July 23, 2012

Project: Beneteau 50 Swift Trawler

Created in 2003, Beneteau Swift Trawler range has seen good support from boaters who look for a more gentle to run Explorer Cruiser and Yacht.  This new Swift Trawler 50 project designed by Joubert Nivelt exterior and hull, and Frutschi for the interior layout will feature some important novelties for the range which with second large addition will feature five models from 34 to 52.  The Beneteau 50 Swift Trawler will be the first in the range to use Volvo pod drive units in this case the twin IPS600 units with 435hp six cylinder engines.  In the renderings and video footage show the 50 Swift Trawler to feature a welcoming and cozy split level saloon with the classic relax area in the entrance, and a galley dining and helm to fore.  The flybridge looks also particularly spacious especially if you include the aft area where the tender is located. But worth to note is that the flybridge area looks particularly safe thanks to the all around fiberglass protection sides.  Below will be an owners room located to midships, a VIP suite to fore, and a choice of a third cabin or office by the companion way. A crew cabin is available to aft.

Powerboat Endurance - Roma Offshore Speed Race 2012 Metamarine Winner

Metamarine number 60 shows again in 2012, as it had done in pure dominance in the 2010 season that it is the powerboat to beat in this series.  Mr. Pennesi definitely has built a machine developed in a time of five, six years which showed itself again its power.
The race started at 09:45 AM with the powerboats leaving the Ostia harbour.  After a few nautical miles Magnum Marine OSG had to retire due to one engine failure soon to be followed by the other motor to have problems.  Metamarine completed the race in a couple seconds short of one hour and twenty minutes.  Searex completed the Offshore course of 135 nautical miles from Rome Ostia Yacht Marina to Ponza and back in ten minutes more to the Italian Metamarine. 
In Class C which is a back to the past return of the Supersport designation, the Italian Albatro Venice built Jolly Drive did the race in just some seconds short of one hour 35 minutes.  Jolly won the race in this category.
From here PowerYacht hopes to see the Rome Offshore Speed Race back again next year, and may be followed by a couple more similar races across the Mediterranean sea and create again a championship series.
RESULTS
Pos - Team - Drivers - Time
1 - Metamarine Italy - Marco Pennesi, Murizio Schepici - 1 hour 19 minutes 57.9 seconds
2 - Searex Germany - Verbanck, Greve, Podolosky - 1 hour 30 minutes 48.1 seconds
3 (1) - Jolly Drive Italy - Zanardo, Montanari, Battista - 1 hour 34 minutes 54.3 seconds (1st place in Class C i.e. Supersport Class category)
RETIRED - Magnum Marine OSG Italy - Cangiano, Sheppard, Sardellitti

July 22, 2012

Web: Merrit's New Web Site

Merritt Boat Works from Pompano, Florida in the United States of America presents its new virtual web showroom.  Founded in 1948 after a move from Long Island by Franklin Roy and Ennis Merritt who bought a land with the primary objective of maintaining their charter fleet, and yachts and drift boats in the area.  Boat building for Merritt started in 1955 when Buddy supervised the build of a 37 foot cruiser with the primary aim of catching Tuna fish.  Today Merritt builds among the finest sportfish yachts, and a name very much know with the connoiseurs of the yachting circle.  Its current latest builds are an 86 which is the largest Merritt ever build, a 72, and a 66 currently in construction phase.  Merritt still stays true to its tradition wood building heritage, with a wise look into the future by building in the cold molding method. Merritt's new web site takes you around with the following buttons; About Us, Brokerage, Boat Yard, News, and Contact Us.

July 21, 2012

New Model: Princess 40M

It is always an important step when a boat builder presents a new flagship, with major investments sometimes coming as ten years before the first project is launched.  Announced three years ago the Princess 40M continues the Plymouth boat builder pursuit into larger sizes, following the 32M fifteen months later and seven hulls being sold.  But apart this the Princess 40M puts a couple of important headlines on itself; as being the current largest resin infused hull, and the biggest production super yacht built in Britain.  The 40M is also Princess first full three decked yacht and for having a full body in the forward part of the main deck. This particular wide body feature makes it also look very much a custom, build in Holland or Italy, and less a part of the Plymouth's builder line up.  Depending on chosen layout the 40M sleeps twelve guests in six staterooms, with the owners room on the main deck, located in the wide body area for maximum space.  Power is from twin MTU 2985hp which give a 22 knots top speed.  Hull one was named Imperial Princess, and two other hulls are currently in building stages.   
Technical Data:
LOA - 40.16 m (131.7ft)
Beam - 8.05 m
Draft - 2.28 m
Displacement - 180000 kg dry
Fuel Capacity - 29345 l
Water Capacity - 4000 l
Accommodation - 12 guests in 6 cabins, 8 crew berths
Engines - 2 x MTU 12v 4000 M73L 2985hp
Propulsion - line shaft
Speed - 22 knots max
Hull Type - modified deep Vee with spray rails
Construction - resin infused moulding

July 20, 2012

Project: Fjord 56 Open

Fjord presents the project of the 56 Open, which follows on the modern angular lines of the smaller 36 and 40 models, with the benefit of the larger size giving huge advantages and marrying day boat practicality to yacht accommodation.  Designed as the smaller new Fjord's by Allseas the 56 Open  will be a fully walk around sports yacht, with huge space dedicated for outside entertainment.  Aft sun lounger, three opposites looking settees, exterior wet bar galley, and center console are what makes the main living area outside with only two steps dividing the fore from the aft deck, and here is also space for another sun pad.    Fjord says the new 56 Open, which was actually born as a 54 project, will sleep six, but so far no details are given for the interior layout.  Standard power is twin Volvo 435hp with IPS pods, with the alternative of three units of the same engine and propulsion being available.  Speed estimates are max of 45 knots.

July 19, 2012

Powerboat Endurance - Roma Offshore Speed Race 2012

It's good to see some interest returning in Powerboat endurance racing come back to us.  The Rome Offshore Speed Race 2012 is a huge challenge for the participants, and most of all for the event organizers, specially considering the current economic climate Europe finds itself in at the moment.  None the less the organizers managed so far to involve six participants to the race which involves a 135 nautical miles course.  The Rome Offshore Speed Race contrary to recent Endurance class races of the Evolution and Supersport classes, aims to emulate past legendary formats as the Cowes Torquay, Viareggio Bastia, Miami Nassau, and the Venezia Monte Carlo, that is of a more distant course which is a more typical of a cruise.  That is pure offshore racing at its best. Interesting is also that in the participants we have the return of a few two times World Champions; from Cangiano, to Marco Pennesi one of the latest winners in 2010, and Rizzardi a past winner in 2002 and 2003.  Again Italy has been a great supporter to this sport since the sixties, not only in participants but also in organizing an interesting event in mid Summer season.  Definitely the South Italian peninsula has made great records in the past from its designers, boat builders, engines, and drivers but continues to do so in the present and future.  I also remind that the recent very successful format of Powerboat P1 has also been started by the Italians in 2002, that championship won by Rizzardi in a Fabio Buzzi designed Diesel powered hull, which was built and designed in Italy. Same also for the recent champion in 2010 Metamarine who had full Italian stamped to it from the design, engine makers, boat builder, drivers, and propulsion units.        
PARTICIPANTS:
Team - Drivers - Nationality
Magnum Marine OSG - Cangiano, Sheppard, Sardellitti - Italy
Searex - Verbanck, Greve, Podolsky - Germany
Metamarine - Marco Pennesi, Murizio Schepici - Italy
Jollydrive - Zanardo, Montanari, Battista - Italy
Class V63 GDF - Rizzardi - Italy

New Model: Grandezza 39 CA

Presented at the start of the year, Grandezza 39 CA clearly shows the Finnish builder intention to compete internationally with other builders in this segment.  The Grandezza new flaghship has clearly a clever design, with interesting looks and practical features which should bring attention not only in Scandinavia where it is built, but to a whole global market.  The Grandezza 39 CA has it all from looks, practicality and a well conceived layout with a full beams owners stateroom, and a fully four door part patio door enclosed upper internal deck.  Interesting features in this size are surely the side helms door, and the deep side walk to starboard.  Other features inside are also the forward VIP, and a lower L-shaped galley located to port side.  The dinette is located on the main deck, with an entertainment unit, and helm opposite.  Power is Volvo options from 300 up to 400hp in stern drive set.  Good 40 knots max speeds are reached with twin Volvo 370hp. 
Technical Data:
LOA - 11.95 m (39.2ft)
Beam - 3.95 m
Draft - 1.50 m
Displacement - 9000 kg
Fuel Capacity - 920 l
Water Capacity - 275 l
Accommodation - 5 + 2 berths
Max Persons - 10
Engines - 2 x Volvo D4 300hp, D6 370hp, D6 400hp
Propulsion - Volvo dual propeller stern drive
Speed - 40 knots max, 31 knots cruise with D6 370hp
Hull Type - Vee shape
Construction - Infusion sandwich with Divinycell core
Certification - CE B

July 18, 2012

Project: Cranchi 54 Fly

Cranchi starts to show its new projects which will be the hallmark of the important fall 2012 boat show season.  The Italian builder will show four new models in this period, of which among them is also a new outboard line up called Panama of which Cranchi will present a 24 and a 32 feet model. Here today PowerYacht gives the first exclusive rendering of the 54 Fly model, a news which expands the Yacht Class range.  I am so excited about this new Cranchi 54 Fly that without full details I still decided to show it up for you PowerYacht readers! Definitely to like is the very sport looks for a flybribdge motor yacht.  As many would think, but it is not the 54 Fly will feature a new hull, which is ten centimeters less beam to the Fifty 6 Soft Top.  As the rendering shows, Cranchi design team led by Aldo Cranchi presents a very sports flybridge shape.  The flybridge by the looks of it and its extension aft, looks also to be of a large size at least in length.  The saloon should also offer the same feature, notice the not so long fore deck.  Lower deck is also not yet announced but again the large central windows to midships indicate a full beam owners cabin, which is also more aft then usual, definitely benefiting from the stern location of the engines with IPS pod drives.  Power which is one detail given to me is twin Volvo 600 or 700hp units, with the IPS 2; 800 or 900 drives.

July 17, 2012

New Model: Sessa 40 Fly

Launched at the end of the 2011 year, the new Sessa 40 Fly follows the hallmark of what some previous months earlier the North Italian builder showed with the 45 Fly model.  Designer Christian Grande followed many similarities from the 45 in this smaller flybridge motor cruiser, with a low profile flybridge which does not give up space up top thanks to a well laid clever layout.  Down below space offers two double cabins, with a galley being in a space between the cabin area and living upper saloon.  Two spacious shower heads serve the two cabins, with one being en-suite for the forward owners room.  Other interesting features of the 40 Fly are an up down hydraulic bathing platform, Miele oven, 160 liters fridge capacity, and Sony entertainment systems.  Another unheard feature in this size is also a space provided to put a washer dryer of six kilograms capacity. Standard power is twin Volvo 300hp with IPS pod drives which give max speed of 30 knots.
Technical Data:
LOA - 12.3 m (40.3ft)
Hull Length - 10,88 m
Beam - 3.90 m
Displacement - 10.5 t
Fuel Capacity - 900 l
Water Capacity - 360 l
Accommodation - 4 + 1 berths in 2 cabins
Max Persons - 12
Engines - 2 x Volvo D4 300hp
Propulsion - Volvo IPS400 forward looking dual propeller pod drives
Speed - 30 knots max, 26 knots cruise
Project - Christian Grande
Certification - CE B

July 16, 2012

Project: Bavaria 420 Virtess Coupe

Waiting for the official introduction of the 420 Virtess Fly, a second model in the luxury motor boat line is now underway, with the Coupe version of the same model.  The Bavaria 420 Virtess Coupe follows in many the Fly version but adds features as the panoramic sunroof, and a comfortable roof reclining area.  Bavaria has again collaborated once again with Italian designer Marco Casali and his Too Design to create an innovative and stylish coupe. The generous living areas and deck layout provide full comfort for all on board, and copy those of the Fly version. Like a bigger sport yacht the 420 Virtess Coupe has stair-access to its upper deck, which has been specially designed to provide the perfect area to relax with full view all around.  A further highlight is the wide panoramic sun roof, which when opened, allows the helmsman to see over the windshield and ensures that face in the wind feeling. The interior layout with a living with saloon and galley on the main deck, and a lower three double cabins plan, below with owners room to fore follows the plan as the Fly version.  Power options are three Volvo engine choices which start from 370 up to 435hp available in stern drive, and forward looking IPS pod units.