Bart Van den Hoven has been building high quality steel and aluminum cruising boats for discerning owners since 1992. In those three decades, the Dutch yard has launched only 55 boats or roughly two a year. The first five he built by himself.
But, in 1999 Van den Hoven “professionalized” the yard and brought on a growing team of highly skilled craftsmen. Today, he has 80 people on staff yet still only produces a few boats a year.
Not seeking a large production audience, Van den Hoven instead offers extremely well-built and finely finished semi-custom yachts for owners who are seeking the very best steel or aluminum cruising boat money can buy.
Most of the models have steel hulls and superstructures and are built for economical trawler-style cruising. Recently, Van den Hoven introduced the Voyager line which are built in aluminum to make them lighter, faster and more modern.
He notes on the company’s website, “This allows the yacht to sail long distances in a shorter time. Head to the Norwegian west coast, for instance, with its spectacular fjords that are often quite far apart. Or take a tour of the Greek islands, enjoying how different they are from each other. It’s on these kinds of trips that a faster yacht can make all the difference.”
The new Voyager 50 is a fine example of the extraordinary work the yard is capable of. Designed by Rene van der Velden, the 50-foot coupe has more modern and Mediterranean-style lines than her predecessors, with a plumb bow, high topsides, a stepped sheer and a large stern platform.
The builder wanted to emphasize an indoor-outdoor lifestyle and to have the large cockpit, with its U-shaped lounge on the same level as the salon. Folding doors between the spaces open to form one large social area that will be perfect for entertaining.
Built on a semi-custom basis, owners can choose how to configure the salon and the sleeping cabins forward. A two-cabin, two-head layout would appeal to many veteran cruisers.
Van den Hoven prides itself on the high quality of their fit and finish, which is on the super-yacht level which so many Dutch yards are famous for. Yet, the results are heirloom quality boats that can and should be passed down from generation to generation like prized family assets.
Powered by twin Volvo 480 horsepower D6 engines with straight shafts, the 50 Coupe will have a cruising speed of 22 knots and a top end of 28 knots. For comfort at sea, stabilizers can be added as can two Hunphree interceptors. Bow and stern thrusters will aid in close quarter maneuvering and docking.
If you are looking for an offshore quality yacht that has the range for serious cruises far and wide, and you require a semi-custom design that is built to the highest Dutch standards, the new Van den Hover Voyager 50 Coupe might be just the boat to fill the bill.
