Please explain to an old man just how; "a blend of Aluminum and
mahogany
' can be any more "strangely comfortable' than a Teak interior?


Thom, I didn't write that; Bob Perry did. Lots of people love the
Starck interior. It's regarded as one of the best Beneteau interiors
for quality. As for the aluminum and mahogany, we don't have that. We
have the more expensive version which is teak and has more wood. This
is a pic from our boat:

http://members.aol.com/bobsprit/images/int01.jpg

You can see that the wood by the steps was refinished without the high
gloss. The PO did this when he covered the steps with epoxy and
anti-skid. At 73 years old they were a bit much for him. There's hardly
a mark of any kind on the interior...not even a scratch. One section of
the sole was refinished and that's about it. The interior is a 99 out
of a 100.

RB
35s5
NY

Your Head falls
Short of the Catalina 34's for room as I imagine your AFT CABIN does.


The catalina 34 head is about 1/3 smaller than the one on the 35s5. The
cockpits are the same size and I'll prove it shortly. The Catalina 34
aft cabin is larger, but the bunk is too short for me! And my 35s5 will
sail circles around the Catalina of course.
I've posted pics of the boat, inside and out, even arriving at the
yard. I don't have a forward looking shot, but there are plenty on the
broker's site that are still up.

RB
35s5
NY

Capt. Rob wrote:
Backhanded? If you say so!

" I find these interiors
novel and modern but strangely comfortable with their blend of aluminum

details and curved, dark mahogany panels. In some ways, these interiors

seem more traditional than do the "apple crate" all teak interiors that

bombarded us in the last decade. "

He finds the interior strangely comfortable, more traditional than the
"apple crate" interiors. Sounds like a nice interior to me. Of course
it did win awards. Did your boat interior win any awards for design?
Frankly, I didn't like the interior too much until I saw it in person.
If you read the forums for Beneteau you'll see that folks love the
interior once they try it.


RB
35s5
NY

I have been in boats with that style of interior. It is not to my
taste. I like the shippy look not the high gloss KMart look.

I note his comment - "strangely" comfortable - not very comfortable. He
also says - "seems" more traditional than "apple crate" interiors - not
proper interiors. Wierd way to say nice, functional, comfortable interior.

I do place a great deal of importance on a robust interior that "fits"
ie the bunks are long and shaped like beds not V or other unusual
shapes. The robust part is very important to me because a heavily used
boat has to stand up to knocks and the high gloss veneer stuff just
shows the damage too quickly. I prefer solid wood with an oiled or matt
finish.

As far as design awards? No I don't think my trusty Truant won any. I'm
quite dissapointed about that.

Gaz

On 22 Dec 2005 05:32:05 -0800, "Capt. Rob" wrote:

In some ways, these interiors
seem more traditional than do the "apple crate" all teak interiors that
bombarded us in the last decade. "


I find great humor in the ads that promote the use of wood species
other than teak as "better" or "upgrade" when in fact it is just a
cost cutting move and the use of an innappropriate material. Teak is
traditionally used because it will eventually get wet by leakage or
heavy weather sailing and it will stain as any wood will, however it
is easily recoverable. Other species, Cherry, Ash, Mahogony, etc.
are permanently stained or at least stained to a depth that makes them
recoverable by significant sanding rather than chemical cleaning and
brighteneing as can happen with teak. Other species will also swell,
warp and split from intermittant exposure to weather, teak will resist
these problem outcomes.

Teak is most costly. Teak is most appropriate. Use of all other,
cost cutting move.

Frank

Teak is most costly. Teak is most appropriate. Use of all other,
cost cutting move.


Frank, I have the more expensive custom teak interior. We found the
other interiors two dark.
So we ended up with the best of all worlds.

RB
35s5
NY

Todays mahogony come in quite light shades and is much more durable and
expensive than teak.

Infact it's quite hard to find rich dark reddish mahogany, most is from
the phillipines and the crop was wiped out before the 1980's. I got
lucky and stumbled onto a big pile of vintage woods for redcloud. Have
lots of Mahogany and Louisanna Cypress decks and hatches. Just finished
my custom office desk in 3/4" Solid Brazialian Rosewood. Ohhh and the
craftsman signed my desk too!

Still your interior LOOKS nice for a production boat Rob.

I see your sockpuppet the Commode showed up the same time as you. R U
guys best friends?

Joe

Still your interior LOOKS nice for a production boat Rob.


Thanks, Joe. It's an okay interior, nicer than we expected and
certainly nicer than most we see now. A new Sabre or Tartan has a nicer
interior, but the ones of the 35s5's vintage did not.
I have no sockpuppets here and never have. It;s not my style.


RB
35s5
NY

On 22 Dec 2005 10:33:44 -0800, "Joe" wrote:

Todays mahogony come in quite light shades and is much more durable and
expensive than teak.




Well, I have to admit that it has been a while since I've bought
either, but the last time I bought teak it was about $10.00 a bdft.
and the last time I bought Mahogany it was $7.00 a bdft for like and
same grade. Had to order the teak from a wholesaler in Florida,
bought the Mahogony from a local cabinet shop.

But my point is that Teak is more appropriate for the use. Take a
sample of Mahogany, Cherry, Ash, Oak, Teak, finished or unfinished and
put them in the weather for an extended period. They will all look
fairly bad (once the finish gives up on the finished samples) Now try
to recover. Teak is simple. Chemical cleaning, brighten and knock
the grain back down if you don't like the raised grain look (I do)
and oil. All the others require extensive sanding or replaning to
get below the deep staining. That's if they don't warp, and split on
you.

My Bedroom and dining room are Cherry. Beautiful and handmade.
Appropriate. My living room tables are Mahogony. Beautiful and
handmade. Appropriate. My Den is Oak. Beautiful and handmade.
Appropriate. My boats will always have teak everywhere, inside and
out. for reasons mentioned above.

My comments not necessarily in response to the Boob's incessant "my
boat is better than your boat" (hell, I don't even think he has a
boat) but on the production boat makers using ads that indicate
species other than teak are more desireable.

Frank