Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2025 i Motor Boat & Yachting

The tide might finally be turning. After years of boats getting bigger, faster and more expensive, there’s a small but significant backlash occurring. Beneteau has just announced that its replacement for the Swift Trawler 35 will share almost exactly the same LOA and beam as its predecessor and have a slightly less powerful engine but will cost almost €50,000 less (see p12-13). There’s no explanation given for this surprising move but my money is on the fact that the constant drive upmarket has finally become untenable and Beneteau’s top brass has realised that if it wants to keep selling boats in an ever tighter market, something had to give. The really clever thing is that the new ST37 actually looks (and sounds) like a bigger boat so the price reduction…

Fortunately, despite challenging conditions, Smuggler’s Blues 2 has been far from immobile during the first half of this year. Prolonged easterly winds, which would have curtailed boating back when I berthed in Torbay, have meant that my Noss On Dart Marina river mooring’s sheltered location came into its own, and some pleasant river runs were had. Then, the day before the late May bank holiday, the wind finally switched to a very breezy south-westerly offshore wind, albeit accompanied by grey clouds and cooler temperatures. Which was fortunate, as it was the weekend of the South West Sports Boat Rally. I’ve attended this event for a decade now and it’s always great fun with great people. I battled round to Torquay on Saturday morning, staying close inshore to take advantage of…

LOA: 71ft 4in (21.75m) BEAM: 18ft 4in (5.60m) ENGINES: 2 x Volvo IPS-1350s or 4 x Verado V12 600s TOP SPEED: 42-52 knots PRICE: €4.6M ex VAT CONTACT: www.deltapowerboats.se One of Cannes’ most exciting world debuts will be from Swedish builder, Delta Powerboats. Initially commissioned by a loyal Delta client, this new 72-footer looks well placed to provide a natural upgrade route from the smaller coupé and open models without forcing owners to change the game entirely by having to default to the explorer-style flybridge-equipped 88 Carbon. And if the restrained lines and staggered geometric hull windows suggest there’s something quite premium about this boat, the underpinnings very much back that up. While the hull is sprinkled with magic fairy dust from Sweden’s iconic offshore performance studio, Mannerfelt Design, the construction…

LOA: 58ft 6in (17.84m) BEAM: 24ft 10in (7.56m) ENGINES: 2 x Volvo Penta D8-550s on V-drives TOP SPEED: 22 knots PRICE: from €3.8M ex VAT CONTACT: www.prestige-yachts.com While Prestige has built its name on flybridge cruisers from 40-75ft, its first powercat in 2022 marked a significant shift of focus. The M48 claimed to offer the volume of a 60-footer on a 48ft platform; the superyacht-style M8 then targeted the 85ft market with a 65ft platform; and here, making its world debut as the third in the Prestige multihull line, is a boat that slots neatly between the two. Measuring 59ft (but apparently delivering the volume of a 75ft monohull), the M7 is built at the same Monfalcone factory as the M8. That enables it to offer much the same combination of…

LOA: 47ft 2in (14.36m) BEAM: 23ft 3in (7.10m) ENGINES: 2 x Volvo Penta D4-320s TOP SPEED: 28 knots PRICE: TBC CONTACT: www.aquilaboats.com Making its debut in Cannes is the Aquila 46 Yacht: a new model designed to deliver big boat innovation on a more manageable platform. It’s conceived as a long-distance boat – but while Aquila’s talk of an “explorer aesthetic” feels a bit of a stretch, the new 46 makes a far more convincing claim to off-grid capability by simple virtue of its design. It comes with a Category-A RCD rating and an 1,800L fuel tank as standard, plus the option of a second 800L tank for extra autonomy. You can also opt for an Aquila Hydro Glide Foil System for additional range, plus an uprated lithium-ion battery bank…

CHARTER CARNAGE We all love to be on the water, whatever boat we are in. But, this year we have encountered some appalling instances of boat handling on chartered craft. This seems to be a growing problem because in the UK, unlike in most of Europe, people can charter a boat with no experience or qualification. Recently we saw one charter boat hit the lock gates full on at the end of the lock. When the lock gates opened, it was then put into astern, forcing us to move backwards swiftly to avoid a collision. Another charterer pressed all the self-service buttons on one of the locks without reading the instructions and blew the electrics. That lock was then out of service while it was repaired. We paid a significant…

SEE MORE mby.com/v10 Very few boats make quite such an impression within the first few months of their launch as the Viknes 10. Here was a boat that, for an all-in package price of £267,000 ex VAT, brought to the table three cabins, a massive cockpit, walkaround side decks, a lovely flow of day space and a high-spec standard features list that included side gates, vast sunroofs, a second helm, convertible seats and a whole load of cleverly conceived storage compartments. Objective though we try to be, it was one of those boats that immediately set you thinking how it might feel to take one home; how it might work for you and your family; how it might look, nestling at a berth in your local marina. But while the…

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Anchors aren’t just useful for lunch stops, they are also a vital piece of safety equipment that in the event of an engine failure could save your boat from being blown onto rocks. So knowing how to maintain and service your anchor winch is an important skill to have. On a bigger boat, the rode is likely to be all chain, rather than a mixture of rope and chain, so always remember to wash it off after every use, preferably with fresh water, but if that’s not available, a good few buckets of sea water will suffice. This will at least remove all the dirt and sand deposited by the chain on the winch and gypsy – the part that rotates to move the chain and anchor. I also recommend…

When Princess began building boats 60 years ago, the firm was W known as Marine Projects (Plymouth) Limited. Its first boat, the Project 31 was a handsome 31ft cabin cruiser launched in 1965 but it wasn’t until 1969 that the Princess name first appeared on a new 32ft design. The first flybridge model, the John Bennett-designed Princess 37 followed for years later at the 1973 London Boat Show. The Princess 58 featured here is a direct descendant of that 37 and was built from 2006 to 2010. It was replaced the following year by the Princess 60. At the time of its launch it was considered the pinnacle of modernity with a lavish full beam owner’s cabin featuring triple vertical hull windows, two further guest cabins and a large saloon…

Yorkshire is the county most commonly associated with dales, but last month it was Devon playing host to a rather more exclusive set of namesakes, when Welsh boat builder Dale Motor Yachts held its annual owners’ rally in Salcombe, Devon. The event attracted seven different Dales from all over the UK, showcasing the full range of craft, from a nimble 23 to the mighty aft cabin 40. But it was the two Dale Classics that stole the show. Pictured here running side by side en route to Start Point, the recently refreshed Classic 45 in traditional blue and the younger Classic 37 in grey looked every inch the modern successors to the legendary Nelsons of old. Mike Reynolds and the Dale team were on hand to welcome guests and host…

THE JOLLY SAILORS LOWESTOFT I’ve always had a soft spot for Lowestoft. Not only was it the location for the family holidays of my youth, but those childhood memories – a freezing North Sea, onshore winds euphemistically referred to as ‘bracing’ and escaping the elements for a game of bingo on the pier – come flooding back every time I think of Lowestoft. It was a happy place for me and, I hoped, my return journey there would leave me happy once again – all I had to do was find a decent restaurant for our overnight stay. In truth, apart from the usual seaside suspects – hotels, pubs, Indian/Chinese and fast food – Lowestoft itself doesn’t have a tremendous roster of eateries. Venture a little further afield to the…

LOA: 66ft 10in (20.32m) BEAM: 16ft 9in (5.08m) ENGINES: 2 x MAN V12-1400 TOP SPEED: 36-38 knots PRICE: TBC CONTACT: www.princessyachts.com Making its world debut in Cannes will be the largest non-fly motor yacht in the Princess fleet. As the new flagship of the V Class range of sportscruisers, the V65 uses an Olesinski deep-vee hull specifically designed to provide greater lift, reduced drag, an easy low-speed plane and improved running efficiency. Coupled with twin MAN V12-1400 engines, Princess is suggesting that the V65 ought to deliver a top end in the region of 36 knots, as well as plenty of handling agility. But this latest sportscruiser is as much about flexible luxury as outright speed. While triple sliding aft doors and a huge retractable sunroof flood the saloon with natural…

LOA: 53ft 11in (16.44m) BEAM: 15ft 6in (4.73m) ENGINES: 2 x 730-850hp MAN i6 TOP SPEED: 37 knots PRICE: TBC CONTACT: www.itama-yacht.com New Itamas don’t come along very often so the launch of a N brand new 54 at this year’s Cannes show to plug the gap between the current 45 and 62 is big news. Not that passers-by would necessarily notice because the whole point of owning an Itama is that they have a timeless look which stays true to the design principles laid down by its founder Mario Amati (Itama when spelled backwards) in 1969. That means plenty of power, traditional shaft drive propulsion, a heavily built deep vee hull and a pure open design with a big cockpit, a long foredeck and a very clean 1970s aesthetic devoid…

LOA: 71ft 9in (21.88m) BEAM: 17ft 9in (5.42m) ENGINES: 3 x 900hp Volvo Penta IPS1200 TOP SPEED: 35 knots PRICE FROM: TBC CONTACT: www.pershing-yacht.com Technically, the Pershing GTX70 made its debut at the Venice Boat Show earlier this year, but Cannes willl be its first appearance at a major international show. We have already managed to get on board for a sea trial but the photoshoot hasn’t been done yet so we’re saving the full report for next month. In the meantime, what we can tell you is that while it may not be quite as fast and focussed as the Pershing X models, it’s still a very appealing boat that looks every inch a Pershing but is quieter and easier to drive with a surprisingly spacious layout. Its standout…

LOA: 65ft 2in (19.86m) BEAM: 17ft 3in (5.25m) TOP SPEED: 25 knots ENGINES: Twin Volvo Penta D11 IPS-950s or 1350s PRICE: on application CONTACT: www.steeleryachts.com Dutch builder, Steeler Yachts, is set to unveil its new Bronson 65 in Cannes – and as the flagship of the brand’s performance range, it ought to be well worth a look. Built entirely from aluminium and powered by a pair of Volvo Penta D11 IPS-950s or 1350s, it certainly looks the part, thanks to a fine entry, a reverse bow and a single continuous hull window that runs all the way from the forepeak to the engineroom. But it’s well set up for practical day boating too. It uses a stylish coupé arrangement, with a set of generous walkaround decks and a sheltered saloon that…

SEE MORE mby.com/ns30 The Brunswick Group used to dominate the sportsboat market. Thanks to its efficient production lines and multi-brand strategy, comprising Bayliner, Quicksilver, Sea Ray and Boston Whaler, it had all the bases covered. Then two seismic events changed everything. The first was the invention of the RIB, which became the go-to choice for first-time boat buyers during the early 2000s. The second was the launch of Axopar in 2014. This new breed of modern centre-console boat looked cooler, went better, offered a wider variety of choice and cost less than nearly all of its competitors. Not surprisingly, the competition raced to catch up; Nimbus, Saxdor, Quarken, Wellcraft and Ryck all jumped on the new outboard-powered centre console bandwagon but it wasn’t until 2023 that Brunswick finally joined the…

There’s nothing better than being on a boat on a warm summer’s day. Except perhaps being on a boat on a warm summer’s day with a chilled drink to hand. And even if your boat already has a built-in fridge, having a portable cooler to take them to and from the boat or the beach is well worth the extra investment. But what type should you buy and who makes the best ones? The first thing to decide is whether you want an unpowered or ‘passive’ cooler, which relies on ice packs and some form of insulation to keep the contents cool, or a powered cooler that actively chills your food and drinks. There are pros and cons to both types: unpowered coolboxes tend to be cheaper, lighter and more compact but…

Tuesday had been pencilled in for the launch, but a biblical deluge turned Penryn into a blue-grey waterfall and revealed a small leak in the sealant around one of the saloon windows. My solace was the thought that if there’s got to be a leak it’s a hell of a lot better above the waterline! The Rustler team duly stood in the downpour recaulking, with plastic sheeting tenting the area, and by Wednesday morning, the sky was scrubbed clean and the leak was banished. THE BIG LAUNCH As I watched them gently lower Ennor into the water, the mechanical lead threaded himself through the engine room, zapping everything with his IR thermometer. The electrical engineer was equally busy, zig-zagging through the forest of CZone modules and Mastervolt components she had…

Finding a vintage boat is easy, pick anything over 25 years old and voila, as they say in Germany. But picking a classic, well that is a little more nuanced because to truly be a classic, there has to be something a little more to it than just being old. It has to have had a storied history, or be an icon of its genre, or perhaps be a perfect example of what the brand stood for in that moment in time. And maybe it doesn’t even need to be old at all, maybe some boats, like some cars and some watches, are simply destined to be classics from inception. And to that end, we have four examples of each of those categories here, from the rich past of Lady…

LOA: 61ft 3in (18.68m) BEAM: 17ft 7in (5.36m) ENGINES: 2 x Volvo IPS-1200s or 1350s TOP SPEED: 29 knots PRICE: from £1.98M ex VAT CONTACT: www.absoluteyachts.com Volume, cruising practicality and aesthetic loveliness rarely go hand-in-hand but if that’s what you’re after, the Absolute stand in Cannes is a great place to look. The celebrated Piacenza-based builder is set to launch its new Absolute Navetta 62 – a three-cabin, three-bathroom trawler-style design that puts big internal space, easy on board movement and plentiful storage at the heart of things. But it couples that with established Absolute design cues, like masses of superstructure glazing, huge diamond-shaped hull windows, cut-out bulwarks, a reverse transom and glass balustrades to bring the classical trawler style bang up to date. It’s a great looking (and extremely distinctive)…

LOA: 78ft 7in (23.95m) BEAM: 22ft 2in (6.75m) ENGINES: 2 x Cummins QSB 6.7 425hp diesels TOP SPEED: 18.5 knots PRICE: on application CONTACT: www.outerreefyachts.com Those in pursuit of off-grid adventure would do well to stop by the Outer Reef stand at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival. Over the last 30 years, this award-winning boatbuilder has become well known for the kind of long-range blue-water motor yachts that enable you to go pretty much anywhere, but this largest and most capable Adventure-line motor yacht yet looks like a particularly capable explorer. For a start, it’s equipped with a fast displacement hull built entirely from steel. That means extra strength and long-term durability, as well as excellent impact resistance, easy customisation and simple repairs. A tough but lightweight aluminium superstructure keeps the…

GT35 LOA: 36ft 9in (11.2m) BEAM: 15ft 3in (4.65m) ENGINES: 2 x 300-350hp Mercury Verado outboards TOP SPEED: 41 knots PRICE: TBA CONTACT: www.beneateau.com The Beneteau team must have had a busy few months because as well as launching a brand new Swift Trawler 37 at Cannes (see p12-13), they are also premiering an entirely new range of Gran Turismo sportscruisers and a revised Grand Trawler 63. The interesting thing about the new GT line is that they’ve started again from scratch rather than simply adding to, or remodelling, the existing range. For the moment, Beneteau will only be offering two new GT models – a 35 and a 40 – but a 50 is in the pipeline for January 2026 as well. The vision for the new range is…

LOA: 49ft 1in (14.98m) BEAM: 27ft 6in (8.39m) ENGINES: 2 x 320-440hp Yanmar TOP SPEED: TBC PRICE: TBC CONTACT: www.omaya-yachts.com Bulgarian Yard, Omaya Yachts, is using Cannes to launch its very first model, a 50ft power catamaran that it claims will offer unmatched levels of comfort and luxury. It’s certainly very wide for its length, boasting an enormous 27ft 6in beam – more than 50% of its LOA. That should make for a very stable platform at rest as well as creating plenty of space on the main deck and flybridge. However, unlike some recent powercats, there is no deep bridge deck spanning the gap between the two hulls, so the four ensuite cabins are confined to the width of each hull. On the plus side, that’s likely to mean…

LOA: 63ft 8in (19.45m) BEAM: 17ft 7in (5.36m) ENGINES: 2 x Volvo D11-670s or D13-900s TOP SPEED: 25.8 knots PRICE: TBC CONTACT: www.sirenayachts.com Sirena Marine has chosen Cannes as the venue for the world debut of its new Sirena 60. Designed as an update to the popular Sirena 58 flybridge cruiser, it’s immediately clear that this new extended version features plenty more superstructure glazing for improved light and views in the saloon, but the developments go much deeper than that. In addition to an overhaul of the interior decor to give it a younger, fresher vibe more in keeping with the revised external aesthetic, the main deck’s internal lounge gets a larger C-shaped sofa and dining table. Further forward, there’s a generous-looking twin helm by the standards of the flybridge sector,…

DAY 52 MONDAY 24 JUNE With my eldest daughter, Beth, and her two friends staying on board for the next few days, I was hoping for some favourable weather to ease our journey west. The day started with overcast skies but as there was little wind to trouble us, and the promise of sun to follow later, we were keen to get underway as soon as possible. Our aim was to reach Looe for lunch and then press on to Fowey for the night. The lock at Queen Anne’s Battery was on free-flow when we departed at 1000, leaving just the swinging bridge to negotiate. As we approached it, that swung open too and within minutes we were out at sea once again. With the engines spinning at a gentle…

This extraordinary water toy is called a Sea Bike. Created by a firm based in Cannes, where they also operate a Sea Bike Snorkelling Club, it will apparently enable you to reach a top speed of 2.2 m/s (7.9km/h or 4.2 knots), which is slightly faster than an Olympic swimmer – and all without a lifetime of selfless discipline. You simply strap the integrated belt to your waist and get pedalling. With the prop spinning, you can cover far more ground with far less effort than a regular swim. That also makes it great for saving air and seeing more when you go diving. In fact, to help nail its potential as a snorkelling aid, it also comes with the option of an inflatable SUP-style snorkel board, so you can…

Choosing a title for my autobiography would be simple – I’d call it My Struggle, C in reference to the time spent fitting a black water catch tank in Silver Bird while she was out of the water this winter. That said, a catch tank is a good idea, as they’re required in lots of inland waterways, including the Thames above Teddington lock – and as we intend to be at the Henley Traditional Boat Festival in July, I thought I had better get on with it. TANK OPTIONS There are a number of options to consider but the most critical is space and size. I tried a 100-litre tank, but it was just too big to comfortably inhabit the space available, so I settled on an 88-litre model instead.…

SAY CARBON 42 COOL RATING IF MCLAREN BUILT A BOAT… “Three, two, one, and here we go!” And with that, James Blanchfield of SE Yachting, dealer for SAY Carbon Yachts in Ibiza, nailed the throttles and a combined 860hp spread across two engines, 16 cylinders and 12.4 litres got busy, hurling this 42ft carbon fibre powerboat up towards its maximum speed of an incredible 50 knots. But it’s not just the performance, everything about this boat is super cool, starting with the colour which, on our test boat, was a beautiful (and very appropriate) ice blue. However as it’s a painted finish, you can have pretty much whatever you want. Very much the dayboat/weekender, there’s not a lot beneath that low sleek and long foredeck. Limber under the low access…