Italian builder Azimut has long been a style leader among Mediterranean yacht constructors with new models reinventing what it means to exude marine brio and duende.  The new Fly 82, which is the flagship of the Azimut Fly series, does just that. With shapely lines and a strong sheer, the 82 looks like it is in motion even when tied to a dock. The stepped bow design, which is an Azimut staple, not only looks good it deflects spray and eases the hull up onto a plane. The cabin has a severely angled wind screen and the line of that…

This week, Tiara Yacht, the family-owned builder based in Holland, Michigan, announced that the company was introducing the all knew 39LE to its LE (Luxury Express) line. “We are advancing both our brand and the Luxury Express series with the introduction of the 39 LE,” said Tom Slikkers, CEO at Tiara Yachts. “Rooted in innovation and versatility, this cabin cruiser is a timeless model at the intersection of legacy and luxury. We are excited to introduce a new LE model to our customers, and we’re confident that the 39 LE will be as enduring as it is innovative.” The new…

This week at the Annapolis Powerboat Show Washington state builder Aspen Power Cats is introducing their all new 44-foot, C128 outboard-powered cruising cat. The company’s new flagship, with rakish good looks, defines what can be created in a 44-foot, flybridge cat. Aspen’s patented, award-winning designs are built on the asymmetrical proa hull configuration, with the starboard hull being full size and the port hull being narrower. This combination provides for a very stable ride while cutting fuel consumption significantly. With twin Suzuki 300-horsepower outboards with stainless steel, three-blade, counter rotating props, the C128 will have a cruising speed of 20…

The Helmsman family of cruising trawlers, now numbering  seven models from 31 to 54 feet, has remained true to the trawler ethos from day one. They build semi-displacement cruisers, based on working trawler designs, that are seaworthy, simple to maintain, easy to handle and possess very long range capabilities. The 43E which is now in a second generation, evolved from the highly popular Helmsman 38, hence the E in its branding. By adding almost seven feet and increasing the beam, the new 43 had a much more spacious salon and bridge and enough volume forward for two full cabins with…

At the Newport International Boat Show, Hinckley Yachts of Portsmouth, Rhode Island introduced their new 39 Picnic Boat with a large forward lounge. It’s a first for the company that has nearing 100 years in the boat building business. The addition of forward seating in the 39 creates three distinct social areas on the boat. Aft you have the spacious cockpit with wrap-around sofa seating for six or more people. The stern door opens to the full-beam swim platform that will be easily accessed when boarding the boat from a dinghy. The salon has an L-shaped settee along the port…

The Swift Trawler 37 sedan replaced the venerable 35 and has established itself as a leader in the mid-size trawler market around the world. With top speeds of over 20 knots and efficient cruising speeds in the mid-teens, the 37 has proven that trawler cruising does not have to be equal to slow cruising. This year, Beneteau is debuting their new Swift Trawler 37 Fly which adds a bridge and upper lounge to the design. This new feature effectively increases usable social spaces by about 30 percent and gives the navigator a raised helm for eyeball conning and docking. The…

This week at France’s Cannes Festival of Yachting, the Polish builder of sport cruisers unveiled a surprise for the cruising market, the all-new Galeon 430 Explorer.  The new 43-footer is their first boat in the long-range trawler style and promises to open new audiences for the builder. The design has a purposeful trawler styling with a fly bridge, a high saloon with expansive glazing and a large aft cockpit and swim platform. This last feature is enhanced by fold-down bulwarks on both sides that almost double the cockpit’s deck area. The helm at the front of the saloon is up…

West Navitech is a relatively new commercial shipyard based near La Spezia, Italy. Over the last decade they have earned a reputation for building robust aluminum commercial vessels of the highest strength and quality. They build passenger vessels, tugs, Coast Guard rescue craft and fireboats. Plus, they build aluminum hulls for other yacht builders in the La Spezia region. So, it is a little surprising to hear this month that the builder was venturing into the luxury yacht market with a new aluminum family cruiser called the Forte 47. The name Forte come from the Italian word for strength and…

When you first glimpse the new Marlow Avalon 65 from Marlow Yachts and owner David Marlow, you know the company and its owner have created an owner-operated cruising boat that has a entirely new look. Gone are the stepped sheer line and the square windows in the salon, bridge and hull. Instead, we have a high sided hull with a straight sheer, a noticeable flare at the bow and a curvaceous cabin and bridge structure with a swept back look and cats-eye windows. Plus the hull ports are oval. The whole look of the Avalon 65 has a retro feel…

With the new 46, Aquila catamarans is venturing into the explorer or adventure cat realm by combining big-boat innovations with a power plant designed to travel long distances without refueling.  The target market will be independent, adventurous couples. The published specs call for twin Volvo 320-horsepower engines that will deliver a top-end-speed of 28 knots. The tanks hold 425 gallons of diesel so running at moderate cruising speeds of 15 knots or so and burning about six gallons an hour, you have a useful range of roughly 1,000 miles. For long-haul and off-the-grid capabilities, you can opt for Aquila’s Hydroglide…