Author Peter Janssen

Gear
By

Twin Disc Makes Steering Easier

Just when you thought it couldn’t get much easier, Twin Disc has come up with a new electronic steering system to do exactly that. The electronic system, which the company calls “e-Steer,” does not have any of the problems often associated with purely hydraulic systems. Instead, the new e-Steer electronic helm is connected to the hydraulic-powered rudders by wires, reducing the possibility of leaks or loss of steerage. The new electronic system also has Twin Disc’s Speed Sensing technology, which gives the helmsman adaptive resistance – meaning the control of the wheel is firmer at full throttle and lighter at…

Boat Reviews
By

Vicem 65: Cold-Molded, Classic Cruiser

With its classic lines and elegant interiors, the new Vicem 65 Custom Flybridge is simply a beauty not to be missed. Introduced at last spring’s Palm Beach show, the Vicem 65, like all Vicems, is built by old-world craftsmen in Turkey with cold-molded mahogany, giving the boat a smooth and strong, quiet ride with natural insulation from noise and humidity. Because of their construction, Vicems can be highly customized. The 65, for example, comes with two or three staterooms, with galley up or down. Hull number one, with galley down, has a custom kids’ room just aft of the VIP…

Boat Reviews
By

Rosborough 246: Outboard-Powered Pocket Cruiser

A true pocket cruiser, the sturdy, economical Rosborough 246 reflects its salty Nova Scotia heritage while offering user-friendly cruising for a couple or small family. It has all the amenities to make cruising comfortable, considering its small size, and it also opens up distant cruising grounds because it’s fully trailerable. Its narrow 8’6” beam eliminates the need for special permits. Originally made as commercial fishing boats in Nova Scotia, Rosboroughs are now built in New Hampshire, and the outboard-powered 246 has been one of the company’s most popular models. The new boat has an upgraded pilothouse, with 6’6” headroom, and…

Boat Reviews
By

Outer Reef 580: An Elegant Long-Range Cruiser

The new Outer Reef 580 has just about everything you need for long-range cruising or living aboard: three staterooms, two heads, a raised pilothouse, a flybridge, a Portuguese bridge, and enough teak everywhere to warm the heart of even the saltiest cruiser among us. There’s even simulated hull planking to add to the classic look. With large windows, the pilothouse provides great visibility; it also houses an L- shaped settee on a raised platform, a teak table on a stainless steel pedestal, and a Stidd helm chair. From the 580’s pilothouse, one teak stairway leads up to the flybridge, while…

Boat Reviews
By

North Pacific 49 Pilothouse: A Comfortable Coastal Cruiser

For a user-friendly boat that’s easy on the outside and elegant on the inside, take a look at the North Pacific 49 Pilothouse. There’s no wood on the outside, you just hose it down, while the inside has rich teak throughout, a large pilothouse for easy navigation, and an unusual full-beam salon for comfortable living. With a semi-displacement hull, the North Pacific 49 is a rugged, solid trawler meant for safe coastal cruising or living aboard. The pilothouse on the 49 is a true pilothouse, with twin adjustable helm chairs, a settee that converts to a berth, good visibility and…

Boat Reviews
By

Nordic Tugs 44: Iconic Salty Cruiser

There’s no mistaking a Nordic Tug. The iconic salty tugboat lines, even down to the faux smokestack, have identified the brand ever since the first one, a 26-footer, was introduced at the Seattle boat show in 1980. The new Nordic Tugs 44, which replaces the popular 42, has all the personality, performance and solid sea-keep abilities of its predecessors. Nordic Tugs are built in Burlington, Washington, for serious cruisers, people who will go up the Inside Passage to Alaska or from Maine to Miami and the Bahamas as a matter of course. The 44 has a two-stateroom, two head layout…

Boat Reviews
By

Nordhavn 63: Proven World-Wide Cruiser

If you want to go around the world, take a look at the new Nordhavn 63 – or just about any other Nordhavn, for that matter. Nordhavns have been proven blue-water performers ever since a Nordhavn 40 went around the world in 2002, and the Nordhavn Atlantic Rally two years later when 18 boats cruised from Fort Lauderdale to Gibraltar. The 63 is built to the same standards. What’s striking about the new 63 is the pilothouse, situated pretty far aft for protection during world-wide voyages. It has an L-shaped settee so guests can enjoy the view, and a full…

Boat Reviews
By

Moorings 433PC: Newest Mid-Sized Charter Cat

The newest power cat from the worldwide charter giant, The Moorings 433PC, with three staterooms and two heads, is designed as a mid-sized cruising boat for families or groups of up to eight guests. A well-mannered cat built by Robertson & Caine in South Africa (and also sold under the Leopard brand), The Moorings 433PC offers a comfortable, safe, relaxed cruising vacation with more than enough room, inside and out, for everyone onboard. The large, air-conditioned salon has windows for visibility all around, a galley forward, a convertible settee that can sleep two, and big glass doors that open to…

Boat Reviews
By

Leader 46: A New Flagship from Jeanneau

The flagship of the Leader fleet, the new 46 has lots of innovative touches, French lines, and Volvo performance (either with sterndrives or IPS), which all combine to make it an appealing contemporary cruiser. No wonder the Leader 46 by Jeanneau has been nominated for the European Boat of the Year award. When I was on the boat, I particularly liked the cockpit galley with the grill opening aft; you stand on the wide teak swim platform, facing your guests, and fire up the barbeque. (There’s also a traditional galley below.) Another appealing touch: The forward-facing mate’s bench seat to…

Boat Reviews
By

Horizon Power Cat 52: Easy Living and Long-Range Cruising

With its wide beam, low draft, long range and room for most of your family and a lot of your friends, the new Horizon Power Cat 52 is designed for both long-distance cruising and easy living and entertaining on board. One of the major advantages of a cat, of course, is the amount of space that can be packed between the hulls, and in the Horizon 52 that is put to good use. The salon with galley is simply huge and bright, with two large sofas and 360-degree views all around, plus an extra office area for a desk and…

1 … 382 383 384 385 386 … 398