When it comes to interesting and innovative boat design and performance, Larry Graff, founder and CEO of Aspen Power Catamarans may well be in a league of his own. He builds proa-style cruising cats in which one hull is narrower than the other, like Polynesian sailing proas. This unusual feature reduces drag and weight which in turn minimizes the power needed from the outboard motors for maximum efficiency and speed. He builds five models from 32 to 44 feet in Bellingham, Washington, of which the 38-foot C110 is the newest addition. The boat has a three-cabin, one-head (with shower) configuration…

The Dutch builder Van den Hoven Jachtbouw’s Voyager series has proven to be highly prized by experienced and adventurous cruisers. With four models from 50 to 71 feet and an 80 footer in development, the builder specializes in family-sized cruisers that have a true mega-yacht feel. The new 56 Fly is built on the platform of the 56 coupe. By adding a flybridge, they have nearly doubled the design’s open air social spaces. Yet, they have done so with a low profile bridge that sits very discretely atop the salon. The 56, like her sister Voyagers, is an artful combination…

Two weeks ago, at the Connecticut Spring Boat Show in Essex, we  came across a new brand that seemed to fit in as though it had been created specifically for the New England Downeast audience. But, in fact, it is a British design and built by the famous bespoke builder in the west of England Cockwells Marine. Here’s our first look. The handsome 35-footer has a truly traditional, built-by-hand feel with a bright varnished transom, varnished rails all around, two varnished tables in the cockpit and you can even have the entire cabin finished in varnished teak. The boat at…

The Italina builder Bellini has been in business since the 1950s and was once a rival to Riva in the classic Lake Garda-style speedboat market. But, the company ceased building new boats in 1973 when the founder fell ill and had to retire. Fifty years later the founder’s son and nephew, who are running the Bellini boat yard, made the move to start building new boats again. Their first design, the Bellini Astor 36, came out in 2023. This is the first time a Bellini design has appeared in Cruising Odyssey since the company has kept production to a minimum.…

The world’s leading builder of recreational power cats, Aquila has proven year after year that they hear their customers and can deliver just what they want. So is the case with the new 42 Coupe which provides a large, enclosed  salon instead of an indoor-outdoor space surrounded by canvas. With no side decks and almost 16 feet of beam, the 42 feels like a much bigger boat particularly when the doors between the salon and the cockpit are open creating one vast social space. The main space has a large C-shaped dinette with the inline galley across from it. The…

The Serbian builder Greenline has since inception been dedicated to designing and creating boats that are efficient and eco friendsly. Their work in electric and hybrid power systems has been state of the art and solor in playing an even larger role as panels get more efficient. The new Greenline 42, which was introduced at boot Dusseldorf in January is the latest iteration of all these components. First it is noticeably larger than the 40-footer it is replacing. The cockpit and solon feel more spacious and the master cabin below could be on a 50-footer. Greenline offers the 42 with…