Author George Day

Boat Reviews
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Dutch Builder Doggersbank Introduces New 90 and 105-Foot Steel Trawlers

The Dutch builder Doggersbank which has been building rugged steel-hulled offshore cruising boats since 1968 took the opportunity at the Cannes boat show to introduce two new models at 90 and 105 feet. Designed by the Dutch naval architects Vripack, the new designs add modern styling and updated arrangements to the line. In both designs, the bows are sharper than in the past, the sheer lines are crisper and the glazings in the hulls, salon and bridge are much larger with modern shapes. The boats will still have the Doggersbank DNA with welded steel hulls that can stand up to…

On Watch with Peter Janssen
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Azimut and Volvo Partner to Create All-New Hybrid Propulsion System

At the Cannes Boat Show in early September, Azimut and Volvo introduced the all-new diesel-electric propulsion system that the engine manufacturer has been working on for years and which Azimut has selected to power its brand-new 72-foot Seadeck 7. Unlike current marine hybrid propulsion systems, the new Volvo engines operate in much the same way automotive hybrids. The engines switch from diesel to electric as the loads change. When you accelerate, the diesels kick in and when you level off at cruising speed and further acceleration is not needed the diesels switch off and the electric motors take over while…

Cruising Life
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Firefighters Suspect Lithium Batteries Caused Yacht Fire

On August 5, Rob Tyler was at his home in Ontario, Canada, when he checked the boat monitoring system and onboard cameras on his Aqila 70 Steady AF which was moored in Longboat Key, Florida.  To his horror, he saw smoke coming from the starboard hull. Tyler made several phone calls and finally a marina dockhand inspected the boat and confirmed that smoke was indeed coming from the transom of the starboard hull. He also called 911. By next morning Steady AF lay wrecked with her starboard hull burnt and underwater. The previous evening firefighters arrived at the marina at…

Boat Reviews
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New Omikron 60 Blends Tradition with Modern Innovation

One of the boats that caught my eye while at the Cannes Boat Show was the Greek-built Omikron 60 power cruiser. The boat was designed by Juan Koyoumdjian who is best known for his stylish and fast cruising and racing sailboats. The builder’s brief to the designer was for a family cruiser that offers the quiet and peace of a sailboat with the luxury and conveniences of a powerboat. The Omikron 60 is the result and it’s traditional deck house and strong sheer line have echoes of Eastern Mediterranean boats from the 1950s. Missing is the acre of varnished mahogany,…

On Watch with Peter Janssen
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Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 Debuts at Cannes Boat Show

While at the Cannes show last week, I had a chance to spend an hour with Eric LeVine, Benteau’s. director of sales and marketing for all of their in-board power cruisers, aboard the new Swift Trawler 54. The 54 is the sixth model in the Swift Trawler line and fits neatly between the ST48 and the ST62. The 54 is a big boat with high topsides and very full hull sections that create a huge amount of interior volume. Beneteau is stressing their commitment to indoor-outdoot living and a close connection with the marine environment. The aft cockpit is spacious…

Cruising Life
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U.S. Coast Guard Hearings Unveil Causes behind Titan Submarine Disaster

Fifteen months after the deep submersible submarine Titan imploded while visiting the wreck of the Titanic killing all five adventurers aboard, the U.S. Coast launched hearings this week to delve into the disaster. Experts and members of OceanGate’s staff, the parent company, testified that the submarine had been plagued with equipment and system problems in the years before the disaster and that an engineer who oversaw the Titan project had been fired because he would not certify the submarine for deep dives. In the months before the fatal dive, the Titan had been stored ashore in Newfoundland in subfreezing weather…

Boat Reviews
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Seen at the Cannes Show: Marex of Norway Soon to Invade America

Cannes, France—This afternoon at the Cannes Boat Show, I had the good fortune to discover one of the best kept secrets, from Americans anyway, in family cruising boats. Along the crowded quay in a section with several Scandinavian builders, there were four sport-style coupes with teak decks, large aft platforms and streamlined cabins that had something different about them. Across from the boats was a tasteful and stylish land booth for Marex Yachts of Norway. This was not entirely an accident as sometimes happens at boat shows. I had been invited to visit the boats and the booth by our…

Cruising Life
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Outer Reef Yachts Announces Merger with Dutch Builder Lynx Yachts

This week, Jeff Druek, CEO of Outer Reef Yachts, based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, announced that his company was merging with the Dutch builder of luxury long-range motors yachts and high end outboard yachts Lynx Yachts. Long in the works, the merger brings together two brands that will expand the reach of both, Outer Reef into the European market and Lynx into the American and Australian markets. Druek stated, “Expanding our presence in the Netherlands and integrating the highly regarded Lynx Yachts management team into our operations marks a significant milestone for Outer Reef Yachts. This partnership aligns perfectly with…

On Watch with Peter Janssen
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Fountaine Pajot Announces New Code 07 Cruising Powercat Series in Cannes

One Monday, September 9, at the Cannes Boat Show in the South of France, French catamaran builder Fountaine Pajot announced that they will expand their partnership with French power-boat builder Couach to create an entirely new line of cruising power cats to be called the Code 07 series. Fountaine Pajot has become one of the largest catamaran builders in the world with over 4,000 cats launched and now employing over 1,000 skilled craftsmen in their ever expanding French facilities. Couach began building boats in 1897 in France, developed some of the first marine engines and has since developed a worldwide…

Boat Reviews
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Riviera Introduces New 6800 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition

Coming to America this fall for a debut at the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show in October, the new Riviera 6800 Platinum Edition represents the pinnacle of design, style and engineering from this highly regarded Australian builder. Now in their 44th year, Riviera, based on Australia’s Gold Coast, has launched more than 6,000 motor yachts and is distributed through dealers around the world. The Sport Yacht line, one of five on the builder’s product list, is comprised of family cruising sedans with multiple living and lounging spaces. Rebranding the Sport Yacht line as the new Platinum Edition emphasizes the long…

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