New Model: Faeton 360 Fly

Since the Astondoa Group take over a year ago it was interesting to see the new models from Faeton showing the big Spanish boat builder influence. This new Faeton 360 Fly, is the first result of this take over. Presented during the fall of 2008 in the Barcelona boat show, this new Faeton 360 Fly features a modern up to date styling along with space concepts offering a family orientated motor cruiser with a 2 cabin lower deck and a private bathroom with a separate shower room. For example the concept of the flybridge space use is very interesting with a helm located aft, and the forward part reserved for a 6 person settee which transforms to 2 or 3 person sun worshipper bed. Interiors are finished in double tint with light teak, contrasting wenge wood, and beige leather upholstery all this in a modern functional design. Engine is 4 option choice from twin Yanmar or Volvo of 260hp and going to the biggest D4-300hp Volvo. Propulsion is for traditional line shafts.

Technical Data:

LOA - 11 m (36ft)

Hull Length - 9.99 m

Beam - 3.75 m

Draft - 0.74 m

Displacement - 8500 kg

Fuel Capacity - 800 l

Water Capacity - 220 l

Max Persons - 12

Engines - 2 x Volvo D4 260hp, D4 300hp, Cummins QSD 4.2i 270hp, Yanmar 6BY 260hp

www.faeton.es

Boat Review: Blu Martin 1390 Sea Top

Presentation

Blu Martin 1390 Sea Top is PowerYachtBlog April month boat review. The 1390 Sea Top was launched in 2005 and is the second model from this young builder founded in 2001, but with its owner Franco Mauri coming from an over twenty year experience in boat building in Italy and particularly in the Como area. The 1390 Sea Top is a natural evolution of the first model of Blu Martin the 1350 Sun Top, with its main differences being easily visible thanks to the integrated enclosed hard top, and the extended bathing platform aft which adds length by forty centimetres aft. Later on the 1390 Sea Top was also added with a new interior option of a 2 cabin 2 head layout along the 3 cabin 2 head, with this new version offering a full beam owners cabin.

Accommodation

Welcoming you in its aft cockpit the 1390 Sea Top has what is a normal standard layout for a Mediterranean Sport Cruiser, sun lounger aft with a tender garage underneath with space for 2.40 metre rib, c-shaped settee, complete exterior wet bar with grill washbasin, and a central positioned helm station which gives optimum all round visibility.

Below the option is for two distinctive layout choice. The later introduced 2 cabin version and the more popular by choice 3 cabin plan. The 3 cabin version offers a c-shaped settee to port side, a galley opposite to starboard, forward owner stateroom with private en suite shower head, two identical double cabins with twin berths which can transform to an inserted double VIP cabin, and a second guest shower head to port side having also its use as a day head. The 2 cabin version differs from the more popular 3 cabin layout by offering a full beam owners cabin in replacement of the two double cabins mid ship, and now offering an island queen sized berth positioned to the beam, offering also a relaxing settee to starboard. This two cabin version also gains a more spacious second head now the bigger on board, and a saloon settee which is a bit more spacious.

Performance

With a vee shaped hull monohedron with a 19.30 degrees aft, the 1390 Sea Top is just shy of the twenty plus deep dead rise which translated to more simple terms means high cruising speed wave attacking potential. An other interesting feature for the Sea Top is the various engine and propulsion choices. Engines start from the more economic and smallest option of twin D6-350hp Volvos, and goes to the big Yanmars of 480hp. Propulsion choices is from Volvo sterndrive which will give the better fast speed handling, to the do it everyone docking IPS Volvo pod drives, and goes to the more seaworthy shaft lines. Performance top speeds are 34 knots with the smaller Yanmar 440hp and IPS500 option, 36 knots with Volvo 350hp sterndrive and Yanmar 480hp, and goes to the most performing IPS600 which gives 38 knots of max.
Positive

integrated hard top

2 or 3 cabin option

all type propulsion choice

Negative

tight aft cockpit deck

Competition

Having a 2 version interior and an all propulsion choice give a wide spectrum of competitors to the Blu Martin 1390 Sea Top, but to be honest I expected much more to this. Competition criteria is made for integrated hard top, LOA in 13 metres, and a 2 cabin 2 heads full beam owners cabin or a 3 cabin 2 head. For classic three cabins interior look for the Airon Marine 4300 T-Top, and Windy 44 Chinnook.

Airon Marine 4300 T-Top - all propulsion, 3 or 2 cabins, patio sunpad or settee cockpit

Atlantis 425 SC HT - pioneer of full beam cabin in 13 mts size, sterndrive

Cranchi 43 Mediterranee HT - spacious exterior deck, IPS

Prestige 42S - options outside patio door, sunbed or c-shaped settee, IPS

Rio 44 Air - similar exterior with garage, shafts only

Sessa C43 - IPS pod, full beam cabin with big view windows

Windy 44 Chinook - 3 cabins, c-shaped smaller outside, shaft or IPS pod

Zenit 45 Hardtop - shafts or IPS pod, full beam owners two heads

WILD CARD: Mochi 44 Dolphin - lobster tradition looks with modern solutions

Conclusion

Blu Martin 1390 Sea Top was a very well minded evolution of the 1350 Sun Top, and the well made design improvement of an integrated hard top similar to that found on bigger boats, was sure a turning point for the success of this model. The hard top along with a very comfortable interior, and added with a two interior plan option shows also that Blu Martin is very attentive to the clients request and suggestions. This also is shown by the wide variety of propulsion and engine choices, showing in facts that the North Italian builder tries to minimize the compromises made from choosing a boat, and suiting it to the clients needs in all aspects of the 1390 Sea Top being it the interior, or the technical point like engine and propulsion choice.

Technical Data

LOA. 13.90 metres (45.6 ft)

Length Waterline. 10.31 metres

Beam. 4.05 metres

Draft. 0.70 metres

Displacement. 13.000 kg

Fuel Capacity. 912 litres

Water Capacity. 411 litres

Max Persons. 12

Accommodation. 4 + 2 berths, 6 + 2 berth

Engines. 2 x Volvo D6TD 350hp, Yanmar 480hp, IPS500 370hp, IPS 600 435hp

Propulsion. duoprop Volvo sterndrive, shafts line, Volvo IPS Pod drive

Speed. max 38 knots with IPS600

Hull Shape. medium modified mono hedron Vee closing at 19.30 degrees dead rise aft

Project. Blu Martin

Construction. vinylester resin, multi axial glass, balsa cored topsides and sides

Certification. RINA CE B

www.blumartinyachts.com

Picture Copyright Blu Martin. Data Blu Martin.

Class 1 - 2009 Season Preview

Teams and competitors in the UIM-WPPA Class 1 World Powerboat Championship are poised to renew rivalries in the Qatar Marine Festival Grand Prix on Saturday, 25 April the first race of the season and the eleventh race to be held in the Qatari Capital City of Doha in eight years.

Victory want a first Grand Slam, Qatar want a first World title and all their rivals want a piece of the action. Class 1 looks set for a captivating and possibly unpredictable season.

Ten boats will line up for the 21-lap, 96.45Nm Qatar Marine Festival Grand Prix; but with the introduction of new rules governing the use of electronics, limited propeller choice, new teams and a handful of untried driver-pairings, the outcome of the season-opener is hard to predict.

Dubai’s Victory Team, the defending World, Middle East and Edox Pole Position Champions, will start amongst the favourites for race honours and have rolled out three World Champions as they launch their bid to retain their crowns and hunt down a fourth win in Qatari waters as they aim for that elusive grand slam of all four titles in a season only ever achieved by Spirit of Norway in 2003, and described by Victory’s General Manager, Gianfranco Venturelli, as ‘mission impossible’. Defending Champion, Nadir Bin Hendi, is joined in last year’s winning boat now named Fazza 3 by the 2007 World and European Champion, Arif Al Zafeen, and will be looking to repeat their 2008 win in Doha, whilst his former partner, Jean-Marc Sanchez, is once again called on by the team’s hierarchy to draw on all his experience and steer another rookie Mohammad Al Mehairi through his first season, running in Victory 1.

The Qatar Team pose the greatest threat to Victory’s aspirations and Sheikh Hassan Bin Jabor Al-Thani is in absolutely no doubt that his team can win the World title and can kick-start their season-long campaign with a win on home waters. Sheikh Hassan, still looking for his first win in Doha, again lines up with former World Champion Steve Curtis a five-times winner in Qatar and will more than likely run the repaired and modified Qatar 96 with Skema V12s, whilst team-mates Matteo Nicolini and Abdullah Al-Sulaiti, who still hold the in-house bragging rights after taking the team’s only win in 2008 and fancy their chances of title glory this season, line up in the Sterling V8-powered Qatar 95, with Al-Sulaiti looking for his second win in front of a partisan crowd.

The bid to oust the sport’s two titans and upset the form book, is headed by the defending European Champion, Jorn Tandberg, who reforms his winning partnership with fellow Norwegian, Christian Zaborowski, running the Mercury-Class 1, V8-powered scarlet MTI, Welmax.

Maritimo Australia is the third team fielding a two-boat line-up and will be hoping to repeat the success that team owner, Bill Barry-Cotter and Peter McGrath enjoyed in Doha, when they took their maiden Class 1 win at the first Grand Prix held in Qatar in 2002. Twenty-one-year-old, Tom Barry-Cotter and Pal Virik Nilsen form the youngest partnership in Class 1, but can boast the most races and cockpit time together of any driver-throttleman combination in the Championship, and will run their new hull, Maritimo 11, with the straight-talking New Zealander, Peter McGrath, joined by Italian, Giorgio Manuzzi, in Maritimo 12, the boat the team debuted in Dubai last season both outfits opting to run Maritimo Performance V8 power-plants.

Throughout the fleet, new driver-combinations dominate, adding to the unpredictability of the race outcome; throttleman, Giampaolo Montavoci and Francesco Pansini, back racing in Class 1 after a 13-year absence, team up for the first time in Foresti & Suardi- Roscioli Hotels.

Nicola Giorgi, who grabbed his first Class 1 podium in the penultimate race in Dubai last year, will be looking to build on that success and is joined in the Giorgi V12-powered Giorgioffshore by the team’s test-driver Riccardo Calugi, making his Class 1 debut, with the experienced Giovanni Carpitella partnering relative newcomer, Mohammed Abdelkader Ahmed, in Spirit of Spain in which Carpitella raced last year, taking an impressive fourth in the final race of the season.

The Qatar Marine Festival Grand Prix weekend kicks off with a two-hour official practice session on Thursday afternoon (23 April), followed by a second practice session on Friday morning ahead of the Edox Pole Position official qualifying session in the afternoon. A final practice session on Saturday morning precedes the 96.45Nm Qatar Marine Festival Grand Prix, run on the notoriously tricky Doha Bay circuit which has seen some spectacular racing and incidents over the years consisting of one 5.15Nm start lap, 18 race laps of 4.5Nm and two compulsory 5.15Nm long laps.

www.class-1.com

New Model: Riviera 51 Enclosed Flybridge Series II

The Riviera 51 Enclosed Flybridge gets upgraded throughout in the newly launched Series II model. The new series II gets upgraded all with changes in the aft, stairs which lead to the flybridge, cabins, heads galley and improved finishing throughout. For example both the master and forward guest staterooms queen double beds are larger for greater comfort and all the lockers have a new freshness with cedar timber lining. The bathrooms have also undergone a transformation with the use of Amtico timber veneer flooring, solid surface benchtops with a porcelain basins and satin chrome shower poles. All the joinery in the saloon has a fresh new look and there is even a gloss timber surround to the recessed grabrail in the headliner. Speakers for the Bose entertainment system are now recessed in a pelmet on either side of the saloon. The lounge now has also a double bed hidden away underneath with electric controls. In the galley, you will notice the new induction cooktop and flush benchtops while access to the storage space below has been improved. The most striking and visible feature of the new 51 Series II is sure the awning window and stainless steel door aft of the saloon leading to the cockpit, with this opening up to connect the saloon with the cockpit. Even the stairs to the flybridge have been improved with non-skid treads and even better hand rails.
Technical Data:
LOA - 17.7 m (58.2ft)
Hull Length - 16.6 m
Beam - 4.93 m
Draft - 1.38 m
Weight - 21,800 kg
Fuel Capacity - 2700 l
Water Capacity - 860 l
Accommodation - 6 + 2 berths
Engines - 2 x Cat 715hp

www.riviera.com.au

Improve-it = Benetti 85 Legend

Benetti, in collaboration with the Research and Development Centre of the Azimut-Benetti Group, based in Varazze, founded in order to give scientific support and boost the know how level of the single brands, developed its first hybrid electrical diesel propulsion. The study of the diesel-electrical propulsion, within the group, started ten years ago with the planning and designing of the M/Y FB231 Ambrosia, launched in 2005, and equipped with the azimuth propulsion. These particularly encouraging results drove the Group to extend its research and the consequent applications onto the smaller boats of the range, choosing however to privilege the displacing yacht segment which, due to the technical characteristics, combines well with this type of propulsion. The pioneer this time is the smallest line of the fleet, the Benetti 85, which, compared to Ambrosia, requires an alternative due to its technical characteristics. Indeed in this case the electrical diesel propulsion is not suggested as a sole solution, but it is placed together with the traditional one in a hybrid system. The primary intention is that of equipping the yacht with an additional and alternative propulsion system compared to the main one which increases the comfort on board as regards to the traditional propulsion. The speed range obtainable with the electrical propulsion varies from 5 to 10 knots, based on the electrical power of the diesel generators available on board. The Hybrid electrical diesel system includes the use of the same components of the traditional propulsion to which we have added electrical motors with permanent magnets and relative "inverters" frequency converters, which, connected to a controlling system, govern the shafting with the main diesel motors being disconnected. The numerous advantages that have been obtained are measurable: reduction in noise, less vibrations on board, and an important percentage in the saving of consumption equal to 40%. A positive environmental impact due to the reduction of emissions into the atmosphere. The commitment undertaken about ten years ago today has led to the creation of a product that can be applied to the entire Benetti range with the possibility of integrating other innovations that the Group is developing for the future, such as the replacement of one of the two electrical generators with a fuel cell generator in order to increase comfort further and reduce the environmental impact. It is currently possible to temporarily install batteries in order to obtain the same effect as the Fuel Cell yet obviously with considerably reduced endurance. The new hybrid electrical diesel propulsion system which is applied onto the Benetti 85 does not only enable to offer concrete advantages in the direction of a Green Yacht but paves the way towards continuous and future developments.

www.benettiyachts.it

Projects: Shearline 52 Sportfish, Shearline 57 Sportfish

North Carolina custom boat builder Shearline, after having a taste of big boat building with its 2008 launched 61 Sportfish fully custom flagship, built in cold molding gives more of this to its estimated clientele. In fact the year 2009 will see Shearline commissioning two new Sportfish yachts builds going over the fifty feet barrier. The first of this is the Shearline 52 Sportfish, representing similar Carolina lines to the bigger flagship, but in an eight feet smaller package. The 57 Sportfish is the second project from Shearline, and is built to custom order as all the fourteen boat range from 18 up to 61 feet from this US East Coast builder. The 57 Sportfish represents another important step for big custom boat building recognition and more future ambitions as started last year with the launching of the 61 feet flagship. As all the Shearline range, the 57 is also built using cold molding construction technique, meaning a lighter and stronger build method, but also a time tiring method only good for passionate and custom builders. I imagine both the new Shealines to be pretty fast but so far not much details are provided. Still these are all custom builds and many changes can be made in design stages to accommodate ones taste, think of it this way the 61, did 45 knots with not so big engines for its category. So accept something along these lines from the new two big Shearlines both to be launched later on this year.

www.shearlineboatworks.com

New Model: Rio 36 Air

Presented for the first time at the recent Naples boat show, is the new Rio 36 Air, hard top version for the Art of the same size presented in Genoa in the fall of 2008. The North Italian builder praises its new 36 feet hard top as the best offer for its size in the European market. As its twin, open sporty 36 Art example, the new Air hard top model follows on the winning design of its sister, offering a much desired full beam owners cabin in only eleven metres. As Rio says both these models share little with the competition apart the size and propulsion, the rest is a surprise to discover. Everything else has no comparison. The look awards the Rio typical visual aspect of a bigger looking sport cruiser then its real size inside and outside. In fact the 36 Air surprises for its sports line, but still offering open livable spaces, an impressive wide cockpit, hydraulic controlled table, chaise lounge, and a dual helm seated helm station with a minimal essential dashboard offering an ample control panel. Best of solutions and thinking for the people onboard comes from the electric shifting hard top which extends up to the stern to protect the dining area if necessary, a very intelligent solution in this size.

Technical Data:

LOA - 11.14 m (36.5ft)

Beam - 3.65 m

Drat - 0.64 m

Displacement - 6990 kg dry

Fuel Capacity - 780 l

Water Capacity - 120 l

Max Persons - 12

Accommodation - 4 + 2

Engines - 2 x Mercruiser 4.2ES 270hp, 4.2ES 320hp

Propulsion - sterndrive Mercruiser Bravo III double prop

Speed - 37 knots max, 26 knots cruise with 320hp

Range - 306 nautical miles, 11.8 hours

www.rioyachts.net

Project: Master Yacht 60

Master Yacht 60 is the second project from this company founded in 1999 and starting to build boats in 2005, launching its first 52 feet model in 2006. This is an interesting second offer from this North Italian builder following the 52 bit of traditional looks outside, with high versatility in its interior planning, as well as the engine choices being among its strongest points. Hard top Sports Yachts are a lot to come by, so Master Yacht 60 wants to offer something different in a crowded and super competitive market with some distinctive features from the competition like two layout choice interior, and wide engine and propulsion choices. The interior for example comes out with a standard 3 cabin lower deck galley layout, but if one navigates with more guests a 4 cabin all en-suite with a galley up optional version is available. Surely but the most interesting feature for the new Master Yacht 60 comes from eight engine and propulsion choices. For those desiring the traditional shaft lines, the Master Yacht 60 comes with a vee drive set up and five engine offer starting from the smaller rated twin Yanmar 720hp up to MAN V12-1360hp. For the pod lovers Master Yacht offers three options, a triple or quadruple Volvo IPS600 choice, with IPS500 offered in a four engine format only. The first Master Yacht 52 was all about offering various choices to the owner, and with the 60 this Italian firm made clever lesson to keep and expand a similar format for its new bigger upcoming Sport Yacht.

www.masteryacht.it

Improve-it = Galeon 390 HT

Galeon improves the 390 HT just as it did on the 530 HT with a Wenge Line new interior style. Wenge is an exotic tropical hard wood from Africa, dark brown almost black with tan lines. The Wenge furniture on the Galeon is veneer meaning a sheet of natural wood adhered to natural density fibreboard. Along the renowned and much famous dark natural wood, the 390 Hard Top has also been improved with new quality elements like stainless steel, huge glass sliding doors and white leather upholstery. To accentuate also the dark tonality of the woods the walls are plastered with a silver fabric lit with LED lights. This new distinctive look is a modern departure to other more classical styles like cherry wood or mahogany interiors, and should distinct the client who prefers the latest style in the interior of his Sport Yacht.

www.galeon.pl

Project: Italian Yachts 72 Jaguar

Design, a sporty, stylish, powerful and comfortable Sport Yacht. These are the characteristics Italian Yachts asked to architect Roberto Angel for the project of the 72 Jaguar. Based on the philosophy of a high performance hull, four possible power options are available from the smaller 1500hp up to 1800hp twin MTU engines, and Arneson or Sea Rex surface drives. Roberto Angel transformed the requested philosophy into simple geometric shapes that enhance the aerodynamics of the deckhouse, while at the same time not staying away from the Jaguar open tradition. The Jaguar 72 project maintains a family feeling in a new emphasis on the sporty soul of the Italian Yachts brand. Exterior lines are clean and essential with large elliptical windows favoring plenty of natural light into interior spaces. Lateral side passageways favor continuity fore to aft of the deck, enabling the perception of a uniform outer environment. Forward, is a solution that is more unique than original, a central sunpad and modular seating to accommodate numerous guests. As on the 80 Jaguar, the 72 first presented as a 70 feet project maintains a sober style, with a uniform look seen trough the Italian Yachts range following a great care for quality and finishing of the complete product.

www.italianyachts.it