Boat Reviews

New, Aptly-Named Livingstone 24, a Dutch-Built Global Explorer

By Peter Janssen on January 29, 2018 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Here’s something new and different, the 78-foot, steel-hulled Livingstone 24, named after the famed British explorer and designed to take you anywhere in the world. Last summer, its owner, Johan Hartman, who built the boat at his own yard in The Netherlands, drove it for an extended cruise to the Nordic countries before crossing the North Sea and spending two weeks in London. The Livingstone clearly has a look of its own, reminiscent of a 1930s ocean liner with a unique retro décor, mixed with a Dutch minimalist design and driven by state-of-the-art technologies. Powered by a single 350-hp MAN…

Grand Banks Building First New 60 with a Skylounge

By Peter Janssen on January 29, 2018 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Grand Banks is moving up. After the successful launch of its new, highly acclaimed 60 last year, it is now building the first 60 Skylounge with a totally enclosed upper pilothouse in its factory in Malaysia. The boat is scheduled to be launched this summer. The 60 Skylounge offers more living space above the bridge deck, and 360-degree unobstructed views while cruising or on the hook. Laid up with fully infused carbon fiber, the Skylounge keeps the 60’s graceful proportions and lines, while essentially adding another deck to the boat’s classic profile. The original 60, which comes with a flybridge,…

New, Redesigned, More Upscale Helmsman Trawler 31 Introduced at Seattle Show

By Peter Janssen on January 22, 2018 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

An improved and more upscale version of the popular Camano 31, the new Helmsman Trawler 31 is being launched at the Seattle boat show, starting Jan. 26. The new Helmsman has the same hull, stability and performance as the old Camano, but now has a redesigned master stateroom and galley, a larger salon and an upgraded interior with more warmth and lots of teak. Overall, the new Helmsman 31 has a no-nonsense salty approach to cruising, offering lots of easy living space inside and outside the boat. With three large windows in front (the middle one opens), and large side…

Nordhavn Starts Work on a New 80, an Updated Version of Its Iconic World Cruisers

By Peter Janssen on January 16, 2018 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Nordhavn is starting work on a new 80-foot boat, the latest addition to its long-range cruisers, at the South Coast yard in Xiamen, China. It fits between the company’s 76- and 86-foot models. “For some, the 86 is just too big,” says Jim Leishman, Nordhavn’s vice president. “At 80 feet, this boat will be that much more manageable.” While maintaining all of Nordhavn’s famed seakeeping and world-cruising attributes, the new 80 will have a more modern look than some of the company’s previous models. The sheerline, for example, is long and straight; the foredeck is almost parallel to the waterline.…

New Eastbay 44, a Success in the U.S., Is Being Introduced to Europe at Boot Dusseldorf

By Peter Janssen on January 15, 2018 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Grand Banks is introducing its iconic Downeast-styled Eastbay 44 to the European market on Jan. 21 at Boot Dusseldorf, one of the largest boat shows in the world. The Eastbay 44 has been shown in the U.S. for the past year, amid rave reviews. With its low profile, long sheer, and typical Downeast tumblehome, the new 44 – the first Grand Banks built since Mark Richards, the founder of Palm Beach Yachts, was hired to run both companies – is a thoroughly contemporary version of a traditional Grand Banks. It has all the teak, world-class fit-and-finish and classic lines of…

New Beneteau Gran Turismo 50: Euro Looks, Worldwide Comfort and Performance

By Peter Janssen on January 7, 2018 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

The new flagship of the French builder’s popular sport cruiser fleet, the Beneteau Gran Turismo 50, with an exterior by the highly acclaimed Italian design team of Nuvolari-Lenard, is a combination of modern Euro styling and state-of-the-art technology, inside and out. Its swept-back low-profile and its expansive display of large windows set the Gran Turismo 50 apart from the crowd, while behind the scenes it is the first Beneteau to have the company’s new Ship Control technology that operates all the boat’s onboard systems, from air conditioning to lighting. The boat will make its U.S. debut in February at the…

New Williams Sportjet 435: Fast, Fun and Big Enough To Hold 7 People

By Peter Janssen on January 7, 2018 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

The new Williams Sportjet 435, a 14-foot, jet-powered RIB that can carry up to seven passengers and tops out at 52 mph, will be introduced at the London boat show, from January 10-14. It is the sixth model in Williams’ Sportjet series. “The 435 was created to extend our existing range of smaller Sportjet models, offering more space with seating for up to seven passengers, without compromising style or speed,” says Mathew Hornsby, the sales director for Williams Jet Tenders. The 435 is designed for wakeboarding and waterskiing as well as a tender or sportboat to carry passengers and guests.…

Padebco V32: A Pocket Cruiser with a Classic Downeast Pedigree

By Peter Janssen on December 31, 2017 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

A pocket cruiser with Downeast lines and a made-in-Maine pedigree, the new Padebco V32 cruiser comes with a variety of power and drive systems to fit the owner’s preferences. With twin 330-hp Yanmar diesels and Hamilton jet drives, it tops out at a very respectable 33 knots. Padebco has been a custom builder with a full-service yard in Round Pond, Maine, just above Boothbay, for the past 60-years. Its current models range from 17 to 32 feet. At the top of the line, the V32 has the builder’s traditional lobster boat lines, with a long waterline, a classic sheerline and…

New Huckins Atlantic 44: A Thoroughly Modern Boat with a Retro Look and a Rich Heritage

By Peter Janssen on December 18, 2017 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Over the years, ever since 1928, in fact, Huckins Yacht has been true to itself. A Huckins is a Huckins. It doesn’t look like any other boat; Huckins simply tweaks its iconic retro lines a bit as the years go by so they never get stale. A Huckins doesn’t perform like other boat, either. With its patented Quadraconic hull, it performs like a Huckins. The new Huckins Atlantic 44 represents the best of Huckins’ classic approach to boating from stem to stern. If the new Huckins’ profile harkens back to an earlier age of yachting, its performance will challenge most…

Arcadia Sherpa 60: A New Cruiser with a Unique Profile

By Peter Janssen on December 11, 2017 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Arcadia Yachts, the Italian builder, will introduce its new, and unique-looking, Arcadia Sherpa 60 to the United States at the Miami Yacht Show in February. With its unique tall forward section for the helm, staterooms and galley, the Sherpa 60 has a profile that sets it apart from most other boats in the harbor. Meanwhile, the low aft half of the boat has an unusual amount of useable sunning and socializing space in a design where form definitely follows function. The boat’s distinguishing convertible sky lounge forward is an all-weather space; the sides can be open to the fresh air,…

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