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Legendary naval architect Olin Stephens argues for the aesthetic approach.
by Ivor Wilkins with Marilyn M. Mower
photography by Ajax News and Feature Service
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10/01/2005
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"When you look at a boat and start at the bow, it seems
reasonable that the bow should be lifted from the rest of the boat. It goes
first into the sea and needs to keep water and spray off the deck. A little
flare there helps too. It puzzles me why sailing boats today have plumb stems
and power boats have long overhangs. It seems to me a reversal of how things
should be," he said. Arguing for the aesthetic benefits of a distinct sheerline,
he said a yacht needs to dip at the waist and rise again toward the stern.
 "I have grown up
with different rules. Superyachts are remarkable technical achievements, but I
do wish they could look as if they were intended to go to sea." - Olin Stephens. (Click image to enlarge)
Turning his attention to megayachts in particular, Stephens
said he was impressed by the efficiency and performance of modern yachts,
both power and sail. "It is a tremendous achievement, but I wish they could
look more as if they were intended to go to sea. I wish there was more accommodation in the hull than above the deck. Big superstructures do not
look seakindly."
So, which of his own boats does Stephens feel most sympathy
for? During the session, Stephens recalled Stormy Weather (1934) with
great affection and also named his 12-meter Intrepid. In a later
exchange on the subject he added Gesture (1939), Running Tide and
Yankee Girl (1970), Prospect of Whitby and Dora (1971), now
called War Baby. "I think they were all handsome, although the use of
aluminum alloy in the later boats made [that] more difficult."
Ed Dubois’ design for 130’ Kokomo
shows his appreciation of sheerline. Top: His latest project, an even larger sloop
but with an even lower superstructure. Bottom: "Styling for styling’s sake is not good design. Stuff driven by fashion is not good design. We have to remember these are boats, not
architecture on the water." - Ed Dubois. (Click images to enlarge)
"Today’s materials and the urgency for speed set different
patterns. Weight must be kept out of the ends, making them short. What we may
see as time passes may become accepted as beauty," he said. "But I have grown up
with different rules."
However, he is clearly not alone in believing that aesthetic
rules do exist and designers flout them at their peril.
First to his feet in the discussion session after Stephens’
address was designer Ed Dubois. "I own a boat that you designed when you were
two years older than I am now," he told Stephens, "so perhaps there is hope for
me yet."
He agreed with the notion that there were elements of beauty
that were not subjective. "Harmony of line is a natural thing. A boat either
has it, or it doesn’t," he said. "Perhaps we all need to try a bit harder."
Dubois commented later that yacht design seems to have gotten
divorced from naval architecture and that many large motor yachts seem more like
architecture on the water "with styling for styling’s sake."
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