At the end of January, Aspen Power Catamarans announced that the builder of unique, proa-style power cats was hard at work on hull number one of the brand new Aspen C128. The new boat will have twin Suzuki 300-horsepower engines each with twin counter-rotating stainless steel props. The C128 is now Aspen’s flagship and demonstrates resoundingly just how much room, quality and performance can be engineered into an innovative 44-foot power cat. The new design is based on Founder and CEO Larry Graff’s patented asymmetrical proa catamaran hulls.  By making one hull narrower than the other, the design reduces drag…

Silent Yachts, which pioneered the solar-powered, all-electric propulsion system for their cruising cats announced last week that the company is on track to deliver nine new Silent 62s this year. This comes after a year in which they delivered six 62s.  The company is now on such solid footings that they can expand their line with a new 80-foot model. Silent Yachts employs the highest tech solar generation and battery management systems. And the company works closely with battery manufacturers to arrive at storage capabilities that improve every year. Silent is still the only builder of all-electric yachts to have…

Sirena Yachts, based in Turkey, announced at BOOT Dusseldorf that the builder was launching the design of a new Sirena 60. The new boat will replace the Sirena 58 that has proven so successful in the mid-range cruising market. Sirena celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024 so they are kicking off their second decade with a stylish new 60 footer. The new yacht, designed by German Frers, carries all of the design DNA that has made the company such a world-wide success, including the plumb bow, extended swim platform and huge dark glazing that contrasts dramatically with the gleaming white…

At the Ft. Lauderdale boat show I had the chance to climb aboard the Sialia 59 Weekender which is now the company’s flagship. The boat is nothing short of jaw dropping for several reasons. First it is drop-dead beautiful in a modern, muscular way much like a Porsche 911. It doesn’t have any odd or gratuitous angles or strangely shaped hull glazings. Its look is sleek, purposeful and the curved front windshield and cockpit cover gives the impression that it is already speeding past you. Second, the boat is all electric and the system is the product of a highly…

The Nordic Tug 44 is one of those classic cruising boats that will never go out of style. Introduced in 2017 and still in production, the 44 is an upgrade and replacement for the NT 42, which was and is a terrific coastal cruiser. But there were a couple of issues in the 42 that owners and the builders wanted to address. The 44 is the result of their input and labors. A two-cabin, two-head design, the 44 has a larger master cabin and the salon has been extended by a couple of feet. This additional space makes a lot…