Ed Dubois 1952 - 2016

It is with enormous sadness that Honor Dubois and the team at Dubois Naval Architects announce the death of Ed Dubois on 24 March.  Following a period of illness last year, Ed had been in better health and working as normal. Unexpectedly he was admitted to hospital last week and sadly died on Thursday.  Ed’s career spanned decades and his passion, commitment to his work and love of his clients created a unique business, driven by exceptional design and technical talent and a genuine desire to create the most breathtakingly beautiful and technically advanced yachts; now scattered across the globe.  Although created by Ed, Dubois Naval Architects has always been underpinned an incredibly committed and talented, team of naval architects, none more so than those working with Ed at the moment.  The business will continue. Peter Bolke, who is Senior Designer and has been a valued member of the Dubois team for 23 years, will become Managing Director with immediate effect.  Peter will be supported by the rest of the Dubois team.  With one of the industry’s most innovative 58m yachts currently in build and a number of similarly ambitious projects in the design stage, Ed left the business at an exciting moment in its development.  Peter and his team will be supported by Ed’s great friends, Richard Cunningham, and Andrew Prynne QC, Ed’s friend for fifty years.  Ed Dubois was a huge talent and his legacy will continue as one of the world’s great yacht designers. Known not only for his love of all things boat-related, but also music, art, travel and most of all his family and friends. Ed leaves his darling wife Honor and four wonderful children, to whom he was completely devoted.

New Model: Sea Ray 400 Fly

Since launching the new 510 series in 2013 Sea Ray has embraced European design with a certain conviction never seen before.  The 400 series is the latest in this important direction, and just behind the launching of the 400 Sundancer model comes the new Fly sister with flybridge. The 400 Fly is an interesting Sea Ray for the boater who wants to embrace cruising with comfort, and this model ticks a lot of boxes not only to the USA boater but as a global flybridge motor cruiser offer. The 400 Fly just like the sister Sundancer embraces the single level living on the main deck, with below deck reserved for the sleeping quarters with the two cabins.  Option and making this Sea Ray is also key to the new mentality of the World known USA builder with the 400 Fly offered with a lot of options and choices.  From a four color choice, optional hard top covering the flybridge, interior arrangement to have a two shower head versus the standard single shower head, and last but not least the extra of an up-down extended bathing platform aft.
Technical Data:

LOA - 13.26 m (43.6ft) with optional bathing platform

LOA - 12.2 m with standard bathing platform

Beam - 13.6 m

Draft - 1.09 m

Displacement - 14016 kg dry

Fuel Capacity - 1332 l

Water Capacity - 378 l

Accommodation - 5 berths in 2 cabins

Engines - 2 x Cummins QSD 6.7 480hp

Propulsion - V-drive line shaft

Speed - 30 knots max, 26 knots cruise

Hull - modified Vee with 17 degrees deadrise 

Certification - CE  

www.searay.com

Project: Bertram 58

What a better way to return a legend then to bring back modern versions of the models which made it become so. The new Bertram way seems set to go exactly into this direction, decades later.  Designed as the currently in build 35, by World famous deep-V specialist Micheal Peters the new 58 is homage to the eighties 54.  Delivered in over fifty units in a production run over ten years, the 54 is a legend to behold not only for its sales number but also for the sea keeping its Dave Napier designed modified V-shape hull delivered.  To say it short the 54 was Bertram second most important model ever made behind the 31.  It is also a model which championed the fifty plus feet sport-fisherman yacht to new owners. The Bertram 58 is still in infant project stages, what we know so far is that it will have a 40 knots performance, wrap around wind screen with full view, and hull one is expected to launch in late 2017.

www.bertram.com

New Launch: Heesen 70 Metre Custom FDHF YN 17470

Heesen is delighted to announce the launch of the largest yacht in it's fleet to date, the 70m FDHF superyacht Project Kometa. The owners have christened their new yacht Galactica Super Nova. Yard number 17470 is not only the biggest yacht built by Heesen Yachts to date, but she is also one of the top two hundred largest yachts in the world and one of the fastest for her size.  Galactica Super Nova utilizes the revolutionary Fast Displacement Hull Form technology devised by van Oossanen Naval Architects, which Heesen was the first to put into production. Thanks to the addition of a third engine to power a booster jet, she will be capable of reaching a top speed of more than 30 knots. With exterior lines by Espen Øino and interior design by Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design,Galactica Super Nova is both an evolution of Heesen's long experience in the superyacht sector and also the result of a specific research into what the market wants and expects. Galactica Super Nova will be extensively tested in the North Sea before being delivered to her owners in May 2016. After her maiden voyage from the Netherlands to Montenegro, she will cruise in the Mediterranean for the summer season before finally making her public debut at the Monaco Yacht Show.

Technical Data:

LOA - 70.07 m (229.8ft)

Beam - 11.4 m

Draft - 2.4 m

Displacement - 620 t (50% load)

Fuel Capacity - 90000 l

Water Capacity - 25000 l

Accommodation - 12 guests in 6 cabins

Engines - 2 x MTU 20V4000 M43L 5766hp

Propulsion - line shaft with five bladed propellers

Speed - 25 knots max, 14 knots optimum cruise

Range - 4000 nm at 14 knots cruise

Hull Shape - round bilge fast displacment

Construction - Aluminium for hull and super structure

Project - Van Oossanen and Heesen for naval architecture, Espen Oeino exterior, Sinot inteior

Certification - ABS A1 Commercial Yachting service AMS large commercial yacht code LY3 MCA

www.heesenyachts.com

Project: Nautilus 440 Power Cat

Since Outer Reef announced its entry into the Power Catamaran sector, its been a waiting game.  Now Outer Reef is showing renderings of the first model to be of its new exciting Nautilus chapter, the 440.  The Nautilus 440 will have a beam short of seven meters, with accommodation options available in three or four cabins layouts. Power will come from twin Cummins engines; 380hp standard, and options going up to 550hp units coupled to ZF Zeus pods propulsion. Top speed vary from 22 knots with the standard engines up to 30 knots of the large option. Range can go up to eight hundred nautical miles, if cruising in the most economical of speeds. 

www.nautiluspowercats.com

New Model: Rivera 5400 Sport Yacht

Riviera's presents the new 5400 Sport Yacht.  The Sport Yacht series from Riviera has been a success since the down under builder introduced the 3600 in 2005.  Fast forward ten years since the launch of that model and those that followed, and one can see a big design change coming in recent years.  The first Sport Yacht models have been a nice mix of conservative Sportfisherman looks with European styled interiors and single level cockpit deck layout.  That philosophy started to change with the introduction of the 5800 in 2009.  Now this new 5400 Sport Yacht, which follows the 6000 flagship introduced in 2015 shows a more European stance to its design and looks followed by details of practicality. Why am I saying all this because I think the 5400 Sport Yacht is an important turn around to the design of the Riviera Sport Yacht series, and looks more European then ever.  Still the design team of Riviera has been clever to offer something more to its 5400 Sport Yacht, then the typical seventeen meter European counter part; astern galley by the patio door to starboard, and the L-shaped mezzanine settee being two important cases in-point. Versatility is also offered in the 5400 Sport Yacht with a choice of a standard three double cabins layout, or two; third double bunk berth berth cabin replaced by an L-shaped sofa. The 5400 Sport Yacht also offers interesting performance numbers from its Volvo 725hp engines and IPS pod propulsion reaching top speeds up to 34 knots.     

Technical Data:

LOA - 17.29 m (56.9ft)

Hull Length - 15.9 m

Beam - 4.88 m

Draft - 1.28 m

Displacement - 21,700 kg dry

Fuel Capacity - 3000 l

Water Capacity - 800 l

Accommodation - 6 guest berths in 3 cabins

Engines - 2 x Volvo D9 626hp, D11 725hp

Propulsion - Volvo forward looking IPS pod drives

Speed - 28 knots cruise, 34 knots max with Volvo 725hp

Range - 347 nm at 28 knots

Certification - ISO8666 data

www.riviera.com.au 

Project: Back Cove 32

Back Cove has become synonymous in building traditional cruisers for the affordable and easily maintained conscious yachtsmen. Practical elegance speaks to the simplicity and serviceability of Back Cove's systems and to the gracious lines of the down east cruisers.  The Back Cove 32 is the latest model to be launched in a range that spans more than seven hundred hulls in fourteen years. New to the Back Cove range for 2017. the 32 is an amalgam of design ideas coming from discussions with current and potential owners, about the ways in which they use their boats.  The Back Cove 32 offers the same concepts that have built the success of the range. Extraordinary fuel efficiency from her single diesel engine, straight forward systems and rugged traditional good looks.  While her on-deck spaces are perfect for entertaining family and friends, her cozy and luxurious interior with the island double berth forward perfectly suiting the needs of a cruising couple. The skilled boat builders at Back Cove have crafted a warm and inviting interior using American cherry, finely finished with satin varnish.  Power will come from a single Volvo 370hp unit with the always reliable line shaft propulsion.

www.backcoveyachts.com

New Model: Amer 94

Amer 94 in an interesting new pocket size super yacht from the North Liguria boat builder. Replacing the 92 as Amer entry level model, the 94 might seem the classic contemporary Italian motor yacht outside; a sweeping super structure followed by hull lines having a shear line straight as the horizon. But go skin deep, to be exact inside the engine room and the Amer breaks convention with it's triple Volvo 900hp IPS propulsion system.  It is in fact as at today the largest IPS propelled yacht build so far in Europe.  Like all Amer's the 94 breaks convention only in this regard, as designer Stefano Tini shows the semi custom variety the builder is known for offering five different layout options.  The main difference in the layouts concerns the lower deck, offering plans which come in three large suites, traditional four double cabins, or a three cabins plus a room for a gymnasium choice.          

Technical Data:

LOA - 28.65 m (93.9ft)

Hull Length - 23.9 m

Beam - 6.3 m

Draft - 1.95 m

Displacement - 64 tons medium load

Fuel Capacity - 7000 l

Water Capacity - 1800 l

Accommodation - 8 guests in 4 cabins, 4 crew berths in 2 cabins, or 6 guests in 3 cabins 5 crew

Engines - 3 x Volvo D13 900hp

Propulsion - Volvo IPS1200 forward looking dual propeller pod drives

Speed - 26 knots cruise, 30 knots max

Project - Stefano Tini interior

www.ameryachts.it

PowerYachtBlog Best of 2016 Nominated

Project: Beneteau 46 Gran Turismo

Its been an important change in design direction in the last year also for the Beneteau Gran Turismo range, which just as the more up market Montecarlo yacht range gets the treatment from Nuvolari Lenard.  The GT 46 incorporates the latest generation Beneteau-designed Air Step Two planing hull, and for the first time offers a choice of Volvo IPS pod drives or stern drive propulsion, with power options up to twin 400hp.  The GT 46 hard top has electrically-powered side glazing so that you can enjoy that “open” feeling. A fully opening glass door also maintains this impression and is available on option.  Available with a choice of two or three cabins, third twin bunk berth cabin taking place of the lower C-shape dinette. the GT 46 offers exceptional guest accommodation, hard to find on this size sport cruiser.

www.beneteau.com

New Model: Whitehaven 6000 Coupe

Whitehaven is a rather new marque coming from down under Australia, with an interesting line starting from sixty and going to a 95 feet project. The 6000 line has been well received, and Whitehaven and its designer Jason Kao has been also very clever to use the same platform to suit three different styles of boating needs.  The new 6000 Coupe of the three versions is that ideal for those looking for single level living, stylish appearance and superb performance. Whitehaven’s with this model also delivers an internal elegance with performance you would expect from a European marque.  There is a lot to like about Whitehaven but its astern galley by the patio door, and the large full beam staterooms are some of the favorite features.  But saying all the standing out detail for a planning sport yacht is the large 5500 liters fuel capacity, which with the standard 825hp MTU engines and best cruise can deliver an extended range of up to one thousand nautical miles. 

Technical Data:

LOA - 19.1 m (62.6ft)

Beam - 5.33 m

Draft - 1.47 m

Displacement - 29,500 kg dry

Fuel Capacity - 5500 l

Water Capacity - 800 l

Accommodation - 6 berths in 3 cabins

Engines - 2 x MTU S60 825hp, Cats C18 Acerts 1150hp

Propulsion - line shaft with Veem five blade propellers

Speed - 25 knots cruise, 27 knots max with 825hp engines

Range - 1000 nm at best cruise 

Project - Jason Kao

www.whitehavenmotoryachts.com.au