The brand new Piper 12C steel cruiser with optional hybrid electric power is the new kid on the block, offering a no-nonsense, one- or two-stateroom alternative to more established displacement cruisers made around the world.
The new Piper Cruiser, just introduced at the Southampton show, is made by Piper Boats, a well-established British yard that has been building Dutch-style liveaboard barges for the canals and waterways in England and the continent. (The new Piper would certainly be a candidate for the Great Loop if it were available in the U.S.)
The 12C is Piper’s first recreational boat, a 39-footer with a hull and superstructure made of solid steel. In its diesel mode, it’s powered by a single 85-hp Beta Marine engine with shaft drive, producing a cruising speed of 6 to 8 knots. For silent and eco-friendly cruising, the Piper has 40kWh electric power coming from a large bank of 12V lead acid batteries and solar panels mounted on the coach roof; the boat runs at 4- to 5 knots in this mode. The motor is integrated into the driveline with a Morse throttle control for both power sources.
The new Piper has a traditional low profile, with sturdy side and bow rails and an aft deck that’s protected by the overhang from the coach roof; the aft deck also can be fully enclosed with curtains for protection from the weather.
Bi-fold wooden doors lead from the cockpit to the salon, all on the same level. The Piper has large windows in the salon, a sunroof that opens for fresh air, and a door that opens to the side deck from the helm on the port side. Bow and stern thrusters make docking easy. An L-shaped sofa converts to a guest bed.
A two-cabin layout is standard with the galley up. But a one-cabin version is also available, opening up more space below. There are two heads.
Specs.: LOA: 39’3”; Beam: 13’1”; Draft: NA: Disp.: 33,000 pounds; Fuel: 171 gals.; Water: 171 gals.; Power: 1×85-hp Beta Marine diesel.
