Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2024 i Motor Boat & Yachting

In the 19 years I’ve been doing this job we’ve run a few different round-Britain stories. Living on an island as we do, it’s the obvious thing us boat owners dream of doing. The fact that only a handful of people actually get around to doing it largely comes down to logistics. The trip itself is anywhere between 1,500 and 2,000nm long, depending how closely you stick to shore, and the leg around the north coast of Scotland can be really quite sketchy given the changeable weather, paucity of safe havens and limited availability of fuel. Those who do undertake it tend to favour trawler-style motor yachts with sturdy displacement hulls, long-range fuel tanks and enclosed helm stations. They also take their time doing it, waiting for suitable weather windows…

THE STEAM PACKET INN KINGSWEAR Once in a while, the unexpected happens. We had arrived at Kingswear’s Darthaven Marina and were making our way down to the delightful steam railway terminus from where we would take the river ferry across to bustling Dartmouth for a lunch stop. However, we never got that far because halfway down the hill we stumbled upon the newly renovated Steam Packet Inn. Anyone who knows Kingswear will be familiar with the gaily-painted buildings lining the waterfront, but with its new coat of midnight blue and contrasting baby blue window frames, this jewel of a pub truly stands out from the crowd. Our interest piqued, we peeked inside and within a millisecond had decided to stay, for here was a pub freshly and beautifully decorated with…

LOA: 47ft 11in (14.60m) BEAM: 14ft 1in (4.30m) ENGINES: 2 x IPS-650/4 x 400-500hp outboards TOP SPEED: 36-50+ knots PRICE: On application CONTACT: www.wally.com Wally has long been a leader in making aspirational powerboats, and deservedly so. But if you’re torn between the open-style thrills of the WallyTender line and the luxury of the WallyPower line, the WallyPower50 might be the most attractive model yet. It certainly possesses the angular lines, fine stem and aggressive double-chine profile you would expect of a classic WallyPower model but you can also spec it with the same workmanlike wraparound fender as a WallyTender. Like the WallyTender 48 and the WallyPower 58, the new 50 is available with either inboard or outboard propulsion. The standard model is fitted with twin Volvo Penta IPS-650 pod…

I am fifty-three and a half years old, a proud Yorkshireman and a self-confessed boat addict. Thankfully, I have a very understanding family who share (or at least put up with) my passion. I’ve been involved with boats for more than 30 years. In my 20s, I was an avid wreck diver and for several years I was both crew and a helm on the Runswick Bay Rescue Boat. I have my yacht coastal skipper’s certificate and various other powerboat licences. I own a Nordkapp Enduro 550 called Summer Buoys that I bought in 2015 for £25,000. It is 18ft long and powered by a 115hp Evinrude ETEC outboard engine. ADVENTURE BECKONS These days, my family and I do most of our boating out of Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire, where we’re…

Motor yachts are becoming increasingly weird. The variety of shapes and types on offer at the latest Cannes show was the most extreme yet. Concepts which just a few years ago would have been laughed out of the brainstorming session are now getting the nod. It’s difficult to discern whether this mad urge to experiment is a result of shipyards being bullishly confident or nervously clueless, and after pacing the pontoons at the fabulous Festival I confess to being none the wiser. There were designs in which everything seemed to be back to front, and designs where you couldn’t tell which was the back and which was the front. There were others whose sheer outlandishness left one with the not very comforting thought that they’d be as stable inverted as…

Coming in the wake of XO’s award-winning DFNDR 9, the new DFNDR 8 feels at once like a compromise and a temptation. The compromise element comes in the form of a shorter length and a narrower beam, which necessitates the use of a full-beam pilothouse rather than a walkaround layout. The temptation side of things revolves around the fact that, in spite of its compact size and modest weight, this pretty little plaything features a range of twin or single outboard rigs from 400 to 450hp. That makes perfect sense because, notwithstanding its sheltered pilothouse and practical aluminium construction, sport is really what this boat is all about. Get it out on the water and the performance is truly memorable. You can trim it out until you’re flying along, revving…

What should I do with my phone while helming? It’s a question that’s bothered me for far too long. But before we arrive at my solution, I should just point out that a lack of storage space at the helm is something you see on lots of boats and that isn’t the issue here. My problem is that my boat, a Fairline Targa 34, isn’t quite in standard trim. We moved the chart plotter from its daft original position (in line with my left knee behind the wheel) to a place where I could actually see it – namely a Scanstrut pod mounted on top of the helm moulding. That meant sacrificing some of the helm’s storage space, and that’s a problem for me, as it’s the natural place to…

PRINCESS V52 COOL RATING THE ORIGINAL ICE QUEEN In the 1970s, Princess and Sunseeker were two British leisure boat brands clearly defined by their product ranges. Princess was the sensible one, building a worthy range of flybridge boats, whereas Sunseeker curated a slightly more maverick image, making low, sleek high-performance open-cockpit sportscruisers that might lack the volume but made up for it with dazzling style and the promise of high performance. It took until the mid-1980s before both manufacturers started eying up the competition and the lines started to get blurred. Princess launched the 286 Riviera, an open sportscruiser that trod lightly on the toes of Sunseeker’s Portofino 31 but offered a little more internal comfort; Sunseeker launched its first flybridge boat, the Jamaican 35, that brushed gently against Princess’s…

1 WINDY WALKAROUND Windy is developing a brand new 38ft walkaround model in a bid to grab itself a bigger slice of the lucrative adventure boat market. Called the SR38, it will be offered with inboard and outboard engines to maximise its appeal. Inboard power will come from a pair of Volvo Penta D6-440 DPI diesel sterndrives. However, it is the outboard-powered version which is expected to be the bigger seller due to the extra performance and storage space it offers. With the biggest-twin 450hp Yamaha XTO V8s or 400hp Mercury Verado V10s it should be capable of 48 knots and 46 knots respectively. As with the recent Shamal and Alizé models, the exterior styling is by Espen Øino, the Norwegian designer best known for his work with German superyacht…

LOA: 47ft 3in (14.40m) BEAM: 13ft 1in (3.99m) ENGINES: twin Volvo Penta IPS-650s TOP SPEED: NA PRICE: from €1,550,000 ex VAT CONTACT: www.fiart.com The first of Fiart’s new P line models was a truly amazing boat. Arriving on the scene at the 2022 Genoa Boat Show, the key job of the P54 was to combine premium day spaces with high-end Italian styling, while still enabling families to stay on board for a week or more in genuine luxury. As the second boat in that new line, the smaller 48 attempts much the same feat, and happily, its Stefano Pastrovich design adopts much the same approach. Internal volume has been maximised thanks to the artful eradication of the side decks and the P48’s stern layout also looks similar. At the back…

LOA:51ft 10in (15.80m)  BEAM: 15ft 9in (4.80m) ENGINES: Twin 725hp Volvo D11s on shaft drives TOP SPEED: 29 knots PRICE: from £1.7M ex VAT CONTACT: www.cockwells.co.uk While Cornwall-based Cockwells offers a world-renowned line in bespoke superyacht tenders and classical semi-production motor launches, its acquisition of Hardy’s assets in 2020 has seen it forge ahead with a new line of tough, semi-displacement boats. Known (you guessed it!) as the Cockwells Hardy motor yacht line, it is spearheaded by the 65DS – and although the new 50DS is inspired by the original Hardy 50, it’s also designed to deliver the same order of experience as that award-winning flagship. To that end, this robust Category A explorer yacht is capable of speeds approaching 30 knots but it can also run flat and efficient…

GOING SOLO This summer I had the pleasure of meeting several yact owners from the Baltic, some of whom were flying the number one pennant. I asked why, thinking it was a club or a boat association, but was told is used to indicate the crew is short-handed and would like help mooring. As I frequently cruise single-handed I thought this was a great idea and promptly bought an ex-Royal Navy one for £15 from eBay. Unfortunately, I didn’t pay much attention to the size. While this one might look good on a destroyer, it’s a bit big for my little boat (see attached photo) – out with the scissors and sewing machine! Gilbert Park I never knew that but glad to hear I’m not the only one to buy things…

The buoyant foredeck lounger can be chucked overboard and used as a lilo When Espen Aalrud took the reins from his dad in 1999, Marex was a small family firm, employing just 14 people at its Norway HQ. Today, it employs 400 people at its own 22,000m2 factory in Lithuania and there are plans in place to expand that by an extra 10,000m2. That will apparently enable it to forge ahead with the construction of a new fleet-topping 50-footer, while also providing some much needed breathing space for its bulging trophy cabinet. But while the fleet has historically contained all manner of weird and wonderful creations from aft cabin platforms to cabriolet cruisers and swell-cleaving GTs, Espen is keen to clarify what Marex is all about. The mission, he says…

After an intensive selection process, we can now reveal the finalists for the 2024 Motor Boat of the Year Awards. Sponsored by Sleipner, world leaders in improving comfort and safety at sea, the awards are widely considered to be the Oscars of the boating world. That’s because every boat has to go through an exhaustive sea trial process just to be considered. The winners will be announced on 23 January at a live event in Düsseldorf and online at www.mby.com In addition to the eight boat categories shown here, we will also be handing out the following two awards on the night itself. THE JUDGES’ SPECIAL AWARD This is awarded to a person or organisation that has made an exceptional contribution to the world of motor boats. CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD…

■ 50N buoyancy to help you float without compromising movement in or out of the water ■ Ideal for use on paddleboards, kayaks, dinghies and other watersports toys ■ Tapered high cut for action & mobility ■ Discreet and comfortable design ■ Low profile with snag-free shape ■ Internal ‘GRIP’ print ■ Stretch mesh outer pocket with internal security pocket ■ Dry coated elastic side panels to reduce water absorption WORTH OVER £71 CHOOSE FROM: Mercury Red, Graphite Black or Cobalt Blue WHAT’S INCLUDED IN YOUR SUBSCRIPTION ■✔ YOUR FAVOURITE BOATING FIX Packed full of fabulous cruising adventures, new and used boat tests, the latest gear and expert advice on buying, running, maintaining and renovating motor boats – all in one high beautifully designed magazine created by the world’s best…

While one might reasonably imagine the Merry Fisher takes its name from a character in Izaak Walton’s seminal fishing classic The Compleat Angler, the facts of the matter are somewhat different. For while the word ‘Fisher’ does indeed point towards the initially conceived use for the boat, the ‘Merry’ part has nothing to do with jollity (or intoxication) but happens to be the name of the man who designed it: Merry de la Poëze. Nonetheless, it was a memorable call for a range which has not only endured but gone from strength to strength since the French manufacturer Jeanneau launched it way back in 1987. Since then around 30,000 Merry Fishers have been built and today there are two types: the Sport, which features a forward-raked windscreen and is aimed…

Writing this, it’s mid November and the weather has been foul! If it’s not raining it’s blowing a gale. So much for my plan to use the boat more over the winter months. At least I enjoyed a memorable end of season outing with my good friend Steve before the weather closed in, partly due to Marianne being in Ireland and partly due to the fact that Steve is happy to go boating, just not too often, so we have an annual Steve Boating Day ritual. It was too windy to go to sea so the upper reaches of the River Dart beckoned yet again, but I decided we should explore somewhere different. Instead of heading for Totnes at the head of the navigable river, we’d steam up past Stoke…

LOA: 60ft 5in (18.41m) BEAM: 19ft 11in (6.06m) ENGINES: twin 150-250hp Yanmar diesels on shafts TOP SPEED: 14 knots PRICE: POA CONTACT: www.omikronyachts.com Omikron calls its first production model “a motoryacht that feels like a sailboat” and the aesthetic certainly reflects that. With a long, low profile and a beamy, fast displacement hull that tapers towards a slim, vertical bow, it’s designed for efficient, sea-kindly passage making rather than speed and internal volume. Wide side decks and a big open aft cockpit take precedence over the relatively small wheelhouse – but what space there is enjoys big views and lots of light, thanks to vertical windows all-round. A relaxed sofa to port, opposite a set of storage cabinets and a twin seat helm station to starboard ensures there is enough…

LOA: 27ft 3in (8.30m) BEAM: 8ft 6in (2.60m) ENGINES: Single Yamaha F225-300 outboard TOP SPEED: 43 knots PRICE: from £128,759 CONTACT: www.yamarin.com Yamarin’s new 80DC is designed to appeal as much to people in Florida, Australia and the Med as it does to Nordic boaters – and the solution Marco Casali has put forward is to combine the best features of a day cruiser with those of a walkaround. Unlike most weekenders, it uses a sunken port walkway, making bow access very secure and increasing the space available for the cabin door. In the absence of side decks, the beamy cockpit then takes full advantage of the volume with a big L-shaped aft settee and a staggered companionway that threads a route through the angled cushions of the aft dinette,…

SIPABOARD DRIVE TOURER A motorised SUP board might seem like an odd idea but if you’ve ever been caught out by wind, tide or fatigue, a board with built-in propulsion is likely to have enormous appeal. If, like the SipaBoard, it also features a self-inflating mechanism and a built-in compressor, that’s also a major plus. But this premium SUP board is not just about a safer and easier experience. It’s also about enabling you to go further and to do more. To that end, this highly efficient Drive Tourer model uses the new modular Dual+ Battery System to provide up to six hours of jet power, alongside integrated LED lights for a bottom-lit night cruise. PRICE: €3,590 CONTACT: www.sipaboards.com YETI TUNDRA HAUL The Yeti Tundra Haul is one of the…

Before relocating to the South of France and then moving on to Southampton, my main boat, a 2006 Princess V48, had started life in the Algarve. By the time I met her in the UK, she had amassed about 800 hours on her Volvo D9s. I was in the process of emigrating to Florida at the time, so I had already scoured the US market for a suitable boat but I couldn’t find a Med-style cruiser I liked as much as this. That was mainly down to the Princess’s electric soft top, which offered the flexibility of a virtually open boat, as well as an enclosed cockpit. And then there was the exceptional hull by Bernard Olesinski, the top-notch engines, the genset, the AwlGrip-painted black hull and the new grey…

DATAFILE MODEL Jeanneau Merry Fisher 1095 TYPE Pilothouse cruiser DESIGNER Centkowski & Denert/Jeanneau Design HULL TYPE Variable-vee planing RCD CATEGORY B for 8 people, C for 10 people LOA 35ft 9in (10.92m) BEAM 11ft 0in (3.37m) DRAFT 2ft 3in (0.69m) AIR DRAFT Max 10ft 5in (3.08m) Min 9ft 5in (2.82m) WEIGHT (ex engines) 4,822kg FUEL CAPACITY 2 X 400 litres WATER CAPACITY 160 litres ENGINES 2 x Yamaha F300 petrol outboards TOP SPEED 37 knots FUEL CONSUMPTION 4.2 litres per nm @28.1 knots CRUISING RANGE 150.6nm at 28.1 knots with 20% reserve COSTS & OPTIONS RUNNING COSTS Estimated annual fuel burn 3,380 litres (based on 25 hours at 28 knots and 25 hours at 6.5 knots) MARINA MOORING £7,810 (based on £710 per metre for a marina berth on the Hamble River,…

Here’s an interesting thing about flybridge boats. Almost nobody drives from the lower helm, ever! Cold, rain, wind – owners are still up on top keeping a good lookout. And here’s something even more intriguing. Quite a few years ago, one or two manufacturers, upon canvassing their customers to discern exactly how they were using their boats and realising this, started offering flybridge boats without the lower helm, increasing the saloon area. Inexplicably, the result of doing so was that no-one bought them, because there was no lower helm. All of which brings us to all-season, all-weather boats because it appears that if you want a boat that people will actually drive from inside, you’d better make it a dedicated internal helm only. Add a seriously capable hull to deal…