Australian builder Maritimo Yachts introduced their new Maritimo S50 sedan at the country’s Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show at the end of May. The S50 joins the growing fleet of sedans made by the builder that includes three other models from 55 to 75 feet. In the announcement, the builder noted that their sedan models have been steadily growing in popularity and the addition of a 50-footer provides a good entry point for owners who like the sedan look and don’t need a flybridge. The new S50 incorporates some modern European styling such as the sleekly swept back windshield, the…
The new Pioneer 60 solar-powered cruising cat is the brainchild of German engineer and entrepreneur Mike Frank. He founded Pioneer Yachts earlier this year and hull number one –Pioneer One—will be launched in July. The inspiration for the all-solar power cat came for what Frank calls “a gap in the market.” He was looking for a fully sustainable power cat for his personal use but could not find what he wanted and required from any of the existing builders. An engineer by training and a entrepreneur by vocation, he saw the opportunity to create a state of the art boat…
On Monday June 22, George Pino, a prominent real estate developer accused in the death of one teen and the serious injury to another when he crashed his 29-foot speedboat into a buoy on Maiami’s Biscayne Bay, was found not guilty. Prosecutors accused Pino, 55, of vessel homicide and second-degree manslaughter in the death of Lucy Fernandez due to the crash. A second victim, Katy Puig, was left with permanent disabilities from the accident. Prosecutors had claimed that Pino had been operating the speedboat recklessly and was therefore responsible for the death and serious injuries. The jury came to the…
At only 37 feet, the new Parker Monaco 110 Fly from the huge Polish builder Parker Yachts, is only one of a handful of cruisers under 40 feet to sport a flybridge and it does so with grace and good looks. A twin outboard, two-cabin, one-head family cruiser, the Monaco Fly was designed in collaboration with the famed Tony Castro Design firm. The hull is Euro-modern in styling and has a sharp entry and a modified-V form underwater. The flybridge sits atop the salon fairly discreetly so the boat doesn’t look like a wedding cake. Instead of a hard top,…
When it came time for Groupe Beneteau to update and reinvent their Gran Tourismo line, they started afresh and went back to the essence of what a GT sport express cruiser has always been about, sleek simple lines, a low curvaceous cabin top and plenty of open space on deck. For naval architecture they turned to the Bill Dixon Design group which delivered a thoroughly modern planing, deep-V hull with plenty of volume but a simple and streamlined look. For styling they went with the Andreani Design team who created living spaces that are warm, spacious and modern. For guidance…
The German builder Fjord was one of the earliest adopters of the aggressively modern styling, the straight sheer, plumb bow and large hull glazing that is so popular today, particularly in Europe. And, while the brand has many competitors in the Sport Cruising market, they certainly have not lost their edge. The new 490 Sport underlines that fact with a big black Sharpie. Driven by three 600-horsepower Mercury Verado outboards, the new design rides on a hull with a stepped, deep-V design. It will have a top end speed of over 40 knots and its ride through the chop will…
What at first looked like a David versus Goliath conflict in the Persian Gulf between the U.S. and Iran, has turned into a stalemate largely because Iran has managed to keep the Strait of Homuz closed. That is in no small part because of their massive fleet of mosquito boats. The strait is under a double blockade with hundreds of commercial ships unable to pass through for fear of being stopped by either the U.S. or Iran. But, Iran’s navy has largely been put out of commission, so how are they able to maintain their blockade? Apparently, it is easier…
Earlier this year, we published a video from Marex Yachts of Norway showing off their unique Marex 440 Gourmet Cruiser. A flagship in their line of express cruisers, the Gourmet Cruiser has an expanded galley designed to facilitate entertaining and cooking with and for friends. The video got so many views, we thought it was time to introduce the boat’s sister ship, the Marex 440 Scandinavia. The hull and deck are the same but the salon has been reconfigured with a smaller galley and a large sit-down dinette. All PostsThe dinette has several features that will appeal to cruising families.…
Steve and Linda Dashew have left an indelible mark on the cruising world, both power and sail They developed the Deerfoot line of blue water sailboats that changed the way many voyagers thought about offshore yacht design. They did the same to the power cruising world when they launched the FPB series. The concept behind the FBP designs from 64 to 97 feet focuses on long-haul, efficient and low-maintenance cruising. New Zealand boat builder Circa Marine, based in Whangerei, North Island, built all 17 of the FPB designs until the Dashews decided to end the project at it peak of…
When it comes to interesting and innovative boat design and performance, Larry Graff, founder and CEO of Aspen Power Catamarans may well be in a league of his own. He builds proa-style cruising cats in which one hull is narrower than the other, like Polynesian sailing proas. This unusual feature reduces drag and weight which in turn minimizes the power needed from the outboard motors for maximum efficiency and speed. He builds five models from 32 to 44 feet in Bellingham, Washington, of which the 38-foot C110 is the newest addition. The boat has a three-cabin, one-head (with shower) configuration…
Founded in 1976, Kadey Krogen Yachts celebrates 50 years in business in 2026 and announced this month that they are honoring the occasion by introducing the new Krogen 53. The new boat is a next generation trawler cruising yacht with all of Krogen’s blue-water, ocean-crossing DNA. It follows in the wake of the successful Krogen 52 and advances that legacy with a hoist of innovations and new owner options. Like her Krogen sister ships, the 53 has a Pure Full Displacement hull with a fine entry at the bow, a balanced water plane for sea kindliness and the company’s iconic…
Increasingly over the past few years, boat builders and the boat owners they serve have shown a burgeoning interest and preference for outboards over diesel inboards. The reasons are several. Outboards are quieter, can be as fuel efficient as an inboard and free up space inside the hull for storage. Modern outboards are sophisticated machines that have evolved significantly in the last two decades to the point that they are impressively reliable and, if well maintained, destined for a long life. The catch Is in that last point. Regular care and routine maintenance are the keys to an outboard’s long…
It has been almost six years since Elon Musk’s visionary company Starlink flipped the “on” switch and changed the way we access the internet when far from cell towers and cable hook ups. Starlink now has. 10 million subscribers and has played vital roles in all walks of life, including the Ukraine’s valiant efforts to beat back the invading Russians. For normal cruisers, Starlink has provided an affordable way to stay linked to the internet and thus allows us to work from our boats anywhere in the world. That means we can live a blended lifestyle in which we can…
At the Ft. Lauderdale International Boats Show, I had the chance to test out the performance of Seakeeper’s Ride stabilization systems aboard a 35 foot performance cruiser capable of hitting 40 knots. We took the boat to government cut and ran it in and out through a nasty washing-machine seaway. The stabilizers are mounted on the stern and make trim adjustments in micro seconds. The effect was dramatic. With the Ride system engaged, the boat leveled off, did not roll or pitch and did not yaw as it moved through the mixed up sea. Turned off, the boat’s motion was…
YANMAR Marine International has announced the launch of its VC30 at Metstrade, a third-generation Vessel Control System, with advanced design and functionality, a newly designed precision-engineered joystickand easy installation. YANMAR’s most advanced control system to date, the VC30 is designed to simplify throttle control and docking in one integrated system, whilst making it easier to view data and create a seamless dashboard. The full system is enhanced by a high-quality display and modern design, including alarger, 4.3” 1000cd optically bonded screen, to reduce reflection and improve readability, with NMEA2000 output. The display unit has an auto dimming function for dark…
Larry Graff, the founder and president of Aspen Catamarans, is an adventurer at heart and there are no adventure he likes better than leading a flotilla of Aspen cats and their owners to wild and wooly destinations. In this flotilla, that was the west coast of Vancouver Island off British Columbia. Twenty Aspens gathered in Anacortes, Washington and set off for a cruise in company. Aspen cats are designed for long-haul, efficient cruising and can make excellent average speeds. The design that Larry Graff developed is actually a proa configuration. In a proa, one hull is narrower than the other…
The 4500-square-mile body of water on the U.S. East Coast known as the Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in North American. It is fed by freshwater rivers at its head and then flushed by oceanic tides in is lower regions. The result is an aquatic stew that can be divided into three distinct regions. Blessed with many sheltered harbors, coves and river mouths, the Chesapeake Is a cruising paradise with historic towns like Annapolis and Oxford to visit and easy access to the Potomac River and the historic attractions around Washington, DC. Famed for it seafood –oysters, shrimp and…
The coast of British Columbia in the Pacific Northwest has long held an allure for cruisers. Yet, it is hard to get to on your own boat unless you are based in the Seattle or Vancouver areas so the next obvious option is to charter a boat for an adventure cruise Every year, the Bellingham, Washington-based charter company NW Explorations runs a Mother Goose flotilla charter from their base to Desolation Sound and back. It’s a distance of roughly 300 miles. They have a fleet of mostly Grand Banks trawlers that each can take six or more passengers. The adventure…
On France’s north coast, just south of the famous Normandy beaches, lies the Brittany Peninsula which is blessed with dozens of quaint seaside towns and many good harbors. But, the one hitch is the massive tides that rise and fall 20 feet twice a day. In some of the harbors, the mooring fields dry out completely at low tide so your boat has to be able to rest safely on its own bottom. The larger harbors and river mouths have locks for entry and exit which open on regular schedules. So, timing your arrival to make an open lock is…
On September 10, 1982, three passengers aboard a light aircraft crashed into the sea off the Canadian Maritimes. They were able to deploy their life raft and they had with them the earliest version an Emergency Position Indicating Beacon (EPIRB). They switched it on and set in motion the very first COSPAS-SARSAT rescue. They were found and rescued in a matter of hours instead of the days such search and rescue missions took before the satellite rescue system was in place. Since then, more than 50,000 people have been saved from a watery end by EPIRB technology. For those of…
Whether you are looking to add radar to your boat or it’s just time to replace an old and out of date unit, there are a lot of considerations that should go into the decision-making process. To start, you need to be certain that a new or replacement radar is compatible with your existing marine electronics. In other words, will the radar display appear on your multifunction display so you can overlay the images onto the digital chart. For simplicity’s sake, it makes sense to stick with one brand for all electronics. The size of radar you choose depends on…
Volvo Penta introduced Joystick steering two decades ago and has continued to pioneer ways to use the combination of engines, thrusters and GPS to help skippers maneuver their boats more easily and precisely. I was involved in the early demonstrations of the Volvo Dynamic Positioning technology back then and was amazed at how well even the prototype held a boat in position and allowed the skipper to turn a boat inside its own length. Last fall at the Ft. Lauderdale show, I got to test the latest Volvo Joystick iteration with the new Assisted Docking Function that allows you to…
At last September’s Cannes Festival of Yachting in the South of France, I attended Beneteau’s annual press event and was introduced to the innovative electric Island Cruising Concept Yacht. Always an innovator, Beneteau had a vision of boating and chartering in the future. Now, Dream Yacht Charters is offering that future in the BVI. Their fleet of sail and power boats now includes the boxy-looking electric hybrid power boats that are like floating beach houses with accommodations for a normal chart6er party The Island Cruising Concept is all about indoor-outdoor living and practical sustainability. The idea is to be close…
NW Explorations’ annual cruise in company in the wild Pacific Northwest this year will undertake a 21-day adventure around British Columbia’s Vancouver Island. The so-called Mother Goose Flotilla will depart from Bellingham, Washington on July 17 and return on August 5. This year the flotilla is limited to six boats and as of this week, according to the NW Explorations website, there is still one boat left for booking a slot in the fleet. NW Explorations specializes in chartering trawler-style cruising boats and has been running their Mother Goose Flotillas for many years. About this year’s event, they spell out…
A charter aboard a fully crewed luxury 53 meter motor yacht is a dream come true. If you have ever dreamed of exploring the Greek islands aboard a vessel with the range, stability, and sheer presence to do them justice, the Persefoni yacht is the answer to that dream. This 53.8-metre motor yacht — built by the storied Italian shipyard Mariotti Yachts in 2012, comprehensively refitted in 2023, and managed by Emperio Yachting Alliance — is one of the most accomplished power cruisers operating in the Aegean today. Her full profile is at persefoniyacht.com/ Built for the Long Haul Serious…
Owning a cruising boat can be pricey to start with and then expensive to operate on an on-going basis. This is particularly true for boat owners who cannot afford the time to to get the full benefit of the cruising life. It has no doubt occurred to many of us that running our boats like charter businesses, with income to offset expenses and other benefits of business ownership, would make the whole process more attractive. But, there are wrinkles to running a charter business on your own, not just with the IRS but with handling bookings, deposits, scheduling and more.…
Here’s a story from the Moorings about a different way to own and enjoy a cruising power catamaran. Richard and Deborah Heinegger, who haul from Kanasa City, have been life long boat owners and at one point lived aboard and cruised they 76-foot motoryacht. When the big boatwas soild and the couple were reensconced in Kansas City, the hankering to own a boat and reconnect with the cruising life was just too strong to ignore. Their solution? Dive into a yacht ownership program with The Moorings. Here’s their story. For Richard and Deborah Heinegger, life has always been closely tied…