When you think of Boston Whaler, the Massachusetts-based builder of unsinkable powerboats, you may not be envisioning cruising boats. Instead, the builder is known for its sporty runabouts, center consoles, and robust sport fishing models. But, they also build the Conquest line of hybrid or dual-purpose boats that combine comfortable living accommodations for cruising with Whaler’s fishing DNA. The result is a style of boats that are truly sporty and will make great platforms for family vacations. The 405 Conquest is a good example of what this dual-purpose concept is all about. Starting at the stern, the 41-footer is powered…
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At the Palm Beach International Boast Show this month, Vicem Yachts will introduce their new Vicem 65 Classic to the American market. The Turkish builder of semi-custom, traditional cruisers is celebrating 27 years in business and should be considered one of the early leaders of the country’s now famous boat building industry. The new 65 Classic is a four-cabin coupe design and is the ninth model in the Classic series that runs from 46 to 82 feet. The 65 has the full-figured hull design of the Classic line with high topsides, full sections forward and a stylish amount of tumblehome…
This Turkish builder of luxury cruising power catamarans is based in Tuzla near Istanbul, Turkey. The company was started in 2018 and splashed onto the scene in 2020 in the middle of the pandemic with their innovative, aluminum Vision F80. It turned heads, and not just because it is bright pink. The founder’s vision was from the start to go big and go with ultimate quality and luxury. So, they followed up the F80 with the Vinson F82 and the Vison F101. The F80 set the bar for the company and let the world know that a new luxury yacht…
New England yacht designer Chris White is well known for his innovative multihull designs, mostly on the sailing side of the cruising coin. But he also has drawn and built numerous cruising power cats that are stylish, fast and provide both a very stable ride and excellent fuel efficiency. Over the last few years, Chris has partnered with Bill Koffler at Aquidneck Custom Composites in Bristol, Rhode Island to create two 72-foot custom sailing catamarans and the Sprindrift 45 power cat. Currently Chris and Bill are building the new Sprindrift 47 Flybridge power cat for a very experienced cruising couple…
Yacht designer Chris Hood and Maine boat builder Lyman Morse have had a long and creative partnership. The Hood 35LM and Hood 57LM are both modern classics that combine Downeast style with comfortable accommodations and stellar performance. In 2025, Lyman Morse with launch the all-new Hood 42 LM Flybridge again designed by Hood. Like her sisters, the 42 will have a sweeping sheer line and a very traditional looking hull and cabin. But, like her sisters, she will also have a thoroughly modern underbody that will provide excellent stability and tracking, will reduce pounding in head seas and will provide…
Good things do indeed come in small packages and the Leopard 40 Power Cat fits that old adage perfectly. Winner of the European Boat of the Year 2024, the 40 fulfills its mission extremely well by delivering a cat that has a ton of living space, a good turn of speed and admirable fuel efficiency. Designed by Simonis Voogd and built by Robertson & Caine in Cape Town, South Africa, the 40 is the little sister to the Leopard 46 and 53, both of which have proven to be handsome, durable and comfortable cruisers that work well both as private…
Every. Since the Aquila brand emerged on the market, it has been known for it’s constant innovation. The designers created angular lines and large windows and vast living spaces in catamarans that decidedly unique. The concept caught on. Today, Aquila is one of the world’s largest builders of cruising power cats. Now they have broken the mold again by introducing the new 46 Coupe and it’s little sister the 42 Coupe. The bigger of the two shows just how much they can do inside a 46-foot high performance cruising cat. First, the 46 is outboard driven and makes good use…
At the end of January, Aspen Power Catamarans announced that the builder of unique, proa-style power cats was hard at work on hull number one of the brand new Aspen C128. The new boat will have twin Suzuki 300-horsepower engines each with twin counter-rotating stainless steel props. The C128 is now Aspen’s flagship and demonstrates resoundingly just how much room, quality and performance can be engineered into an innovative 44-foot power cat. The new design is based on Founder and CEO Larry Graff’s patented asymmetrical proa catamaran hulls. By making one hull narrower than the other, the design reduces drag…
Silent Yachts, which pioneered the solar-powered, all-electric propulsion system for their cruising cats announced last week that the company is on track to deliver nine new Silent 62s this year. This comes after a year in which they delivered six 62s. The company is now on such solid footings that they can expand their line with a new 80-foot model. Silent Yachts employs the highest tech solar generation and battery management systems. And the company works closely with battery manufacturers to arrive at storage capabilities that improve every year. Silent is still the only builder of all-electric yachts to have…
Sirena Yachts, based in Turkey, announced at BOOT Dusseldorf that the builder was launching the design of a new Sirena 60. The new boat will replace the Sirena 58 that has proven so successful in the mid-range cruising market. Sirena celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024 so they are kicking off their second decade with a stylish new 60 footer. The new yacht, designed by German Frers, carries all of the design DNA that has made the company such a world-wide success, including the plumb bow, extended swim platform and huge dark glazing that contrasts dramatically with the gleaming white…