When it came time for Groupe Beneteau to update and reinvent their Gran Tourismo line, they started afresh and went back to the essence of what a GT sport express cruiser has always been about, sleek simple lines, a low curvaceous cabin top and plenty of open space on deck. For naval architecture they turned to the Bill Dixon Design group which delivered a thoroughly modern planing, deep-V hull with plenty of volume but a simple and streamlined look. For styling they went with the Andreani Design team who created living spaces that are warm, spacious and modern. For guidance…

The German builder Fjord was one of the earliest adopters of the aggressively modern styling, the straight sheer, plumb bow and large hull glazing that is so popular today, particularly in Europe. And, while the brand has many competitors in the Sport Cruising market, they certainly have not lost their edge. The new 490 Sport underlines that fact with a big black Sharpie. Driven by three 600-horsepower Mercury Verado outboards, the new design rides on a hull with a stepped, deep-V design. It will have a top end speed of over 40 knots and its ride through the chop will…

Earlier this year, we published a video from Marex Yachts of Norway showing off their unique Marex 440 Gourmet Cruiser. A flagship in their line of express cruisers, the Gourmet Cruiser has an expanded galley designed to facilitate entertaining and cooking with and for friends. The video got so many views, we thought it was time to introduce the boat’s sister ship, the Marex 440 Scandinavia. The hull and deck are the same but the salon has been reconfigured with a smaller galley and a large sit-down dinette. All PostsThe dinette has several features that will appeal to cruising families.…

Steve and Linda Dashew have left an indelible mark on the cruising world, both power and sail They developed the Deerfoot line of blue water sailboats that changed the way many voyagers thought about offshore yacht design. They did the same to the power cruising world when they launched the FPB series. The concept behind the FBP designs from 64 to 97 feet focuses on long-haul, efficient and low-maintenance cruising. New Zealand boat builder Circa Marine, based in Whangerei, North Island, built all 17 of the FPB designs until the Dashews decided to end the project at it peak of…

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.…