Classic | A gentleman of the old school

Classic 58 Gentleman Conrad, calm and relaxing

In a photo it looks like a miniature, one of those obsessively-detailed scale reproductions by an expert naval modeller – but she’s a true motoryacht, with such retro lines that she could be from an eighteenth-century print. They don’t come any more classic than this! Gentleman is a Conrad Classic 58 built by the Conrad Shipyard in Gdansk from a design by the Strawinski Yacht Studio in Sopot. Almost 18 metres long with a steel construction, its external styling is inspired by the traditional seagoing tugboats we see towing liners and chugging around our ports. It’s kept many of their characteristics, from the bow shape to its rounded hull, the flourishes on the wide stern, rising sheer and inclined funnel.

There’s no work equipment, of course, like towing hooks or water cannons for firefighting, as it’s all been replaced by a long windowed deckhouse housing the covered helm, saloon and a small flybridge with the second, exterior helm station. Teak floorboards cover all the walkways. The details reflect an old-style yachting concept, from the bare mahogany used along the handrail and the edges of the deckhouses and window frames to the skylights, a Foresti & Suardi opening system and the small glass fibre pram stowed behind the funnel with attached wooden derrick. A dozen or so small dorade vents are scattered all around ensure the necessary change of air below decks in case of bad weather or while under way. The dark hull makes a pleasing contrast with the light superstructure, while the cheery vivid yellow funnel goes nicely with the white and blue Bimini and the two orange lifebelts in full view amidships.

The seafaring heart of the Conrad Classic 58 is the bridge, boasting a swivel armchair for the helmsman and a couple of sofas for guests. It’s equipped with all the most up-to-date Simrad instrumentation, from radar and autopilot to electronic GPS map reading and navigation control systems. But who exactly is the ideal user for this kind of yacht? It has to be someone who enjoys taking a step back in time and likes sailing their own boat independently with family or a few friends. There are two twin cabins as well as the owner’s suite, all on the lower deck.

The furniture and interiors, all in classic, traditional style, are embellished by the best furnishing fabrics from Dino Zorli of ForlÏ. The leather used for the helm console is also from Italy. Bathrooms and kitchens are decorated with Madeira Gold granite. The flooring in the corridors and saloon is marine ply panels with teak banding, while the cabins offer carpet underfoot. The owner’s cabin has a traditional layout, occupying the entire bow section. It’s furnished with a large double bed, desk with flat screen TV, CD and DVD player, two sofas and more than 10 light points. The large adjoining bathroom has granite tops. The U-shaped kitchen to port on the upper deck communicates directly with the saloon, and offers a granite worktop and numerous mahogany drawers and cabinets.

Anyone buying a Conrad Classic 58 has to enjoy a more laid-back sailing style. The boat is powered by two 125hp Yanmar engines that provide a stately top speed of 10 knots and cruising speed of 8.5. She’s also equipped with a bow thruster for in-port manoeuvres. Her tanks can hold almost 6,000 litres of fuel, providing a range of 2,000 miles. Her classic style belies an impressive amount of modern on-board equipment, from the electrically-operated retractable gangway under the stern to the remote operation on the console for the 50 kilogram Hall type anchor and its 110 metres of chain. A Webasto air conditioning/heating system can be installed on request. Three versions are offered, Standard, Classic or Royal, with end prices ranging from 850,000 to 1,170,000 euro. In all three cases it’s clear that becoming a Conrad Classic owner will mean you’ll never go unnoticed, not just on the open sea but even more at the quayside!

Paolo Maccione

(yacht Digest n. 147, jun-jul 2008)

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The glittering world of yachting

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