Boat Reviews

Aquanima 40: New Solar-Powered, Blue-Water Cruising Cat

By Peter Janssen on May 31, 2020 Boat Reviews

Azura Marine just launched the first boat in a new line of solar-powered, blue-water cruising catamarans in Bali, Indonesia, called the Aquanima 40. The new cat is designed to be self-sustaining, and the company says it can complete “non-stop ocean voyages powered only by sunlight.” And it costs about $540,000. Based in Singapore, Azura was started in 2012, and has been building solar-powered ferries and dive boats ever since. The Aquanima 40 is its first entry into the recreational market, and the company says it will launch a 45 before long. The Aquanima 40 has 602 square feet of solar…

Riva Comes Back with Sporty New 88 Lightning

By Peter Janssen on May 26, 2020 Boat Reviews

Riva just launched its new, sporty Folgore (Lightning) 88 at its yard in La Spezia, the first new boat since the coronavirus devasted Italy. Alberto Galassi, CEO of the Ferretti Group (Riva’s parent company), said the boat was “a dazzling flash of style” and “a tangible sign of a country that starts again.” The company said the new Riva’s exterior was inspired by luxury sports cars, and the looks carry on Riva’s tradition of glamorous Italian design that dates back to Brigitte Bardot and the Riva she kept in St. Tropez in the ‘60s (see picture above). The new Folgore…

New German Builder Launches Solar-Electric Power Cats

By Peter Janssen on May 25, 2020 Boat Reviews

Alva Yachts, an environmentally conscious German company, has just launched a new upscale line of solar-electric power catamarans called Ocean Eco, starting with a 60 and a 90. Alva uses a new manufacturing process to shape and integrate the solar panels into the coach-roof of the boats, providing the maximum number of panels possible. The company now has two orders for the Ocean Eco 60 (pictured at top). At their peak output, the solar panels can generate 20kW for the 60. They work with a 300k lithium battery bank to give the boat a range of 110 nm at 7…

Invictus Launches New 37 with Outboard Power

By Peter Janssen on May 19, 2020 Boat Reviews

Invictus Yachts, the innovative Italian builder, is just introducing a new GT370S, with twin 425-hp Yamaha outboards, to the U.S. It had launched a sterndrive version of the boat at the Miami Yacht Show in February, but now it is offering an outboard version because outboards have become so popular here. If the view of the Invictus’ stern has changed, the view of the bow remains the same. Invictus yachts are designed by Christian Grande, the Italian designer who has won many international awards for his out-of-the-box thinking. All Invictus GTs have what the company calls a “half-reverse” bow, which…

New Fountaine Pajot Power 67 Long-Range Cruising Cat

By Peter Janssen on May 19, 2020 Boat Reviews

Fountaine Pajot just launched its Power 67 flagship, and the big French cat is now on its way to Greece; it’s off Gibraltar in the picture at top. The Power 67 is a long-range, blue-water cruiser with massive social and entertaining areas, and its lines show off Fountaine Pajot’s usual elegant and innovative design. The flybridge is covered by a hardtop with a sunroof, and it extends aft to protect the cockpit and port and starboard to cover the side decks. The teak swim platform lowers for access to the water, while the cockpit has several sunbathing areas, a grill…

Ocean Alexander Launches New 45 Divergence Coupe Cruiser

By Peter Janssen on May 12, 2020 Boat Reviews, On Watch with Peter Janssen

Ocean Alexander just launched its new 45 Divergence Coupe, an outboard-powered, two-stateroom cruiser with all the comforts of a yacht but with the size, speed and handling of a sportboat. The Coupe, with a fully enclosed, climate-controlled salon and helm deck, is an update of the 45 Divergence that Ocean Alexander introduced at the Miami show in February, 2019. Several high-end builders, including Hinckley and MJM, have introduced outboard-powered boats lately, but Ocean Alexander was the first to move down significantly in doing so. Indeed, Ocean Alexander’s luxury fleet runs from 70 to 155 feet. There was so much interest…

New Technohull 40 Explorer RIB Launched in Miami; See Video

By Peter Janssen on May 11, 2020 Boat Reviews

The first new Greek-made Technohull 40 Explorer has just been delivered to an owner in the United States, and the sleek, black, 70-mph RIB is getting noticed in Miami Beach. But it qualifies as a high-end, exciting, and seaworthy day boat wherever it goes – island-hopping in the Bahamas, exploring the Keys, or simply cruising around Biscayne Bay for an afternoon picnic. (You can see a video of the boat in Miami by clicking on the link at the end of this story.) Actually, the Technohull 40 is more than a day boat. Under the console it has a double…

Sunreef Building New 60 Power Cat; Offers Solar-Electric Version

By Peter Janssen on May 10, 2020 Boat Reviews

Sunreef Yachts is building its new 60 Power Catamaran in its factory in Gdansk, Poland, and plans to launch the large, luxury multihull this summer. The 60 has the same lines as Sunreef’s 70-, 80-, and 100-feet power cats. The boat is powered by twin diesels, but a solar-electric version also is available. Like its siblings, the 60 is built for long-range cruising. The company says it is “a versatile and modern motoryacht offering extreme comfort, seaworthiness and complete freedom for customization.” The 60 can hold up to 12 passengers, and it’s made to be operated by the owner or…

New 420 Fly: Entry-Level Cruiser in the Prestige Fleet

By Peter Janssen on May 9, 2020 Boat Reviews

The new Prestige 420 Fly is the entry-level yacht in the French builder’s high-end cruising fleet, which goes up to 75 feet. But it has the same DNA, the same French styling, the same bright and warm interiors, and the same cruising comforts that you’d find it its larger siblings. The 420 comes with two staterooms and one or two heads, and various inviting social areas from stem to stern – plus up top on the flybridge. Its basic power comes from twin 380-hp Cummins, with optional 425-hp Cummins. Cruising speed is 22 knots, with a range of 210 nm.…

Hylas Launches New M49 Blue-Water Cruiser

By Peter Janssen on May 5, 2020 Boat Reviews

Hylas just launched its new M49 powerboat for sea trials. It’s the third powerboat in the Taiwan builder’s fleet, which already included an M44 and M58. A blue-water cruiser, the long, low, lean M49 is powered by twin 370-hp Yanmar diesels with straight shafts. Hylas is a semi-custom builder, and the M49 comes in two superstructure styles. The Cabriolet has classic windows in the salon, and a shorter overhang from the cabin top over the aft deck and a pull-out Bimini for added protection. The Euro version has a more contemporary shape to the salon windows and a longer overhang…

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