Author Peter Janssen

Boat Reviews
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New Monte Carlo 52: A Smart Luxury Cruiser

The all-new Beneteau Monte Carlo 52 is a luxury three-stateroom, two-head cruiser that’s made for easy living on board whether underway or on the hook. With a completely new design by Nuvolari & Lenard and Andreni Design, the yacht is filled with light, space and social areas all around. Power comes from twin 480-hp Volvo IPS650 pod drives. Top speed is 28 knots; at 8 knots, range is more than 500 nm. The Monte Carlo 52 is filled with nice touches: One is that there’s a third helm station on the starboard side of the cockpit, with controls for the…

Cruising Life
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Kadey-Krogen Doubles Down With New 60 Open

Although Kadey-Krogen is branching out with its new line of Summit Motoryachts, it also is staying close to its roots. Indeed, the company is doubling down on its Open line of displacement trawlers, and is working on a new 60 Open based on the acceptance of the 50 Open. Kadey-Krogen introduced the Summit line, with slippery hulls designed by Michael Peters, of Michael Peters Yacht Design in Sarasota, Florida, to appeal to younger buyers. It displayed the Summit 54 Motoryacht at the fall shows, and is now working on a 54 Coupe as well as planning a 62 Motoryacht. At…

Cruising Life
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St. Lucie Lock To Close for Three Months

Here’s some bad news for anyone planning to cruise around Florida this winter, or those hoping to tackle the Great Loop. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will close the St. Lucie Lock on the Okeechobee for three months, from January 2 to March 31, for repairs. That means that anyone wanting to cross from the Atlantic to the Gulf coasts will not be able to cut across the lake, but instead have to go all the way around, down to Key West, or cut across at Marathon in the middle of the Keys. The time and cost differential, depending…

On Watch with Peter Janssen
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Jeanneau Enters Upscale Day Boat Market with DB/43

Jeanneau just announced that it’s starting a new line of high-end day boats with the stunning-looking DB/43. Jeanneau said the new 43 would have the functionality of an express cruiser and the streamlined design and polished finish of a premium day boat. The DB/43 will be available in both inboard and outboard power, with the outboard power aimed at the U.S. market. The day boat or weekend cruiser universe is a growing market segment both here and overseas. Jeanneau, part of the Beneteau Group,  is a French giant in both the power and sail markets. The DB/43 is a collaboration…

Charter
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Sunreef Launches Luxury 60 Power Cat Charter

Sunreef now has its luxurious power cat Otoctone 60 for charter, joining the larger Sunreef Otoctone 80 in a successful charter fleet. The new 60 is a charter version of the Sunreef 60 that was recognized as the Best Power Driven Catamaran at the World Yacht Trophies last year in Cannes. Built in the historic shipyard in Gdansk, Poland, the Sunreef 60 power cat has an ultramodern design, lots of space on all three levels (due to its 35-foot-plus beam, representing more than half the cat’s length), and a seaworthy hull that delivers a comfortable ride in all kinds of…

Boat Reviews
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Absolute Sets New Bar with Windows on 56 Fly

Take a look at the rendering of the new Absolute 56, above, which seems to take the idea of large hull windows to an entirely new level. Absolute calls the 56 Fly The Absolute Charisma, with the idea that it’s a representation of state-of-the-art Italian charm. One reason for the super-sized windows forward is that Absolute has moved the owner’s suite all the way to the bow in this boat. In boats this size, the owner’s stateroom lately has been amidships. But in The Absolute Charisma, it’s full beam forward, with the panoramic windows. Absolute says the forward location gives…

Cruising Life
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New Electric-Powered Cat from Whisper Yachts

The world of electric-powered luxury catamarans is getting bigger and bigger. Whisper Yachts, a new company, just announced that it’s building a 50-foot eco-friendly autonomous power cat that will be delivered in 2023. The new Whisper 50 will combine electric propulsion with all the comforts of a larger yacht. Its propulsion and energy management are based on the Deep Blue system from Torqeedo, with two 100kW shaft-driven motors powered by 200kWh BMW batteries. You also can boost the power with two 120kW motors, driving the top speed up to 18 knots for short periods of time. More energy is provided…

Cruising Life
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New Infrastructure Act: Good News for Boating

The new $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, has a lot of good news, and new spending, that will help boating communities across the nation. The bill, officially named the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, was hailed by leaders of the marine industry. Frank Hugelmeyer, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, said that “as more Americans than ever are discovering the benefits of the outdoors – including the many benefits of time spent boating and fishing – this long-awaited achievement comes at an opportune time for the recreational boating industry.” For his part, Matt…

Boat Reviews
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New Dutch-Built Deep Water 50XLR Crosses Atlantic

There’s no doubt about the ocean-crossing bona fides of the new Deep Water Yachts Korvet50XLR on display at the recent Fort Lauderdale show. Indeed, the Dutch-built aluminum boat crossed the Atlantic on her own bottom to get there. Deep Water Yachts, an alliance of Dutch yachting companies based in The Hague, says the new 50XLR (extra long range) yacht is “the ultimate passage-maker.” The first leg of its transatlantic voyage took it from Rotterdam to the Azores, through some rough weather. On that leg, the Korvet50XLR averaged 9 knots. (You can see it cruising off Horta in the Azores in…

Boat Reviews
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RS Making New 20-foot All-Electric RIB

RS Electric Boats will start making a new 20-foot all-electric RIB in January, with plans for at least 50 more next year. If the new RS Pulse 63 catches on, the UK-based company says it can make 100 or more in a year. The Pulse 63 is powered by a standard 400V, 47kW lithium-ion Hyperdrive power pack, and it tops out at 23 knots – for a short period of time. At 20 knots, the RIB can run for 90 minutes with a range of 30 nm.  At 15 knots, it has a range of 45 nm, and at 10…

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