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…
SPONSORED POST
Photo Slideshow of Recently Debuted Outer Reef Yachts 740 Motoryacht “EQUIESSENCE”
Congratulations to two-time Outer Reef Yachts owner Susan S., who, surrounded by family and friends, christened the head-turning 740 Deluxbridge Motoryacht "EQUIESSENCE," which made her global debut at the 2021 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. This exceptional yacht is a skylounge model, offering an array of benefits due to an enclosed upper helm station, including an air temperature-controlled environment and protection from inclement weather during casual cruising or long-range excursions. The skylounge space offers true versatility and is often used as a family activity space and/or an office area or study.
SPONSORED
The Strongest Link in Your Chain
The strongest link – Mantus swivel is stronger than its corresponding Grade 40 chain. (WLL is 1/5 UBS)
Integrated shackle design completely eliminates side loading making this the safest swivel on the market.
The pin on the chain side of the swivel is the strength limiting part since the geometry of the chain determines the pin size. Mantus swivel is the first to feature an oblong pin to maximizes the pin strength, with the aid of computer modeling and physical testing we truly created a swivel that is the strongest link.
Note the innovative shackle bolt design – no shackle dog! This slim hex head design (with holes for safety wire) offers a slimmer profile making it easier for translating through your bow roller.
• 316 L Stainless Steel, Precision Cast and Electro-Polished Body
Pin made from 2507 Duplex Stainless Steel and is mechanically polished and electro-polished.
Metaverse Mega-Yacht Sells for $650,000
Here’s a first, at least as far as I know. A digital mega-yacht just sold for $650,000, making it the most expensive NFT (non-fungible token) sold in Sandbox’s virtual world. The Sun reports that the Metaflower Super Mega Yacht sold for 149 ether (about $650,000) in a transaction on Sandbox, one of the leading metaverse games. The yacht was sold by Republic Realm, a metaverse developer; the sale made the Metaflower the most expensive NFT on Sandbox. The yacht is part of Sandbox’s Fantasy Collection of luxury NFT’s, which includes private islands, speedboats and jet skis. The Fantasy Collection provides…
Highfield Launches 30-foot Flagship RIB
Highfield Boats, the world’s largest maker of aluminum-hulled RIBs, just launched its largest boat yet, the almost-30-foot Sport 900 that can hold 15 passengers and hit a top speed of 60 mph. The all-new Sport 900 has an unusual 26-degree deadrise at the transom so the large RIB can cut through offshore waters. The company says it is designed for use as tender or a high-end day and picnic boat. It is the top of Highfield’s Sport series, which starts at 9’ 8.” The new Highfield represents the growing popularity of RIBs. Tom Watson, the general manager of Highfield Boats…
Hacker-Craft Adding New Evolution Series
Hacker-Craft, the iconic builder of mahogany boats on Lake George, New York, is starting a new line called the Evolution Collection, designed to represent growth and forward momentum. Erin Badcock, the company’s CEO, wrote me that “Hacker-Craft has been focusing on our brand, building on our legacy, while continuing to grow and innovate.” The new Evolution Collection, with three different models, represents that direction. Ever since 1908, Hacker-Craft has built boats with classic lines and meticulous craftsmanship. For almost 100 years, they have defined the Golden Age of yachting. Now the company wants the Evolution Collection to define a new…
Coast Guard Saves 95-foot Yacht in Mona Passage
Two ships and a helicopter from the Coast Guard saved a 95-foot yacht from sinking in the Mona Passage, about 26 nm west of Rincon, Puerto Rico. The Coast Guard says that the yacht, Current Sea from Fort Lauderdale, reported it was taking on water and the bow was riding low in the water. The captain of the yacht transmitted a Mayday call at 8:54 a.m., which was received by the Coast Guard in San Juan. The bow was damaged when the anchor reportedly came loose and punctured the hull in two areas. The bilge was flooding. The Coast Guard…
Boat Sinks, Two Aussies Fight Off Crocodile
Two Australian fishermen survived for three days in the outback after their boat capsized and they were attacked by a crocodile. They ended up drinking their own urine for fluid until they were rescued by a passing fishing boat. The men, 32- and 33-years old, were on a fishing trip on a remote section of the Daly River, about 60 miles south of Darwin in the Northern Territory. Their boat hit a submerged object, they don’t know what, and they were thrown into the water. Almost immediately, they were attacked by a crocodile. This part of the river is known…
New Okean 80: Space, Light, Innovation
The prize-winning, head-turning Okean 80 just made its U.S. debut at the Fort Lauderdale show. The flagship of the Okean fleet, the 80 was joined by a 50 Fly, the Brazilian builder’s first boat that was launched in 2017, and a 55. The 80, with an unusual and innovative open plan, where balconies expand from the salon and aft cockpit and a wall of glass surrounds the main deck, won the Revelation of the Year award at the World Yachts Trophies in Cannes last year. With an almost plumb bow, modern lines and luxurious fit and finish and furnishings, the…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Icom Launches New SSB at METS Show
Icom just unveiled its new state-of-the-art SSB at the big METS marine trade show in Amsterdam. Designed for offshore cruising, the new Icom IC-M804 provides long-range MF and HF radio communications designed to keep you safe anywhere in the world. The new Icom has a DSC radio that scans six distress signals, a distress call button and an integrated GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) providing global coverage through a constellation of satellites. The Icom conforms to the latest European and international standards. SSB radios have been used in offshore vessels for generations. (When Eric Schweikardt, the photographer, and I drove…
Why You Need AIS. A Primer
Here’s a good primer about why you should have AIS on your boat, from America’s Boating Compass and the US Power Squadrons: AIS, or Automatic Identification System, can make your boating safer. Consider the following scenario: You have an AIS system on your boat. You are on watch, 20 miles off the coast, sailing in hazy conditions. An AIS alarm sounds on your chart plotter. Upon scanning the horizon, you see nothing. When you return to your display, you see a target 5 miles ahead traveling at 23 knots and heading toward you. The AIS information data box shows that…
New Holiday Gifts for Safe Boating from BoatUS
It’s that time of the year again. What to give your favorite boat owner, or crew? Here are some great ideas about holiday gifts that will keep everyone on board safe for years to come. ANNAPOLIS, Md., Nov. 12, 2021 – Bulky, square orange life vests have given way to more comfortable belt- or harness-style inflatable floatation devices, yet many recreational boaters still carry only the former aboard. Are boaters up-to-date on today’s newest technology-inspired boating safety gear? With the holidays around the corner, the nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water offers a buying guide for technology…
Raymarine Unveils New Line of Cyclone Radars
Raymarine just introduced its new Cyclone series of solid-state, open-array radars at the Fort Lauderdale show. The all-new CHIRP pulse compression radars come in 3-, 4- and 6-foot arrays, with two power options for each size: The Cyclone, with 55 watt, 6kW performance, and the Cyclone Pro, with 110 watt, 12kW performance. All the models have Raymarine’s new detection technology, including the Cyclone Bird Mode that will help anglers find the birds that lead to schools of baitfish. The Cyclone radars have a new look, developed from an aircraft-wing design, and they also have a low profile, measuring just 13.2…
Phuket Opens Again for Cruising, Charters
Phuket, the largest island in Thailand and one of the world’s most exotic cruising and charter destinations, is open again. And the Moorings charter base there also is open, with sail and power charters available. With a heavy reliance on tourism, Thailand’s economy took a big hit during the worst of the pandemic, and the country was off-limits to a lot of foreign travelers. There are still protocols (see the Thai embassy link below), but the Thai government adopted a separate plan called the Phuket Sandbox that has allowed vaccinated international travelers to visit the island. It’s easy to get…
Charleston: A Charming Cruisers’ Destination
Charleston, South Carolina, is one of the most historic and, to my mind, at least, most enjoyable cities to visit in the United States – particularly if you arrive by boat. The last time I was there, just a few years ago, I was on an Eastbay 50, coming down from Connecticut, and we arrived at the sea buoy on a mid-September morning. Coming in the long, well-marked channel took a while, and we could see the skyline and then the Battery district, at the juncture of the Ashley and Cooper Rivers that mark the edges of the town, bathed…
Palm Beach Public Marina Reopens on Nov. 1
The Town of Palm Beach Marina, home to power and sail boats since the 1940s, is scheduled to reopen on November 1 after a major $40 million renovation. The marina, just across the Lake Worth Lagoon from the mainland, is not far from Palm Beach’s considerably upscale attractions, including the Worth Avenue boutiques, art galleries and restaurants. One of the most significant attractions, however, is the weather, which provides a 12-month boating season. Another is the location, along the ICW with easy access to the Atlantic for cruising and fishing and a relatively short ride over to the Bahamas. For…
New Cruising Guide for the Virgin Islands
If you’re heading for the Virgin Islands any time soon, or even if you’re just thinking about cruising or chartering there, take a look at the new Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands by Simon Scott. It’s an updated version of the guide that’s been helping cruisers in both the British and U.S. Virgins for 40 years. The new 2022 version of the guide has everything you need to enjoy your cruise there: detailed charts with aerial photography of anchorages, plus piloting, anchoring and shoreside information. It has key GPS coordinates, customs and immigration regulations, and information about marinas, chandleries,…
Garmin Launches New Handheld GPS, Radar
Garmin is making a lot of news at the big Fort Lauderdale show, with the introduction of a new series of marine handheld GPS models, as well as two new solid-state dome radars. The handheld GPSMAP 79 has an all-new appearance with a modern display to help you navigate safely and enjoy your time on the water. It has a rugged, floating design with a suite of easy-to-use nav tools that fit in the palm of your hand. The new Garmin has a larger, optically-bonded display and a scratch-resistant glass lens that prevents fogging, improves contrast and enhances clarity, even…
Best New Sat Comms for TV, Internet, Phone
Whether you’re walking the docks at a boat show or any self-respecting marina, you’ll see satellite domes on top of a lot of boats. In the old days (four or five years ago). they were only on large boats; now they’re on boats as small as 25 feet. Some carry live TV programming from shore, while others provide links to the internet, data and phone service. But which ones are best? Each year, Marine Electronics Journal asks top manufacturers to identify the one model in various categories that they define as their Best & Brightest, the one the manufacturers rate highest…
Garmin, Furuno, KVH Big Winners at NMEA
Garmin, Furuno and KVH were among the big winners at the annual National Marine Electronics Association awards competition recently at the organization’s meeting in Orlando, Florida. Judges named the Shadow-Caster Light Commander the Best New Product, while Furuno’s NavNet TZT16F won the NMEA’s Technology Award. Furuno won six other awards (Furuno has won 242 of the awards since they started in 1971). For its part, KVH won three, extending its winning streak to 24 straight years. NMEA members, the top marine electronic professionals in the U.S., cast votes on line in 18 categories for the Product of Excellence Awards. These…
Raymarine Launches YachtSense in U.S.
Raymarine just introduced its new YachtSense control system to the U.S. at the IBEX boat builders’ show in Tampa. YachtSense is a digital switching system that connects all the boat’s systems so the captain can be aware of what’s happening in real time. “YachtSense is the new standard in premium digital control solutions for today’s most sophisticated vessels,” said Jamie Dery, Raymarine’s VP of the Americas. Raymarine says the system is unique because of its scalability, its options for various configurations, and its safety features. It uses a modular architecture, starting with a Master Module and a Power Supply Module…
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…
Actor Matthew Rhys Restores 1939 Wheeler
One night four years ago, Matthew Rhys, the actor, was at home in New York, drinking a whisky and scrolling through eBay, killing time, when he saw an ad for a wooden 38-foot, 1939 Wheeler Playmate. It wasn’t in very good shape, and it was in California, but it was the same model as Ernest Hemingway’s Pilar, and Rhys was a Hemingway fan. It also was one of the four documented Wheeler Playmates in the world. And both Rhys and his partner, Keri Russell (his KGB wife in The Americans), liked chartering wooden boats. They had just celebrated her 40th…
Moorings Adding New 464 PC to BVI Fleet
The Moorings just announced that it’s adding the new 464 Powercat to its charter fleet in the British Virgin Islands. The 464 is The Moorings’ second in its new generation of Leopard power catamarans from Robertson & Caine, after the 53. The 464 is designed to be a home-away-from home for people who are chartering in the BVI; it’s also available for a charter ownership, with significant advantages, for anyone interested in buying it. The new cat has more interior space than in previous version, plus redesigned cabins and furnishings, zoned air conditioning and separate engine rooms for its twin…
Kingfisher, a 1959 Huckins, Ready for Custom Charters
Here’s a charter with more than a little touch of class: A totally restored 1959 vintage 48-foot Huckins named Kingfisher with the company’s trademark fairform flyer hull for cruising comfort and performance. Like many cruising snowbirds, Kingfisher moves with the seasons. It’s in the north from June through October, available for cruises in Sag Harbor, Shelter Island, Greenport and Montauk on Long Island, even over to the Hamptons. From January through May, Kingfisher can be found in Palm Beach, but you can charter it for trips to Miami or the Keys. The yacht is available for anything from a three-hour…