Everyone here knows who are the quality manufacturers of boats. Even
though they are made thousands of miles away you lot talk about Swans,
Halberg-Rasseys, Malos, X-Yachts, Moodys, Oysters. See anything in
common with that list of manufacturers? All European.

On our discussion boards and newsgroups in Europe we don't talk about
Yank made
boats much, because there are so few of them here. But look at the
ones that are imported into Europe. Corsairs, Hunters, MacGregors and
Js...

Corsairs - completely lined head to foot in carpet. Yes, carpet! What
sort of goon thinks carpet is a suitable lining for a boat? Perhaps in
Florida it never rains and you never go sailing in any kind of sea
where there might be any spray, but here, our boats get wet, even on
the inside occasionally. Mmm, bet carpet is nice after it has got damp
and festered for a bit. Does the whole boat stink after a couple of
years, or just the sides and cabin roof?

Hunters - if ever boats could be described as a floating caravan then
these are them. Does anyone ever sail these things? Would anyone trust
that backstay-less rig to cross an ocean? Why do they even bother
putting a proper mast and keel on them? As people just use these as
floating condos that they occasionally motor around in, a lamppost and
lump of concrete would do just as well. Save some money for a bit more
plush soft furnishings and panoramic windows as well. Fat, ugly slow
boats for fat, ugly slow Americans.

MacGregors - where do you start commenting on these boats? They are a
complete joke. Do you realize that the whole of the rest of the world
laughs out loud when they see these pitiful excuse for a
yacht/power-boat/whatever-it-is-today? Hey, Yankland, the richest most
powerful nation in the world, and you produce these cut-price
zero-quality piles of crap. What do you think it says for you lot
abroad? It would be funny if they weren't so dangerous. People and
their kids are getting killed by these boats capsizing. I'm amazed
they stay together while afloat at all. Never on any other boat have I
been able to flex the hull moldings with a single finger. Never on any
boat have I seen rigging so pathetically weak and thin I wouldn't use
it to make a fence to keep the dog in the yard. Absolutely horrible.
Not a single redeeming feature.

Js - the only half decent Yank boats that make it to Europe. More
expensive and not as nice as the X-Yachts, to which they are similar.
Result, lots of X-Yachts here, not many Js.

We hardly ever see a Yank boat here in Northern Europe that has sailed
across the Atlantic. Wonder why that is then? Because you are all
sitting around sipping drinks in your Hunters. You know that your
boats couldn't make it across an ocean, so you don't even try. Would
you lot even recognize a blue water cruiser if you saw one? Judging by
the fact that one prolific contributor to this board thinks his crappy
little 27 footer is a blue water boat just because he lives on it, I
don't think so. A blue water boat here is one that can sail
independently across an ocean, not a bloat boat that is sailed across
a bay where the water just happens to be blue. It has to carry
everything to support the crew in whatever situation might arise for
months and beyond. It has to be strong, tough, heavy, and
exceptionally well made by craftsmen, not chucked out from some
production line at a rate of 6 a day, or knocked up in some backyard
where a couple of cowboys make a handful and then disappear.

These quality blue-water boats come from long established boat
builders with a quality reputation to uphold, which they do by
producing time-and-again long-lasting quality boats. Our quality boats
are sold in the US market and are recognized as being world-class. Yet
your stuff that is sold in our market is throw-away trash. Perhaps you
don't have any quality boat builders at all and we have to show you
how it's done. Certainly seems like that from here. Who's your
Halberg-Rassey?