One Dead Ten Injured as Sportfish Collides Into Los Alamitos Bay Jetty

One 59 year old man died and ten persons were injured as a fourteen meters in length Cabo sportfish cruiser collided with the Los Alamitos Bay Jetty off Long Beach, Southern California on the 21:20 of Wednesday third July.  Long Beach Fire Department responded to the collision, which left one man dead in the spot, and ten injured, four of which had serious injuries.  The sportfish partly sank after the collision, with a recovery being planned on Friday.  An investigation is ongoing on what caused the incident with speed being reported as the main part of the cause of the collision and sinking with the sportfish reported to be travelling at over thirty knots.

The sportfish cruiser in this collision is a Cabo 48 Flybridge as produced from 2004 up till 2008 to a design of Michael Peters.  The Cabo 48 was born as the 47 Flybridge in 2000 and was based on the 45 Express platform.  The 48 Flybridge was replaced by the Cabo 52 Flybridge in 2009.

Boat Destroyed By Fire in Shawano Lake

A seven meter cuddy sport cruiser went ablaze in Shawano Lake, Shawano County, Wisconsin, with the fire reported to start on 15:50 of third July.  The cuddy cabin sport cruiser was reportedly sitting on a sand bar when the fire started, with the boat then drifting in the lake.  One person was onboard, but no injuries are reported from the fire as the sole boater jumped off board.  The Shawano Counties and Wisconsin Authorities opening an investigation on the case.

The boat in this fire is a Crownline 236 SC as produced in the noughties.

New Model: Solaris Power 60 Open

Solaris Power continue to upgrade it's walk-around range debuting its largest model to date with the just launched 60 Open.  The Solaris Power 60 Open is again a design of Brunello Acampora, the naval architect who has designed all the Solaris Power models to date in both hull architecture and exterior lines.  In the 60 Open we also have interiors by Roseo, who presented three different lower deck layouts offering three or two cabins.  The standard three double cabins layout called C cabin version offers a forward master stateroom with two guest cabins at midships and an L-shaped relaxing sofa.  The other two options for the 60 Open move the master stateroom to midships, with version A offering a VIP suite forward, and an en-suited third cabin with two inline berths located to port side.  In version B the third cabin is replaced by an L-shaped relaxing sofa.  A single berth crew cabin is available as an option located in between the engine room and cabin area.  Exterior wise the Solaris Power 60 Open uses all the available space with the fulcrum area being at the middle in behind the pilot station, with two wet-bars and L-shaped dinettes making for a very large lounging dinning area which can be further expanded by the side drop down bulk-heads, and also served by two sun-pads to fore and aft.  The 60 Open is powered by standard twin Volvo 600hp Volvo engines with IPS pods propulsion which give a top speed up to thirty knots, with optional of 725hp and or 1000hp taking speeds up to 39 knots. 

Technical Data:

LOA - 18.29 m (60ft)

Waterline Length - 16.23 m

Beam - 5.35 m

Draft - 0.85 m ex drives

Displacement - 23000 kg unloaded, 26500 kg loaded

Fuel Capacity - 3000 l

Water Capacity - 600 l

Max Persons - twelve

Accommodation - six berths in three cabins, or 4 berths in 2 crew cabins, 1 crew cabin berth

Engines - 2 x Volvo D8 600hp, D11 725hp, D13 1000hp

Propulsion - Volvo forward looking dual propeller IPS pod drives

Speed - 30 knots max 25 cruise 600hp, 34 max 28 cruise 725hp, 39 max 30 cruise 1000hp

Project -  Brunello Acampora Victory Design exterior and naval architect, Roseo interior, Solaris Power Design Team

www.solarispower.com

Project: Absolute Navetta 53

Absolute present the project for an upcoming Navetta 53 model.  The Navetta 53 is to be a replacement for the long eight years produced Navetta 52 which debuted in 2016 and was the second Navetta range model of more livable type of yachts as offered by Absolute.  As the saying says though, you do not change a winning product, you evolve it into the future, and so this new Navetta 53 is based on many technicalities on the 52, all hull dimensions and layout is mostly the same, as is the twin Volvo 480hp power units coupled to twin IPS pod drives.  So what is changed?  The most important changes in the Navetta 53 come in two areas the stern and the glazing serving the main deck.  The stern of the Navetta 53, just like the bigger Navetta 75 and 70 sisters will feature the glass aft parapet for uninterrupted view which coupled with the modular furnishing give a new meaning to the aft deck.  The second is the glazing for the living main deck, now featuring floor to ceiling windows which with the lowered bulwark offer uninterrupted views from outside to inside.   

www.absoluteyachts.com

Another Lurssen Facility Fire

A massive fire broke out at the Lurssen Rensburg facility in Schacht-Audorf on the Kiel Canal, Germany starting at 09:00 morning of Tuesday second July.  Over one hundred personnel where evacuated from the facility when the fire started, with one being hospitalized for smoke inhalation and 24 treated on site.  A nearby resident area with about thirty people was also ordered to evacuate.  300 firefighters, two evacuation helicopters, and multiple ambulances were dispatched to the area, with fireboats also involved in the fire fighting for what took about twenty hours to fully extinguish. Firefighters reported that they could not enter the hall due to severe temperatures of over 500 degrees Celsius in it, so they had to fight the fire from the outside, with the hall ultimately having its roof and part of its external walls collapse.

This is Lurssen third yard fire since 2018, with the most recent one coming in June of last year at the Lemwerder premises, while in December of 2023 the German shipyard also suffered a yacht falling which then damaged a shed door and injured one person in Bremen.

The unconfirmed damaged super yacht seems to be Lurssen Project Honolulu a 74 meter which was due for delivery in a couple of weeks.  Founded in 1875 Lurssen is a specialist in the larger sized super yachts above one hundred meters, currently reported to have seven vessels under construction, including of which is 142 meter Project Ali Baba.

Sport Cruiser Catches Fire in Cancun

An unattended nine meter sport cruiser went ablaze in Cancun Hotel Zone water near Calinda Bridge on 14:00 hours of Monday first July.   Rescue teams, including firefighters and marine personnel, responded along with several passing boats to the fire, with Tourist Police and National Guard also arriving at the scene.  An investigation on the cause of the fire is underway by the Civil Protection, with an electrical issue being pointed as the most possible cause of the fire.

The boat in this fire is a Chaparral 300 Signature as produced from 1998 to 2003.  The 300 Signature came out as a replacement to the 30/31 Signature and was replaced by the 310 Signature.  

New Model: Sunseeker Predator 55

Sunseeker has just launched the Predator 55, a replacement to the Predator 55 Evo and new entry level to the sport yacht hard-top range.  The Predator's have featured in the Poole boat builders range since 1993, when the first 63 debuted in Sunseeker's range since then. This new Predator 55 stands out due to its distinctive curved silhouette and sloping hardtop design, distinguishing it from similar sized and styled yachts. Powered by Volvo 725hp with IPS pod drives, this Predator 55 can achieve speeds of up to 36 knots. Notable features include retractable glazing and a carbon fiber sunroof that exposes the sky above. The yacht boasts an integrated tender garage for a jet rib up to 3.2 meters, a hydraulic bathing platform, and an aft sun-pad. With newly styled exterior seating, the Predator 55 offers an expansive aft cockpit. The aft retractable doors seamlessly connect the galley side units with the cockpit wet bar, creating a harmonious indoor-outdoor layout. There is an upholstered sofa, L-shaped seating, and a formal dining area with an expandable table for enhanced comfort. The foredeck features comfortable seating, a sun-pad with integrated storage, and a carbon fiber sail canopy for sun protection. A gyro option reduces rolling at anchor, ensuring maximum comfort. The customizable interior layout allows for flexibility, such as relocating the main deck galley to the lower deck to accommodate additional seating and a rise-and-fall TV. The lower deck space can also be transformed into a twin cabin with an en suite, accommodating up to six guests. The Predator 55 introduces a brand-new interior fabric and finishes collection, developed in collaboration with Design Unlimited, offering a versatile color scheme and materials palette tailored to each owner's preferences.  The Predator 55 is second of three models based on the Superhawk 55 hull which debuted in 2023, although completely re-engineered in the use of spaces, and is to be followed by the similar spec'd but sport bridge up top Sport Yacht 55, which probably will arrive in early 2025.  

Technical Data:

LOA - 17.13 m (56.3ft)

Beam - 4.93 m

Draft - 1.83 m

Displacement - 27,975 kg loaded

Fuel Capacity - 1800 l

Water Capacity - 430 l

Accommodation - four berths in two cabins, or six berths in three cabins

Engines - 2 x Volvo D11 725hp

Propulsion - Volvo forward looking IPS950 dual propeller pod drives

Speed - 36 knots max

Project - Sunseeker exterior, Design Unlimited interior

Certification - CE A

www.sunseeker.com

Viking Sportfish Destroyed by Fire in St. Andrews Bay

The US Coast Guard responded to a fifteen meter Viking sportfish yacht which starting burning at 16:30 hours of thirty June, in St. Andrews Bay near Panama City Florida.  No injuries or deaths came from the fire, with the sportfish reported to be unattended when the blaze started.  The US Coast Guard is also asking for more information as no identification could be found on the sportfish yacht.

The sportfish yacht in this fire is a Viking 50 Convertible, as produced from 1991 to 2001 in about 120 units.  The 50 Convertible came out as a replacement to the 48 Convertible Sportfisher and was replaced by the 52 Convertible.

Strong Winds in Traverse City Partly Sinks Formula Powerboat

Sudden strong winds in Traverse City, Michigan on the afternoon of Sunday thirtieth June partly sank a Formula power boat of eleven meters in length, while a Sea Ray sport cruiser of eight meters also ended beached.  According to locals the North wind came in following a sudden strong storm in the late morning afternoon of Sunday, with the Formula finishing beached and then swamped by the big waves into its stern which build up during the sudden storm.  The Sea Ray sport cruiser is reported to have broken its swing mooring when at Clinch Bay.

The Formula in this part sinking looks is a F-419 SR-1 as produced in the nineties, while the Sea Ray looks to be the top selling Sea Ray 268 Sundancer as produced in the eighties.

British Renaissance

If you mention British pleasure boat and yacht builders the trio of Sunseeker, Princess, and Fairline would come to most people's mind.  But recently two other semi-production boat builders seem to be making in-roads, and these are Cockwells and its Duchy and Hardy brands, and Dale.  Interestingly both these offer something different from what the usual British triplet brings, conservative in looks, with innovation coming more on the technical side.

Founded in 1995 Cockwells should be getting a lot of attention for both its Duchy and Hardy names.  Duchy offers an interesting line of traditional down East inspired models from six to eighteen meters, with both the larger 45 and 60 models being projects.  Of interesting note was the ten meter Duchy Sport an interesting mix of modern sport cruiser and traditional lines which debuted in 2023.  Hardy was purchased by Cockwells in 2020, and in 2023 we are seeing the fruits of this acquisition as the new ownership debuted its first 50DS model. 

Dale on the other hand has been a slow grower, founded in 1961, the company made a good step in the nineties as it started a collaboration with TT Boat Designs, the firm which designs the famous Nelson type hull as used in a lot of small and medium sized pilot and patrol boats. The fruits of this collaboration started with the Dale Classic 45 in 2004, and since then Dale has been pushing forward, and in the last years its latest down East inspired products are innovative.  Look at the recently launched Classic 35 and Classic 37 as example.   

Are these three brands made to replace the usual British trio.  Definitely not, but they do offer something very British in looks and use, which the boats from the trio today and in the recent decades do not, and most importantly are firms managed by the passionate people who founded them.