Excellence in Design 2008
Trailer Boats Staff Trailer Boats December 20, 2007 |
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Each person has a different take on the perfect boat. No two are the same, but then again, they’re all exactly alike — because the perfect boat doesn’t exist. Still, some come closer than others, and if you put all these rigs under the microscope to find out what sets them apart, you’d discover it boils down to design.
Now, design is a funny thing. Good design can mean different things: one or two elements that make a boat stand out, a variety of qualities sprinkled throughout, or even the totality of how the hull, layout and aesthetics work together. Recognizing this, we first identified 16 key categories and then examined how excellence in design in each is helping to create better boats. In no small way, the 45 trendsetting models we highlight in this special report are not only reflections of today’s hottest trends, they are also helping to overhaul, innovate and invigorate an industry that tends to wallow in a sea of sameness.
DEFINING THE CATEGORIES
The trailer boat market is amazingly diverse, and because innovations often develop within genres before spreading to other boat categories, it was natural for us to start by looking at basic boat types — bowriders, cruisers, fishing boats and so on. Within each category, we zeroed in on models that stood out in some way; in short, boats that pushed the envelope.
Improvement doesn’t always take place within simple genres, however, and so we looked at broader categories, including hulls, topsides, styling and even value. What we discovered is that despite similarity in many of today’s models, there are also innovations worth celebrating.
WHAT’S HOT
This year’s No. 1 design mantra is to make boats roomier and incorporate more big-boat features, while also making them sleeker and more stylish. The recent surge of picklefork-style designs — with their spacious layouts and racy lines — is clear evidence of this.
Seating innovations are also big, and run the gamut from folding armrests to “transformer” seating that converts from seat to chaise and even to sunpad. We’re also starting to see power-extending lounges. These advancements are primarily seen in dayboats, but they’re also finding their way aboard cruisers — which, increasingly, are being purchased just for dayboat use. Of course, the desire for larger, softer-riding platforms with more amenities explains the proliferation of jumbo-size bowriders, and is likewise fueling the trend of bowrider/deck boat hybrids. The so-called “deckabout” maintains a decker’s roominess, yet rides on a wave-slicing, runabout-style deep-V hull.
ANYONE FOR A SWIM?
Swimsteps continue to get larger, and rubberized traction mats are an upscale trend (especially when the boatbuilder’s logo is integrated into the pattern). The use of low-maintenance, fake teak is also on the rise. Swimsteps themselves have gained prominence as social activity centers, and entire transoms are being designed around them — complete with special seating and sound systems.
Cockpits and helms are also being laid out with greater social interaction in mind, and to allow unfettered movement, cockpit tables are now being cantilevered from bulkheads, which eliminates toe-stubbing pedestal sockets in the deck.
Even saltwater boats are adding family appeal by ramping up their creature features. This category is also spinning off some of its innovations to the carpet-boat set, which is finally picking up on the need for helm panels with space for flush-mounted electronics — a trend the salt builders have perfected in recent years.
RISING TIDE
As you might guess, great design tends to spill over and transcend categorization… and that’s good, because a rising tide floats all boats. In an endeavor of this magnitude, we also recognize the possibility that we may have overlooked other trendsetting rigs; if so, we apologize. And we’re keenly aware there are far more models deserving of praise than we have pages to cover them. But this, too, we know: The 45 boats listed here are leading us to a brighter future — and for this we commend them for Excellence in Design.
SPECIAL THANKS
As you can guess, preparing this special report for the inaugural Trailer Boats Excellence in Design issue was a huge undertaking. The countless hours of research, discussion, writing and production were made enjoyable, however, thanks to the contributions and professionalism of our entire staff. I extend my thanks to all, especially Art Director George “Geo” Cawthorn, Managing Editor Rebecca Stone, Technical Editor Lee Boyt, Copy Editor Mark Evitt and, last, but by no means least, Publisher/Editorial Director Jim Hendricks. Kudos to all.
Ron Eldridge, Editor
The following sections have been provided as .pdfs for downloading.
| Click here to view Bowriders.pdf |
| Click here to view Deck Boats.pdf |
| Click here to view Cruisers & Cuddies.pdf |
| Click here to view Sportjets.pdf |
| Click here to view Towboats.pdf |
| Click here to view Center & Dual Consoles.pdf |
| Click here to view Walkarounds & Expresses.pdf |
| Click here to view Aluminum.pdf |
| Click here to view Overwides.pdf |
| Click here to view Hulls.pdf |
| Click here to view Topsides.pdf |
| Click here to view Cabins.pdf |
| Click here to view Styling.pdf |
| Click here to view Construction.pdf |
| Click here to view Value.pdf |
| Click here to view Honorable Mention.pdf |
Honorable Mention.pdf
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