Boat Reviews

Back Cove Reimagines Popular 37 Down-East Cruiser

By Peter Janssen on March 13, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Back Cove just announced that it was giving a facelift to the popular 37-foot Down East Cruiser that it first introduced in 2009. The new boat, called the 372, will still have the same lines as the original, but it also will have some new amenities and improvements that will make both cruising and living on board easier and more appealing. The original Back Cove 37 was a classic cruiser, with a single diesel, low profile and modern lobster-boat lines. The problem was, it was too popular. Back Cove, in Rockland, Maine, has sold more than 200 of them; the…

Aquila To Debut New 70 Flagship in Palm Beach

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

The new, massive and luxurious Aquila 70 flagship power catamaran will make its U.S. debut at the Palm Beach International Boat Show, starting March 25. Aquila designed the new cat to look like a yacht, trying to avoid the more squared-off look of some large power catamarans. Lex Raas, the Aquila president, said the company interviewed many customers before they designed the 70, and they said “it needs to look like a yacht, not like a box.” As a result, the 70 has flowing lines and a luxurious aesthetic. The customers also said they wanted performance, Raas said. The 70…

New Linssen Sturdy 40.0 Sedan, 8-Knot Cruiser

By Peter Janssen on March 9, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Linssen just introduced its new Sturdy 40.0 Sedan Intero, an upgraded version of its 40 Sedan that was named the European Power Boat of the Year in the displacement category at the Düsseldorf show three years ago. The new Sturdy 40.0 has larger windows, a redesigned engine room, an improved helm station (with a sliding door to the port side deck), and Linssen’s “softchine prestressed” hull. Powered by the standard single 110-hp Volvo, the boat still travels at a displacement speed of 8 knots, but it also delivers a range of 500 nm. From its yard in Maasbracht, The Netherlands,…

Technohull Launches New 80-knot RIB

By Peter Janssen on March 8, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

You probably don’t want to take it on the Great Loop, but it sure would be fun to drive the new Technohull 47 Omega flagship around Miami, or Catalina, or Block Island. Wherever you’re going, you probably won’t be late. Indeed, with four 450-hp Mercury Racing outboards, the new Technohull is said to hit a top speed of about 80 knots. Technohull has been making high-end RIBs in Greece since 2004. The 47 combines high-speed performance with a superyacht finish, and it has the company’s largest cabin yet; it includes a large double V berth, a full-height shower and lots…

New Leen 56: Long-Legged French Trimaran

By Peter Janssen on March 7, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Leen just launched its first power trimaran in La Rochelle, France, an innovative 56-foot explorer cruiser with hybrid power. It will have its official unveiling on April 10. Although the Leen 56 is the French yard’s first power tri, it’s hardly its first boat. Indeed, the company has been making well-received sailing trimarans for more than a decade under the Neel label. Leen is simply Neel spelled backward. Taking advantage of the trimaran’s volume (the beam is 27 feet), the Leen 56 makes creative use of the main deck. A large galley, dining area and lounge are on the port…

Aerodynamic 50-Knot Cat Launches in Monaco

By Peter Janssen on March 3, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Here’s a look at a brand-new vessel, a 50-knot catamaran from France, that represents a marriage of marine and aeronautical engineering. Indeed, the new cat, named Monaco One, is shaped like an inverted airplane wing, and it’s so efficient that it uses only half as much fuel as a comparable monohull would. Monaco One is a product of the Advanced Aerodynamic Vessels yard in La Rochelle, France. The 39-foot cat was just delivered to the Ports of Monaco to serve as a 12-passenger ferry from Port Hercules to a new marina in Ventimiglia, Italy. The Monaco government says it’s much…

New Absolute Navetta 64: Prize-Winning Cruiser

By Peter Janssen on March 2, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

The new, award-winning Absolute Navetta 64 is a large, comfortable cruiser with a few surprises that will only make it hard to leave once you’ve spent much time on board. You can immediately see some of the best features of the Italian-built yacht, including the unusually large, uninterrupted side windows that extend all the way back from the helm to the aft deck. And you’ll also focus on the enlarged windows in the bow. But what you won’t realize until you’re on the Navetta is that those bow windows admit an enormous amount of light to the master stateroom, which…

Apollonian 52: A Totally New Raised Pilothouse Yacht

By Peter Janssen on March 1, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Meet the new Apollonian 52, a three-stateroom, solidly built, affordable raised pilothouse motoryacht that’s built for the owner-operator. Apollonian Yachts, a totally new brand, is the result of a collaboration between storied naval architect Howard Apollonio and veteran broker Vic Parcells. Built in Shanghai, China, hull number one has already been sold in Seattle, and hull number two is ready for viewing there. Apollonio has been designing yachts for more than 50 years; his credits include Diaship/Heesen, Hampton/Regency, Cheoy Lee, Christensen, Westport, West Bay/SonShip and many others. For his part, Parcells is a partner at Crow’s Nest Yacht Sales in…

S&S Redesigns Classic Downeast Peapods

By Peter Janssen on February 24, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Sparkman & Stephens just redesigned the iconic Downeast Peapod double-ended row boat and tender, and they launched the first one in Newport, Rhode Island, on Valentine’s Day. It was S&S Design Number 2838. The boats are called peapods because they are shaped like a pod of peas with a stem at each end. They were first used by Maine lobstermen in the 1800s for inshore work because of their shallow draft and easy maneuverability. The lobstermen often rowed them standing up and they could row easily in both directions. In subsequent years, peapods became popular as recreational rowing boats and…

New Award-Winning Saxdor 200: Built for Fun

By Peter Janssen on February 22, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Tired of feeling homebound by the pandemic? Want to feel the wind in your hair, and maybe some salt water on your face? Take a look at the new Saxdor 200 Sport. You don’t want to take it on the Great Loop, but you certainly could have a lot of fun around your local harbor. Think of it as a great second boat; no hassles, no problems. Enjoy it and put it away. The Saxdor 200 Sport has already won awards in its size range, as European Powerboat of the Year and Best of Boats awards, and it was a…

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