Boat Reviews

Beneteau Launches GT 45 Express Cruiser Flagship

By Peter Janssen on October 12, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Beneteau just introduced the new Gran Turismo 45, the flagship of it express cruiser line, at the Cannes Yachting Festival, and the boat is already available in the U.S. Powered by twin 440-hp Volvo IPS600 pod drives, the sleek and sporty two-cabin, two-head cruiser tops out at 33 knots. Beneteau’s express cruiser line already has a 32, a 36, and more recently a 41. Now, the 45 extends the brand and makes it more attractive to families or owners who want to cruise with, or entertain, a larger group. Relaxing and entertaining are certainly easy on the GT 45. The…

MJM Building 46-foot Performance Cruiser

By Peter Janssen on October 10, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

MJM just announced that it is launching a new high-tech performance 46-foot yacht named the 4z, and it’s already building hull number one of the outboard version; an inboard version will be ready for the 2024 model year. The company, now based in Washington, North Carolina, says the 4z is an evolution of the day yacht, but it can serve just as well as liveaboard cruiser, built in the Carolina Downeast style. With two cabins and one yacht-sized head below, and a fully protected helm deck up top, the 4z is a combination of the company’s new 3z day boat…

Fountaine-Pajot Launches Upscale 67 Powercat

By Peter Janssen on October 4, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Fountaine-Pajot has launched its most luxurious powercat yet, a 67-foot flagship that even has a Jacuzzi on the foredeck. In keeping with the French builder’s reputation for creating comfortable, seaworthy and blue-water boats, the new 67 also has a cruising range of 1,700 nm powered by twin 435-hp straight-shaft Volvo diesels. Everything about the new Fountaine-Pajot is massive and impressive. The volume comes not only from the overall length but also the more than 32-foot beam that makes the salon seem like a living room in a seaside home and the foredeck and aft cockpit like spas and entertaining areas…

Back Cove 372 Debuts at Annapolis Show

By Peter Janssen on October 4, 2021 Boat Reviews, On Watch with Peter Janssen

Back Cove just launched its newly redesigned 372 family cruiser at the Annapolis powerboat show, running through Sunday, Oct. 10. The 372 is a new iteration of the original Back Cove 37 that was first launched in 2009; that turned out to be one of the Maine builder’s most popular models. More than 200 of them were sold, and the tooling was getting worn out. With a single diesel engine, a low profile and its Down East lines, the 37 was popular because it was a Goldilocks boat – not too big, not too small. A single person could handle…

We Test New Hinckley 35: Poetry in Motion

By George Day on September 29, 2021 Boat Reviews, On Watch with Peter Janssen

The brand-new Hinckley 35, with twin Mercury Verado 350-hp outboards, was sitting in a slip at the Hinckley boat yard in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. I met skipper David Salathe at the boat and he gave me a quick tour before departing. The engines were both idling, but they were so quiet you could barely hear them. The under body of the 35 was designed by Michael Peters, who has numerous trophies and naval architecture awards to his credit. The look of the 35 is Down East classic with that special Hinckley flair. The high bow and flared sections forward promise…

HMY To Import New Two Oceans 555 Cats

By Peter Janssen on September 26, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

HMY Yachts just announced that they will introduce the new luxurious Two Oceans 555 Power Catamaran, made in South Africa, to the American market next year. The new 555 has a four-cabin layout, with the master stateroom on the main deck with a door opening to a sunken lounge on the foredeck. Founded in 1989, Two Oceans specializes in blue-water, comfortable and safe power and sail cruising catamarans. The power cat range incudes a 75, 82 and 87. The new 555 models are the company’s entry-level cats. But there is nothing small about them. Designed by Du Toit Yacht Design…

We Test New Vicem 50 Classic in Newport

By George Day on September 22, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Last Monday, the day after the close of the successful Newport international Boat Show, I had the good luck to join professional captain Louis for a quick sea trial of the new Vicem 50 Classic. The dawn was clear and cool without a breath of wind brushing Newport Harbor. Louis fired up the twin Volvo IPS600 engines and with bow thruster and IPS pod drives engaged, he inched the 50 out of her tight slip at Bannister’s Wharf and drove her slowly into the fairway. As always on late summer mornings, Newport was filled with an amazing collection of sail…

Kadey-Krogen, Summit, Building New Cruisers

By Peter Janssen on September 21, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Kadey-Krogen and Summit Motoryachts, its new brand, just announced two new boats at the Newport show. Building on the reception to the Kadey-Krogen 50 Open, the company will introduce a new 60 Open, with the same living concept joining the salon and galley area with the pilothouse. And Summit will launch a new 54 Coupe (see rendering, above) to add on to the 54 Motoryacht it just displayed in Newport. Kadey-Krogen has a rich history, having built more than 600 cruising yachts in the past 44 years in its yard in Taiwan. Full-displacement, blue-water trawlers, they have earned a reputation…

Hylas Building New 49 Motoryacht for U.S. Owner

By Peter Janssen on September 19, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Hylas Yachts, which makes high-end cruisers at the Queen Long yard in Taiwan, just delivered a new M44 motoryacht to an American owner in the Chesapeake and is finishing up a new M49 motoryacht for another American owner on Lake Michigan. Andy Huang, the Hylas CEO, said the M44 “has been an evergreen model for Hylas, with good levels of interest shown across the boating world.” Hylas has sold ten M44s since it started the model in 2015. The new M49 is a larger version of the M44, with more room in the cockpit and in the accommodations area below.…

Zeelander Announces Details of New 48-Footer

By Peter Janssen on September 14, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Zeelander, the Dutch builder of distinctive luxury yachts, just announced details of its new 48-foot Zeelander 5 at the Cannes Yachting Festival. The new yacht, available with three Volvo IPS650 pod drives, will have a top speed of 45 knots. It will be launched next year at the company’s yard in Groot-Ammers, just east of Rotterdam. The Zeelander 5 carries all the lines and amenities that have marked the brand, particularly its gracious curves and generous tumblehome leading to a large sun lounge and swim platform that fold out from the transom. The fit and finish, including elegant woods and…

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