Boat Reviews

Riva Launches New Diva 82 Flybridge

By Peter Janssen on October 1, 2023 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Riva just launched its new Diva 82-foot flybridge luxury cruising yacht at the Cannes Yachting Festival. It’s the smallest model in Riva’s flybridge lineup, which goes up to the 130 Bellissima. Riva says the new Diva, with an eye-catching, swept-back windshield, offers a “revolutionary approach to the use of space.” Even though the flybridge is located fairly far aft (the Diva has an elongated foredeck), it is large enough for the upper helm, a lounge with a dinette and bar and sunbathing areas forward and aft. A carbon-fiber hardtop offers some protection from the weather. The salon, with large windows,…

Top Boats at Annapolis Show

By Peter Janssen on September 28, 2023 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

The only problem with boat shows is that there are so many new boats. So many boats, so little time. It’s easy to feel confused and overwhelmed; it’s hard to keep focused on the boats you really want to see. The Annapolis power show that starts on Oct. 5 is no exception; it will have more than 300 new boats on display on and around City Dock downtown. To help you make the most of your time, we’ve picked some of our cruising favorites that will be displayed there. Take a look: AMERICAN TUG 365: Made in LaConner, Washington, the…

New Endurance 630 Long-Range Cruiser

By Peter Janssen on September 27, 2023 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

The 630 long-range cruiser is the newest member of the Endurance fleet, and you can order it with either a traditional flybridge or a fully enclosed skylounge. The new 630 is made for safe and comfortable cruising; the pilothouse has wraparound windows for visibility all around, and a Portuguese bridge provides some weather protection. The heart of a blue-water cruiser, the pilothouse has two Pompanette helm chairs, a dinette and a settee; aircraft-type doors open to the decks on each side. The aft deck is protected by the overhang from the boat deck above, and it has a sofa aft…

Axopar Building New 29 Range Line

By Peter Janssen on September 26, 2023 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Axopar, the innovative Finnish builder, created an entirely new genre of adventure boats when it launched its first model, a 28, in 2014. With its plumb bow and, long, low and lean minimalist lines, the 28 has been a big seller in Europe and the U.S.; so far Axopar has made 2,700 of them, and Axopar now makes several other models going up to 45 feet. Last week, Axopar said it would celebrate its tenth anniversary by replacing the 28 with a brand-new 29 Range line, with three models – Cross Cabin, Sun Top, and Spyder. The new 29s will…

Wally Launches 50 with IPS or Outboard Power

By Peter Janssen on September 25, 2023 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Wally just launched its new 50 with the builder’s elegant, minimalist and uber-clean lines at the Cannes Yachting Festival. The latest Wally, called the wallypower50, comes in two versions, one powered by twin 480-hp Volvo IPS pod drives, the other by four 400-hp Mercury Verado outboards, with four 500-hp Mercury Racing outboards as upgrades. Wally was not shy about touting the importance of the new 50. Indeed, Stefano de Vivo, the company’s managing director, said “The wallypower50 sets a new standard for being flexible, practical, dynamic and – of course – iconic. It is the ultimate example of the evolution…

Bering Starts Line of Power Cats

By Peter Janssen on September 20, 2023 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Bering Yachts, the Turkish builder that makes rugged, go-anywhere, long-range explorer yachts, just announced that they’re working on a new line of power catamarans, starting with a 60 and then moving on to an 80. In making the move, Bering joins a growing list of powerboat builders that is either switching to multihull yachts or is adding multihulls to their traditional lineup. In Bering’s case, the cats will join its fleet of monohulls that runs from 65 to 145 feet. But the cats will carry on Bering’s goal of building aluminum displacement boats that are designed for distant adventure cruising.…

Cannes Debut for Marex Gourmet Cruiser

By Peter Janssen on September 19, 2023 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Marex, the Norwegian builder, just introduced its new 440 Gourmet Cruiser flagship at the Cannes Yachting Festival. Marex has designed the 440 as a family cruiser with special emphasis on its galley; Marex says it’s the largest in its size range. The 440 is built for safe and easy living on board, with two cabins (and an optional third) and two heads below. A washing machine is standard. The side decks are protected by high railings, so moving around the boat is safe all around. And there’s a door next to the helm so the captain can have fast access…

New Fast Vespro from New Italian Yard

By Peter Janssen on September 19, 2023 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Centouno Navi, a new Italian yard, just launched its first boat, a 56-knot luxury cruiser named Vespro, at the Cannes Yachting Festival. The new 54-foot Vespro, powered by two 1,200-hp MAN V8 diesels and jet drives, is more than fast; it’s also efficient, delivering a remarkable range of 350 nm at its top speed. Designed with an emphasis on Italian style and aesthetics, the new Vespro serves as a fast day boat or weekender. The yard says the name translates into “dusk” or ‘twilight” in English, giving the Vespro something of a romantic theme. The exterior is designed to connect…

Brunswick Launches New NAVAN Line

By Peter Janssen on September 19, 2023 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Brunswick just unveiled a brand new line of NAVAN “luxury adventure” boats at the Cannes Yachting Festival. The NAVAN C30 (cabin) and NAVAN S30 (open bow and cuddy) will make their U.S. debuts at the Miami show in February. One of the giants in the worldwide boating marketplace, Brunswick already makes 18 different boat lines, including Sea Ray, Boston Whaler and Bayliner. But none of them look like the new NAVAN. If you think the NAVAN looks like an Axopar, Saxdor or Nimbus, you’re right. And that’s the point. Those Scandinavian models have become increasingly popular in the past few…

New SeaPiper 35: Lots of Character

By Peter Janssen on September 18, 2023 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

The new SeaPiper 35 is an honest boat. It’s not a floating condo; it doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles; it wouldn’t particularly feel at home at a luxury resort/marina. With the SeaPiper 35 what you see is what you get. It’s a straightforward, easy-to-use, easy-to-maintain, 7.5-knot workboat-look-alike that’s trailerable; it can carry you around the Great Loop, down the ICW or up to the San Juans and Canadian Gulf Islands safely and comfortably. It doesn’t look like every other boat in the harbor; it has character. The SeaPiper was originally designed by Ritzo Muntinga, an electronics engineer…

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