Boat Reviews

Beneteau Launches New Swift Trawler 35, an Upgrade of a Cruising Favorite

By Peter Janssen on July 17, 2017 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Beneteau is updating its popular Swift Trawler 34 this fall with a new Swift Trawler 35 after an eight-year run. The new 35 has all the features of the 34, plus upgrades inside and out, the most obvious being new twin transom doors that open out to create a massive open space from the swim platform through the cockpit into the salon. I have a very warm spot in my heart for the Beneteau Swift Trawler 34. Five years ago, I spent more than a week on one with George Sass Sr., the photographer, as we cruised 700 miles of…

We Test the New MJM 35Z with Twin Outboards. WOW!

By Peter Janssen on July 13, 2017 Boat Reviews

It was a Chamber of Commerce summer morning when we headed out of Newport Shipyard on Zinnia, hull number one of the new MJM 35Z, with a beautiful light blue sky, the wind coming in from the ocean at an easy 15 knots or so, the waves on Narragansett Bay just about two feet with gentle, breaking, white foam on top. Leaving the dock, Bob Johnstone, the founder of MJM Yachts (and J/Boats before that), turned the teak joystick under his left hand and walked the boat sideways, the twin 300-hp Mercury Verado outboards pushing the boat in any direction…

Sunreef Launches Supreme 68 Power Cat With Lots of Light and Space

By Peter Janssen on July 11, 2017 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Sunreef will introduce its new, massive Supreme 68 power catamaran at the Cannes yacht show in September, the newest model in the Supreme line that runs from 48 to 88 feet. The amount of attractive, modern, bright living space on the new Sunreef Supreme 68 is simply stunning: Indeed, the company says the new cat has 3,250 square feet of living space, more than many upscale New York City apartments. You enter the boat from two wide staircases leading up from the swim platform, and walk into the salon through large glass doors. Filled with light, the salon has sole-to-ceiling…

Iconic John’s Bay Boat Company Launches New 42-foot Down East Cruiser

By Peter Janssen on July 4, 2017 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

For Peter Kass, who’s run the John’s Bay Boat Company in South Bristol, Maine, for the past 34 years, each boat is an original. So far, he’s built 60 boats, all plank on frame, and each one – whether a working lobster boat or a pleasure boat version – is unique. Kass’ boats also are in demand, with a five-year waiting list. If you order a John’s Bay boat today, you can plan for the launch party in 2022. Kass just launched his latest, a 42-foot lobster-yacht called Rhum, for Leslie and Alan Hull, two former sailors from Friendship, Maine.…

On Heels of 35Z with Two Outboards, MJM Plans New 43Z, with Three Outboards

By Peter Janssen on July 4, 2017 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

You can’t say the people at MJM Yachts aren’t thinking ahead. They just launched their new MJM 35Z, with two outboards, and now they’re announcing the development of a new 43Z, with three. MJM says it has created the 43Z in response to requests from owners, particularly in the Carolinas and Florida, who want outboard-powered cruising boats. Outboards have indeed become more popular in the past few years as they have become more technologically advanced, offering fuel-efficient, high-speed and low-noise-level performance. An outboard boat also has obvious advantages when running in shallow water, or in areas with lots of lobster…

Outer Reef Classic 630 MY: New Comfortable, Contemporary Cruising Yacht. See Video

By Peter Janssen on June 26, 2017 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Scheduled for an introduction at the Cannes yacht show in September, the new Outer Reef Classic 630 MY represents a contemporary version of a large, comfortable cruising yacht that would stand out at ports around the world. With three staterooms, two heads, a large salon, and a traditional pilothouse (with a centered helm for the captain and a raised, L-shaped settee with a table for guests), the Outer Reef 630 is set up both for safe, extended cruising for a family and friends or for entertaining a crowd closer to home. Starting aft, the Outer Reef 630 has a large…

New, Long-Range Greenline 65 with Cruising Comforts and Euro Styling

By Peter Janssen on June 22, 2017 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

The new Greenline Ocean Class 65 is a long-range, blue-water serious cruising boat with contemporary European lines and styling. The latest addition to Greenline’s Open Class of large cruising boats from 57 to 70 feet, the new 65 will be launched at the Cannes yacht show in September. The company’s smaller hybrid 36, using a combination of electric and diesel power, was introduced to the U.S. last fall. With three staterooms and three en suite heads, the new Greenline 65 is a comfortable cruising boat; the salon is particularly inviting with lots of light coming in from large side, front…

Fountaine Pajot Launches New Luxurious 44-foot Cat. See Video

By Peter Janssen on June 19, 2017 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Fountaine Pajot just launched a new luxurious, spacious three-stateroom, three-head 44-foot catamaran that will make cruising a delight. In this latest design from the famed French builder, there’s room for everyone, inside and out; in fact, there’s room to spare. And as you can see in the video, the boat handles well, running at its cruising speed or maneuvering around the docks, controlled by Volvo’s IPS joystick. The new 44 will be introduced to the U.S. at the Fort Lauderdale boat show next fall. For interior spaces, the salon has a long, inviting L-shaped sofa along the port side, with…

Sirena To Show Two New Boat in Cannes and Announce Plans for Another

By Peter Janssen on June 13, 2017 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Sirena Marine just keeps growing. Last year the high-class Turkish builder started its new powerboat line (officially called Sirena Yachts) with a 64-foot long-range cruiser, first shown at the Dusseldorf show, followed by a 56-foot version introduced at the Miami show. Now it will have both of those models in the water at the Cannes show in September, where Ipek Kirac, the company’s CEO, will announce plans for an even larger yacht. Both the 56 and 64 are impressive cruising boats with clean, contemporary European lines and curved wraparound pilothouse windows. They come with an impeccable pedigree. German Frers, one…

New Aquila 36 Cat with Twin 300-hp Outboards: A Fast and Roomy Cruiser

By Peter Janssen on June 7, 2017 Boat Reviews, Charter, Cruising Life

At first glance, it’s easy to see why the new Aquila 36 power cat is getting a lot of attention. After all, two big 300-hp Mercury Verado outboards are hanging off the stern. But look again, and you’ll probably want to climb on board for a test run. The boat has an enormous amount of space, inside and out. The cockpit alone can hold 24 adults, while the two staterooms below, one per sponson, are not only large but also come with extra headroom, lots of light (from long side windows), and an en suite head. The new Aquila is…

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