Boat Reviews

Johnson Launches Large New 70

By Peter Janssen on March 18, 2024 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Johnson Yachts is showing its newest model, a 70-footer, at the Palm Beach show. Designed by Bill Dixon, the well-known British naval architect, the Johnson 70 is meant to provide the usable size of a superyacht in a manageable size. Johnson has been making yachts for the past 37 years in Taiwan; it’s built 350 of them so far, selling them all around the world, but with the United States as a major market. The new 70 is the smallest in the fleet, with five models now going up to 115 feet. The 70 takes advantage of its 18’ 3”…

New Off-Grid Cat with “Muskoka Room”

By Peter Janssen on March 17, 2024 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

A small Canadian company is building the prototype of a 30-foot, off-the-grid blend of a houseboat and a unique catamaran cruising boat. The main cabin is designed as a “Muskoka Room” to resemble a cabin in the north woods. The new NC9 is the creation of the North Channel CabinBoat Company and it’s being built of aluminum by Henley Boats on Manitoulin Island. It’s originally meant for the rugged North Channel, part of the Georgian Bay on Lake Huron, one of the most popular cruising grounds on the Great Lakes, and a favorite spot on the Great Loop. The semi-displacement…

New Fairline Targa GT 50 High-End Cruiser

By Peter Janssen on March 16, 2024 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Fairline, the big British builder, is showing its sporty new Targa GT 50 at the Palm Beach show. It’s a two-stateroom, two-head, 33-knot cruiser with some luxury touches and contemporary lines. Once you walk from the wide, submersible, teak swim platform into the cockpit, the Targa GT 50 is one large entertaining space, from the transom to the helm. There’s an L-shaped settee and a high-low table on the port side, and an outdoor wet bar with a grill, sink and entertainment system to starboard. You can open three-part glass doors to the salon, where the galley is aft on…

New Prestige 460 Fly at Palm Beach Show

By Peter Janssen on March 13, 2024 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Prestige, the prestigious French builder, will have the latest version of its popular 460 Flybridge yacht on display at the Palm Beach show, which starts on March 21. The two-stateroom, two-head, flybridge yacht, now powered by twin 440-hp Volvo IPS600 pod drives, is designed for easy living inside and out, while at the dock or underway. You can climb on the 460 via the supersized teak swim platform, and you then can raise or lower it hydraulically, making it easy to enjoy water sports. But then you’ll find a surprise, when a mini outdoor galley, complete with sink and grill,…

Invictus Showing New 42 Outboard Model

By Peter Janssen on March 13, 2024 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Invictus Yacht will be showing its new, sporty and outboard-powered TT420S at the Palm Beach show, starting March 21. The new Invictus, with its distinctive lines and signature axe bow, is really an outboard version of the Italian builder’s most popular model. Powered by three 350-hp Yamaha outboards, it’s aimed specifically at the U.S. market. The original TT420 was introduced in Europe with inboard power from two 440-hp Volvos, but Invictus realized that outboards are growing in popularity here. The design, by Christian Grande, remains the same as the original, other than some tweaks aft for the outboards. The original…

Parker Launches Versatile Sport Cruiser

By Peter Janssen on March 12, 2024 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Parker just launched its new 34-foot Sorrento, a versatile outboard-powered sport cruiser with an innovative second cabin located all the way aft. Parker is a proud Polish builder that traces its roots back to 1886. Its modern incarnation dates to the early 1970s. It now makes 12 models of family boats that have won prizes in Europe and are popular there. It unveiled the new Sorrento at the Düsseldorf show in January. You can order the Sorrento with twin outboards up to a total of 700 hp. With standard twin 300-hp Mercury outboards, it tops out at 46 knots; with…

Outer Reef Launches New 620 Trident EVO

By Peter Janssen on March 11, 2024 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Outer Reef just launched its first 620 Trident EVO long-range motoryacht, and it will be on display at the Palm Beach show starting March 21. The new 620 Trident EVO has been redesigned for performance and efficiency in collaboration with Volvo Penta. Outer Reef first launched a 620 Trident in 2014; designed by Ward Setzer, who has worked on everything from superyachts to Hinckleys, it had a distinctive plumb bow and contemporary cruiser look. Now, ten years later, the EVO version features Volvo’s Electronic Vessel Control system and the SeaTorque enclosed shaft drive. The result is smoother joystick controls, faster…

Shannon Unveils New Amphfoils

By Peter Janssen on March 6, 2024 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

The Shannon Boat Company in Bristol, Rhode Island, recently unveiled its plans for a new series of Amphfoil hydrofoils that are designed to revolutionize boating. Shannon says it developed the Amphfoils after eight years of R&D and it has patented the design and technology in 40 countries around the world. They use new hydrodynamic and aerodynamic technologies to redefine a traditional hydrofoil and deliver speeds of up to 70 mph and a range of 350 nm. They also use 75 percent less energy than a traditional gas- or diesel-powered boat, according to the company. The Amphfoils combine the stability of…

Williams Launches SOLAS-Approved Tenders

By Peter Janssen on March 5, 2024 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Williams Jet Tenders just launched the first models of its 18-foot DieselJet 565 and 20-foot 625 models with SOLAS approvals, meaning they are fully certified rescued tenders under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. The certification means the standard Williams tenders have been customized to meet the SOLAS requirements and testing, which include a three-meter drop, self-righting capability and an endurance trial. For owners, it means they can have all the advantages of a high-quality Williams DieselJet tender plus the safety and rescue capability recognized by the SOLAS certification. A yacht owner would not have to…

New Jaktar 30 “Ready for Adventure”

By Peter Janssen on March 5, 2024 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

The striking new Jaktar J30 adventure boat from Sweden just made its U.S. debut at the recent Seattle boat show. The new all-aluminum Jaktar, with its strong, functional looks, is made for adventures and exploration in the far north. Indeed, the company says it is both “ready for adventure” and “engineered for exploration.” For his part, Bart Bouwhuis, a partner of Vripack, the Dutch design studio, calls it “the utility knife of boats.” With room to sleep four people, a small galley, enclosed head and shower, and fully enclosed helm deck, the Jaktar is ready to take a family on…

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