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OK, before this gets into a bunfight, I would like to state that I respect Jeff H's opinion (and his essays are thought-provoking) and did not realize he had the depth of experience he's stated above. It certainly entitles him to a better-informed opinion than most of us.
I will say this: Good sailors can sail bad boats better than bad sailors can sail good boats. I will also note that many boats of any era, after being subjected to extreme conditions, are washed ashore or found more or less intact after being abandoned by their crews. There's aren't many widow-makers out there, unless you consider those who take manifestly coastal/fair-weather cruisers on fool's errands.
Having said that, I would enjoy Jeff's opinion of what exemplified his ideals of seaworthiness, offshore-appropriate, seakindly motion, resistance to capsize and other "desirable traits" from each decade between 1960 and now...which would be six boats, if you count this present decade as mostly done.
Let's say boats between 35-45 feet, as 35 feet is considered near the low end for offshore (these days) and 45 feet is close to the limit a fit couple can handle.
I want to see if Jeff's scrapbook of boat crushes reveals consistencies or traits that are definitive...if he will oblige me!
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