Here’s a look at just some of the new cruising boats, 51 feet and up, that, in normal times, you’d probably see at the fall boat shows this year:
KROGEN EXPRESS 52
Even with a flying bridge and raised pilothouse, the Krogen Express 52 manages to carry a classic low profile, enhanced by a long, flowing sheer line that emphasizes the boat’s distinctive profile. And the “Express” part of its name is not a misnomer: With twin 480-hp Yanmars the Krogen Express tops out at about 22 knots. Dial back to 8 knots and the boat has a range of 1,680 nm. With a semi-displacement hull, this express offers the best of a get-home-fast speed and a go-anywhere-without-refueling range.
Inside, the Krogen Express exudes fine craftsmanship and cherry finishing everywhere. A raised bench seat aft of the helm in the pilothouse converts to a double berth; Dutch doors open to the wide side decks.
Below, the master in the bow is bright, with six portholes and hatches, and massive, with 7’4” standing headroom; an en suite head has a separate shower stall with a seat. A guest stateroom can be configured as an owner desires, including an L-shaped settee that converts to a bed plus a desk.
The engine room is one of the best in the business; you can stand up and walk around.
Specs.: LOA: 57’6”; Beam: 15’11”; Draft: 4’0”; Disp.: 43,000 lbs.; Fuel: 700 gals.; Water: 370 gals.; Power: 2×480-hp Yanmar diesels. Read more:
LEOPARD 53
Walking through the salon of the Leopard 53, which just made its debut at the Miami show, I was not surprised by the amount of space inside the new power cat. I had expected that; after all, the boat has a beam of more than 25 feet. But I was surprised by the amount of light that beamed in.
There are panoramic windows all around, and the interior décor is all light in color and modern in design, so that it’s both inviting and soothing at the same time. It would be easy to feel at home on this new Leopard; it’s simply begging to head off on a long cruise.
The Leopard 53 PC replaces the Leopard 51, one of the most popular cruising cats ever made, with 135 sold. And the 53 is not only larger; it’s also more comfortable, more efficient, and more stable.
You can walk on via a large teak swim platform and then go up teak stairs on either side of the transom to the large aft deck, which is meant for relaxing and entertaining. An L-shaped settee and table are on the port side; a sun pad, big enough for two, is to starboard.
Large sliding glass doors open wide to the salon; the aft deck and the salon are on the same level, so the outside and inside spaces flow together. The galley is aft, and it’s split. A home-sized fridge and freezer and a sink are on the port side; the stove and microwave and a generous countertop are to starboard.
Moving forward, lounges are on each side, and the helm seat on the starboard side is wide enough to fit two people. A centered glass door opens to the foredeck; it has large sun lounges on each side.
Up top, the flybridge is protected by a hardtop. The upper helm is to starboard, and it can seat two people. A seat for three people is to port. A bit aft, also on the port side, is a large U-shaped settee and table. A large sun pad is farther aft.
The accommodations deck below comes in two versions. The Leopard 53, for sale to private owners, has three cabins. The Leopard 534, which is placed in charter by The Moorings, has four. In either one, the twin hulls of a cat provide a degree of privacy for the cabins that is not usually found in a monohull.
I walked through the three-cabin boat at the show. It has two cabins, both en suite heads, in the port hull. The owner’s cabin stretches along the starboard side, with the berth and living area aft, the head, with twin sinks, forward, and the separate shower in the bow.
The engine room and machinery spaces on the 53 are aft. Power comes from twin 370-hp Yanmars. They produce a top speed of 25 knots. Running at a cruising speed of 17 knots, the range is 463 nm. But what’s remarkable about this boat is that if you run on one engine, at 6.8 knots, the range climbs to a full 1,995 nm.
All told, the Leopard 53 is an impressive new boat. And that’s not just my opinion. I was on the boat the morning of the second day of the show, and Leopard had already sold three of them.
Specs.: LOA: 53’1”; Beam: 25’2”; Draft: 3’2”; Disp.: 41,070 lbs.; Fuel: 581 gals.; Water: 185 gals. Power: 2×370-hp Yanmar diesels. Read more:
http://leopardcatamarans.com http://moorings.com
GRAND BANKS 54
The new Grand Banks 54, with its classic lines and semi-displacement, warped-hull, is powered by twin 725-hp Volvos with straight shaft drives. The latest cruiser from this iconic builder tops out at 31 knots, cruises at 26 knots, and has a range of about 1,000 nm at 10 knots.
The new 54 has the same high-tech hull as the popular Grand Banks 60 (and 60 Skylounge), and it too uses fully infused carbon fiber for the decks and superstructure to keep the boat light in weight and to lower the CG. The warped hull, developed by Grand Banks President Mark Richards, keeps the boat running efficiently in the water throughout the speed range. (I rode on the 60 on Long Island Sound and it barely left a wake at any speed.)
Hull number one of the 54 is a two-stateroom, galley-down boat, made with Grand Banks’ legendary craftsmanship. It has a relatively low profile for a 54-foot boat, a long, broken sheerline, and a graceful tumblehome aft.
The salon is filled with light from windows all around. It has an L-shaped settee to port, which can double as a watch berth on an overnight passage. Another L-shaped settee is to starboard, with an expandable teak table on a stainless pedestal. The helm station, with seating for two, is forward to starboard.
Glass windows are aft, with a glass centerline door leading to the cockpit. It has an aft settee, a fridge/bar forward to port, and stairs to the flybridge to starboard. The entire cockpit is protected by the extension of the flybridge above. A gate on the starboard side leads to the large, teak swim platform.
Below, on the port side, the galley is bathed in light coming in from the large windows above. The master stateroom is to starboard, with a walkaround bed, a private head with a walk-in shower, a dressing area and lots of storage space. The guest stateroom is forward, also with a large berth; its head, which also is the day head, is to port.
Up top, the flybridge has a centerline helm chair; a co-pilot’s chair is to port. A large L-shaped settee with a teak table is aft to port, with a bar to starboard. The boat deck is aft, with a davit.
Although the straight-shaft drives are standard, Volvo IPS950 pod drives are optional. They too are married to 725-hp Volvo diesels.
Specs.: LOA: 59’5”; Beam: 17’6”; Draft: 3’1” (IPS), 4’0” (shaft); Disp.: 47,400 lbs.; Fuel: 898 gals; Water: 264 gals.; Power: 2×725-hp Volvo straight shaft drives.
SUMMIT 54
Hull number one of the Summit 54, the flagship of the new cruising brand from Kadey-Krogen, has just run down to Stuart, Florida, from Savannah, Georgia, and is ready for its worldwide debut at the rescheduled Palm Beach boat show, starting May 14. The Summit, with a hull by legendary designer Michael Peters, lived up to all its expectations, performing well throughout the speed range.
Kadey-Krogen developed the Summit brand for people who wanted the well-established quality of a Kadey-Krogen but with a faster turn of speed. Summits are built at the Asia Harbor yard in Taiwan, which has launched more than 600 Kadey-Krogen full-displacement trawlers in the past 40 years.
On the run from Savannah, where the Summit was unloaded from the ship from Taiwan, to the Summit and Kadey-Krogen headquarters in Stuart, the numbers tell the story:
Top speed: 25.25 knots, burning 56 gph, for a range of 338 nm to empty.
Cruising speed: 21 knots, burning 39 gph, for a range of 400 nm to empty.
Trawler speed: 7.2 knots, burning 3.7 gph, for a range of 1,450 nm to empty.
Those numbers reflect a two-way test with 50 percent fuel, 60 percent water, and three people on board. Power comes from twin 542-hp Cummins QSB6.7 diesels with straight shafts. The boat also showed little bow rise, ran level on turns and, as expected, was sturdy, solid and stable.
But the numbers themselves are only part of the story. The new Summit 54 is designed as a comfortable floating home-like retreat for cruising people. It is filled with light, from wraparound windows in the pilothouse and super-sized windows in the salon. It has a clean, contemporary design with a spacious interior layout, including three cabins, two heads, a pilothouse, flybridge, protected aft deck and a ready-for-sunbathing foredeck. As in a Kadey-Krogen, the side decks are wide and protected to make docking and line-handling safe and easy, and they have boarding gates.
The Summit 54 has a large, teak swim platform, with two steps up on each side to the aft deck, which is protected by the overhang from the flybridge/boat deck above. It has a U-shaped settee with a teak table aft and two barstools on stainless steel pedestals forward on the port side, facing a grilling station with a service window opening to the galley, aft in the salon.
The galley is home-like in its space and appliances, with Silestone countertops, a fridge/freezer with double drawers, convection microwave, cooktop, icemaker and dishwasher. To starboard is a breakfast nook with a settee and teak table.
Going forward, you step up to the pilothouse/helm deck, which is made for long-range cruising. It has a two-person helm seat on the starboard side, a teak wheel, and a door that opens to the side deck. A large, elevated dining area is to port with U-shaped seating and a high/low table on a stainless pedestal.
The flybridge, protected by a hardtop, has an inviting sun lounge forward of the helm, which is offset slightly to starboard with twin helm chairs. An L-shaped settee with a handcrafted teak table is to port; there’s also a fridge. One person can launch the tender from the hydraulic crane on the boat deck aft.
The foredeck is a separate social area. You can relax there on a sun lounge; it has arm rests and a canopy. There also is a seat facing forward.
Below, the amidships master stateroom is full-beam, with a queen berth, his-and-hers closets, a desk/vanity with a chair, a TV, and a large en suite head and shower. The VIP cabin is forward with a walk-around queen berth, hanging locker, storage, a TV, and en suite access to the guest head with a stall glass shower.
The third cabin, on the starboard side, has a full berth, hanging storage, desk, and washer and dryer. You can forego the berth and dedicate this stateroom as an on board office.
Specs.: LOA: 58’5”; Beam: 15’10”; Draft: 3’7”; Disp.: 55,400 lbs.; Fuel: 750 gals. Water: 215 gals. Power: 2×542-hp Cummins QSB6.7 diesels.
http://summitmotoryachts.com http://kadeykrogen.com
AQUILA 54
Aquila just announced that it’s building a new 54-foot cruiser for its large, worldwide catamaran fleet, and it is designed for maximum comfort inside and out. The full-beam master stateroom is forward, for example, with panoramic views from hull side windows; it takes advantage of the cat’s more than 25-foot beam to make it a special place underway or at an anchorage.
The 54 will debut later this year, and we’ll have more details later on as well. But what we know now is that the boat will have three-, four- or even five-cabin configurations, plus a possible skipper’s quarters and an optional galley-down layout. The galley-down takes the place of the fifth cabin, but it provides more room in the already massive salon, adding a formal dining area plus an extra seating lounge.
The salon has large tempered glass side windows for maximum natural light, and a deep, comfortable lounge. The aft cockpit has a separate dining area next to an indoor/outdoor bar. The large swim platform is made for easy access to water sports. It also supports a tender on solid mounting blocks. The flybridge can be open or complete enclosed and climate controlled.
To make life easy on board, the Aquila 54 has lots of counter space, a full-size refrigerator, a water-maker and a washer and dryer. Aquilas are built by Sino Eagle in China, and are sold to private buyers and also put into the MarineMax Vacations charter fleet. The Aquila fleet itself now has 32-, 36- and 44-foot models; a new 70 is scheduled for later this year.
Dave Bigge, the VP of Aquila International, says the list of standard features on the 54 “will impress anyone familiar with vessels of this size. Performance, another hallmark of the Aquila brand, will allow for high-speed travel and slower, more efficient, extended cruising ranges.”
Specs.: LOA: 54’2”; Beam: 25’2”; Draft: 4’6”; Disp.: 52,367 lbs.; Fuel: 581 gals.; Water: 238 gals.; Power: NA. Read more:
https://www.aquilaboats.com/models/power-catamaran/54 http://marinemaxvacations.com
MARITIMO 55
Maritimo just announced that it’s building a new 55 motoryacht with a climate-controlled, fully enclosed skylounge flybridge. The latest addition to the Australian builder’s M Series of long-range, blue-water cruising yachts, the M55 Flybridge is scheduled to be launched early next year.
The new Maritimo 55 Flybridge has three cabins below, a popular aft galley in the salon, and an ever-expanding “adventure deck” all the way aft that creates a new entertaining and watersports area. It also has Maritimo’s straight-shaft drive, variable deadrise hull, deep keel, and sharp bow entry that have earned the company a reputation for blue-water performance.
“The new M55 long-range cruising flybridge motoryacht fuses the latest advancements in motoryacht technology and design with all the legacy features of the iconic M-Series models past,” said Tom Barry-Cotter, Maritimo’s design director.
Over the years, I have visited the Maritimo factory on Australia’s Gold Coast south of Brisbane, and tested their boats in Australia and the U.S. I have always found them to be first-rate, solid, easy riding and responsive cruisers that are built to take on oceans around the world.
One nice feature of the new 55 is that you reach the flybridge via internal stairs. The helm up there has two matching seats on the starboard side. One seating/lounging area is forward to port, another is behind the helm seats. These seating areas also can be converted to sleeping berths, which would be useful on a long cruise.
The salon has wraparound windows and glass doors aft, and is a major social area with an L-shaped settee to port with a table and a larger U-shaped seating area to starboard. The aft galley can be opened to the cockpit, which is protected by the overhang from the fybridge.
One step down, the adventure deck all the way aft has a bar and entertaining area, with folding chairs and tables. An optional extension can make this deck even larger. The garage already is large enough for a 9’8” tender.
On the accommodations deck below, the master stateroom is full-beam amidships, with a centered king-sized bed, a sofa on the starboard side and a long dresser and drawers to port, plus an en suite head and shower. The VIP cabin is forward with an offset queen bed and a head with shower, and the third cabin, with two single beds, is aft a bit to starboard.
Specs.: LOA: 56’8”; Beam: 17’2”; Draft: 4’6”; Disp.: 59,525 lbs.; Fuel: 1,200 gals.; Water: 198 gals.; Power: 2×670-hp Volvo D11. Read more:
SABRE 58
After following its launch and super-extended break-in cruise from Portland, Maine, down to Miami in time for the yacht show there, I had been looking forward to seeing the new Sabre 58 Salon Express in person. And once I climbed on board the boat at the show, it was more than worth the wait.
I already knew the boat’s lines. It is a contemporary classic with a clean Down East look, fitting well into Sabre’s made-in-Maine heritage. But once I was on board, I realized how big this new cruiser really is; it has lots of usable room to make extended cruising or living on board comfortable and easy. And it’s logical; everything seems to be exactly where it should be. Sabre is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, so it seems to have done something right over all those years.
The 58 SE is Sabre’s first boat with the galley aft, and this works. It connects the salon and the cockpit, and you can open the large glass door aft so that there’s one flowing space from the transom to the helm station. And that covers a lot of ground.
On the 58, Sabre’s designers moved the windshield farther forward than usual. This not only creates more room in salon, but it also lets in a great amount of light. The side windows also are large, and more light comes in from the sunroof overhead and the aft door.
The view from the helm is excellent all around. Powered by twin 725-hp Volvo IPS950 pod drives, the 58 tops out at 31.1 knots. At a cruising speed of 26.7 knots, it has a range of 337 nm. At a trawler speed of 7.4 knots, the range goes up to 1,269 nm.
All that is impressive, but the boat’s sound readings are truly exceptional. Sabre has done a lot of buyer research, and it knows that low noise levels are particularly important. At 25 knots, with the aft door closed, the sound level at the helm is only 60 d(B)a, which is the level of normal conversation. That low level is a true tribute to Sabre’s engineers and a solid build.
Climbing on the boat, the swim platform is wide enough for any water sports you might have in mind. You can push a button and the transom lifts up to reveal a large locker for fenders, lines and a lot of other things. The cockpit also is large, with a beautiful teak table and aft lounge seat.
Moving forward, the 58 has a traditional varnished cherry interior and teak and holly sole. The galley has a U-shaped counter to port with a cooktop, sink and undercounter storage. More storage is to starboard under more counter space.
A single step up leads to the salon and helm deck. A large U-shaped sofa, with a varnished high-low table, is to port, and a three-person settee is facing it to starboard. Forward, the helm, with matching seats, is to starboard; a door opens to the side deck, a great advantage in docking and moving around the boat. A two-person seat is to port.
Three staterooms, all with en suite heads and showers, are below. The master is full-beam amidships, with a walkaround king bed set athwartships. The VIP cabin is forward with a queen island berth. The guest stateroom is on the starboard side with two berths that can serve as singles; they can be connected to form a queen.
The new Sabre’s hull has a 15-degree deadrise at the transom, which provides stability at lower speeds. Volvo’s joystick makes docking and boat handling fingertip easy. The Sabre also has Volvo’s Interceptor automatic trim system and dynamic positioning. A Seakeeper gyrostabilizer is optional.
The 58 SE is already a success for Sabre. Bentley Collins, the VP for sales and marketing at Sabre and Back Cove, told me that the company has already sold 12 to retail customers. Base price: $2,520,000.
Specs.: LOA: 63’9”; Beam: 16’2”; Draft: 4’9”; Disp.: 63,000 lbs.; Fuel: 800 gals.; Water: 250 gals.; Power: 2×725-hp Volvo IPS950 pod drives. Read more:
SIRENA 58 COUPE
The new, low-profile Sirena 58 Coupe was made for the American market. It is the little sister to Sirena’s 58 flybridge, the most successful yacht in the Turkish builder’s fleet, and it was designed for buyers who said they wanted an “express” type boat with lower air draft for coastal cruising in the U.S. or even for cruising on the Great Loop.
“This yacht is for anyone looking for a sleeker exterior profile or for couples who prefer not to have a flybridge but do admire the build strength and design details in Sirena’s existing 58,” said Constantinos Constantinou, Sirena’s North American sales director.
The 58 Coupe, designed by Germán Frers, has Sirena’s trademark plumb bow and modest freeboard, with wraparound windows in the salon. The interior was designed by the highly regarded Italian Design Studio Spadolini.
The boat’s semi-displacement hull has hard chines for a combination of superior performance and stability throughout the speed range. It is powered by twin 650-hp Cats, producing a 27-knot top speed and a cruising speed of 16 knots. At 10 knots, it has a range of 850 nm with a 10 percent fuel reserve. With optional 850-hp Cats, the top speed rises to 30 knots. The Sirena carries a Category A designation, attesting to its strength and seakeeping abilities.
The standard Sirena 58 Coupe has three staterooms with three heads, plus an optional crew cabin with its own head. The main deck is all one level, from the transom to the helm station. Four panel doors open wide from the aft deck to the salon. The galley is full beam aft, a sofa is on the port side with a table, and a larger sofa is to starboard. There are windows all around, and two optional sliding sunroof panels let in even more natural light.
Sirena offers several possible layouts below, but this one has a unique owner’s stateroom forward. It’s really a bi-level suite, with access to the salon and a private entrance to the lounge on the foredeck. Another option is to have two master suites below, so that guests can feel just as pampered as the owner.
Constantinou says “For customers who don’t need a flybridge, this coupe version of the 58 offers the best of both worlds: inside-out living and incredible flexibility, both in the accommodations spaces as well as in the yacht’s overall performance.”
Specs.: LOA: 61’0”; Beam: 17’7”; Draft: 4’1”; Disp.: 34.5 tons; Fuel: 950 gals.; Water: 210 gals.; Power: 2×650 CAT C 8.7 diesels; optional: 2×850-hp CAT C 12.9. Read more:
PALM BEACH GT60
The gorgeous Palm Beach GT60, which just made its worldwide debut at the Miami show, is simply a treat. With its flowing low profile, long sheer line and elegant tumblehome, the new GT60 is certainly a treat to look it; it definitely qualifies as marine eye candy. And then it’s also a treat underway, with its high-tech, lightweight, warped hull, powered by twin 1,000-hp Volvo IPS1350 pod drives, producing a top speed of 43 knots and a comfortable cruising speed of 37 knots.
As I walked through the boat at the show, Mark Richards, the Palm Beach founder and CEO, told me to take a seat at the helm. Another treat. The helm on the GT60 is centered, and you can walk around on either side. The helm itself is black and curved, elegant and modern, and it’s made of carbon fiber.
The view is outstanding, looking out through a single-piece curved windshield or through large side and rear windows, which you can raise and lower by pushing a button. There’s a sunroof over the helm to let in more light, and you can open it too.
The salon has an L-shaped settee on the port side, with a teak table, and a three-person settee opposite. The helm has two matching seats; another seat is on the port side.
The galley is down, and has lots of light from the windshield above; it’s like being in an atrium. The master stateroom is amidships on the starboard side, with a vanity/desk and an en suite head and shower. The VIP cabin is forward, also with an en suite head and shower.
The GT60’s performance is a result of Richards’ input from his sailboat racing experience. One of the best sailors in the world, he’s won the grueling Sydney-Hobart race a record nine times (and will attempt a tenth this year). The GT60 has a low center of gravity and the hull is balanced; the engines are amidships and have carbon-fiber jackshafts running to the pods. The full-beam baffled fuel tank is also centrally mounted. Vacuum-infused carbon fiber is used in the deck and superstructure to keep the weight down, while providing extra strength.
The new Palm Beach is certainly fuel efficient. It has a range of 430 nm at 30 knots, which is certainly much faster than most people cruise in a 60-foot boat.
To make cruising life easy, a 10-feet-long RIB in the garage can be launched by pushing a button on a remote that raises the transom. The RIB, with its outboard in place, then slides out on custom launch rails. As he demonstrated this to me, Richards laughed. “This boat does a lot of things well,” he said.
Specs.: LOA: 64’0”; Beam: 17’2”; Draft: 3’9”; Disp.: 47,400 lbs.; Fuel: 845 gals.; Water: 264 gals.; Power: 2×1,000-hp Volvo IPS1350 pod drives. Read more:
http://palmbeachmotoryachts.com
MONTE CARLO 6
The new high-end Monte Carlo 6 flybridge cruiser from Beneteau offers a combination of contemporary European styling, comfortable cruising and luxurious living. With twin 600-hp Cummins diesels and Zeus pod drives, the three-stateroom, three-head cruiser tops out at 28 knots and cruises at 20 knots.
The Monte Carlo 6 is designed by the highly regarded firm of Nuvolari and Lenard, and it features large open spaces that you’d expect on a much larger yacht. The flybridge is particularly spacious, and it’s meant to be the major living and relaxing area on board.
Most notable up there is a large U-shaped lounge on the port side that can seat 10 people with an expandable table on two stainless steel platforms. Sun lounges are aft, and the hardtop has an opening sun roof. The flybridge also has a small galley for entertaining. The single helm seat is forward to starboard; a two-person seat is opposite to port.
The swim platform has two fold-away brackets to support a tender, and it can be lowered hydraulically. A galley with a barbeque and sink is built into the back of the transom, so you can cook up a picnic standing on the swim platform. There’s also a crew quarter accessed from the swim platform; some owners prefer to use this space as a wet head.
The cockpit/aft deck has lounge seating with a table aft. Two large glass doors open to the salon, where the galley is aft on the starboard side, equipped with a fridge, dishwasher, microwave and optional wine cellar (this is a French boat, after all).
The Monte Carlo’s interior is open, light-colored and filled with natural light from windows all around. It has lots of clean, straight lines that won’t go out of style. A long sofa with two tables is on the starboard side; a single settee is to port. The helm station, with a Besenzoni chair and armrest controls, is centered.
Below, the VIP stateroom is forward with a large single berth and an en suite head and shower. A guest cabin is a bit aft; it can be outfitted with two berths or a queen; it shares the day head. The full-beam master stateroom is amidships with a walkaround bed and lots of storage. It gets natural light on both sides from Monte Carlo’s signature round hull-side windows. And it has separate head and shower areas.
Specs.: LOA: 60’2”; Beam: 16’0”; Draft: 3’10”; Disp.: 43,727 lbs.; Fuel: 580 gals.; Water: 210 gals.: Power: 2×600-hp Cummins and Zeus pod drives. Read more:
CRUISERS CANTIUS 60
The new Cruisers Cantius 60, with its low, Euro-style profile and its raked windshield, is a large, three-stateroom cruiser that’s filled with light and cruising amenities. It also delivers a 33-knot top speed with Volvo’s IPS pod drives and joystick controls.
The Cantius 60, along with a 60 flybridge, are the flagships of the Cruisers line. Built at the Cruisers’ factory in Oconto, Wisconsin, the Cantius takes advantage of some current trends, including its coupe-style design, the same-level walkway all the way from the transom to the helm, and a large (7 feet long) opening sunroof to let in even more light to the salon, which already is filled with natural light from large side windows.
You can walk on the boat via the wide swim platform or boarding doors farther forward on each side. The hydraulic swim platform can be submerged, and it’s large enough to hold a RIB or a PWC. It also offers access to the Cantius’ garage.
The cockpit is a major social area, with a U-shaped dinette aft, facing a table on two pedestals. The table can be lowered to create a large sun lounge there. The cockpit also has a grill, fridge, ice maker and bar stools; a second IPS control station there is optional.
Glass doors lead into the salon, where the large U-shaped galley is aft on the port side. You can lower a window there to open directly to the cockpit. There’s a settee opposite the galley, to starboard, and another one forward, to port. The helm station has two STIDD helm chairs.
Below, the master stateroom is full-beam amidships, and it’s bathed in light from large windows built into each hull side. It has a centerline king bed and lots of space all around, including 7-foot headroom. The master head has an enclosed shower with frosted glass walls on both sides.
The VIP stateroom is forward, with a queen berth, a walk-in closet, lots of storage and an en suite head with a separate stall shower. The third cabin is just a bit aft on the starboard side with an accordion door. A lower berth there pulls out to convert to a double bed.
The foredeck is another social area, with a five-person seat at the base of the windshield and a pair of sun pads forward. They have hinged backs so they can be used as sun lounges.
For cruising people, it’s worth noting that the bridge clearance on the Cantius 60 is 16’ 9” to the top of the mast light. That’s a very reasonable air draft for a 60-foot boat, particularly for anyone considering the Great Loop or cruising in Florida.
Specs.: LOA: 59’10”; Beam: 16’0”; Draft: 4’0”; Disp.: 53,000 lbs.; Fuel: 647 gals.; Water: 149 gals.; Power: 2×725-hp Volvo IPS950 pod drives. Read more:
HUNT OCEAN 63
With its iconic Hunt deep-V hull, the new Hunt Ocean 63 is designed as an expedition yacht that will perform well in any sea conditions anywhere in the world.
The new Hunt, the latest yacht to be launched by the Hinckley Company, has the clean, classic lines that define the brand, with an aggressive bow, a long sheerline, and a low profile for a 63-foot flybridge yacht. It was designed by the C. Raymond Hunt Design studio in New Bedford, Massachusetts, which has been developing and refining Ray Hunt’s original deep-V hull for more than half a century.
The 63 has a 20-degree deadrise at the transom, and it’s powered by twin 1,000-hp Volvo IPS 1350 pod drives. They produce a top speed of 31 knots and a cruising speed of 26 knots. If you dial back to 10 knots, the Hunt Ocean 63 will have a range of 1,150 nm.
Owners can personalize the interior of the 63, but the basic boat has extensive brightwork and teak and holly decks. The salon offers lots of living and dining space, and the yacht has an unusual amount of storage, appropriate for long cruises, in its cabinetry and below decks.
The galley can be up or down, and owners can choose four en suite cabins, or three plus an office and a private area for reading and relaxing. The boat is easy to handle, particularly with Volvo’s fingertip IPS controls, and is designed to be run by an owner-operator, although crew quarters are available.
The engine room has extra headroom for easy access to the mechanical equipment. The boat has Humphree interceptors for stabilization and a comfortable ride. The helm has a full suite of Garmin nav gear.
Specs.: LOA: 69’6”; Beam: 18’0”; Draft: 4’2”; Disp.: 78,000 lbs.; Fuel: 1,150 gals.; Water: 300 gals.; Power: 2×1,000-hp Volvo IPS 1350 pod drives. Read more:
http://huntyachts.com http://hinckleyyachts.com
FOUNTAINE PAJOT 67
Fountaine Pajot just launched its Power 67 flagship, and the big French cat is a long-range, blue-water cruiser with massive social and entertaining areas, and its lines show off Fountaine Pajot’s usual elegant and innovative design.
The flybridge is covered by a hardtop with a sunroof, and it extends aft to protect the cockpit and port and starboard to cover the side decks. The teak swim platform lowers for access to the water, while the cockpit has several sunbathing areas, a grill and a dining table. Glass doors open fully to the salon; it’s built for entertaining, and it’s filled with natural light from windows all around.
The cat’s 32-feet-plus beam provides enough space for comfortable living and entertaining at sea or at the dock. There’s definitely room for a crowd. The Power 67 come in two versions: The Classic version, with the galley up on the port side of the salon with a large L-shaped lounge to starboard. In the Lounge version, the galley is down, but there’s a bar in the salon and another large L-shaped sofa on the port side.
With the galley down, the boat has the owner’s suite plus three double cabins in the twin hulls below; all the cabins have their own heads with showers. With the galley up, the accommodations include the owner’s suite plus four double cabins.
Fountaine Pajot calls the owner’s suite a private apartment, with good reason. The apartment has a sofa, a dressing room, a walk-in shower and twin vanities. It also has a private door leading to the massive foredeck, with several lounging areas and an optional Jacuzzi..
Standard power comes from twin 300-hp diesels; twin 435-hp diesels are optional. Range with the larger engines is 1,700 nm.
Specs.: LOA: 64’6”; Beam: 32’2”; Draft: 3’8”; Disp.: 31.5 tons; Fuel: 1,057 gals.; Water: 277 gals.; Power: 2×300-hp; option: 2×435-hp. Read more:
PRESTIGE 690S
Prestige Yachts, the French luxury yacht builder, just launched its new 690S cruiser, with sporty looks, a swept-back bridge, and 31-knot Volvo IPS performance. The new 690S is a three-cabin, three-head yacht, with the appealing feature of a private staircase leading to the owner’s stateroom below.
The 690S has a low, modern profile, with a raked front windshield; the bridge is situated fairly far aft. The electric sunroof and large windows all around the salon let in a lot of natural light, and long hull side windows on the accommodations deck let in even more light to the staterooms below.
The new Prestige is an efficient, powerful cruiser. Standard power comes from twin 900-hp Volvo IPS1200 pod drives; 1,000-hp IPS1350s are an upgrade. IPS, of course, is operated by a joystick for easy maneuvering around a dock, and the pod drives also deliver an easy cruising speed of 25 knots and a top end of 31 knots.
The flybridge has a low venturi for wind protection. The helm is centered, with two seats. Another passenger seat is to port, with a lounge to starboard. A grill is aft, as is another lounging area with a teak table.
The large salon has a U-shaped sofa and a glass table on the port side, near the lower helm to starboard. A dining table with an expanding glass top is aft to starboard, with an L-shaped sofa and occasional chairs. The galley is aft to port, with a microwave/grill, cooktop, fridge, freezer, wraparound Corian countertops, and a bar opening to the cockpit.
Below, the owner’s stateroom is forward with a double bed, a dressing table, sofa, walk-in closet, and a large en suite head with a shower. The VIP cabin is full-beam amidships, with a double bed, a dressing table, and an en suite head with shower. The third stateroom is just forward, with two single berths on each side that can be converted to double berths. It has a large closet, and an en suite head with shower.
Possible crew quarters are all the way aft, with two single berths and a head with shower. They are accessible from the swim platform.
Specs.: LOA: 70’4”; Beam: 17’5”; Draft: 5’2”; Disp.: 67,023 lbs.; Fuel: 911 gals.; Water: 201 gals.; Power: 2×900-hp Volvo IPS1200 pod drives; 2×1,000-hp Volvo IPS1350 pod drives. Read more:
SUNREEF 70
Sunreef Yachts, the luxury builder in Gdansk, Poland, is filling out its power catamaran fleet with the introduction of a new 70 footer. Its lineup already has 60-, 80- and 100-foot models, so the new 70 fills a gap.
Like the previous models, the 70 is elegant, comfortable and seaworthy. The new cat also takes full advantage of its more than 37-foot beam to create enormous spaces for entertaining and living on board. The foredeck, for example, runs full beam and includes a “terrace,” a protected lounging area with sofas, and then an open area all the way forward for various sun lounges.
The two hulls provide options for custom layouts below, starting with two large staterooms on each side, but with more possible staterooms aft and crew quarters in the bows. The galley also can be located aft on the lower deck, as opposed to its more standard location on the port side of the salon.
The 70 has Sunreef’s signature knife-like bows and wraparound windows in the main deck/salon. It also has large opening doors aft in the salon, so it blends seamlessly with the aft deck, which is protected by the overhang from the flybridge. The aft deck also has an al fresco dining space. Wide teak steps lead down to the innovative aft garage and a swim platform that can be raised or lowered hydraulically for the launching of a dinghy or jet ski.
Up top, the flybridge has enough space for a spa pool, a bar, a dining area, lounging area, and the upper helm with a three-person seat. The hardtop includes an opening sun roof.
Sunreef is offering multiple power options for the 70, ranging from twin 300-hp diesels to twin 850-hp diesels.
Specs.: LOA: 69’9”; Beam: 37’2”; Draft: NA; Disp.: NA; Fuel: 3,170 gals.; Water: 422 gals.; Power: 2×300-hp diesels up to 2×850-hp diesels. Read more:
OUTER REEF 720
Outer Reef has launched its new long-range cruiser, a Generation 2 720 DeluxBridge Motoryacht, the latest addition to the company’s popular 720 series, and it has a greatly expanded Skylounge, a new Bridgeview Deck and several other refinements to make cruising and living aboard more inviting and more comfortable.
The new 720 is made for serious cruising. The company says it has a range of 3,400 nm at 8.5 knots, and 1,400 nm at 11 knots. Top speed, with optional power, is 20 knots. Outer Reef’s Generation 2 720s can be powered by twin 500-hp John Deere diesels or twin 476-hp Cat diesels. The hull is built to meet a CE Class A (open ocean) classification.
The new Outer Reef is an updated design, adding to the current trend toward more social areas on cruising yachts. The new Skylounge is significantly larger than the one on previous 720 models, and it now has a day head, a bar, more seating and a large-screen TV.
Another addition is what Outer Reef calls a Bridgeview Deck, a seating area for two that is forward of the Skylounge and the helm station. The idea here is that it offers exceptional views while underway, as well as providing another social area on board. It includes a table and a glass Venturi windscreen for protection from the wind.
The main deck on the 720 is filled with natural light, and the salon flows into an expansive country kitchen/galley with home-sized appliances and lots of counterspace. A curved teak stairway leads down to the accommodation deck with three staterooms, all with en suites heads and showers. There’s room for a washer and dryer, or extra storage, at the foot of the stairs.
The master stateroom is full-beam with a king-size berth; it has drawers for storage under the berth. The master also has two hanging lockers, a walk-in closet, two cabinets, teak nightstands and a built-in deck or vanity.
The VIP stateroom is forward with a tapered queen-size berth; it has teak storage drawers under the berth and two hanging lockers. Two steps on each side provide easy access to the berth. The guest stateroom, with a double berth, is on the port side.
Specs.: LOA: 71’8”; Beam: 18’6”; Draft: 5’3”; Disp.: 141,000 lbs.; Fuel: 2,000 gals.; Water: 400 gals.; Power: 2×500-hp John Deere diesels or 2×476-hp Cat diesels. Read more:
ZEELANDER 72
Running down Narragansett Bay off Newport at 39.8 knots on an early summer afternoon, the only sound I could hear at the helm of the new Zeelander 72 flagship was the action of the water. After a few minutes, I realized that this iconic-looking, Dutch-built, low-profile cruiser was one of the most solid and smoothest-riding boats I’ve ever been on.
It also was quiet, my sound reader showing only 72 dB(A) at that speed. At 13 knots (and who wants to go only 13 knots on this boat?), the sound level was 62 dB(A), the level of normal conversation. These readings were all the more remarkable because there were 13 people on the boat at the time, and we were heading into a 14-knot wind and two-foot chop.
I mentioned all this to Sietse Koopmans, the founder of the company who was driving the boat, and he smiled a bit. “Yes,” he said. “I know.” He also mentioned that the boat was full of fuel and water at the time, in addition to the crowd on board, and said that it had hit a top speed of about 40.4 knots earlier, powered by three 1,000-hp Volvo IPS1350 pod drives.
Koopmans founded Zeelander in 2002 in the Dutch province of Zeelander. He started out in the oil equipment business, and had run half a dozen companies. He also loved cruising; indeed, he cruised around the world in 2009-2010 on a 127-foot Vripack expedition motoryacht. Lately he has turned his other companies over to their CEOs, to run Zeelander himself.
And he clearly knows how he wants to identify his boats, often referring to Porsche or Rolls-Royce as comparisons, when not taking advantage of his Dutch heritage. “We believe true yacht building is a form of art,” Koopmans says. The Zeelander 72 is available in four color schemes, including Bentley Blue and Porsche Rhodium Silver.
The new Zeelander definitely has its own looks, inside and out, something of a contemporary take on the famous commuter boats of yachting’s gilded age, except with even more curves. The 72 has a more sporty look than previous Zeelanders, probably helped by the large wraparound windshield (visibility from the helm is excellent), the larger reverse transom and gorgeous tumblehome. The almost-plumb bow is high and proud, and the sheerline just sweeps back to the stern.
The teak swim platform, all 100 square feet of it, folds out from the clamshell transom, creating an enormous beach or lounging area. The boat’s garage is on the starboard side, just forward of the engine room; you can deploy the tender without disturbing anyone enjoying the swim platform.
You can walk on the boat from the swim platform or through megayacht-quality doors built into the hull in the cockpit, which has convertible seating aft (a settee facing forward can be converted into a sun-lounge facing aft), a beautiful table on stainless steel pedestals and another sofa facing aft. Under the overhang from the coachroof, four bar stools are set up facing a table that, when the curved glass window is open, becomes an extension of the galley at the aft end of the salon. When the glass door on the starboard side also is open, the salon and cockpit all become one unit.
The interior is all done in soft white colors and curves; there’s not a straight line anywhere. There’s a wide settee aft facing a dining table (that can be lowered to form an extra sleeping area), and a bench seat on the port side. The three helm seats can be adjusted to face aft, becoming part of the dining/salon area.
The helm itself, with three display screens, is in elegant leather. Volvo’s IPS joystick is on the starboard side, and Koopmans used it to walk the boat away from its dock. A curved staircase on the starboard side leads down to the accommodations deck, with three elegant staterooms, all with en suite heads.
The master is in the bow, with a centered king bed, a seat on the port side and a large head with walk-in shower. Two matching staterooms are aft, with entry doors set at an angle to make use of space. A door in the middle can be opened to connect the two, or closed for privacy. And each stateroom has three large hullside windows for lots of natural light. They also have lots of storage space, and an extra seat near the foot of the bed.
Power options for the Zeelander 72 range from triple Volvo IPS950s to this boat, with its three IPS1350 pod drives. The company says that with the IPS1350s, the boat’s range is 673 nm at 29 knots. Price for this boat is $4,850,000.
Specs.: LOA: 72’4”; Beam: 19’7”; Draft: 4’9”; Disp.: 99,000 lbs.; Fuel: 1,585 gals.; Water: 396 gals. Power: 3×1,000-hp Volvo IPS1350 pod drives.
FLEMING 78
Fleming has launched its new F78 Classic, an upgrade of its flagship 78 but with a redesigned flybridge and boat deck. With good reason, considering its success in cruising around the world, the company calls the F78 “the ultimate cruising yacht.”
The Fleming 78 is built to European CE Category “A” standards, meaning it is a strong, well-engineered, go-anywhere, blue-water cruiser. Flemings are known for the exceptional engineering and attention to detail, inside and out.
The redesigned 78 is an outgrowth of the Fleming 75 that was launched in 2000. Ten years later Fleming redesigned that boat’s hull to make it longer, with a longer keel and a bulbous bow, and named it the F78 Classic. The added waterline and new bow reduced fuel burn and increased range by 500. Powered by twin 1550-hp MANs, the 78 had a range of 2,000 nm at 10 knots. That boat had a split-level flybridge.
On the new F78 Classic, the flybridge is on one level to make life easier and more comfortable. The boat deck is longer and the davit is positioned so you can launch a tender over either side or the stern. The cockpit also is larger and has more seating.
The 78 has three staterooms with en suite heads and showers plus a separate crew quarters aft. The salon is made for cruising comfort, with an entertainment center with cabinets, bookshelves and a TV on the starboard side; an L-shaped settee with an oval teak table and storage are to port. A bar cabinet with a granite counter top, sink and fridge/icemaker is aft to port.
The galley is forward with 18 linear feet if countertop, a double sink and everything you need for long-range cruising. A dinette is opposite with a curved banquette, oval dining table and storage.
Below, the accommodations deck has teak and holly sole throughout; the bulkheads are faced with teak and there’s Ultra Suede on the paneling and headliners. Each stateroom is off a forward lobby, which is reached by stairs from the pilothouse. The owner’s stateroom has a king-sized bed with curved bureaus on either side, a desk with drawers and a walk-in closet. The port guest cabin can have either twin berths or a double berth; the VIP cabin forward has a tapered queen berth and hanging lockers port and starboard. The crew quarters and engine room are accessed from the port side deck aft, so crew can come and go without disturbing guests anywhere else on the boat.
The pilothouse on the 78, as on all Flemings, is the cruising social center of the boat. It has an L-shaped settee set around a teak table; a pilot berth is optional. A chart table is to port and the helm has space for a full range of electronics in full-width upper and lower consoles. One centered Stidd helm chair is standard, but there’s space for two more. A day head with toilet and a ceramic basin set in a granite countertop is adjacent to the pilothouse.
Specs.: LOA: 81’6”; Beam: 21’5”; Draft: 5’0”; Disp.: 165,048 lbs.; Fuel: 3,000 gals.; Water: 440 gals.; Power: 2×1550-hp MAN diesels. Read more:
AZIMUT MAGELLANO 25 METRI
Azimut just completed its new Magellano 25 Metri luxury long-range cruiser, an 82-footer with a 25-knot top speed and lots of high-tech touches. The latest Magellano makes extensive use of carbon fiber, it has an active air-sanitizing system based on a NASA patent, and it offers a Hotel Mode option for silent, zero-emissions power while at anchor.
And that’s before you get to what the Italian builder calls “artistic fiberglass” in the hull, and brushed Verde Alpi marble, dark walnut wood, polished brass, lacquered wood and ribbed wood in the interior. If you’re looking for a no-frills, bare-bones cruising boat, this one’s not for you. But if you’re interested in a sophisticated vessel offering the living comforts of a five-star hotel and the safety and efficiency of Azimut’s Dual Mode semidisplacement hull, the Magellano 25 Metri fills the bill.
The new Magellano comes with a serious pedigree. The exterior is by Ken Freivokh, and the interior is by Vincenzo De Cotiis; this is their first collaboration. De Cotiis used special resin with multiple layers to create a bronze powder color that’s meant to recall the look of precious stones. Freivokh created a fully-glazed superstructure with retro-style windows in the hull and slatted teak panels aft of the deckhouse. All the interior fabrics are by Loro Piana.
The new cruiser has four cabins and five heads below, plus a crew cabin that has direct access to the galley for privacy. The owner’s suite has a walk-in closet, and a space that extends out of the hull.
A raised pilothouse has access to both the flybridge and the salon, and it has extra seating in a small divan. The salon is filled with light; a dry bar aft is open to the cockpit and a spiral staircase (with mirrors to reflect the light) leads to the flybridge.
All the way aft, an “infinity terrace” includes a retractable panel that can be lowered so that the cockpit seems to go on forever; the panel also serves as a garage hatch, and it unfolds to create a large bathing platform at water level (see picture above).
Base price for the Magellano 25 Metri is about $5,506,560 plus VAT at the factory.
Specs.: LOA: 82’9”; Beam: 20’10”; Draft: 6’2”; Disp.: 188,493 lbs.; Fuel: 2,114 gals.; Water: 396 gals.; Power: 2×1,400-hp MAN V12 diesels. Optional: 2×1,550-hp MAN V12 diesels. Read more:
