On Watch with Peter Janssen

Nautor Swan Launches a True Yachting Diva in the 75-foot Arrow

By George Day on November 21, 2024 Boat Reviews, On Watch with Peter Janssen, On Watch With Peter Janssen

The Cannes boat show in September brought a star studded collection of yachts to the famous French resort for what is now the largest in-the-water show in Europe. So, it is not easy, even for a brand as respected Nautor Swan, to stand out from the crowd. But the brand-new Swan Arrow did just that. Moored right next to the bridge over the channel that leads to the inner harbor and the bulk of the boats in the show, the new 75-foot Arrow had the most conspicuous stage in the whole show, visible to everyone coming and going for sea…

The Electric Revolution is Upon Us

By George Day on November 14, 2024 Boat Reviews, On Watch with Peter Janssen, On Watch With Peter Janssen

At last count, there were more than 40 boat building companies offering electric-powered craft to the day-boat and cruising market and innovation in this field seems to double every year with battery technology advancements and efficient new hull designs. At the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show last month I got a chance to inspect the new Sialia 59, a next-generation design that has a top speed of 25 knots, a cruising speed of 16 knots and a range at cruising speed of over 80 miles. Check out our review of the 59 here. Fun running speeds and expanded ranges are the…

Maritimo Introduces Flagship M75 to the U.S.

By George Day on November 7, 2024 On Watch With Peter Janssen, On Watch with Peter Janssen

The Australian builder of hand-crafted cruising boats introduced their flagship, the Maritimo M75, to the U.S market last week at the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show. They also brought the first new M55 Black Edition to be landed in America. I had the chance to thoroughly look at the new M745 at FLIBS and saw at once that the flagship represents the pinnacle of Maritimo’s boat building art. When you step aboard, you realize at once how big the boat truly is. A flybridge, sport cruiser with four cabins below and a spacious salon, the 75 has a huge amount…

Zeelander 8 Number 2 Launched in Early October. A Study in Marine Elegance

By George Day on October 17, 2024 On Watch With Peter Janssen, On Watch with Peter Janssen

On October 4, Zeelander launched hull number two of their 79-foot 8 model. The gala party for the launch was held at the builder’s facilities in The Netherlands and was attended by the family that bought the new 8, many other owners and the Zeelander staff. The new 8 represents the apex of the Zeelanded line and is a highly refined motor yacht that combines the company’s unique curvaceous hull and cabin designs with the highest of high-tech engineering and onboard systems. As the builder likes to say, Zeelander yachts are not for everyone. The 8 is a three-season cruising…

Outer Reef Introduces New, Steel Expedition-Capable Adventure 780

By George Day on October 9, 2024 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life, On Watch with Peter Janssen, On Watch With Peter Janssen

Here’s an announcement from Outer Reef Yachts that will really catch the eye of cruisers who are seeking true seafaring expeditions to the earth’s far corners aboard a vessel that is a special combination of strength, seakeeping-ability, self-suffiency and luxury. Enter the new Adventure 780 that was introduced to the world this week. The new design, which is the first in Outer Reef’s new Adventure series, is the first new yacht to emerge from the recent merger between Outer Reef and the Dutch shipyard Lynx Yachts. The 780 is now in build in The Netherlands and will be ready to…

North to Norway’s Lofoten Isles and the Arctic Circle: Part One

By George Day on October 3, 2024 On Watch with Peter Janssen

Swedish cruiser Per Harrtoft is an adventurer, a dreamer and a life-long powerboater. From his home in southeastern Sweden, he has fished and explored the waters all around the coast and even once entered an 800-mile race in an open boat in which they covered the route in 24 hours. So, when he decided to spend the summer cruising from Sweden to the remote Lofoten Islands in the far north of Norway, some 1,400 miles away, no one was surprised. And, he planned to make the round trip in the two months Scandinavians have for summer. That’s 2,800 miles in…

New Sabre 51 Salon Express Design Preview

By George Day on October 3, 2024 Cruising Life, On Watch With Peter Janssen, On Watch with Peter Janssen

At the Newport International Boat Show in September, Sabre Yachts announced the design completion of their brand-new Sabre 51 Salon Express. An all-weather couple’s cruising boat, the design emphasizes entertaining, weekending and ultimately long-term living aboard and cruising. It is always exciting news when this highly respected Maine builder of Downeast-style cruising boats comes out with a new design since the company has been a trend setter for more than 40 years. The new boat will fit neatly between the 48SE and the 58SE The new 51 is the fruit of a deep-dive, information gathering process to find out just…

Azimut and Volvo Partner to Create All-New Hybrid Propulsion System

By George Day on September 26, 2024 On Watch With Peter Janssen, On Watch with Peter Janssen

At the Cannes Boat Show in early September, Azimut and Volvo introduced the all-new diesel-electric propulsion system that the engine manufacturer has been working on for years and which Azimut has selected to power its brand-new 72-foot Seadeck 7. Unlike current marine hybrid propulsion systems, the new Volvo engines operate in much the same way automotive hybrids. The engines switch from diesel to electric as the loads change. When you accelerate, the diesels kick in and when you level off at cruising speed and further acceleration is not needed the diesels switch off and the electric motors take over while…

Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 Debuts at Cannes Boat Show

By George Day on September 19, 2024 On Watch With Peter Janssen, On Watch with Peter Janssen

While at the Cannes show last week, I had a chance to spend an hour with Eric LeVine, Benteau’s. director of sales and marketing for all of their in-board power cruisers, aboard the new Swift Trawler 54. The 54 is the sixth model in the Swift Trawler line and fits neatly between the ST48 and the ST62. The 54 is a big boat with high topsides and very full hull sections that create a huge amount of interior volume. Beneteau is stressing their commitment to indoor-outdoot living and a close connection with the marine environment. The aft cockpit is spacious…

Seen at the Cannes Show: Marex of Norway Soon to Invade America

By George Day on September 11, 2024 Boat Reviews, On Watch with Peter Janssen

Cannes, France—This afternoon at the Cannes Boat Show, I had the good fortune to discover one of the best kept secrets, from Americans anyway, in family cruising boats. Along the crowded quay in a section with several Scandinavian builders, there were four sport-style coupes with teak decks, large aft platforms and streamlined cabins that had something different about them. Across from the boats was a tasteful and stylish land booth for Marex Yachts of Norway. This was not entirely an accident as sometimes happens at boat shows. I had been invited to visit the boats and the booth by our…

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