What brands from the 70s/80s would you resurrect?

[MauiPunter]

There was a lot of excitement during the 70s/80s in boat building with all the brands that flooded the market.  But when the dust settled as we entered the 90s, so many failed.  Some because of shitty design, or manufacturing, or from mis-management, or a combination of all the above. I sometimes daydream about some brands if they were able to continue into the modern era what cool stuff they would be creating. 

What brands would you resurrect and why? 

 

[SloopJonB]

C&C

Cal

Ranger

Ericson

 

[Rain Man]

Dash 34 - only built properly with vacuum bagging, modern rudder and keel foil, and a carbon rig.  Still a great design (see the FP picture of Midnight Rambler which looks like a Dash 34 from above) but needed better execution than what was available at the time.

 

[George Hackett]

Fredricksen, Penguin, Barbarossa, Ratsy & Lapthorn, Horizon Sails?

 

[Para Handy]

Nicholsons, but build them a little lighter with modern resins and rigs. Utterly bomb proof, sea-kindly, blue water cruisers.

 

[Omer]

Moody 's ? 

 

[Pertinacious Tom]

There was a lot of excitement during the 70s/80s in boat building with all the brands that flooded the market.  But when the dust settled as we entered the 90s, so many failed.  Some because of shitty design, or manufacturing, or from mis-management, or a combination of all the above. I sometimes daydream about some brands if they were able to continue into the modern era what cool stuff they would be creating. 

What brands would you resurrect and why? 

(Helpful link added.)

CSY because they were made to be difficult for idiots to break. Last I saw, Com-Pac still has the 44 hull mold. I don't think anyone can afford to put as much fiberglass as CSY did though.

Also because they've held value, at least in nominal dollar terms, which is quite a trick for a boat. We sold ours in about 1990 and it was pretty nice and sold for a hundred grand. A pretty nice one today? A hundred grand. These are boats from the 70's. Most competitors from the time are in the Zombie fleet or have already been destroyed.

 

[PeterSailor]

C&C

 

[kent_island_sailor]

C&C of course. Is this even a question

 

[Bull City]

MacGregor/Venture 

Cape Dory

 

[sail69]

C&C of course. Is this even a question

Yep...but they were kinda resurrected.  US Watercraft.  Nice try, but a no-go.    Shoulda focused on one designs.   Get traction then launch an over-priced 41' R/C...

 

[kent_island_sailor]

Yep...but they were kinda resurrected.  US Watercraft.  Nice try, but a no-go.    Shoulda focused on one designs.   Get traction then launch an over-priced 41' R/C...

If C&C was a cat they would only have 1 or 2 lives left. I don't want the Barely Careful C&C back, I want the 70s version back!

 

['Bacco]

C&C for sure. They were the last of the TRUE racer/cruiser.

I also always had a thing for the older Sabres.

 

[Steam Flyer]

Is there any value in ANY "brand name" related to sailboats, other than appealing to nostalgia of old farts who probably aren't going to buy one anyway?

FB- Doug

 

[Mr Moab]

All the major builders from Santa Cruz.

 

[Crash]

First you'd have to bring back the folks from the 70s and 80s who actually want to buy a boat that can "sail," vs. the "lifestyle" buyer of today who is mostly interested in a floating dock condo, and not actually having to put and effort are work into sailing...

 

[some dude]

Barient

 

[Slim]

Crystal Pepsi

 

[kent_island_sailor]

First you'd have to bring back the folks from the 70s and 80s who actually want to buy a boat that can "sail," vs. the "lifestyle" buyer of today who is mostly interested in a floating dock condo, and not actually having to put and effort are work into sailing...

This!