Here’s a look at the ten top cruising boats at the recent Cannes Yachting Festival, as chosen by Motorboat & Yachting, the British magazine. The top ten are the Beneteau Swift Trawler 47, Princess R35, Sunseeker 74, Jeanneau NC37, Absolute Navetta 48, Privilège Euphorie 5, Pearl 95, Ferretti 670, Azimut S6, and Prestige 590. Some highlights: The Beneteau Swift Trawler 47 (pictured at top) is the latest iteration of the French builder’s Swift Trawler line that it introduced 14 years ago. Swift Trawlers changed the face of trawlers forever; they no longer had to be Down East single-diesel displacement boats,…
Browsing: Cruising Life
Now that the America’s Cup has come and gone, Bermuda is back to its natural state: One of the best cruising and vacation destinations in the world. Indeed, Architectural Digest, an arbiter of such things, says Bermuda is on track to become the next Hamptons, Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard, a prediction that could make some old Bermudians wonder what’s happening to their favorite island. The fact is, however, that Bermuda has a lot going for it, other than being at the other end of the Bermuda race, or a stopping point for a transatlantic crossing (as it was for the…
Here’s a great story from Prevention about how one man survived 20 hours at sea after he fell overboard from his fishing boat, 25 miles from shore in the Gulf of Mexico, without a life jacket, by treading water and using his old Navy training: Bill Durden was on a roll. He’d just caught two good-sized groupers and tossed his line back into the water when he felt it snag on the bottom of his boat. The engine, he realized, wasn’t in neutral. Durden gave the rod a good tug. It yanked him right back, pulling him out of his…
The new Marlow 70E Mk 2 is the latest high-tech iteration of the 70E that Marlow started building almost 20 years ago, a fast and luxurious long-range cruiser with an Enclosed Command Bridge built for its new owner, a leader in the boating industry. Powered by twin 1,150 Cats, the 70E Mk 2 topped out at 27.55 knots in its very first sea trials in China, before it was put on a ship to be delivered to the U.S. in time for the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, starting Oct. 31. After sea trials in the U.S. and possible adjustments…
Azimut was a big winner at the recent Cannes Yachting Festival. The company itself, the Azimut/Benetti Group, won the Shipyard of the Year Award; the new Azimut S6 won the award for innovation, and the new Azimut 55 Fly won the award for best interior design, both in the 46 to 60-foot category. Azimut launched the S6 sport cruiser (pictured at top) at Cannes. The largest in the Italian builder’s S series, the 59-foot, three-stateroom yacht features glazed hull surfaces and a distinctive bow that make the series easily recognizable. It also has carbon-fiber construction for strength and light weight.…
As its name implies, Sealander is a vehicle at home on sea or land, an amphibious aquatic camper that can be towed behind any mid-sized station wagon or SUV and then launched into the water where it can cruise around at about 5 mph. You definitely don’t want to take this out in a four-foot chop, but it would be a hoot to cruise around a quiet part of the Waterway or a nearby lake on a calm day. You’d certainly turn a lot of heads. Designed and made in Kiel, Germany, Sealander weighs about 1,100 pounds, is 13’ 3”…
If you want to jump start your boat, or your upcoming holiday shopping, take a look at the new Weego power packs. The Weego 44 and Weego 66 Power Packs are compact, rugged devices that have more power and features to make sure your vessel can start every time. They make a useful piece of gear for your boat at any time, and they also could be a much-appreciated addition to a holiday gift list for your favorite boat owner. Both Weegos have 10 percent more cranking amps of power, with the Weego 66 (pictured above) providing 660 cranking amps,…
Sabre Yachts is working on a new three-stateroom 58 Salon Express that it plans to launch early next fall. The new Down East cruiser will be powered by Volvo IPS950 pod drives and is expected to top out at 31 knots and cruise at 27 knots. The tooling is now underway. The hull mold will be delivered to the Sabre factory in Raymond, Maine, from the tooling shop in Rhode Island soon, with the deck tooling not far behind. When it’s completed, the Sabre 58 will be delivered in the water in Portland. The new 58 is designed to replace…
Yamaha, Raymarine and Awlgrip were among the winners of the 2018 Innovation Awards at the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference in Tampa. The awards, made in 13 categories, were managed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association and judged by eight members of Boating Writers International. “This year’s entries were very focused on improving the boating experience,” said Alan Wendt, chairman of the judging panel. “From solving simple issues with canvas to more complex engineering challenges with hardware and composites, there is ample evidence of innovation underway in a thriving industry.” Yamaha won the outboard category for its new V-8, XTO…
Heading South this fall? If so, or if you’re just planning a trip down the Intracoastal Waterway in the future, you’ll want to take a look at this comprehensive update on storm damage from Florence. Compiled by Waterway Guide and updated frequently, it tells you what’s open and what’s not along the way. The information comes from cruisers, marinas, the Coast Guard and Waterway Guide partners, and covers marinas, bridges, facilities and locks along the ICW. Marinas and bridges are listed by state, while navigation updates are provided for the affected areas: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida East Coast, Florida…