It is always surprising for me how detailed technical data is hard to come by on some of the official builders website, and catalogues. With some brands a buyer looking for some detailed information has to ask a salesman, and be lucky if this can answer to his question directly without a wait. May be some builders still think that the emotion perceived by the looks of the boat can actually make buyers ignore technical details. I am sure for some it is like this, but for the many how is that. I am sure many who when coming to the final choice between two crafts, open the specifications and compare much as possible.
Some builders even don't state any engine makes and will tell maximum horsepower giving a certain speed. Another lacking detail is always the Vee dead rise of some boats. You go to a show, the boat in question has a covered hull, and the salesman will tell you it is a deep Vee. You take the cover off and then you find a fifteen degrees dead rise aft. Deep Vee is twenty degrees deadrise aft and more to fore. Under this technically speaking it is called a medium Vee.
Should there not be an implemented standard for specification globally.
A builder which makes good technical specification is the Ferretti Group, still needing some minor improvements but of the major European brands it gives good over all information. Some of the Americans take the praise for also delivering in some case the full first test report on performance, and also giving the hull dead rise aft.
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My sentiments, exactly. I've trying to find out certain boats handle in less than ideal sea conditions, but it's been almost useless. The manufacturer's dead-rise data is about all that's available and like you say, it's not a big help. The magazine reviews almost always test the boats in calm seas. However just recently, I saw a youtube video showing the Azimut 50 Magellano handling in rough sea and I was pleasantly surprised.
ReplyDeleteHello Pierre,
DeleteYes a video in rough weather video can be a sign of good handling but sometimes the difference in tough seas is for a professional to note. For example in following sea a deep Vee will always win having better tracking and less diving. But a medium Vee in head seas can permit lower planning speeds and make the ride more comfortable for the passengers. It is always a compromise.
Saying all this I add that the Azimut 50 Magellano is a great project with a lot of study for the type of hybrid semi-planning hull it features. Hull one of the first Magellano the 74 also underwent a long test after is launch, touring all the Western Med in Winter and meeting Force 7 Beaufort near gale winds and seas. After this test Azimut modified the spray rails for a dryer ride and a better trim. So these long tests always give a result. The 50 has the same hull designer i.e. Bill Dixon.
Thank you for your post.
PowerYacht