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Aspen Launches All-New 35-Foot Power Cat

Aspen Power Catamarans just launched its all-new 35-foot C108 cruiser, powered by asymmetrical Yamaha outboards, and it hit a top speed of 25 knots and a fuel-efficient cruising speed of 19 knots, producing 2 nmpg. Larry Graf, Aspen’s founder and “chief adventurer,” designed the new proa-type cat so it could be trailered to new cruising grounds It has a beam of 10’ 8” and a combined boat and trailer weight of 12,500 pounds, so it could be towed by a ¾ ton pickup. Aspen owners are an adventuresome type, and some wanted a three-cabin boat that they could trailer easily…

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Axopar Launching New 22-Foot Starter Boat

In the past few years, Axopar has gained a large following by thinking outside the box, building its 28- and 37-foot models with their iconic looks and head-turning performance. Now, it seems, Axopar wants to become even more popular by thinking inside the box or, to put it more accurately, delivering its new 22-foot starter boat to you in its own box. That move alone would save several thousands of dollars over the usual shipping costs from the Axopar factory in Finland to the east coast of the U.S. In every other respect, the 22 carries on with the traditions…

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Beneteau Swift Trawler 41: A 24-knot Family Cruiser

Beneteau’s new Swift Trawler 41 is the Goldilocks of coastal cruisers: It’s large enough to hold a crowd, but it’s small enough to be handled easily by a couple. The Swift Trawler 41 does indeed have a lot of living and entertaining space, inside and out, but it’s also a seaworthy cruising boat, giving a stable and comfortable ride throughout the speed range. And it’s easy to handle around a dock, with bow and stern thrusters. Experienced cruisers also will appreciate the side door next to the helm that gives immediate access to the starboard side deck, for help with…

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New Cape50: The Result of One Man’s Passion

The all-new Cape50, the result of one man’s passion, will be launched in November in Australia, and the aggressive cruiser with a low profile, plumb bow, beautiful tumblehome and reverse transom is built to handle the often-rough seas Down Under. The Cape50 was conceived, designed and built by Steve Campbell and his company, Composites Construction, outside Melbourne. Campbell has been a master shipwright for the past 30 years; he’s sailed on America’s Cup boats, and he’s built racing sailboats. Since 2009, he’s also built 40 racing ski boats that top out at more than 100 mph. A few years ago…

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Life Proof Boats Launches New 35 Full-Cabin Cruiser

Life Proof Boats just introduced a new 35-foot series, a Full Cabin and a GT Coupe, that are built to handle rough water and still provide a dry, safe ride at speeds up to 50 knots (see the video below). The boats are built with high-quality, commercial-grade 5086 aluminum with a stabilized buoyancy collar, shock mitigation, and self-bailing decks. Life Proof also makes boats for the military and government agencies, and they are designed to be indestructible and virtually unsinkable The boats have deep-V hulls for rough water performance, and a patented foam/air collar. Performance fins below the collars keep…

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New Lazzara LSX 85: Extra Space Everywhere

You’ve got to admit that the new Lazzara LSX 85 makes a creative use of space. It’s a big yacht to begin with – 84’ 6” LOA – but then the bulwarks fold out of the aft deck, the transom folds down into a beach club, a side door drops down from the galley for a private dining area, and gull wings (think Mercedes 300 SL) open out of the salon. Then there’s the performance. Lazzara has put three 1,000-hp Volvo IPS1350 pod drives in the new sport cruiser, giving it a top speed of 40 knots, not bad for…

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Hylas Launches New 31-Knot, 49-Foot Power Cruiser

Hylas Yachts has just launched its new M49, a two-cabin, two-head cruiser with a low  profile, a seakindly hull, and a 31-knot top speed. The company said it built the 49 as the request of owners of its 44 who wanted a larger boat. The third cruiser in the Hylas power fleet is a 58. Hylas has a worldwide reputation for building high-quality sailing yachts. It turned to Dan Salthouse, the New Zealand designer, to build the new 49 power yacht based on his successful design of the 44. Hylas boats are built by Queen Long in Taiwan. The 49…

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Beneteau Launches New Outboard-Powered Gran Turismo 36

The latest express cruiser from Beneteau, the Gran Turismo 36 with twin outboards is designed for the U.S. market, and it combines French style with easy living and outboard performance. Built in response to the growing demand for outboard-powered cruising boats, the new Beneteau offers 35-knot performance with sporty looks and lots of social and entertaining spaces in a two-cabin boat. It has enough room on board for a family or two couples on a cruise, while there’s enough entertaining space for seven people just in the cockpit The foredeck, with two large sun lounges with backrests, offers another social…

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New 59-foot Evo: Push a Button for More Room

The new Evo R6 Open is a striking boat underway, bound to turn heads wherever it goes. But it really will get attention when it stops. (See the video below.) Push a button and the boats “XTension” bulwarks fold out to increase the deck space by 40 percent in just 30 seconds. And the aft swim platform has a Transformer platform that extends out and manages to rotate 270 degrees to help with boarding, or diving, or water sports. The 59-foot yacht, made in the Evo yard in Naples, is nothing if not versatile. It can hold 16 passengers out…

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New 50-knot Platypus Swordfish with Submersible Pod

Here’s something that you haven’t seen in, or under, your favorite cruising grounds yet: The new French-built 40-foot Platypus Swordfish, a 50-knot planing boat with a submersible pod that holds up to eight passengers. The new concept boat is a creation of Francois-Alexandre Bertrand, founder of Platypus Yachts, and L2 Concepts. It will be built at a subsidiary of L2 Concepts in Antibes, with construction scheduled to start early next year and the first hull in the water next summer. In its planing mode, the Platypus Swordfish functions as a stable trimaran with a 12-foot beam. In the submerged mode,…

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