More Art Babble And The Influence Of Millennial’s On Classic Boats

Ya, its a boat. Or is it a photo of a boat that is art, or is it an insight?

The more I am thinking about this art thing, the more fascinating it becomes. I know, I know, I have gone maybe too deep here, but this really is fascinating. To me! The transference of function to art. We have touched on this topic regarding William Morris before. Google it. Anyway, if you think about the power of the web, the ability to communicate and share without leaving your home to actually participate in the world. Things like cars, boats and other objects are being rejected by Millennial’s. Even owning a home seems ridiculous to this generation. Why? When you can with a push of a button shop, be picked up, and look at people taking pictures in fantasy ways? So in a way, a boat, yes ALL boats are going to diminish in a need to own, and wood boats, classic cars will emerge as high art. This has been going on in the car universe for years BTW.

Not a car anymore either

It also explains how and why there why a metal row boat is just that, and a Chris Craft Cobra is art. Both were boats, but one had emotion like great art.

Poster art which is art, of a boring boat wich is not art , but the drawing of it is.

So as you enter into this movement, it’s important to see the art in the boat you buy. It will help you sell it, when you are reminded of the fact that it is art and not all that great of a boat after all. And the new market wont want to own the boat, but art? Something to take instagram photos of!

Generations!

This by the way is in now way intended to be some sort of opinion good or bad on all the Generations. Gen X, Millennial’s and so on. Its reality and the way it works.

15 replies
  1. Dan T
    Dan T says:

    It is definitely a generational kind of thing. As we know, it requires an awful lot of time and patience to own and operate old boats and cars. New stuff is easy. Push a button and go. No more of the messing around with carbs or wondering if bottom planks are tight enough. Those days are gone. The thing that hasn’t changed is the beauty of the sculptured hand crafted curve in motion. Some are able to see the art in this, but most don’t. The finest examples, like the Gull Wing, will rise to the top. Is your boat a Gull Wing of boats?

  2. m-fine
    m-fine says:

    No, my boat is more of a Ford Pinto than a gull wing. Actually probably worse. Luckily I am too busy reading classic literature to care.

  3. Troy in ANE
    Troy in ANE says:

    I get such a chuckle out of the yack about “Millennial’s”. This is not new. Every generation thinks the generations behind them will ruin the world.

    Just look at what our parents and grandparents thought about the Hippies of the 60’s and 70’s, the Yuppies of the 80’s and 90’s. These kids will come to appreciate things and stuff, maybe not the same things we like and want, but that is to be expected.

    Floyd R Turbo quoted Lynard Skynard two days ago not Bob Hope, why? Easy we are a different generation. We all have different life experiences depending on the times in which we grew up.

    Give these kids a chance and they will SHINE!

  4. Niel
    Niel says:

    I used to have a 1960 356 cabriolet and tried to justify it’s purchase by saying it was “kinetic art” as if it was a Calder mobile. My mother call bullshit and told me it was a vulgar display.
    Shortly thereafter, the Guggenheim museum held an exhibit of classic automobiles and motorcycles. Of course I felt vindicated until my mom show me the maplethorp exhibit. Art will always be subjective and beauty will always be appreciated in all it’s forms.
    ( I’m hearing my sweet mothers voice saying “bullshit” as I write this!)

  5. John Rothert
    John Rothert says:

    When I had the car bug I had a 190 SL got tired of grease and moved on to boats….that was 30+ years ago. As to art, I keep my one off Argentine runabout (featured here in the past) if only just to look at….I have no paintings or sculpture to speak off….but I do have ART! My Fairchild Scout 30 fits the bill too.
    I don’t care a bit what the kids are doing…because like Troy points out…let em run…they will turn out fine….like Mfine….et al
    John in Va.

    • Dan T
      Dan T says:

      John, I too had a 1956 190SL with an original steel removable hardtop. White with red leather interior. I sold that car around 1982 for 6K. Had kids, needed money. Should a got more for it. Darn kids are very expensive. Love my kids and miss that automobile.

  6. Dennis Mykols
    Dennis Mykols says:

    Artisy, fartisy, I call it “STYLE”, the lines, the curb appeal, looking sexy on the trailer in the driveway, or water, that is “ART” to me, anyway.
    Growing up in the Detroit area in the 50’s and 60’s I am a byproduct of the car stylin marketing hype. So many of the cars I bought was based on how they looked to me, not function (just ask my three sons packed in a back seat of the “family car”.
    Never read to see if they were a mechanical piece of junk, which most were in the 70’s and 80’s. It had to have “STYLE”… I mean art.

  7. Dennis Mykols
    Dennis Mykols says:

    This car style marketing that was ingrained in me by guys like Matt, still carries on to this day, with both my cars and boats I enjoy looking at.

  8. MikeM
    MikeM says:

    NR…no, that was not me on Alex’s lap.

    Incidentally, I found this book under the seat of my 1929 Hacker barn find. Let’s just say it’s an interesting read.

  9. John Rothert
    John Rothert says:

    Send that book to Troy….he is going to comment on it anyway so get him to do a BOOK REVIEW….will add some class to this group!

    John in Va

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