full size adults but they would require space as well :) I think this is a huge thing many don't consider, especially with the rising of remote work, new young families as digital nomads.

[@stephen_101]

Long thought open source / modular boat design could be a great way forward. Just build from plans or order a pre built hull and mast then install modular wiring looms / compartments / furniture / plumbing as required.

[@SailingTipsCa]

You're so right that modern production boats are "one size fits none", and more for stuffing in as many charter families as possible, and not real sailing. As a sailor I really can't relate to modern production yachts.

[@DowneastThunderCreations]

I'm now retired (naval architect and marine engineer), but whenever anyone might ask me what I do for a living, I would typically respond: "I sell dreams" 😁

[@scottkeiser8454]

I'm not a sailor, in fact , salt water blinds me, but I enjoy the life style and I love to binge watch your videos. I'm excited for this next chapter in your channel.

[@jessefalsone1247]

Yacht design is definitely a balance so coming up with a set of requirements might be nice but unattainable in practice. How are two interior designers going to actually achieve a balanced design that must include critical but potentially offsetting factors such as stength, stability, seaworthiness, performance, and comfort? I hope you're enlisting some expertise down the line in the process. Looking forward to what you come up with. The fact is requirements are totally personal and derived as much from one's individual experience as they are from their sailing aspirations. No two people will be alike. Maybe the answer you really want is for production manufacturers to offer a "bare boat",ctptally stripped out, that new owners custom outfit for their own use. I don't think that feasible from a marketing perspective though.

[@ArturRoszczyn]

The survey that made me laugh the most from any other survey i had to fill in in my life! You are Awesome guys!

[@josheisenhardt8538]

The survey didn’t ask about rigging, mast configuration, deck layout (other than do i plan on tanning) steering preferences, winches and winch configuration, sails, access to engine and other systems for maintenance, electronics, and I am sure there are other aspects I’ve left out. In did like the last question, very clever, however my favorite channel is Acorn to Arabella, sorry.

[@jeremyprice679]

Mine is Tally Ho, but neither it nor Acorn to Arabella are sailing channels yet!

[@SailingUma]

This will of course not be the last/only survey. It’s really just a conversation started.

[@danielbuckner2167]

@@SailingUma So are you guys already partnered with a firm of either design or manufacturing on this? Please be honest.

[@josheisenhardt8538]

The reason my fav channel is AtoA is I am a wood worker and really enjoy the construction aspects. Tally Ho was my first channel and it is the gold standard for that type of channel. I do follow and enjoy many sailing channels and yours was the first one. So keep asking for advice/opinions, i have plenty of both.

[@tigersharkzh]

I have to add something to the wish list for an electric or hybrid sailboat that I couldn't do on the survey. I'd love to have a winged keel like Amel yachts have, but have it filled with LTO cells. LTO cells last for 30'000 cycles, so they'll last a lifetime. It won't be enough for the total required battery capacity, but perfect for daily use. Kind of like a day tank on a diesel. Always use the LTO's in the keel first and the rest LFP cells for when maximum capacity is required for motoring range. That way the LFP cells won't be cycled as often and last much longer, and the ballast in the keel is used for more than just one thing.

[@brianhoult6011]

Absolutely brilliant idea, a perfect way to harness your experience and imagination All the best with your venture

[@petergibbons3064]

My current boat is a Marieholm 26, which is a derivation from the Nordic Folk Boat. The Folk Boat was designed from a competition. They couldn't choose a winner, so gave all the ideas to designer Tord Sunden, who pulled them together and came up a with beautiful and very capable sailing classic. So, starting from scratch and taking account of what people want and love is clearly the right approach. We will ignore the 50 year legal battle that then ensued for Sunden, you have got that bit straight from the start. Good luck. it will be interesting to see what it looks like. The big challenge is hull form and what that means for interior space. No room to swing a cat in mine, but it sails like a dream.

[@ZookeeperJohnG]

I cannot imagine a more qualified pair to design a boat based on user needs than Dan & Kika. I see a valued and respected consultancy in this space for you :)

[@Jeremy-fy1sz]

I don't know much about boat design, but I have to say, you've done a really great job with the design of your boat over the years.

[@salnichols94805]

Most production type yachts spend 95% of the time tied to the dock, and their interiors reflect this simple fact. In addition, most purchases of this nature have to be blessed by a partner that may not share the buyers aspirations or experience, and they tend to be attracted to the same creature comforts they enjoy at home. Both of these factors have led to the design of IKEA like boats that are miserable bastards at sea with dangerous to navigate interiors down below.

[@FighterFred]

A few things not covered in the survey. 1. protected helm, 2. office space and broadband, 3. diesel-electric machinery, 4. dinghy arrangement, 5. keel stepped mast, 6. integrated keel, 7. hull material, 8. shorthanded sailing with pushbuttons, 9. the electronics package incl forward sonar, radar, plotters, AIS etc, 10. security package with life raft etc.

[@SirCharles12357]

Haven't taken the survey yet, but my "perfect balance" won't be my neighbors "perfect balance". So you'll probably have to breakout clusters of "perfectly balanced" boats. You should do mathematically (no bias).

[@Neilhuny]

I like that idea - a mathematical no-bias analysis. It would require 'scoring' everything somehow, and then analysis that allows for clustering. I wonder how it would balance the long-term cruiser vs holiday sailors once every 3 years, or performance junkies vs happy to plod, big families vs no children or pets, blue water vs island hopping in the Caribbean etc

[@matthewcwiokowski1823]

I have not see you guys that excited about a project for a long time. That sounds like an great idea! 🦄

[@forrestgoryl1650]

I love you guys. Please turn this into a crazy company, we need more of the "build for 1000 true fans" mentality in the world! Even this video, the bare notion of it, is inspiring

[@shamoy1000]

It's an outdated idea. You'll go broke building extremely expensive custom boats. Especially in between customer orders. Why do you think most custom yatch builders went out of business.

[@forrestgoryl1650]

@@shamoy1000 I agree with you, don't build extremely expensively. Don't build custom. If you're in their position, figure out what you want and figure out if 1000 people love it. Don't build something to be broadly appealing, just be very specifically appealing but the people that it does appeal to must love it or its a no-go.

[@shamoy1000]

@@forrestgoryl1650 Broadly appealing increases potential market share and sales. Volume decreases production costs and prices making it more appealing. Unless you're racing performance comes in way behind comfort and convenience for the average boater.

[@forrestgoryl1650]

@@shamoy1000 What do you say about making a product different to the competition? What I like is when products don't go through consumer research, cut this and add that, to make a product appealing to average Joe. I like it when products understand their industry and cut out a niche that hasn't been done. This is what I am saying. If something different can't be done, then what point is there. However, I like your point about volume decreasing production costs and that is a very good point. Also thank you for taking the time to explain your viewpoint to me.

[@philgray1023]

This reminds me of a childrens story where every animal got to choose their favourite ingredient to put in the stew. After they added the worms, the grass, the sweet hay, the onions, the daisies and blueberries, the grubs and beetles. No one liked the stew, even though it was made with all of their favourite things.

[@w8stral]

Unless they can answer that they have lived for a solid Straight month on a boat, they should not be able to even fill out the survey. Sorry, but true. Most boat buyers/owners might spend a week or two at most on their boats/year and that is how they are used and why boats are built/designed/marketed the way they are. For instance, every boat should have insulation for every single live aboard... yet NO boats come with this option. Not even the high end boats. Why? Almost no one who is a live aboard buys NEW boats.

[@davidstoen4005]

I agree with your comment about the survey. Asking the customer is not a new concept and is employed by all industries across the world. The challenge is getting good data or sorting the data into meaningful input.

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

Silent yatch's ..do and because of the construction so do Windello cats ... If you look at builders based in temperate and higher latitudes you will find a few.... ironically its more common among motor vessels or motor sailer s. But insulation works both ways..and can add bouyancy and rigidity.

[@brucebrown4480]

I understand your point but I believe you are also wrong. There are many people who have good ideas, pick any subject, that are never listended to because the "experts" say it won't work or is not practical. Obviously every idea is not going to be a good one but I would suspect that there are people who can provide input that a "live aboard" sailor might not have any clue about. Take electronics for example. Not every "live aboard" sailor will know how to design, implement the design, and bring about successful installation and operation of solar implementation, however, someone who works with this equipment everyday will most likely have that knowledge. So to say that you have to be a "live aboard" sailor for at least x amount of time, I believe is not a valid qualifier for what they are asking for.

[@w8stral]

@@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665 Yup, insulation should be molded right into the fiberglass of the hull. Makes hull more rigid. Actually, I have been following Ruby Rose and their new Cat does technically have a little bit of foam built into the mold specifically for rigidity purposes. Of course from my perspective it is not enough, but at least they have some. It is one thing I appreciate on a wooden boat. That THICK planking while a giant PAIN in the ASS to maintain does give insulation value and makes for a quieter boat at anchor as well.

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

@@w8stral For metal hulls its critical ...Cork works superbly with steel ... Controling internal contact condensation if its glued to the interior ..its also fire resistant none toxic rot resistant doesnt off gas abrasion resistant and anti bacterial/ fungal . Foams even inside deteriorate and crumble with time.. It can be recycled and reconstituted... and it can be used inside and out.. best of all it litteraly grows on trees.😁 There are 3D honey comb materials that can be used as core material in place of balsa on traditional builds. 🤦🏻‍♂️ Ive never seen a radiant heat reflecting layer incorporated ...facing either way other than in engine rooms. Seems shortsighted on a ⛵ thats close to Million or more. Have you ever seen the silver Quilted Car cosys they put over their cars in Siberia and Yakutia?.. now if you could pursued those guys to run up inner removable insulated boat liners ..🤔😂 you could take them out and wash them in the summer.

[@jimwaterman8221]

You’re seeking the holy grail, every yacht designer’s dream! You will finish up with a compromise or a caravan on water, great performance but hell to live on. My great great grandfather (Thomas Wanhill) designed yachts to deliver goods from A to B in the fastest time. When the trade ended, they then stripped out the interiors to make them into luxury yachts. The closest today in modern yachts is the Swan 65’. It won’t be cheap but good luck!!

[@thomasroy5833]

“They are designed for no one”…..huh???? Lots of marinas full of happy no ones. I ‘ve noticed lately the senior youtubers in boatworld are struggling with content relevance and using different methods for subscriber engagement/growth/sustainability. Survey question back to you two: what’s your destination/purpose?

[@peterbeer3484]

I must say, what a beautiful idea to make your work out of your passion and experience. This is the new way of thinking and manifesting. I enjoyed all your video’s (I’m not finished yet…). I think this way of film making will eventually replace the normal TV programs because there are pure. Keep up the good job! I love it!

[@chrispomfret8592]

Hope you don’t take this the wrong way but…I kinda feel like you guys still are not great sailors yet even though you’ve sailed for years now. You have not raced and your boat handling reflects that. You may feel like you are good at it but as a racing sailor I notice a hell of a lot you could and should do better at. So designing a new boat I feel is going to be constrained by your skills. A survey I feel will also collect a lot of bad habits and old learnt typology rather than allow you to create a disruptor (if that’s the goal). Just a few critical thoughts. As architecture students and being an ex racing sailor and now architect I understand your approach but also hope you’d be used to critique and not take it personally.

[@jeffs6140]

Curious as to what you are referring to. The only comparison I can come up with is my skiing - I can get down anything but I won't look pretty doing it. Are you referring to eking out the last bit of speed from trimming or economy of motion or ???

[@michaeljohnson7601]

Love the idea! I recently purchased a 1970?? Robert’s 25 full keel cabin hull and cap kit. It came on a custom trailer and has never been in the water. The interior was partially started many years ago with residential plywood. Of course it is rotted and must be gutted. I have a clean slate for the interior ! I would love to incorporate our collective design ideas into the rebirth of this petite lady. In the mean time I can sail my Hobie 17 on our local lake :). Another rescue …

[@abarasabwehttam]

Why do they all look the same? Its called "Production". I am sure there are dozens of companies that will make a completely custom Yacht for people with a ton of money. These companies you are talking about are selling 10,000 boats, not 1 offs. This is the difference between a production facility (Usually hundreds/thousands of employees) and a job shop (1-50 employees). You dont tell Honda to make a Lambo, they are not the same company at all. That is why there are millions of Hondas on the road and not Lambos.

[@captainslayden]

I love this concept, and I can't wait to see what comes of your efforts? I just took the survey and give it two enthusiastic thumbs up. One suggestion would be to add a free-response line so we could talk about anything that we didn't thing was adequately covered by your survey questions. (In my case, it was that in the keel options, you didn't have any for lifting keels, or keel/centerboards for coastal cruising in shallow waters.)

[@superwag634]

There is no such thing as a dream boat for me. That’s why i have many of different types. One for ocean cruising, one for coastal day sailing, a trimaran for wet and wild, one for shallow lake and creeks, one for rowing, and a few canoes and sea kayaks. That’s how it’s done properly. The other way is just compromised. Cheerio

[@angela1984a]

A trimaran that could do everything! Something like a Dragonfly 40, a Bañuls/McConaghy 53 tri or a Rapido 50/60.

[@superwag634]

@@angela1984a You’re confusing me with an oligarch. I don’t have a boat budget in the millions 😬

[@angela1984a]

@@superwag634 IDK... Sailing la Vagabonde doesn't seem like oligarchs to me. I could of course be wrong though... Yachting budgets that range up to around 2 million doesn't seem to be that uncommon if I'm being honest...

[@dlachtor]

Loved your survey! I think your question #2 needs an option for people like me who are near retirement, but live in the middle of the country and know nothing about sailing… Something like, “I’m years away from buying a sailboat, but I’m watching KZbin to help plan my retirement adventure” :-) Love you guys!

[@robertbeger4275]

I've been waiting for a couple years to finally see you guys do this.

[@ratusbagus]

Gonna miss you at SBS in September. Couldn't believe coming across her tiny transom and coming aboard. Time flies. A). Starboard tack is stand-on (safer below) . Hove-to starboard, pots on a port gimble face cook not deck undersides. Port Galleys please. B). Two heads are better than one for preventing seasickness spread. C). Unobstructed fwd/aft route, ditch permanent table (like island packet... But bigger & firmer). D). No half-hearted transverse or end of bench nav stations (like island packets). E). Don't pretend it's spacious by ditching storage. ATB PS. Invent a hard wearing teak effect, deck shaped solar panel that can be trimmed around hatches.

[@zaneenaz4962]

So many areas today are focused on marketing and "life style" hype. Hope you and others like you are able to help change that.

[@jonothandoeser]

HAHA! Finally!! Many of us have been thinking this for years! These two are the PERFECT people to marry their Architecture and their Experience to design boats! I knew you'd get here sooner or later! Good luck!

[@5plus3741]

If I was having a custom boat designed/made, I don’t think I’d trust anyones else but you two to get it right.

[@margro7015]

I just did the survey... Guys, you even made this fun! I really needed to laugh out loud several times! You are awesome! 😎

[@davelockhart]

Your video & survey got me thinking -- with Uma being electric, you two are in a pretty unique position to potentially be able to design the first (or one of the first?) ground-up electric sailboats! Why is that interesting? Look at electric cars. Some are ground-up EVs where it's a totally new electric-only design (like the Honda E you two drove) while others are just petrol cars that have electric versions where they had to fit the electric bits into the holes leftover. With that clean slate a ground-up design provides, the engineers don't have to worry about the legacy petrol bits like the engine, transmission, drive shaft, fuel tank, and so on. So you end up with really cool design features like a longer wheelbase, more interior space, flat floor and extra space in the front-trunk/frunk. Design challenge for you: if you could have a blank slate and put your electric motor(s) and batteries and controllers/etc. anywhere, could the design of the boat be improved? Maybe the batteries are heavy enough that they could be somehow sealed and put where the lead keel was? You'd need to still be able to get at them obviously. Maybe that's insane, I'm not an engineer! Something to consider though!

[@SailingUma]

These are the questions driving the design.

[@Caennuck]

I really love the Amel style protected cockpits

[@timdunn2257]

I really don't. Such a cockpit can sink a boat in extreme conditions, such as happened with the Bayersian.

[@SailHosailing]

The idea of a "tailored" new-build boat is brilliant, but probably quite costly. You both went down a great route buying a project and building it into something that was exactly what you needed. For us, that "shell" would be an older (maybe 1980s) British or Scandinavian design with a sound hull, long keel and space to live on. Everything else can be fitted the way we want it. Of course, we'll do the survey as well :)

[@gregorychaney7604]

WOW! This is so cool! I am looking forward to seeing where this goes. Cheers from Alaska

[@Typhyr]

Just did the survey, the math question and the campfire really gave me a good chuckle.

[@bobgutgsell1009]

Bob Perry is very approachable, and is an amazing man. He will build anything you want as longs as it is seaworthy ++ and not junk. Go for your dream, I love you both so very much. Thanks for letting us into your lives. Hugs!

[@holopod]

well, as a yacht designer who has been in the business for 23 years now: yachts are that way because they are very expensive to develop and build and in contrast to cars (which also all look the same with similar layouts btw) there aren't as many units to be sold to make up for that investment. Lower units also means less advantageous sourcing of components, therefor higher prices. So, sure, anyone can go and have their own tailored dream yacht built, but you can count on it costing 2 or 3 times the price. Yards who stuck to the trade of building yachts on demand have withered over the decades, while those who followed the flock with standardization have thrived (although that's a relative thing in boat building anyway) Just to say, those guys defining the yacht portfolios aren't necessarily as unaware or misinformed as you portray them to be. Boat buidling is a (tough) business with small margins and you want to make sure not you're not offering to build dreams to accommodate particular customers who don't have the budget to actually pay for that dream. i hope you pull it off, but I've witnessed lots of trials over the decades that failed because cost and cashflow weren't part of the picture.

[@kvalvagnes]

Ok mono it is; scow bow flat hullsides - big stability - big space for the lengt. No need for ballast-keel - one daggerboard for leeway - two retractable foils from the sides to give lift - more as the speed grows - will plane easy. Big deck area for solar-panels and relaxing. Carbon rotating wingmast for effectiv sail area - and square top tail - 3 fore-sails - 2 on the sprit - give big area without the need for very tall mast. The foils can be used as stability at anchor. 40ft. 4 double beds 2 heads. Sailcockpit sheltered.

[@buoyohbuoy790]

I started sailing very young. In fact since I remember myself I had a little fishing boat with an outboard, and I was sailing optimist boats every weekend from spring to late fall. Then the kids came, together with long work weeks and heavy international traveling… Once the kids were old enough, my wife and I decided to try living on the water again, at least during summer. This failed miserably. Despite the kids having no issue with being on the water, they couldn’t tolerate 5-10 hour passages. So we bought a 45’ motor yacht instead, capable of cruising at 25+ knots. The nearest islands came closer. A one hour passage became tolerable, and the kids loved it. As they were growing older, we upgraded to a 3 cabin, 3 bathroom layout, a 64 feet motor yacht again with all imaginable comforts, including Aircondition, dishwasher, washing mashing, water maker, multiple fridges and ice makers, a spacious flybridge, and a … consumption of nearly 300 liters of diesel per hour at 20 knots. Now the kids are gone… We are already in our very late 50’s, we have all the time on earth, love the ocean, and speed is no longer important. Yet, once you get used to those comforts, you really can’t go back to sailing. The inevitable exposure to the elements, and the amount of work required is simply insane. We happily did it 40 years ago, but now it is really impossible to go back to that. All I want to say, is avoid pampering yourself, and buy a safe, as self sufficient as possible, boat for you. Reliability is what matters. Also built enough KWh of battery capacity, and a good solar capacity to charge them. Avoid flammables like propane gas and gasoline for the dinghy, as much as possible. And resist any other temptation. The simpler the better. There are so many things that can go wrong, and ruin your experience. You don’t need to ruin your days doing repairs. And of course make sure you don’t take shortcuts, e.g. skipping service for the engine, because more often than not, you will pay for it a much higher cost…

[@tomklein3718]

The train question scared me for a bit. LOL. I think the two of you are on to something. Somebody with deep pockets should take you up on this. Look forward to you documenting the process. With oil at the current prices, a sailboat with good solar and electric motor designed in from the start is the way to go. I'm updating my small RV trailer with 400 amp/hr of lithium to allow for some quiet off-grid times. I'll sail my Jeep and trailer around the US and Canada, watching my 12volt TV with KZbin playing your videos.

[@johntaylor1947]

You two have a very cool idea. When I was in home construction a friend of mine had the idea of building a house as just a shell- finished on the outside. The owner could have it built out or buy it as a shell and build it out themselves. It only had marginal sucess. Most people want something now and finished and a lot lack the imagination and experience to design and build .

[@aviatrivi]

Here in Southern California one of the biggest expenses to owning a boat are the dock fees. If you sail most of the time, that could be avoided. However there would be more expenses for maintaining the boat.

[@georgegoodfella]

Buy right. Horses for courses. I bought my production yacht about 30 years ago. Still love her forever Now a retired full time live aboard.

[@Nate-bc1el]

have 10 yrs experience fixing all kinds of boats, love sailing, my favorite layout thus far is the 42" hunter passagemaker from about 1997, easy access to 95% of all maintance items, decent storage, and WONDERFUL layout for having guests over, while still keeping private your room, only wish the nav station had room for upgrades, and that these where more popular, hard to find one now... personally would turn it's V birth into a laundry room, and storage area, while using the midship storage for tools, due to ballast... but that wing keel....

[@inventiveowl395]

I took the survey, but I would like to address missing answer options (well.. at least in my case): "Do you prefer new technology or something tried and true? In other words, what kind of wristwatch to you prefer?" - Heavily depends on what piece of tech it is, what it's for and what I want to use it for. I prefer the technology that is more useful, regardless of it's age. I've only used wristwatches when I was a kid before I got my first phone so this particular answer is a bit irrelevant but I answered analogue. I find analogue tech somewhat more... aestheticly pleasing. (yes I do like steampunk) Right now, I have no use for a smart wristwatch. If I was on a solo passage I can imagine it being useful. May I suggest adding another answer option - "Both. Both is good." "How "smart" is your home?" - As a student of engineering, I know very well what a smart home is, but I came to the conclusion that since I never used it daily, and never felt that being an inconvenience for me, I probably don't need it.. In other words - would be nice to have another answer option - "I know what it is, but I don't have one (whatever the reason)" "On a scale from 1 to 10. If we designed your perfect dream yacht... Would you buy one?" - only two answers instead of 10 (although I get it. It's either - "I know I could afford it and would want to buy it." or everything else - No but I wish I could.) Since the whole sailing thing, in my case, is dependant on how will my studying go in the next 2-5 years, I can't answer a straight Yes. Too many variables at play.

[@terrenceodgers5866]

It is smart and savvy folk like you who will change the old way of doing things - in your case - sail boats. It is a pleasure for this old great grandpa, to watch the young folk like you get out there, and force change. Well done to you both because you have learned what it is to, not only be a part of this world, but to be a driver of it as well!