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…

In February at the Miami International Boat Show, Aquiia Catamarans will introduce the new Couple 42 and Coupe 46. But, here’s a sneak peek at what Aquila has in store for us. Both cats are sleek outboard or inboard-powered speedsters with a low air draft and spacious forward cockpits. With two staterooms and en suite heads, both are proper cruising boats that will blow your hair back as you jet from one cruising landfall to the next. The new designs make good use of Aquila’s trademark double-stepped hull configuration and the Hydro Glide Foil System. The hulls are configured to…

It should be no surprise that Poland has become a leading yacht builder. It was at the Gdansk Shipyard in 1980 that shipbuilder Lech Walesa founded the Solidarity Union, which led the way a decade later to independence from the dying Soviet Union. Today, more than a dozen Polish yacht yards build hundreds of new boats ever year, many for brands based in Scandinavia and Europe. But one of its home-grown brands, Cobra Yachts, has an expanding reputation for delivering interesting family cruising boats from 37 to 48 feet, that combine modern Italian-yacht design with the great value to be…

The Italian builder Absolute offers three models, the Navetta line, the Flybridge line and the Coupe line and while all are successful and interesting, the Navetta designs are the ones getting the most attention recently. This year Absolute is launching two new Navetta models at BOOT Dusseldorf next week, the 53 and 64, and both show numerous tweaks and improvements to the otherwise established design theme of the past. We’ll look at the 53 here and then come back to the 64 down the road. The 53 has an expanded foredeck lounging area and higher bulwarks, with an attractive cut…