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The wide silhouette and full, round bow have become the new language of naval architects. More than an evolution, it's an aesthetic and technical revolution that has swept through the entire market. The scow is now the hallmark of a modern, contemporary and instantly recognizable boat.
Aesthetically, it has to be said, not everyone is seduced. Purists of fine design frown, nostalgic for the slender bows that cut through waves like a blade.
But curators have to face the facts: in just a few years, this atypical hull has swept away the classic shapes. We're no longer trying to convince: we're exhibiting. The scow has entered the landscape as a matter of course. The market has spoken. Trade shows are full of scows, and whether you find them attractive or clumsy, they sell.
Because let's be honest: if we put aside the marketing rhetoric and hydrodynamic explanations already trotted out, the scow's real revolution isn't just at sea... it's also in the saloon. A wider bow means more interior volume. In other words: wider berths, cabins that are no longer reminiscent of the two-seater tent stuck at the Groix campsite, and the ability to stand upright without bumping into the bulkhead. Enough to reconcile ladies, gentlemen and teenagers with life on board.
On the other hand, there was radio silence from the major shipyards. The heavyweights of the yachting industry are still preferring to offer their ranges with more classic hulls. Is this commercial caution or a conscious conservatism? It's hard to say. Perhaps they're waiting for the trend to take root before investing massively, or perhaps they're afraid that a family crew won't take kindly to the squat look of a scow.
So, in the meantime, small-scale projects are taking center stage, with the agility and freedom of outsiders. They dare where the big boys hesitate. And on the pontoons, it makes you smile: seeing these chubby bows sticking out among the wiser silhouettes is a bit like seeing a guest arrive at a gala dinner in flip-flops. At first you think it's a bit of a show-off, but then you start to wonder if he's right.
The yachting industry has always operated in waves of trends. Todayâ??s scows could well be tomorrowâ??s obvious carènes. But for the moment, it's still the small builders who are taking the âeuros risk and âeuros pleasure of writing this new chapter.
It remains to be seen whether tomorrow we'll still be talking about the "scow trend", or whether we'll simply say "sailboat".
