Boat Reviews

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…

Pardo Building New Endurance 60 Long-Range Cruiser

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

Until now, Pardo, the Italian builder, has established a worldwide reputation for clean, fast walkaround boats with striking ultra-modern lines. Indeed, it has built more than 100 Pardo 38s, 43s, and 50s in just the past two years. Now, the yard is expanding its reach, making the Pardo Endurance 60, a long-range luxury cruiser, while still paying homage to its family lines and aesthetics. The new Pardo Endurance 60 is a three-stateroom, three-head cruiser with the minimalist Euro style (and the iconic Pardo bow) that have defined the company. Standard power comes from two 550-hp Volvo IPS700 pod drives; with…

Bavaria Launches New Vida 33, Its First Outboard

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

Bavaria, the large German builder of power and sailing yachts, just launched its first Vida 33, an outboard-powered weekender with sport styling and performance. If it brings to mind the looks of the Greenline NEO 33, it should. Bavaria acquired the rights to the NEO recently, after Greenline, the Slovenian builder, decided that outboard power didn’t fit in with its eco-friendly positioning. The NEO had solar panels to provide on-board power. For its part, Bavaria did not have an outboard boat in its powerboat lineup, which ranges from 29 to 55 feet. The new Vida 33 comes with standard twin…

Hampton Endurance 658: Easy-Living, Long-Range Cruiser

By Peter Janssen on February 17, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

A new Hampton Endurance 658, one of the company’s most popular long-range cruisers, will be ready for delivery this spring in Seattle. With twin 1,000-hp CAT 12.9 diesels, the four-stateroom, four-head yacht reaches a top speed of about 19 knots, and has a range of 1,300-nm at 8.6 knots. The Endurance 658 is built for serious cruising couples or families. It is remarkably user-friendly, with wing docking stations on both sides of the aft deck, including engine controls and bow and stern thrusters. Large rudders also help with low-speed maneuvering. And it offers a large margin of safety for long-range…

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