Rob, thank you; that is a excellent answer and exactly what I had in mind...I
would still love to have Rob Ball's thoughts about this as well...: the
reference to the "non" planned obsolescence is appropriate...you guys knew it
was a good boat (all of the models collectively) and that was the goal...;
Don't see that in today's boats!
Also, the comment about Big George's urge to stick with the basics...he gets an
"atta boy" for that!
Thank you again!
Richard
Richard N. Bush Law Offices
2950 Breckenridge Lane, Suite Nine
Louisville, Kentucky 40220-1462
502-584-7255
-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Mazza via CnC-List <[email protected]>
To: Stus-List <[email protected]>
Cc: Robert Mazza <[email protected]>
Sent: Mon, Jun 28, 2021 3:01 pm
Subject: Stus-List Re: A question for the designers
Richard,
I've been giving Rob some time to answer, since he was more involved in the
conceptual side of the design than I was. However, with regard to the longevity
of the C&C product, one conversation I had with Butch Ulmer and Howie McMichael
several years ago over drinks at the Larchmount Yacht Club comes to mind. Both,
of course, had been heavily involved in the sales and sails of C&C product,
especially on Long Island Sound. I asked them specifically what it was they
thought differentiated a C&C from other similar product of the period? Without
hesitation and in unison they both said "quality"! They went on to elaborate
that by "quality" they meant quality throughout the whole organization, from
design, to building, through sales and marketing, right up to the Board Room.
They remembered dealing with people at all levels of the company who cared
about the product and the customer, in both the Custom Shop and in both
production plants. With that level of devotion it would have been hard not to
build a good product. Of course, because the product was so well designed and
built it would last forever, which automatically defied the concept of "planned
obsolescence".
With regard to the C&C 37 specifically, I remember that her design was heavily
influenced by Big George wanting to steer the design office away from IOR
oriented designs, and to a more "cruiser/racer" concept on which the company
was originally founded. I recently had a look at the C&C 37 Design Book that
resides at the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston, and noted that
while I actually wrote the original design brief on the boat,for some reason I
actually had very little to do with her design.
I'm not sure if that answered your question. If not, perhaps Rob could
elaborate further. The boats were just simply well designed and well built. Of
course, that is not to say that after 40 years or so of hard use, some don't
require and deserve a little TLC.
Rob
On Sun, Jun 27, 2021 at 7:28 PM Neil Andersen via CnC-List
<[email protected]> wrote:
Don’t forget the 32 😉.
Neil AndersenRock Hall, MD 21661484-354-8800From: Richard Bush via CnC-List
<[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, June 27, 2021 1:43 PM
I have been racing on Wednesday nights this year after a hiatus from racing
for about 15-20 years; this is beer can racing, not the balls to the wall ocean
stuff, I am racing my 1985 C&C 37, (cruising sails,135 jib, bimini, dodger,
centerboard, dirty bottom, the list goes on). but I must say it has really been
fun; One of the biggest surprises is that this boat is not only competitive,
but we are winning races..; on light air nights was walk away from the fleet!
So, my question to Rob Ball and Rob Mazza and any of the other individuals who
go back to the time these boats were conceived and produced...did you have any
inkling that they would still be racing and competitive 35-40 years into the
I know from the comments on other boats, both here and on Facebook, that other
owners are also having success on the race course, whether its a 29, 30, 33, 35
or 40, or more. Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list
to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list
- use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurrayThanks -
StuThanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with
the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal
to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the
costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to
send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the
costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to
send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
