[PCW] Endeavor: "Form following function?"

Thu May 3 08:54:53 EDT 2007

Gentlemen, let's not mince words. In all aspects, that boat is "butt ugly".

                                           Respectfully, Bert Harrott

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <rodgibbons@mindspring.com>
To: <power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 5:07 AM
Subject: [PCW] Endeavor: "Form following function?"

> Regarding: Jonah Jones and Roger Bingham's differing views about the
> appearance of the Endeavor power cats.
>
> As someone who's been marketing a wide variety of catamarans longer than
> anyone else in North America, I have to agree with France's Roger Bingham, 
> and
> respectfully disagree with Jonas'  apology/explanation for the appearance
> (aesthestics) of the Endeavor power cat. (see reprint of each of their
> comments below, in this forum's previously printed "Message 7")
>
> Jonah's observation implies that in order to have a power cat in which "to 
> do
> things," it's exterior styling or aesthetics (specifically, the the lack 
> of
> either) is either excusable or unavoidable.
>
> I suspect that the manufacturers of Legos building-blocks might explain in
> similar fashion the look of any model "boat" or "car" made with Legos 
> little
> "bricks." In the latter case, NO ONE would pretend that the completed 
> car/boat
> project is sleek or stylish. But it's a syllogism to therefore claim that 
> all
> model cars or boats must lack style or sleekness.
>
> In similar fashion, the excuse (or acceptance) that it's okay (or 
> explainable)
> that it "looks like a condo" because, in return, its a vessel in which you 
> can
> "do things" is a disconnect.
>
> The proof of this, of course, is simply to view the numerous 40' to 50' 
> power
> cats designed by Roger Hill, Greg Marshall, Kurt Hughes, and numerous 
> other
> noted cat designers...NONE of whose designs succumb to or settle for the
> boxiness of the Endeavor cats. Yet NONE of those cats is less capable of
> allowing their owners to "do things" in/with them.
>
> Do you recall the SUV that O.J. Simpson made so famous during his infamous
> slow-speed "getaway?" That was the old Ford Bronco, arguably about the
> "boxy-est" SUV ever manufactured. But, employing Jonah's rationale, one 
> could
> try to justify that Bronco's ultra-boxy design as some seemingly 
> "unavoidable"
> case of "form following function."
>
> "Au contraire, mon frer." One has only to view various subsequent SUV 
> designs
> (ie, Lexus, Porsche, etc.) which have brought a very demonstrable style to
> what is still, in essence, a "box on wheels."
>
> The mystery to boating individuals such as Mr. Bingham and myself is why
> Endeavor would choose NOT to simply add a bit of style to their cats'
> exteriors. That company's good fortune is that at the moment it offers 
> about
> the only U.S.-built power cat in that size range at that price. Hence, 
> they
> probably think they need not worry about the exterior appearance of their
> cats. But, I've been around long enough in this industry to remember when 
> the
> very same situation existed for sailing cats. In fact, in the early 1980s 
> the
> Catalac sailing cats from the UK -- arguably the boxiest sailing cat 
> design
> ever marketed in substantial numbers -- sold more than 500 cats in the
> up-to-42' range around the world. For several years, Catalac was one of 
> the
> two most successful brands available. But, as SOON as other models with
> sleeker, more attractive lines appeared, the Catalac brand made like the
> Dodo...and disappeared. (The #1 most successful sailing cat design at that
> time, the Prout cats, subsequently succumbed to the same obsolescence --
> again, primarily because of the company's aged, and unchanging exterior
> design.)
>
> Endeavor runs the same risk. Right now, they're essentially the "only game 
> in
> town" among U.S.-built cruising power cats. (Please don't misunderstand my
> personal opinion about that -- I have genuine admiration for the builder's
> success thus far. I think the company's doing a bang-up job of selling 
> their
> cats. It is a noteworthy accomplishment.) However, the high risk for them 
> is
> that as soon as one or more competitors, offering the same interior volume 
> and
> accommodations appear, Endeavor's at risk of VERY quickly suffering the 
> SAME
> huge sales slump as did Catalac as soon as a range of much sleeker cats
> (Fountaine Pajot, Privilege, Kennex, Fountaine Pajot) appeared on the 
> sailing
> cat scene.
>
> Endeavor's alternative as soon as sleeker-looking models come on line?
> They'll have to (1) find a way to hang their hat on some other peg. (i.e.,
> "cheapest" power cat," or "best equipped" power cat, or some other 
> marketing
> angle), or (2) make the jump to new tooling and a more stylish exterior.
>
> Of course, there's a third option -- simply hope that no other sleeker 
> power
> cats come to the market place. But the latter is a short-term bet. New
> brands/designs ARE coming over the horizon -- ALL of them arguably MUCH 
> more
> stylish than the Endeavors -- models such as Celebrity Yachts' sleeker 
> looking
> 40-footer... the pending, US-built Destiny 42....and even the
> already-available (and slightly-less-boxy) PDQ 40-plus footer.
>
> Otherwise, I predict Endeavor's "Bronco" is going to demonstrate its own
> "slow-speed (or not-so-slow-speed) getaway" . . . to obsolesence.
>
> In closing, I note Jonah's own admission that he drives a "station wagon."
> Perhaps that provides the quickest refutation to his own basic argument. 
> Last
> I looked, just about every automobile manufacturer had dropped that design
> model from their inventories. The reason?  Buyers' dissatisfaction with 
> that
> design's appearance -- "form-following-function" not withstanding.
>
> Rod Gibbons
> Cruising Cats USA
>
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Wed, 2 May 2007 15:15:31 -0300
> From: Jonah Jones <jonah@northrock.bm>
> Subject: Re: [PCW] and link.....
> To: Power Catamaran List <power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com>
> Message-ID: <88aa77ab78fd6b0dfbb827fc5ac74ecf@northrock.bm>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
>
> agreed on both counts
> its for doing stuff,  not looking at...
>
> bauhaus..... form follows function
>
> I also drive a station wagon and not an Aston martin
>
>
> On May 2, 2007, at 1:38 PM, R Bingham wrote:
>
>> http://www.endeavourcats.com/T48/UnderConstruction.htm
>
> This looks like one big boat inside . . . . . . . and like a condo on
> the
> outside.
>
> Just my honest opinion.
>
> Regards
>
> Roger Bingham
> France
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