I don't think comparisons to older styled boats are part of the B50 marketing. This looks like the racing boats we see today. I agree with Todd, I don't think they'll sell many of these. But if they reinvented the B40 in a traditional way, I don't think they would sell any more, if even two. There's plenty of the old boats around to make brand new, if you have the desire and means.

The ergonomics are different, these boats don't heel, they can't,...heel,... looking at the aft view. In fact there's nothing that resembles the look of older boats in these fat-flat sleds. And their shape has created a whole new envelope below, that isn't going to resemble anything from the past.

Coamings aren't going to have the same effect as they do at 20 or so degrees. I suspect the designer well knows that. I would see this sailing more like a school bus. In fact, a school bus, going a bit too fast,... on a bumpy road. Makes me think of boarding a bus in the Scottish Highlands where the driver greeted us with, "Welcome to the bone crusher!"

All joking aside, these boats have turned a corner away from a hull that goes -through- the water. Heeling, that good solid safe ride that I so enjoy, isn't a part of the experience of a boat like this. Sailing through a confused short steep sea at a good clip in a wide flat boat like this, makes me think you might need a seatbelt.

One plus I see, decks are back with these. With so much beam expanse that is the whole trick behind their planing speed, there is a lot of realestate to work with on deck. The new 'glamour shots' of sailing today are the young lean crew on those big decks, with matching monogramed polo shirts.

I prefer the older styling to this but I'm not the market here. And on another plus side, I prefer this sort of utility-racing boat compared to the last couple gens. of ever increasing-sized, 'dwellings' that have had a lot to do with a decline in sailing and growth in floating power generation stations(IMO).