Small Boats in the New Economy

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Norseboat 21.5

Im not sure whether boatbuilder and businessman Kevin Jeffrey had British economist E.F. Schumachers 1973 collection of essays Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered in mind when he began developing his line of Norseboats. But given my experience aboard the Norseboat 21.5, a charming micro-cruiser based on the New Jersey beach skiff, I wouldnt be surprised if he did.

For more than 30 years, Jeffreys other business, Avalon House, has tackled everything from solar home design to organic foods. He and his first wife, Nan, collaborated on a wide range of books that adhere to the small-is-beautiful concept. Their topics range from renewable energy afloat to a guide on cruising multihulls. The couple gained much of their insight into the art of living small while cruising with their twin boys.

A critique of conventional Western economics, Schumachers Small is Beautiful argues for a simpler, decentralized economy that puts the focus on individual productivity and general well-being, rather than gross domestic product. Although Schumachers critics associate some of his proposals to the radical back-to-nature movement of the 1960s, many of his ideas are as relevant today as they were when Small is Beautiful was published. Prime Minister David Cameron is among several contemporary leaders whose economic vision has been influenced by Schumachers work.

What does an economic theory have to do with sailboats? Boatbuilding is one form of production that has, to some degree, remained fairly consistent with Schumachers ideas. Schumacher famously encouraged the development of intermediate (now called appropriate) technologies: new technologies with relatively low capital requirements. The aim of such technology, wrote Schumacher, is to foster small-scale, labor intensive, and energy-efficient production that meets local needs. Certainly, high-volume builders like Beneteau, Hunter, and Catalina account for the bulk of sailboat sales in the U.S., but smaller boatbuilders with more targeted local customers still succeed. Im not calling for a return to one-off wooden boats (although Schumacher might), but I frequently marvel at how tenaciously independent boatbuilders have fought off extinction.

While the age of fiberglass is often lamented as bringing an end to diversity, innovation, and craftsmanship, that doesn’t seem to be the case. At every boat show I attend, I find at least one new boat, usually a small boat, that delivers something new and different. These boats often come from humble beginnings-backyards, garages, or small rented workshops.

Small boatbuilding companies play a vital role in the industry. They ensure that beauty and utility wont be lost in the blind pursuit of gross productivity. Although very few of these endemic boats ever gain a global following, thats not the point. Some of the best sailboats are those shaped by their environment and the people who sail them-not by a marketing plan for the next best one-design.

So heres a toast to the independent boatbuilders: May they always be at least one boat ahead of the bank.

Darrell Nicholson
Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Supported entirely by subscribers, Practical Sailor accepts no advertising. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him by email at practicalsailor@belvoir.com.