Boat Reviews

New Hinckley Picnic Boat 37 MK111: Bigger, Better, Faster. See It at the Newport Show

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

The newest iteration of the iconic Picnic Boat, the new Hinckley 37 MK111 is larger, faster and more comfortable than ever before. The new 37 has all the gorgeous lines of the original, but it now offers a cruise speed of 32 knots and, powered by twin 370-hp Yanmar diesels and Hamilton jet drives, it tops out at 35 knots. Hinckley launched its first Picnic Boat, Dasher, in its yard in Southwest Harbor, Maine, in 1994. It was 36 feet long, driven by a single diesel and it had water jet drives, so that you wouldn’t snag a prop 0n…

Hampton Endurance 658: A Serious, Spacious, Long-Range Couple’s Cruiser

By Peter Janssen on August 30, 2017 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

A high-quality, unusually spacious, long-range cruising boat, the Hampton Endurance 658 is designed to be run by a couple, and it’s designed with redundant systems throughout to keep them safe at sea. And if they want to cruise with a large family, or entertain a crowd back in port, there’s plenty of room for that too. Walking through the Hampton Endurance 658, as my colleague George Day and I did in Newport, RI, this summer, is a treat, because the boat offers a lot of surprises. It is essentially a three-stateroom, two-head cruiser, but it also has a crew cabin,…

New Zeelander 55: A Dutch Beauty with Curves Everywhere

By Peter Janssen on August 28, 2017 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

The Dutch-made Zeelander 55, an upgrade from the company’s popular 44, is a head-turning, luxurious express-type cruiser with hints of both a Down East lobster boat and a Gold Coast commuter boat while announcing a style all its own. From its fine bow to its torpedo stern, the Zeelander 55 is as contemporary as it can be. It’s all curves; there doesn’t seem to be a straight line anywhere. One of the most striking aspects of the Zeelander 55 is the 360-degree view from the helm; actually, from anywhere in the salon. The wraparound windows have narrow frames and double-curved…

New Outer Reef 610 Motoryacht: Built for Couples, Comfort and Cruising

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

Designed to be run by a cruising couple, the new Outer Reef 610 Motoryacht is spacious, fuel-efficient and easy to maneuver. Indeed, in early July hull number one carried its new owners, a couple from Newport, Rhode Island, on a shakedown cruise from Fort Lauderdale up to their home in five days with just two pit stops, although they had a captain from Outer Reef to help them get acquainted with the boat. Then they cruised New England waters for the rest of the summer themselves. That boat will be displayed at the Newport International Boat Show, starting Sept. 14.…

Greenline 39 Hybrid: A Light-Filled Cruising Boat Under Diesel or Electric Power

By Peter Janssen on August 21, 2017 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Operating in two cruising modes, the Greenline 39 Hybrid can run under its 220-hp Volvo diesel at an 11-knot cruising speed, topping out at 18 knots, or under its electric power at 4 knots, topping out at 6.5 knots. Under diesel power, range is 1,000 nm at 7 knots; under electric power, however, range is only 20 knots. What this means is that under its green, electric, low-carbon footprint, the Greenline 39 Harbor can cruise around a harbor or two, or enter a quiet anchorage at night, silently and efficiently. Either way, the Greenline 39 is a low-profile, light-filled, two-stateroom,…

Ellis 40 Bowrider Express: A New Approach for a Traditional Down East Boat

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

You usually don’t think of “lobster boat” and “bowrider” in the same sentence. But now Ellis Boat, which has been building lobster boats (and “lobster yachts”) in Southwest Harbor, Maine, since 1947, has put the two together in its new 40-foot Ellis Bowrider Express. And despite the new seating in the bow, the boat remains true to its heritage. “It’s a fantastic vessel,” says Shane Ellis, the grandson of the company’s founder. “It has a traditional bottom, but with a custom seat on top. We’re a custom builder. We built this for a client who wanted a seat for the…

New Aquila Flagship: Luxurious, Spacious 48-foot Power Cat

By Peter Janssen on August 14, 2017 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

The new flagship of the Aquila power catamaran fleet, the Aquila 48 offers a combination of space, luxury, performance and easy living, whether you’re on an ocean cruise or a charter vacation. Designed from the start as a powerboat, the Aquila 48 comes in two versions: one with three cabins and three heads, or the other with four cabins and four heads. In the three-cabin arrangement, privacy is assured, with the owner’s stateroom taking up the entire port hull, with a large en suite head and shower, while two matching guest cabins are in the starboard hull, each with its…

Beneteau’s New Flagship: Gran Turismo 50 with Lots of French Styling

By Peter Janssen on August 9, 2017 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Beneteau is planning a new flagship, the Gran Turismo 50, with either two or three staterooms, the company’s trademark French styling, and lots of social and entertaining spaces inside and out. The large lounge in the cockpit is fully flush with the salon, creating an easy flow of guests inside and out. The cockpit is protected by the overhang from the flybridge, and is meant for entertaining with an exterior galley and grill. The large swim platform is submersible for water sports, and the garage is large enough to hold a Williams Minijet. The interior, by Andreani Design, is bright,…

Helmsman Trawlers Bring New 38-foot Cruiser to the Chesapeake

By Peter Janssen on August 2, 2017 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Helmsman Trawlers, single-engine cruisers built in China and popular on the West Coast, now have a demo boat for sale in the Chesapeake area. The new Helmsman Trawlers 38E will be at Bay Bridge Marina on Kent Island, across the bay from Annapolis; it will be displayed at the Annapolis power show in October. Built in Fuzhou, China, Helmsman are designed for owners who want a quality cruising boat but don’t want to overpay for one. They are sold factory direct, to reduce costs to consumers. The Helmsman line runs from 31 to 43 feet. The 38E has a unique…

Nordhavn 59 Coastal Pilot Heads for East Coast Shows

By Peter Janssen on August 1, 2017 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Hull number one of the 20-knot Nordhavn 59 Coastal Pilot is on its way to the east coast, where it will be displayed at the fall boat shows, starting with Newport, Rhode Island, in early September. This three-stateroom, two-head Nordhavn, which tops out at twice the speed of previous Nordhavns, is the first to be built for coastal cruising, as opposed to the open-ocean, blue-water boats that have made the company famous. “This is a boat for people who don’t need ocean-crossing capabilities,” says Jim Leishman, vice president of PAE, Nordhavn’s parent company. Designed for owners moving down from larger…

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