I may not be a sailor but I appreciate quality, and this boat has it. It is a Hallberg-Rassey, a Swedish brand that is well respected in the sailing community. Specifically the Quijote is a 37 foot center cockpit offshore sloop. "Offshore" in this context designates a higher degree of seaworthiness than a boat that sticks close to land needs to have.
The first thing one notices is the construction materials. The main cabin or saloon is almost all wood - and this is solid wood which glows with a gorgeous caramel color. The blue upholstery is easy on the eye and yet durable and seemingly impervious to staining. The metal hardware has a solid feel and sports a lustrous patina. Even the "dodger" that shields the cockpit from wind and sun has sturdy glass windows instead of plastic.
After a few days in the boat, the real magic of the boat reveals itself -- thoughtful design. Storage space is ingeniously maximized. Cabinet doors do not clang against anything else, and light switches and latches are within reach right where you need them. There are no design flourishes, but the practical has been transformed into its own attractive aesthetic. The teak deck looks like a giant cutting board in a high end kitchen.
To me, one of the hallmarks of quality is when you can obtain a wide variety of original equipment parts years after your purchase. Rod recently was able to replace a domed metal fresh air inlet cover with a replacement part from HR. And when an upholstery button was lost, Rod contacted the manufacturer and they asked to see a sample of the material. With that in hand, they were able to make up a new batch of matching buttons and send them along. This boat is meant to last and was built with that in mind.
(Written by Bob Bennett)
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