Now and then when we attend boat shows in Europe and the US, as we do many times every year, we come across new boats that catch our eye. The Norwegian builder Marex is just such a brand and their 440 Gourmet Cruiser Sport Coupe and the smaller models in their line offer cruising couples and families classy alternatives to others in the midrange, sport coupe fleet. The new flag ship of the Marex line is the new 440 Gourmet sport coupe. A fast, family cruiser, the 440’s whole design concept is to link a family to the natural ocean…

The Finnish builder of stylish, purposeful express cruisers, Sargo introduced their flagship 45 at the Dusseldorf show in 2023. It still is a head turner. A two or three-cabin express cruiser with a large, all-weather salon, the 45 has a sleek low roof profile, forward windows that are tilted forward and a useful cockpit and slim platform aft. The salon windows are huge and can be opened in warm weather. Starting at the swim platform, you’ll find a large locker for fenders and docking lines built into the deck. On the port side, a stern anchor and roller is fully…

The Dutch builder Doggersbank which has been building rugged steel-hulled offshore cruising boats since 1968 took the opportunity at the Cannes boat show to introduce two new models at 90 and 105 feet. Designed by the Dutch naval architects Vripack, the new designs add modern styling and updated arrangements to the line. In both designs, the bows are sharper than in the past, the sheer lines are crisper and the glazings in the hulls, salon and bridge are much larger with modern shapes. The boats will still have the Doggersbank DNA with welded steel hulls that can stand up to…

One of the boats that caught my eye while at the Cannes Boat Show was the Greek-built Omikron 60 power cruiser. The boat was designed by Juan Koyoumdjian who is best known for his stylish and fast cruising and racing sailboats. The builder’s brief to the designer was for a family cruiser that offers the quiet and peace of a sailboat with the luxury and conveniences of a powerboat. The Omikron 60 is the result and it’s traditional deck house and strong sheer line have echoes of Eastern Mediterranean boats from the 1950s. Missing is the acre of varnished mahogany,…

Coming to America this fall for a debut at the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show in October, the new Riviera 6800 Platinum Edition represents the pinnacle of design, style and engineering from this highly regarded Australian builder. Now in their 44th year, Riviera, based on Australia’s Gold Coast, has launched more than 6,000 motor yachts and is distributed through dealers around the world. The Sport Yacht line, one of five on the builder’s product list, is comprised of family cruising sedans with multiple living and lounging spaces. Rebranding the Sport Yacht line as the new Platinum Edition emphasizes the long…