Grand Banks New Web Site

Grand Banks unveils a new World wide web virtual showroom site. Grand Banks started operating in 1956 as American Marine Limited founded by Robert J. Newton and sons John and Whit in Hong Kong. But the start was not about a trawler yacht, as its first jobs it built custom Sparkman and Stephens, William Gardner, Nat Herreshoff, and Ray Hunt designed sailing yachts.  American Marine entry into motor boating starts in 1961 as they start to produce the Chantyman, a 34 foot cruiser designed by Hugh Angleman and Charles Davies which will be build in twenty units till 1963.  In 1963 Grand Banks also build a luxurious one off 65 foot constructed of mahogany and teak to a design of Walter J McInnis for wealthy American, Philip L Van Every, who was Chief Executive of Lance Inc. and Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. In 1962 though comes the real change as the Newton's commission Kenneth Smith a 36 feet humble cruising boat with work-boat like looks, which will be named Spray. This 36 Classic was a turn around for the Newton's and with it a change from building custom sailing yachts to this traditional looking explorer cruiser.  Launched in 1964 this Kenneth Smith design will evolve into the Grand Banks 36 Classic and remain in production till 2004, and was followed in the same year by a smaller 32 Sedan, with this series taking the name of Heritage into the years and totalling 22 models in a production run which lasted till 2016 and included a one off 80 model launched in 1975. In 1973 Grand Banks starts switching all its models to fiberglass construction.  1993 marks an important move to Grand Banks launching the Eastbay series designed by previous collaborator Ray Hunt, and inspired to the Down East lobster boats.  The Eastbay started with the 38 EX and up till today it has totalled sixteen models, from the small 38 to the 60 which arrived in 2022.  In 2001 the Aleutian larger yacht series was introduced with the 64, and in fourteen years it featured seven different models from the 2010 two year produced 53 to the 76 RP produced from 2010 till 2012. In 2014 Grand Banks started a new path when it bought out Palm Beach motor yachts and CEO Mark Richards takes over the leadership of both companies.  After Mark Richards took over he changed the traditional GB explorer line, and reinvented it with V-warp hull shape, and redefined exterior looks, starting it with the GB60 launched in 2017.  Currently Grand Banks offers nine models in two range Eastbay and and the reinvented explorer GB line. The Grand Banks line starts with the Eastbay 44, and goes up to the Grand Banks 85.  Grand Banks new web site takes you around with the following buttons; Models, V Warp Technology,  Factory Direct Advantage, Service, Pre-Owned, Grand Banks Heritage, and Contact. Grand Banks is also on social media with buttons on the bottom of the page taking you to its; Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Linkedin pages.

www.grandbanks.com

Production History;

Chantyman 34'6 1961-63 (20)

36 Classic 1964-2004 (1200+)

32 Sedan 1964-79 (800+)

Alaskan 46 1966-73 (40)

50 1968-74 (63)

Laguna 10m 1970-80

48 MY 1972-77  fiberglass construction switch starts in 1973

Laguna 11.5m 1973-81

80 1975 (1)

42 CL 1975-2005  (1500+) 

42 EU 1979-2005

49 CL 1980-99 (125+)

49 MY 1986-99

46 CL 1987-2004

42 MY 1987-2005

36 Europa 1988

58 MY 1990-2002

46 MY 1990-2004

46 EU 1993-2004

Eastbay 38 EX/HX 1994-2004

Eastbay 40 Flybridge 1997

Eastbay 43 Flybridge 1998-2004

52 EU 1998-2008

Eastbay 49 HX 1999-2006

Eastbay 43 EX, HX, SX 2000-07

Eastbay 58 FB 2002-07

64 Aleutian RP 2002-07

Eastbay 54 SX 2004-07

Eastbay 47 FB 2005-10

72 Aleutian RP 2005-16 (20+)

47 EU 2005-11

Eastbay 39 SX 2006-12

59 Aleutian RP 2006-12

Eastbay 45 SX 2007-09 

Eastbay 55 SX, FB 2007-12 

47 CL 2007-14

65 Aleutian RP 2008-12

Eastbay 46 SX, FB 2009-12

41 EU 2009-12

76 Aleutian RP 2010-12

53 Aleutian RP 2010-12

43 EU 2012-15

55 Aleutian RP 2012-15

54 EU 2012-16

Eastbay 50 SX 2013-15

Eastbay 44 SX 2016-  Mark Richards ownership starts

60 2018-

57 EU 2020 (3)

54 2020- *GB52 project

85 2022- (3

Eastbay 60 2022-

62 2025-

m/y Spray the prototype of what will become the Grand Banks 36 Classic

New Launch: Feadship 91.80m Hull.1012

Feadship has launched its hull number 1012 titled m/y Drizzle.  Hull 1012 is the first Feadship to carry full Hybrid Electric Class notation, and was built for a repeat Feadship owner who previously owned the 67 meter 2012 build Hull.683, and before that the 2005 55 meter Hull.669, both of which were designed by De Voogt.  This repeat Feadship owner came to the custom project with informed requests based on his long experience of yachting. The exterior styling was designed with very specific owner’s input by Dutch design firm Sinot, who was also chosen to design the interior. At 91.80-metres in length, the crisply chamfered exterior contours combine with a more traditional flared bow to lend the yacht a modern-classic personality. Despite her considerable volume, the interior is designed to offer cosy spaces for family use, superbly crafted and meticulously detailed to create an understated family home.

Technical Data:

LOA - 91.80 m (301.2ft)

Beam - 14.50 m

Draft - 3.90 m

Displacement - 2965 gt*volume

Fuel Capacity - 

Accommodation - fourteen guests in seven suites, eighteen crew in nine cabins

Engines - 2 x MTU 16V4000 M65L 3433hp

Propulsion - Azipods

Speed - eighteen knots max, twelve knots cruise

Range - 5500 nautical miles at best cruise

Construction - steel hull aluminium super structure

Project - Sinot exterior and interior, De Voogt naval architecture

Certification - Bureau Veritas

www.feadship.nl

Classic Riviera Sinks in Queensland Australia

A classic fifteen meter unattended Riviera flybridge cruiser was filmed as she was partly sank in North Mackay, Queensland, Australia, on the morning of Friday fourteen February.  The classic cruiser is shown stern in the water as its bilge pumps alarms are ringing, and marina crew securing her with the pontoon dock to slow it from going totally under water and to make saving operations easier later on.  The cause of the sinking are not reported though a trough hull failure, coupled with the heavy rain the area experienced the previous days might have lead to it.  A salvage operation to float the flybridge cruiser is being organized.

The Riviera in this part sinking is a 48 Open Flybridge as produced from 1992 to 2004 in 169 units.  The Riviera 48 Open Flybridge was a replacement to the bit larger 52, becoming the down under flagship model, and was replaced by the first generation 51 Open Flybridge.

One Person Injured as Three Boats Go Ablaze in North Palm Beach

Three boats caught fire at Safe Marina Harbor, to the South of Parker Bridge, North Palm Beach, Florida at 23:10 of Thursday thirteen February.  The fire is reported to have started in a fourteen meter catamaran, which then jumped to a sixteen meter motor yacht, and then to a sailing boat of about twelve meters.  Palm Beach County Fire Rescue responded to the fire first, and were later assisted by North Palm Beach Fire Rescue and Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue, with the blaze extinguished at 03:00 early morning time.  Paramedics reported one man had injuries, but refused going to hospital.  Crews were cleaning the area all day on Friday, with an investigation of what caused the fire being carried by North Palm Beach Fire Rescue.

The motor yacht wreck in this fire is a Maritimo M54 Flybridge Motor Yacht as produced from 2016 to 2021.  This M54 was the latest version with the large hull glazing as in its last two years of production.  The Maritimo M54 was a replacement to the M53 Cruising Motor Yacht and was replaced by the M55.

Project: Majesty 100 Terrace

Gulf Craft headlining Majesty Yachts brand presents the project for the 100 Terrace, which is set to debut in a couple of weeks at the 2025 Dubai boat show.  The 100 Terrace is a replacement to the 100 model after eighteen deliveries and a production run of seven years since 2017, and presents itself with a modern looking design, with a sleek silhouette and bold presence.  The Majesty 100 Terrace combines effortless grace with cutting-edge technology, delivering a sleek, bold silhouette and 199 gross tonnage of volume.  The Majesty Yachts Terrace will offer a 20% increase in entertainment space, every deck is designed for social gatherings, while the interiors masterfully balance form and function for unparalleled comfort. Bathed in natural light through expansive glass skylights, the yacht’s wide, open spaces create a seamless indoor-outdoor connection, enhancing its airy, open feel.  The Majesty 100 Terrace boasts expansive entertainment and dining areas framed by floor-to-ceiling patio doors, creating a perfect space for social gatherings. A distinct feature of the Majesty 100 Terrace is the owner’s stateroom which will feature a private terrace and stunning 270-degree views. The upper deck features a luxurious sky lounge and wheelhouse, while the lower deck houses spacious, ensuite-equipped cabins.  For added indulgence, the sundeck includes a skylights, jacuzzi sunbeds and dining spaces, catering to those who crave an extra touch of luxury.  The Majesty 100 Terrace is to be powered by twin MTU 2600hp.

www.majesty-yachts.com

Dubai 2025 Boat Show Preview

The 2025 Dubai boat show is scheduled from the nineteen to 23 February. The 2025 edition of the Dubai boat show will feature over one thousand brands, and two hundred plus of boats at the show, with some of the most exciting brands, products and world-premiers all split in six different areas; Super Yacht Avenue, Equipment and Supplies, Watersports, Marina Displays, Dive Mena and Dive Pool, and Supercar Avenue. The 2025 Dubai boat show will feature superyachts, small fishing boats, latest dive equipment, and all possible marine equipment.  World debuts will come from Gulf Craft's Majesty 100 Terrace and a mystery debut of about twenty meters, and the Sunreef Ultima 55.

www.boatshowdubai.com

The Dubai boat show was started in 1992 as a modest event focused on the local United Arab Emirates maritime industry. With Dubai becoming the cosmopolitan city of the Middle East, the boat show eventually grew in size and popularity, with this growth further fueled with the growing of yachting in the gulf area, in the early noughties, a popularity which reached full circle by the end of the first decade of the new millennium.  Today the Dubai boat show gets over thirty thousand visitors in a five day event, reaching both these numbers in its last 2022 and 2023 editions.  The Dubai boat show was cancelled for both the 2020 and 2021 Covid-19 pandemic years.

New Model: Windy 29 Huracan

Windy present the new 29 Huracan, a sport cruiser sport boat classic in layout but modern in design looks. The 29 Huracan continues Windy collaboration with Espen Øino for exterior lines and follows an interior as designed by Design Unlimited, following the work on the 40 Camira. The Windy 29 Huracán is a modern looking sport cruiser combining a spacious, safe, and social cockpit with a fantastic design language creating a unique appearance that radiates both luxury and sportiness. The 29 Huracan features a traditional cockpit layout with aft sun-pad, L-shaped settee dinette, and helm station to starboard with companionway settee the other side to port. Lower deck accommodation is the traditional forward V-shaped, with a galley on entry and shower head opposite. This versatile new model can be powered with either Volvo Penta or Yanmar inboard engines.  The Windy 29 Huracan is standard powered by a single Volvo 440hp, with optional power coming for a Yanmar 370hp and or petrol gas Volvo 430hp. 

Technical Data:

LOA - 8.91 m (29.2ft)

Beam - 2.70 m

Draft - 1 m with drive, 0.55 m with drive up

Displacement - 3.45 t unloaded

Fuel Capacity - 400 l

Water Capacity - 115 l

Max Persons - eight

Accommodation - two berths

Engines - single Volvo V8 430hp *petrol gas, D6 440hp, Yanmar 8LV-Z 370hp

Propulsion - duo prop stern drive Volvo DPI for D6 440hp, Yanmar ZT370

Speed - 43 knots max with Volvo 440hp

Construction - resin infused fiberglass

Project - Espen Oino exterior and naval architect, Design Unlimited interior

Certification - CE B

www.windy.no

Project: WiderCat 76

Wider was founded on the principle of innovation in technology design, and the WiderCat 76 project embraces this philosophy to deliver the allure of a superyacht with the agility of a smaller yacht. Under construction at the Wider Vision Hub, the new shipyard in Fano, the WiderCat 76 has been shaped by Luca Dini with the precious collaboration of the Wider Centro Stile for the interiors, together with the the expertise of the Wider Engineering Department.  WiderCat 76 striking lines include features not only designed to make a style statement but also to deliver practical benefits, such as bulwark and superstructure angles that maximise light for the interior and promote the seascape view from inside; or the layout that offers beachside chic living with huge saloon, generous lower galley, spacious main deck master with direct access to the forward cockpit and terrace, and acres of deck space to embrace the best of outdoor living on the water.  The new WiderCat 76 is bringing a redefined interior concept, highlighting once again the versatility of the shipyard.  The large master suite – which boasts a queen bed, corner sofa, and ensuite that features a shower with panoramic views – is joined by a VIP and two double guest ensuite cabins on the lower deck, ensuring a high level of comfort and privacy. Outside, the WiderCat 76 offers a huge upper deck with closed helm station, dining area protected by a hardtop, two sofa zones, and a forward conversation nook with sofa and freestanding seating. Aft on the main deck there’s an expansive cockpit with sofas and alfresco dining table, foldable swim platform, and forward there’s a second cockpit with twin C-shaped sofas and coffee table. The WiderCat 76 is to be powered by twin 620hp FPT engines, and will also feature a 116 kwh battery bank to supply its domestic load and make it generator free as possible.  The first unit of the WiderCat 76 is currently in build with a target launch date for later on this date.

www.wider-yachts.com

New Launch: Jarrett Bay 68 Sportfisherman Hull #64

Jarrett Bay has launched hull 64, a new 68 Sportfisherman which comes from a repeat client, who commissioned the innovative 56 Open Convertible Hull#67 which launched in 2022.  Unlike its smaller sister, this new Jarrett Bay 68 Sportfisherman Hull#64 also titled m/y Renegade is a conventional custom sportfish yacht, which gets sophisticated when looking skin deep and into its technical details.   Jarrett Bay 68 Sportfisherman Hull#64 features a four double cabin three heads layout, with a master stateroom to starboard side midship, forward VIP suite, and two bunk cabins which share a head to port side.  The main cabin deck is all for living space, with a welcome L-shaped saloon and C-shaped dinette to port side, and L-shaped galley, with island breakfast area to starboard.  Defying convention?  You have to go into the engine room, as hull #64 is powered by twin Cats 2450hp engines, but also its massive twin 25kw generators and three Seakeeper gyro stabilizers are something you might find in sportfish yachts of at least four meters more in length.

Technical Data:

LOA - 20.98 m (68.9ft)

Beam - 6.14 m

Draft - 1.72 m

Displacement - 36287 kg dry, 50802 kg loaded

Fuel Capacity - 8517 l

Water Capacity - 1135 l

Accommodation - eight guests in four cabins

Engines - 2 x Cats C32B 2400hp

Propulsion - direct line shaft

Speed - 44 knots max, forty knots cruise

Construction - cold moulding with jig method, okoume plywood, fiberglass and epoxy resins

www.jarrettbay.com

Project: Cayman 380 WA

Cayman announce the project for a new 380 WA model.  The Cayman 380 WA comes from a design of Studio Satura, with the Rome firm taking the first job for the Tuscania located Italian yacht builder.  Since 2018 and the launching of the F920 flagship Cayman yachts have been designed by Ferragni.  The 380 WA is to be the new entry level of all Cayman Yachts range, and while she may seem only two foot shorter to the 400 WA, she also comes with a hull length just under ten meters, to come under Italian Natante small boat registration.  The Cayman 380 WA is to be presented at the Naples Nauticsud boat show to be held from eight to sixteen February, who is having a revival of sorts, what was some time ago, Italy's second largest boat show.  Although for Cayman, it is not the first time they debut a model at the show, as they did launch the S600 at Naples in 2023.

www.caymanyachts.it