Most of the modern fast cruisers that run at planing speeds have trim tabs that are adjusted manually to level the boat off and make it run more comfortably and efficiently. Adjusting trim tabs takes practice and skill and affects trim slowly, not dynamically. Swedish inventor Niclas Olofsson, who has a PhD in hydrodynamics had a better idea. In 1994, while on a business trip to Fremantle, Australia, the boat builder he was calling on had a problem. The Chinese company that had ordered several small fast ferry boats had rejected the products because the ferries could not reach the…
Browsing: Annapolis Boat Show
The British-built Hardy 50DS is a businesslike offshore cruiser that is built to take on anything the ocean throws at it. The Hardy brand has long been associated with seakindly expedition yachts that have a good turn of speed and a huge range. But the yachts were more workboat than yacht finished. In 2020, the Hardy brand and assets were acquired by Cockwells in Falmouth, England. This builder of fine bespoke motor yachts and super-yacht tenders is known for the extremely high quality of their finish work. The marriage between Hardy and Cockwells has resulted in expedition yachts that a…
Power cats are intriguing for many reasons. They offer excellent stability, fine bow entries for a smooth ride, plenty of living space for a given length and high average cruising speeds with efficient fuel consumption. If that sound like a winning formula, the designers behind the new Makai 37, the ERYD Design Group, heard you. The 37, designed in Italy and built in Croatia, has the look of a modern sports car and the handling of a thoroughbred performance cruiser with all the benefits of catamaran design. The hulls developed for the 37 have what the designers call the Air-Glide…
Finland has become a prolific builder of sport boats and express cruisers. You may have heard of Saxdor and Axopar, which have made a splash in the US as well as around the world. But you may not have head of Aquador, even though it has been building Scandinavian-style express cruisers for 30 years. To celebrate this milestone, the team at Aquador are launching an all-new 40-foot 400HT at BOOT Dusseldorf in January. The 400HT is the largest boat Aquador has ever built and is a proper family cruiser with three double cabins, a large head and plenty of storage…
The Sialia 45, introduced earlier this year, has won the Gustav Trouve award for excellence in electric boats as the top vote-getter in the over 8 meter/26-foot class. This year more than 150 electric-powered boats were entered in the contest that were voted on by 6,000 electric–boat enthusiast around the world. The International Panel of judges, comprised of 32 electric boat experts, contributed votes weighted at a ratio of 3:1 in the final tally. The Sialia 45 emerged as the top choice in its category, receiving the highest number of votes from the judges. This recognition underscores the builder’s achievement…
Tamas Hamor, the inspiration and driving force behind the Xquisite multihull brand, never does anything by halves. When he commits to a project, he’s in 110% and the results have been truly impressive. The success of his unique Xquisite sailing cats is a testimony to his tenacity and inventiveness. So, it is no surprise to see the launch of the new Solar Sixty Power Cat that recently went into production. Hull number one should be in the water in 2025. The solar designation for the boat comes from the builder’s desire to make the boat as self-sufficient as possible without…
Fleming Yachts announced in December 2020 that they were designing a new flagship to their esteemed fleet. The new 85 was conceived to be the world’s best raised pilothouse, semi-displacement motor yacht with trans-oceanic capabilities. Following the introduction, with only renderings of the boat to show, seven boats were sold. This was in the middle of the Covid pandemic when families around the country decided to get into boating as a safe, outdoor form of recreation. But that doesn’t explain the instant acceptance of the new Fleming 85. This handsome and wholesome cruiser was the boat that many existing Fleming…
When you try to put Italy’s Pershing Yachts in context amongst the host of other companies that build luxury yachts, it is helpful to think of Lamborghini motorcars. That quintessential Italian blend of radical design, eye-watering speed and luxury is what make the famous cars unique and in very much the same way made Pershing stand out from the crowd. Pershing designed and built yachts have always been rocket ships with blinding speed and sports-car handling. These are boats that have top end speeds of 50-plus knots and some of them will top 60-knots while also providing sumptuous styling, finish…
Here’s a interesting news item that came across our desk this week. Marex is a boutique builder of fine family cruisers based in Norway that has always focused on the Scandinavian and European markets. Yet, they have known for a long time that the designs, the performance and the quality of their boat would appeal to North American buyers. So, Marex is opening North American operation. Oslo, Norway / Greenwich, CT, December 2024: Marex Boats, a Norwegian boat builder with production facilities in Lithuania, is proud to announce the establishment of operations and sales in North America. The new office…
The increasingly popular United States Powerboat Show will start Thursday, Oct. 5, and run through Sunday, Oct. 8, in Annapolis, the heart of cruising in the Chesapeake and one of the premiere cruising destinations in the world. The Annapolis show always draws a crowd, for a whole lot of reasons. It’s easy to get to (less than an hour’s drive from Washington, D.C. or Baltimore); it’s easy to see a lot of new boats and gear displayed there, and it’s in Annapolis, with boatyards, marinas, waterfront restaurants and watering holes all around. And then there’s the U.S. Naval Academy, with…