Boat Reviews

New Outback 50: A Cruising Boat For Active Owners

By Peter Janssen on November 11, 2019 Boat Reviews

The new Outback 50, just unveiled at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, is designed for active boat owners, people who want to go places and do things. Its most noticeable feature is its open transom and “infinity deck” aft that can hold a small vessel, jet skis, or other toys. Many years in the making, the Outback 50 has a serious cruising pedigree, a collaboration between Michael Peters, the well-known designer, and Andrew Cilla, the owner of Luke Brown Yachts in Fort Lauderdale and a long-time cruiser. Over some drinks about ten years ago, Cilla asked Peters to design…

New 32-Foot Zar Formenti “Ferrari of RIBs” Now in U.S.

By Peter Janssen on November 8, 2019 Boat Reviews

Here’s a new high-performance, high-style, Italian-built RIB that’s much more than a traditional RIB and was just introduced to the U.S. market at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. The Zar Formenti 95 SL, says company founder Piero Formenti, “is like the Ferrari of RIBs in Europe.” It’s easy to see why he thinks so. This newest and largest of the Zar Formenti RIB line has seating in the bow and stern for 12 as a day cruiser, and it can sleep two in a cabin below with a stand-up head and shower. It also has an outdoor galley on…

Whaler Launches New 405 Conquest, “SUV of the Sea”

By Peter Janssen on November 4, 2019 Boat Reviews

Boston Whaler just unveiled its new 405 Conquest that it calls an “SUV of the sea,” meaning that it’s both rugged and sophisticated, and that it can do a lot of things very well. When he launched the new Conquest at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Nick Stickler, the Boston Whaler president, said “We’re thrilled to introduce a new model that heralds the return of adventurous overnighting.” Indeed, you can spend a very comfortable overnight, and much longer, in the new Conquest’s large and private master stateroom, with its own head and separate shower. And you can get all…

Tiara Launches Innovative New 48-Knot, 38 LX at FLIBS

By Peter Janssen on November 4, 2019 Boat Reviews

Tiara just launched its new 38 LX at the Lauderdale show and it became in instant hit – a combination of creative design, performance and popular size range. Tiara’s reputation for quality and seaworthiness played a major role here too. On the design front, the 38 LX has innovative cockpit seating, plus a center teak walkway that extends from the swim platform to a large seating area in the bow. In the cockpit, you can arrange the backs of the two large, matching lounges, port and starboard, so that they face aft, in a sunpad arrangement, or forward, in the traditional…

Jetten Plans New Dutch-Built, 34-knot, Beach 55 Cruiser

By Peter Janssen on November 3, 2019 Boat Reviews

Jetten Jachtbouw just introduced plans for its new Beach 55 at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. The new cruiser is the first model since the prestigious Dutch yard was bought by MSAR under Jack Wijnants. He said he wanted to keep the Dutch reputation for high quality and superior seamanship, while providing a new direction with Innovative construction techniques. The new four-stateroom Jetten Beach 55 will have Volvo power, a top speed of about 34 knots, and a range of about 675 at 10 knots. The boat has a plumb bow, a low profile (even with its flybridge), and a…

Bruckmann Launches New, Elegant, Abaco 47 Downeast-Style Cruiser

By Peter Janssen on October 27, 2019 Boat Reviews

Bruckmann just launched its new Abaco 47, an elegant, Downeast-styled cruiser and the flagship of the Canadian builder’s powerboat fleet. Designed by Mark Ellis, the Abaco 47 has a low profile, long sheer, and a sharp entry for a classic look, while the raked windshield adds a sporty, aggressive touch. The boat is offered with two power options: A single 1136-hp CAT diesel, or twin 641-hp CATS. Top speed with the single is about 30 knots; with twins, about 34 knots. The efficient hull shape puts the Abaco 47 up on plane at 12 knots, while a full skeg and…

Azimut Brings Sporty New Atlantis 45 to the U.S.

By Peter Janssen on October 26, 2019 Boat Reviews

The new, sporty, low-profile Azimut Atlantis 45 is making its U.S. debut at the Fort Lauderdale show as a successor to the company’s 43. The new two-cabin, two-head, light-filled Azimut is powered by twin 440-hp Volvo IPS600 pod drives, giving it a top speed of 33 knots and a cruising speed of 28 knots. And it’s a boat that’s made for enjoying the sun. It has a large sunpad on the foredeck for lounging or a picnics, while another sunpad all the way aft adds a separate lounging and social area. The windshield and side windows are all large, and…

New Iguana Amphibian Makes U.S. Debut at Lauderdale

By Peter Janssen on October 21, 2019 Boat Reviews

Here’s a new boat that probably will turn heads on the water, but it certainly will get a lot of attention on land – the new, amphibious Iguana Commuter. Built in Caen, France, the new Iguana will make its U.S. debut at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, starting Oct. 30. You can see it at the Super Yacht area of the show at Pier 66. With its deep-V hull and twin 200-hp Yamaha outboards, the Iguana tops out at 41 knots on the water. On land, its 15kWh electric engine and caterpillar tracks push it to a cruising speed…

Aquila Building New Flagship 70 Power Cat

By Peter Janssen on October 16, 2019 Boat Reviews

Aquila just announced that it’s building a new flagship 70 power cat with massive entertaining and living spaces and the seagoing capability to explore the world. The new Aquila 70 is scheduled to make its debut in the United States next spring. The new cruising yacht, with a beam of almost 27 feet, offers a combination of modern design and easy living, even on long-range cruises. The interior layouts are spacious and flexible, and they’re all filled with light from windows all around. The Skydeck is particularly large, offering extra room for entertaining, sunbathing and enjoying the view while underway.…

New Greenline 45 Fly Hybrid To Debut at Lauderdale

By Peter Janssen on October 15, 2019 Boat Reviews

Greenline, the innovative hybrid cruising boat company in Slovenia, will launch its new 45 Fly in the U.S. at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, starting Oct. 30. The Greenline 45 Fly comes with the company’s H-drive hybrid technology so you can choose to cruise at 6 knots under electric power or up to 30 knots with Volvo IPS diesels and pod drives. The 45 Fly is the latest addition to the Greenline fleet, which now runs from 33 to 96 feet. And it comes with several power options, including twin Yanmar or Volvo 220-, 320- or 370-hp diesels with…

Browsing: Boat Reviews