Boat Reviews

Jeanneau Launches New Leader 10.5 Series 2

By Peter Janssen on October 28, 2020 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Jeanneau is now displaying its all-new Leader 10.5 Series 2 family-friendly, very versatile cruiser at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. The 36-foot boat is a new version of the Leader 10.5 that Jeanneau introduced five years ago. But the Series 2 has a hull designed by Michael Peters, the Sarasota designer who specializes in drawing slippery and efficient craft, and the entire hull is now vacuum-bagged and resin-infused to give it more strength and rigidity. Jeanneau launched its Leader series in North America in 2016, and the French boats became popular for their looks, their simplicity and their efficiency.…

Vicem Ready for Sea Trials on New 50 Classic

By Peter Janssen on October 27, 2020 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Vicem is getting ready for sea trials on its new 50 Classic, and it will launch two more by the end of the year and a fourth early next year. The 50 Classic, a larger version of the Turkish builder’s 46, has a fiberglass hull and superstructure and a high-quality wood interior. Over the years, Vicem has earned a reputation for building high-quality, Downeast-style, cold-molded wooden cruising yachts. But it turned to fiberglass for the 50 because of its faster construction time and easier maintenance. With its low profile, long sheer and hint of tumblehome aft, the 50 fits in…

Aquila Launches Redesigned 32 Sports Cat

By Peter Janssen on October 26, 2020 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Aquila just launched a redesign of its popular, outboard-powered 32 catamaran, with a new hardtop, upgraded seating and more space for living and cruising on board. The 32 has a cabin below in the port hull where two people can sleep comfortably; two more could sleep in the salon; a head is in the starboard hull. With a 12’ 8” beam, the Aquila 32 has room for a family or group of friends to enjoy a day on the water; indeed, it can hold 14 people. The foredeck is particularly inviting, with two comfortable lounges, with arm rests, affording privacy…

New 82-Foot “Trimonoran” Promises Best of All Hulls

By Peter Janssen on October 24, 2020 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Here’s something new: A “trimonoran.” Yes, trimonoran, a new hull shape that’s supposed to combine the best features of a trimaran with those of a monohull. So far, the trimonoran exists as an 82-foot foot concept yacht with a 32-foot beam designed by Baran Akalin, in Istanbul, working with the Dutch engineer G. Jelle Bilkert and the Dutch builder AnwigemA BV. They have tank tested the first foiling trimonoran, named Escalade, and say it offers 30 percent more space, and 30 percent more efficiency, than a monohull. The main hull is flanked by two thinner hulls beneath the waterline. They…

New Award-Winning CLB88 To Debut at Lauderdale

By Peter Janssen on October 21, 2020 Boat Reviews

The new CLB88, a family-friendly motor yacht with classic lines and a thoroughly modern interior, will make its debut at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, starting Wednesday, October 28. The CLB88 is made by CL Yachts, a new brand under the Cheoy Lee Shipyards umbrella in Hong Kong, with a rich history dating back to producing teak yachts in the 1950s. The new CLB88 is a contemporary luxury yacht with an open layout that makes cruising easy and comfortable for a large family or a group of friends. “CLB88 marks a new chapter for us,” says Hans Lo, deputy…

New J Craft Torpedo RS: Retro Style, IPS Speed

By Peter Janssen on October 21, 2020 Boat Reviews

J Craft Boats, the small Swedish builder, just delivered its first 42-foot retro Torpedo RS boat to its owner in St. Tropez. Powered by twin 480-hp Volvo IPS650 pod drives, the mahogany beauty tops out at 47 knots, and has a range of 270 nm at its cruising speed of 30 knots. But J Craft Boats are not about statistics. They’re about style, elegance and craftsmanship. Consider that it takes J Craft a year to build each boat by hand on the island of Gotland. And that the cockpit is fitted with diamond-stitched white upholstery with midnight-blue piping. The helm has…

Cruisers Launches New, Sporty, 42 GLS with 3 Outboards

By Peter Janssen on October 14, 2020 Boat Reviews

Cruisers Yachts will introduce its new, outboard-powered 42 GLS, designed as a multi-purpose family boat, at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, starting Oct. 28. With three 400-hp Mercury Verado outboards, the sporty new Cruisers tops out at 52 mph. Cruisers emphasizes that the new 42 GLS is made for fun, entertaining, and enjoying your time on the water. In keeping with the current fashion, the bulwarks on both sides of the cockpit drop down to provide much more space and easy access to the water. Cruisers calls these dropdowns “beach doors,” and they connect to the swim platforms on…

New Navetta 64: Prize-Winning Beach Club

By Peter Janssen on October 13, 2020 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

The Absolute Yachts Navetta 64 just won the Best Innovation of 2020 award at the World Yachts Trophies event in Cannes for its creative day-and-night beach club that opens from two slightly curved, watertight doors in the transom. By day, it serves as a patio or lounge on the ocean; by night, it’s an extra VIP stateroom with its own head and shower, a lot of privacy, and a chance to go swimming whenever the mood strikes. The new Navetta 64 is distinguished by other singular design trends, particularly the super-sized windows in the hull…

Beneteau To Show New Gran Turismo 32 at Lauderdale

By Peter Janssen on October 11, 2020 Boat Reviews

Beneteau will show its new Gran Turismo 32, the French company’s entry-level express cruiser, at the Fort Lauderdale show, starting Oct. 28. This family-friendly vessel with sporty lines has two cabins below for overnighting or longer, and is powered by two 350-hp outboards that add a lot of zip to its performance. The cabin of the Gran Turismo 32 is open aft, and the boat is full of light and fresh air. The front windshield is wide, and the side windows open. Push a button and the large electric sunroof on the hardtop opens or closes. A three-person sun pad…

Fast New Yanmar X47 Makes a Debut in Genoa

By Peter Janssen on October 7, 2020 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Yanmar just displayed its new X47 Express Cruiser, the official VIP Cruiser of the 36th America’s Cup presented by Prada, at the big Genoa boat show. Yanmar designer Ken Okuyama worked with Azimut to install three 370-hp sterndrives in the new yacht. After Genoa, the next stop for the Yanmar X47, the company’s flagship, will be the America’s Cup in Auckland, New Zealand, starting March 6. It will offer VIPs a fast ride to the course and then a luxurious viewing platform to enjoy the races. Power for the X47 comes from three Yanmar 8LV turbo diesels with XT370 sterndrives,…

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