JUST ONE LOOK
1/30/2007 11:35:52 AM by Charles Mullin
That’s all it will take to see that the Windsor Craft 36 is an extraordinary boat — a boat that represents the history and the future of boating through beauty and style.
Its classic lines and elegant style take you back to a time when wooden boats carried the rich and famous in supreme luxury — think Jackie O or Grace Kelly. The Windsor Craft 36 immediately evokes this nostalgia, but with all the advantages of being a thoroughly modern boat that discreetly includes all of today’s modern technologies and luxurious amenities.
The exquisite lines that accentuate the Windsor Craft 36’s masterful craftsmanship simply must be seen in person to be fully appreciated. A handcrafted mahogany boat manufactured in Turkey by old world artisans, every Windsor Craft is manufactured using three layers of cold-molded mahogany planks. Each plank is selected with an expert eye, and each layer is set at an opposing angle and saturated with West System epoxy, resulting in a very robust hull. The hull is available in several colors including navy blue, burgundy or black. The hull is also available in natural unpainted mahogany that is then finished with an incredible 60 layers of varnish.
The new Windsor Craft models owe their heritage to the original Windsor Craft boats that were made from 1988 to 1991. About 100 of the original Windsor Craft boats were made in Little Falls, Minnesota. They had mahogany interiors and fiberglass hulls and were known for their classic open-cockpit layout. The boats were so well-made and desirable that they still demand a substantial premium over their original invoice price.
Ever since the final Windsor Craft left the Little Falls factory, Genmar Holdings Chairman Irwin Jacobs has been besieged by phone calls asking him to resurrect the brand.
Over the past three years, Jacobs has been searching the world over so he could realize his dream of reintroducing a more refined version of the all-mahogany Windsor Craft. “I have always had a special place in my heart for unique, classical wooden boats,” says Jacobs. “They remind me of a time when boating began to define elegance and refinement. Boats such as the Windsor Craft take me back to a more cultured time in our country’s history, which is quite a distinction.”
After being inundated by hundreds of calls asking to bring back the Windsor Craft brand, Jacobs decided to make the next generation even more special than the original. So a Genmar team set out to search the world over to find a group that was up to the task of maintaining the integrity of the Windsor Craft brand while substantially improving upon it. That quest led to the aforementioned Turkish craftsmen, a group with the skills it takes to make a handcrafted wooden boat of superior quality.
Once aboard the Windsor Craft 36, you begin to fully appreciate the thought that went into its design. It is awe-inspiring to think that this boat is built and finished by hand to exacting standards. Every surface, every curve, every joint has been formed by the experienced hands of craftsmen who know how to bring out the best in the unique qualities of mahogany. The brilliance and depth of the wood is ever-changing in relation to the angle of the sun, revealing new textures and patterns with every pass of the eye and movement of the boat across the water.
“The new Windsor Craft is a truly amazing example of design ingenuity…the boat has the classic lines that hearken back to the glory years of wooden boats and the breathtaking details that will stop people in their tracks today,” says Jacobs.
Amenities abound onboard the new Windsor Craft, including an entertainment and refreshment station to starboard that houses a Wolf grill top, stainless steel sink, Indell refrigerator, and custom storage for wine bottles and glassware. Located on the port side is a wet bar with an icemaker (or trash compactor) along with two large storage cupboards, all under a broad mahogany top.
The helm affords a great 360-degree view through the large windshield and side windows. It is wide enough for two and is comfortable, even after spending a long day of cruising in the driver’s seat. The elegant style of the boat extends to the controls, where the driver enjoys a timeless wooden steering wheel and distinguished stainless steel throttle truly befitting a captain. Complemented by a full span of gauges and electronics, the Windsor Craft is without doubt a modern boat. Its electrical switches and fuses are all located within easy reach of the captain in a large cabinet under the steering console.
The 11-foot, 10-inch beam means family and friends are sure to enjoy the smooth, stable ride. The wide beam also allows abundant room and seating capacity for entertaining on the water or at port. The aft cockpit layout includes an expansive U-shaped seating area with a large and fully adjustable elegant wooden table with seating for a comfortable six, accented by a beautiful compass-burst inlay at its center. To the port of the captain’s helm seat is another elegant custom-made table and seating area for up to four. Blue courtesy lights line the bases of both seating areas and provide stylish ambient light.
Stepping below board is a descent into luxurious, air-conditioned comfort. At the center of the galley, a Wolf cook top offers the means to any culinary cravings, complemented by a sizable countertop, mahogany cabinets, a stainless steel sink and a coffeemaker. The spacious v-berth allows for restful slumber or relaxed seating, with ample storage in the form of more mahogany cabinets and drawers. Ceiling fixtures and wall lamps brighten the room, or cabin dwellers can enjoy natural sunlight — or starlight –— through oval-shaped windows offering fantastic views just above water level or via a skylight. Of course, the cabin comes complete with a magnificently designed and appointed day head with sink and mirror, giving passengers privacy behind a solid mahogany door.
According to Jacobs, he isn’t the only one who is enthralled with the Windsor Craft. He says, “The phrase I have frequently heard from those who have seen the Windsor Craft is that ‘it looks like a piece of fine jewelry.’”
For those who might think such splendor is dressing a lame duck, fear not: The Windsor Craft 36 is the definition of nautical might. The vessel is powered by twin 5.7-liter Volvo Penta engines at 280 horsepower apiece, and accepts 30-amp shore power. Larger horsepower gas engines as well as diesel engines are also available.
The world premiere of the Windsor Craft 36 will be held at an unveiling during the Miami Boat Show Feb. 15-19. The boat will be located in the Marquis and Carver Yachts display on Collins Avenue. “The uniqueness and stunning look of every new, hand-built African mahogany boat truly represents one of the most beautiful lines of boats ever built,” says Jacobs. “I promise you, the new 36-foot Windsor Craft is a boat worth seeing.”
Do yourself a favor and run — don’t walk — to the Windsor Craft display at the show. Once there, you be the judge of the new Windsor Craft: a vessel that’s good for the soul, all the better for her beauty, and best experienced in person.