February 8, 2012

New Model: Intermarine 53

Another important step for Intermarine which with the new 53 designed by Fernando de Almeida attacks a very important size in the market.  The 53 was presented by Intermarine at the final 2011 Soa Poalo boat show, along with another important novelty the 65.  Including the 53, Intermarine in a space of one year has launched five models of the new line, the others being; 42, 60, 65, and 75.  A 55, and the 85 flagship are currently in the making. Designed by architect Fernando de Almeida, the 53 continues Intermarine evolution of modern European lines outside, with original large view windows in both the main and lower decks. As is expected Intermarine 53 pursues the usual features of the Brazilian company, larger to the usual in similar size bathing platform, aft deck, and no mullions windshield.  Inside the architect went for a modern, yet sober layout with a single step only split level saloon separating relaxing areas in the welcoming settee, and small day galley, and helm in the forward part.  Surprisingly below we have another more spacious L-shaped galley, located in between the three double cabins, and two shower heads.  The owners room is located to fore and features an en-suite bathroom.  A single bed crew cabin with shower head is located to aft.   Power is from twin Volvos 670hp with top speeds up to 31 knots.   
Technical Data:
LOA - 16.95 m (55.6ft)
Hull Length - 16.6 m
Beam - 4.7 m
Draft - 1.30 m
Displacement - 26 t loaded, 22.5 t loaded
Fuel Capacity - 2200 l
Water Capacity - 500 l
Accommodation - 6 berths in 3 cabins, 1 crew cabin berth
Max Persons - 19
Engines - 2 x Volvo D11 670hp
Propulsion - line shafts
Speed - 31 knots max, 27 cruise
Hull Type - modified Vee with 17 degrees deadrise aft
Project - Fernando de Almeida 
Certification - ISO 8666

February 7, 2012

Project: San Juan SJ 60

A project for San Juan, the SJ 60 which will represent the flagship of its eight model line up which starts at thirty feet.  As all San Juan the new 60 feet flagship will be a traditional down East lobster boat inspired yacht.  As the picture above shows this model will be a flybridge based.  Although I do imagine a hard top choice variant to follow this version in the future when this will be launched.  San Juan has in the past also shown design for a very similar to this 75 model, which was never launched.  We hope that the 60 brings better luck to this builder.  I once viewed an SJ 48 and the quality was very impressive, followed by a not easy on the pocket price tag.

New Model: Innovazioni Progetti IP 58 SF

A first for Innovazioni Progetti which with IP 58 SF presents if first flybridge motor yacht.  So far the North Adriatic sea based builder has always concentrated on the sport open style of boat.  The IP is also a new range for Innovazioni Progetti introduced in the last year and already having three models,. This new line joins the long standing Mira, and Alena.  Architect Michele Carnevale for the 58 SF, opted for a Sport Fly design, which is confirmed with the sunpad, and a double seat helm station layout.  Inside is a three cabins interior all having independent bathrooms. Power choice is a standard of Volvo 800hp, or optional MAN, and triple Volvo 435hp with IPS pod drives.
Technical Data:
LOA - 17.53 m (57.5ft)
Beam - 4.65 m
Displacement - 18700 kg
Fuel Capacity - 2 x 900 l
Water Capacity - 2 x 335 l
Accommodation - 6 berths in 3 cabins, 1 crew cabin berth
Max Persons - 16
Engines - 2 x Volvo D12 800hp, MAN R6 800hp, 3 x Volvo IPS600 D6 435hp
Propulsion - line shaft, or triple IPS forward looking dual propeller pods
Project - Michele Carnevale
Certification - CE A

February 6, 2012

Project: Mulder 75 Wheelhouse

Following a custom order Mulder has recently started building a new 75 Wheelhouse which will be delivered in 2013.  This new Mulder will be the largest model of the always growing and sober looking Wheelhouse fleet, which currently features three models 63, 70, and 73.  The 75 Wheelhouse will measures over 23 meters with a beam of over five and a half. The yacht will have a round bilged hull and a maximum speed of around 20 knots via twin Caterpillar C12 engines of 715 hp each. Her sophisticated lines, dark blue hull, white superstructure, and solid teak decks and gunwale will make for a highly elegant appearance. The interior will be spacious and well thought through, with an owner's stateroom, a VIP suite and two guest cabins. A tender storage space and crew cabin will be installed aft.

New Model: Princess V39

Princess definitely show a stunner in the looks department with the V39, a model which is the new entry ticket into the line up of Britain's second largest boat builder.  Presented early last month at the London show, Princess have high hopes in the new V39 and the good reviews all show a bright future coming up.  The V39 presents itself as a traditional two cabin sport cruiser; owner room to fore, and twins or double convertible guest cabin to midships.  The aft deck is a split level area with a small step dividing the dinette aft, from the helm and and a lounging settee with a wet bar to starboard.  Huge glass surfaces in the midships cabins and on the fore deck are the revolution in this model, as I think in many areas it is still a bit old.  See step split exterior cockpit deck, and interior layout does not bring any news.  Many in this size today offer two shower heads, or a cabin with three berths to say the least.  Considering a length of 41 feet plus that is not much. Power is twin Volvo 330hp which should give top speeds around of 38 knots. 
Technical Data:
LOA - 12.98 m (42.6ft) incl pulpit
LOA - 12.65 m excl pulpit
Beam - 3.81 m
Draft - 0.56 m excluding props and drives
Displacement - 9100 kg loaded
Fuel Capacity - 700 l
Water Capacity - 300 l
Accommodation - 4 + 2 berths
Engines - 2 x Volvo D6 330hp
Propulsion - Volvo dual propeller stern drives
Speed - 38 knots max

February 4, 2012

New Model: Azimut 100

The Azimut 100 was presented by surprise at the Genoa show, where it was finished just in time for this important fall season event.  This new super yacht model carries some weight on its shoulders, because it is officially the first Grande model launched within this new Azimut over 100 feet concept.  The 100 so far does not replace the 105, but by the looks, it might take a customer or two. Designed as all Azimut's minus the explorer Magellano line up by Stefano Righini, the 100 is a two and a half deck super yacht, with as tradition or inventor is full of huge view windows in all areas, and carries the traditional form follows function layout of the North Italian boat builder.  The standard accommodation plan features four guest cabins, with owners stateroom located to midships. The fore part which on many competitors this size features the owners room has a secondary relaxing lounge.  A crew area sleeping four in three cabins, with two heads is located to aft.  Power is from twin MTU 2200hp with traditional line shaft propulsion which reach a max speed of 26 knots.       
Technical Data:
LOA - 31.04 m (101.8ft)
Beam - 6.98 m
Displacement - 115 t full load
Fuel Capacity - 14,800 l
Water Capacity - 2000 l
Accommodation - 8 guest berths in 4 cabins, 4 crew in 3 cabins
Engines - 2 x MTU 16V 2000 M84 2200hp
Propulsion - line shafts
Speed - 26 knots max, 22 cruise
Project - Stefano Righini exterior lines

February 3, 2012

Improve-it = Viking 50 Convertible

Following its success with the 42 series launched in fall 2010, Viking has build a prototype 50 Convertible with the new big ZF4000 pods units.  For creating the new modified bottom of the 2008 launched 50 Convertible, Viking used its one million dollars five axis pro filer.   The new hull now consists of propeller pockets, where to accommodate the ZF pods, and a redesign of the transom to accommodate the Humphree Interceptor trim tabs.  The 50 Convertible with ZF4000 also needed structural modification as the big pod units weigh over 900 kg each and fit directly to the hull, mounted to a dedicated stringer system capped with aluminum reinforcement.  Performance wise the Viking 50 Convertible with ZF4000 pods and Cats 1150hp delivered over 39 knots of top speed, 2 nautical miles per hour more to the standard shaft version.  A cruise speed of 32 knots also gave over 20 liters per hours less of consumption for the ZF4000 Viking 50. Needless to say the ZF4000 50 Convertible provides easy side manoeuvring thanks to the pods and the joystick system. So far the Viking is not offering the 50 Convertible to the market, due to the extra costs involved in the making.  Although the US New Jersey company is willing to build one if a client desires it and is reluctant to pay the extra costs involved for this version, so far delivered only as prototype for ZF.     

February 2, 2012

INBUILD ~ Galeon 430 HTC Part 1 of 5

Thanks to Galeon we show you again a new journey in the building of hull one of the upcoming 420 HTC.  In this photo we are seeing the development of the tooling for the super structure of this enclosed hard top sport cruiser.  The 420 HTC like most of the Galeon's from 2004 onwards is designed by renowned British designer Tony Castro, and will share hull with the October Genoa presented 400, now renamed as 420 Fly.  One interesting feature of the 420 HTC will be the transformation feature of the aft deck, which can develop in various forms; single large sunpad, two chaise relaxing lounges, or in a settee for dining.  Another winning feature of this upcoming model, and also as the 420 Fly; will be the three double cabins featured in the lower deck. 

February 1, 2012

New Model: Greenline GL 40 Hybrid

Greenline 40 Hybrid is a development of her smaller sister, the 33 Hybrid. Introduced in September 2009 the Greenline 33 found over two hundred owners throughout the world in the first eighteen months of production. She has won numerous awards, has been highly acclaimed by the boating community and professional press, and is the world’s best seller in the ten meters size for two consecutive years. Greenline 40 Hybrid was designed by J and J as a larger explorer cruiser with the same philosophy, a low-drag energy saving superdisplacement hull coupled with three way hybrid; diesel, electric, and solar technology brings user efficiency in use of natural resources.  Inside the GL 40 Hybrid offers sleeping space for six in two double cabins plus convertible saloon.  The living is on the main deck with astern galley, and a nice L-shaped saloon.  Power is from twin Volkswagen 225hp diesel engines which can reach 22 knots max, and 18 of cruise. 
Technical Data:
LOA - 11.99 m (39.3ft)
Beam - 4.25 m
Draft - 0.85 m
Displacement - 8000 kg light
Fuel Capacity - 720 l
Water Capacity - 300 l
Accommodation - 4 + 2 berths
Engines - 2 x Volkswagen TDI 225hp
Propulsion - line shafts
Speeds - 22 knots max, 18 knots cruise
Hull Type - Super Displacement hybrid
Project - J and J Design, Seaway
Certification - CE B

Governments Pushing On

It would have been nice to start 2012 in a happy tone, but it seems to be the latest order in Europe.  Governments are going full on taxing one of the most employing industries today, that is the yachting sector.  The latest to attack its own home industry is the Italian government, who pulled into the Euro crisis, decided to introduce a boat stationing tax.  A return to the past of the old stationing tax the country had in the nineties but was only for Italian residents.  That means this one is worst because it also taxes the tourist, and the Italian.  Telling to the tourist yachtsman to avoid its coast.
Italy has the second boating industry World wide following the US, and first in the super yacht sector over 24 meters.  The Italian yachting industry gave much to the Italian government and in the period 2007 it gave over six billion Euros. In 2011 in full recession mode it will still give over three billion Euros to the Italian cash.  That is excluding the indirect income from tourism which boating and yachting bring in the harbours. The Italian boating companies of builders and suppliers employ today over 150,000 direct persons.
In Italy the yachtsman has already some other not ordinary bills; the country has in fact the most expensive marinas in the World, and keeping a medium size yacht about twelve meters is usually a double to most other neighbouring countries.  Fuel cost in Italy is also among the most expensive in the globe, where a surcharge of ten to twenty per cent is usual found in most marinas to the standard road fee.  It's a pity considering that the peninsula country is eighty per cent surrounded by a coast line some of which being very admired in the World. Think of; Capri, Portofino, and the Aeolian Islands to name just a few places.     
Some glimmer of light for the Italians and those like me who visit the coast is still left, with some Council Regions; Sardinia, Liguria, and Tuscany talking to the government and the negative affects the tax will bring to there coast line.  From here we hope for the better about this!  Boats in general bring growth in all the coast lines, and where a yacht marina is present the only incentive actually wanted is that to be left in its business to work. 
The last few years have been among the most difficult ever seen for the boating industry, and while the crisis in the early nineties was bad this is much worse.  The World has become a smaller place and with Europe today being mostly a single zone, things are much complicated today then they where before.  Surely the effects of globalization, and the only markets having growth at the moment are some places in the South America's, and Asia, with down under Australia being somewhat stable.  The North America's and Europe are more or less down.  Although fair to say North America is fairing better then the old continent, especially to what regards smaller boats sizes.  A reason for this is the better culture US has for keeping a small boat under ten meters in size then Europe, which is considered something very common.  
The old Continent on the other hand is not only seeing the recession hitting the buyer, but also new taxes being implemented in some famous Mediterranean countries on the yachts and the owners.  See Italy at the start as explained above, but also Spain, and Greece have not been very friendly with the boaters in the last months.  These taxes give even more bad signals to the buyer then even the greatest recession.  Totally wrong considering what a single boat usually leaves to the economy not only to where it is built, but also where it is residing.