Solaris Power, based in Forli, Italy, is introducing its new 48 Lobster Flybridge, with more than a nod to traditional Maine-built lobster boats, at the Düsseldorf boat show, from January 18 to 26. Solaris previously had introduced a 55-foot lobster boat and a 48-foot open, which now has morphed into the flybridge version.
Norberto Ferretti is one of the three founders of Solaris and he’s been a fan of lobster boats for many years, even when he was running the powerful Ferretti Group. “Among the many boats that I have conceived over the years,” he said, “I was especially smitten by the lobster boats: a perfect combination of seaworthiness, functionality, technology and safety.”
The company says that the overall shape of the Solaris 48 Lobster Flybridge gives it a “timeless elegance, representing a contemporaneous take on the original American fishing vessels.” The 48 has a plumb bow, a wraparound windshield and some eye-candy tumblehome aft. The flybridge is set well aft.
The new 48 has bulwarks that fold out in the cockpit, per the current fashion, and wide walkways to make it easy and safe to move around the boat, all the way from the bow to the stern. It comes with two cabins and two heads below, with a possible crew cabin and head. The choice of Volvo Penta IPS pod drives opens up interior space to make living aboard comfortable even on a longer cruise.
The tender garage aft is wide, and the engine room is spacious; all the machinery is within easy reach. Standard power comes from twin 435-hp Volvo IPS600 pod drives, producing a top speed of about 30 knots. Optional 480-hp Volvo IPS650 pod drives push the top speed to 35 knots. Either way, Volvo’s joystick control makes maneuvering at low speeds and around the docks fingertip easy. The 48 has a range of about 300 nm.
The hull was designed by Brunello Acampora and his firm, Victory Designs, in Naples. Acampora has been working with Volvo on hulls for IPS units for about 15 years. The 48 Lobster Flybridge is said to have a comfortable ride at displacement speeds as well as at its top speed; the engines also are quiet and vibration free.
We don’t have many more details about the boat, but we’re looking forward to seeing it in the United States.
Specs.: LOA: 47’0”; Beam: 16’0”; Draft: 2’4”; Disp.: 38,691 lbs.; Fuel: 396 gals.; Water: 113 gals.; Power: 2×435-hp Volvo IPS600 pod drives; 2xVolvo 480-hp IPS650 pod drives.
