The good-looking 30-foot Swallow Whisper is a new boat from a small builder in the U.K. that has some features that might be welcome in the U.S.
Built of light-weight wood with the hull sheathed in fiberglass and epoxy, it’s powered by two relatively small 70-hp Yamaha outboards that are hidden in an engine box, instead of hanging off the transom. A weekender that can sleep four, it tops out at 26 knots, and has a range of 160-nm.
Until it launched the Whisper last summer, Swallow Yachts made trailerable sailboats in its yard in Wales. But it decided to branch out, thinking a powerboat might be more attractive to couples and families who are pressed for time. And Swallow wanted a powerboat with an efficient hull that could be driven by smaller, fuel-efficient engines.
The Whisper’s hull is built of box-section marine plywood bonded together and then sheathed in fiberglass and epoxy resin. It’s stiff, light and durable. With a beam of just 9’ 4” it also is relatively narrow, offering less resistance as it powers through the water.
The two outboards sit in an engine box in the cockpit that doubles as an aft bench seat. It’s insulated, so the outboards are even more quiet than usual. Since they don’t occupy any space on the transom, the boat has a large swim platform, similar to one you’d expect on an inboard-powered boat.
The helm deck is protected by a hardtop with solar panels on top that can help charge the batteries. There’s a small cruising galley opposite the helm with dinette seats that can be converted to berths for two if needed. A nice touch: wooden wine-glass holders swing out from under the seats.
Below, the Whisper has a forward V-berth for two and a separate head and shower.
LOA: 30’6”; Beam: 9’4”; Draft: 2’4” engines down; Displacement: 5,291 lbs.; Fuel: 63 gals.; Water: 18 gals.; Power: 2×70-hp outboards. Read more at http://swallowyachts.com and see the video below:
