Cruising Life

Vicem To Unveil New 55 Flybridge at Lauderdale

By Peter Janssen on October 3, 2022 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Vicem, the highly regarded Turkish builder, will launch its all-new Vicem 55 Classic Flybridge at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, starting Oct. 26. The new 55 flybridge is constructed with cold-molded mahogany and West System epoxy, giving it a semi-custom look. It’s part of Vicem’s Custom series, with boats from 46 to 80 feet; they all feature classic Downeast styling and the company says they’re designed with Maine lobster boats in mind – at least for their seakeeping abilities. But the new 55 does carry Downeast lines, even down to the touch of tumblehome aft. The 55 Classic sedan…

Aspen Launches New, Unique, Tenders

By Peter Janssen on October 2, 2022 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Aspen Power Catamarans just launched their new Carbon Cat, a series of innovative rigid tenders with a lightweight hybrid hull for stability and efficiency. The hull form, with a patent in process, has a deep, single entry forefoot and then gently widens aft and resembles a modified catamaran for stability and lift. The boats are built with a lot of carbon fiber construction (therefore their name). And they’re strong; there’s nothing to puncture. The company says you can step on the gunnels while boarding, or sit there underway. The boat is surrounded by a thick foam bumper made from SeaDek…

U-Boat Worx Unveils 123-foot Superyacht Sub

By Peter Janssen on October 1, 2022 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

If you want to channel your inner Jules Verne, take a look at the new 123-foot Nautilus superyacht from U-Boat Worx that cruises on the surface at 9 knots and underwater at 4 knots. U-Boat Worx, a creative Dutch builder, just unveiled plans for the Nautilus at the Monaco yacht show. It’s a unique diesel-electric vessel that functions both as a traditional luxurious superyacht and as an equally luxurious submarine. When it’s on the surface, the Nautilus has a massive sundeck with a freshwater pool, a bar and an al fresco dining area. The deck that all this resting on…

Deadly Storm Slams Florida, Heads Up Atlantic Coast

By Peter Janssen on September 29, 2022 Cruising Life

Hurricane Ian slammed into southwest Florida on Wednesday afternoon, with sustained winds up to 155 mph and a life-threatening storm surge as high as 12 feet. It left as many as hundreds of possible casualties as homes floated away, roads turned into rivers and more than 2.5 million people lost electricity. The storm was worst in the Naples, Fort Myers and Port Charlotte areas. Tampa, a bit north, where the last hurricane was in 1921, was spared the worst of Ian. But parts of Tampa Bay emptied out before the storm hit, with the lost water returning as a wind-driven…

Historic Annapolis Show Starts Oct. 6

By Peter Janssen on September 28, 2022 Annapolis Boat Show, Cruising Life

The United States Powerboat Show will start Thursday, Oct. 6, and run through Sunday, Oct. 9, in Annapolis, the heart of cruising in the Chesapeake and one of the premiere cruising destinations in the world. The Annapolis show is always popular, for a whole lot of reasons. It’s easy to get to (less than an hour’s drive from Washington, D.C., or Baltimore); it’s easy to see a lot of new boats and gear displayed there, and it’s in Annapolis, with boatyards, marinas, waterfront restaurants and watering holes all around. And then there’s the U.S. Naval Academy with grounds next to…

First Fleming 85 Arrives in U.S.

By Peter Janssen on September 28, 2022 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Designed to be the ultimate cruising yacht, hull number one of the new Fleming 85 just arrived at Burr Yacht Sales in Stuart, Florida. The newest (and largest) Fleming was three years in the making, ending up with a completely new design while keeping the Fleming family lines and character. The company says the goal was “to build the finest ocean-going pilothouse motor yacht,” so its owners could cruise safely and comfortably anywhere in the world. Flemings are made in Taiwan. The hull was designed by Norman R. Wright & Sons in Australia. Standard power comes from twin 1,550-hp MAN…

New High-Tech Buoys Protect Whales

By Peter Janssen on September 27, 2022 Cruising Life

A new system of high-tech offshore buoys is designed to warn ship captains when whales are swimming nearby. The trouble is, some captains pay attention to it, and some don’t. Four whales have been killed by collisions with boats so far this year near San Francisco Bay. The number is probably higher; dead whales often sink to the ocean floor. Last week, an organization called Whale Safe launched a whale-detection system of buoys in known whale feeding areas outside the bay. The system uses a buoy with a microphone 280 feet underwater to listen for whales. It then relays that…

Pearl To Launch Striking New 72 in Lauderdale

By Peter Janssen on September 27, 2022 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

The new Pearl 72, with its striking lines and light-filled interior, will make its worldwide debut at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show starting Oct. 26. Built in the UK, this latest Pearl has several unique features, including two master cabins designed for co-owners who want to be on the yacht together or simply for favored guests who truly want to be treated like VIPs. Pearl was founded in 1998 with the goal of creating a new range of luxury motor yachts with opulent and voluminous interiors and excellent designs. The fleet now runs from 62 to 95 feet. The…

North Pacific Unveils New 53 Euro Pilothouse

By Peter Janssen on September 26, 2022 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

North Pacific Yachts just introduced its new 53 Euro Pilothouse at the Boats Afloat show in Seattle. It’s an updated version of a low-maintenance, modern, long-range cruiser built for the waters of the Pacific Northwest or just about anywhere else. Trevor Brice, the president of North Pacific Yachts, wrote me that the 53 (pictured above) is the same as the builder’s 49 Euro Pilothouse except that the cockpit was extended. North Pacific first introduced a 49 Pilothouse model in 2013, and then launched a more modern version, the 49 Euro Pilothouse, in early 2021 (pictured below). The Euro version has…

Sargo Launches New All-Weather 45 Explorer

By Peter Janssen on September 26, 2022 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Sargo Boats just launched its new 45 Explorer, the Finnish builder’s largest yet, a safe, tough, all-weather cruiser, just like its predecessors. The new 45 features wide doors on both sides of the light-filled, modern wheelhouse for easy access to the high walkaround decks, a forward raked windshield, a large sliding sun roof, and social areas fore and aft. Sargo’s new flagship comes with either two or three cabins, sleeping four or six people, and two heads below. Sargo offers several Volvo power options for the 45: twin 440-hp stern drives; twin 440-hp IPS600 pod drives, or twin 480-hp IPS650…

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