Project: Austin Parker 36

As it always happens legal aspects can make a builder to present new products which where not in the immediate planning, and this is the case with the Austin Parker 36, which is made to suit small ship dimension and the currently enforced new tax laws for boats over ten meters.  Designed as all the range by Fulvio De Simino the Austin Parker 36 continues this Italian builder looks of down East lobster cruiser with a modern influence going into its exterior department.  Accommodation wise the new entry level Austin Parker 36 offers a very spacious aft deck with three dinettes, and an interior with a Vee shaped berth, L-shaped sofa, galley and separate shower head.  Power comes from Volvo twin 260hp with IPS pods, again a novelty for Austin Parker who in its other models has always stayed with the tradition of line shafts.  Estimated performance is 34 knots max, and a 30 cruise.

www.austinparker.com

New Model: Formula 350 FX6

Formula continues its presentation of the FX range, which is a more up market dressed other model from this renowned US performance boat builder.  The 350 FX6 in fact is a sleeker more aggressive looking Sun Sport model of the same digits.  So what you get with the FX series is a nicer paint work able to turn eyes everywhere, and more racing add on features from the throttles to the gauges to keep you on check on the helm.  FX models and the 6 in particular are also presented with the top tier engines from waht the listing of a 350 Sun Sport offers, matching up the aggressive looks.  The 350 FX6 also offers more luxurious inside, with was usually an extra coming standard in the sleeping four, plus galley, and shower head interior.  Power is from twin Mercruiser 430hp with stern drive propulsion.

Technical Data:

LOA - 10.67 m (35ft)

Beam - 3.28 m

Draft - 0.99 m

Displacement - 6109 kg

Fuel Capacity - 651 l

Water Capacity - 113 l

Accommodation - 2 + 2 berths

Engines - 2 x Mercruiser 8.2 Mag High Output ECT 430hp

Propulsion - Bravo Three X DTS stern drive with dual propeller 

Hull Type - deep Vee with 21 degrees dead rise aft

Certification - NMMA

www.formulaboats.com

Project: Grand Banks 50 Eastbay FB

As with all the Eastbay series from the 46 model upwards, Grand Banks also shows a new FB flybridge version for the upcoming 50.  The 50 Eastbay FB will have a comfortable flybridge, with a stainless steel stairway leading from the aft deck to up top.  The flybridge layout will have a center helm, with a companion seat to starboard, L-shaped settee aft, and a forward looking passenger seat to starboard.   Since our last presentation Grand Banks has also show more choices for inside with a total of ten plans to choose; from two or three cabins, forward or owners midships stateroom, and galley up or down layout.  Pod drives will power the 50 Eastbay FB, coupled to the highly appreciated Hunt hull design.

www.grandbanks.com

New Model: Broom 35 Coupe

Is always nice to see a yard taking good steps into the future, and Broom with its new course is certainly one of them.  The British builder has already launched two new models since its ownership change in 2010, and now presents the much awaited 35 Coupe.  This new Broom is a bit step away from the usual  British aft cabin motor cruiser this builder has offered in recent years if not decades.  But do not be mistaken the 35 Coupe remains a pure British cruiser thanks to its versatility of fully opening patio door, hard top, and very nice lines which makes it easy to feel cozy and warm inside in seconds. Interior wise the 35 Coupe works a very practical layout with a saloon and dining on the main deck, and a cabin or two depending on what you choose below.  Power for the 35 Coupe starts from a single 60hp a choice for those who like inland waterways cruising up to a 360hp for open seas option.   

Technical Data:

LOA - 10.7 m (35.1ft)

Beam - 3.76 m

Draft - 0.94 m

Displacement - 8 tons approx

Fuel Capacity - 500 l
Water Capacity - 375 l 

Accommodation - 2 + 2, or 4 + 2 

Engines - 1 x Nanni, H4 170hp, T4 200hp

Propulsion - line shaft

Certification - CE

www.broomboats.com

Project: Codecasa 50S C120

Codecasa is currently building its first 50 meters open super sport yacht: the newest 50s, hull C120. Similarly to the previous Codecasa 45S, Framura 2 which owners commissioned the 50S, this new model set to be delivered in 2013 will be able to offer excellent performances in matters of speed, thanks to her two KA.ME.WA. water jets and central booster which will make her be able to reach an approx 28 knots of top speed at light displacement.  Cruise speed is 18 knots and which a range of 1000 nautical  miles is possible.  Similar for the 45S, Codecasa 50S will be provided of a Ship Dynamics from Australia anchor stabilizing gyroscopic system, which will increase the comfort on board. Andre Bacigalupo is the naval architect who designed the bottom and the external lines. The interiors is made by designers and architects Anna Maria and Franco Della Role who worked strictly in collaboration with the Owner’s personal architect, and presented six guest suites, and five crew cabins.

www.codecasayachts.com 

Project: Aqualum 40 HT

Again a design of Fabian Conte, the Aqualum 40 HT is the coupe sport cruiser version of the recently launched 38 of this South American boat builder.  As other builders Aqualum makes a sport version by using most of the hull and deck of the 38, but featuring a slightly different super structure missing the flybridge.  The Aqualum 40 HT will feature a living on the main deck with cabins below.  Large window with similar or identical shape of the 38 surround the main deck, plus the extension of extra glass surfaces on the hard top.  The aft deck will feature a C-shaped settee which can transform to a sunbed by lowering the central table.  Power choice for the Aqualum 40 HT has not yet been announced but I would imagine a similar choice as the 38, with engines starting from twin Volvo 300 up to 435hp.

www.aqualumyachts.com 

Marco Pezzini 1933 - 2012

The yachting world of Viareggio say its last farewell to one of its greats, Marco Pezzini one of the founding fathers of Versilcraft. Marco Pazzini passed away on the night of 2 May after a long illness, at 79 years.  Marco was a great pioneer in the World yachting capital of Viareggio: one of the founding members of the shipyard Versilcraft, created in 1964, and to which he devoted his entire life until the health allowed him. Pezzini had the strength to face in the course of his career, also a dramatic fire in 1990 devastating the establishment building site of the famous yacht builder. Marco Pezzini was a stubborn man, able to work until the last, even when the health forces was abandoning him. Pezzini leaves his wife Silvia and his son Andrea.

New Model: Estensi 360 Goldstar Sport

Estensi launched the much awaited 360 Goldstar Sport just of couple weeks ago.  Designed by Zuccheri the new 360 is the entry level Traditional Cruiser of this five model range from Estensi which goes up to 54 feet.  The Estensi 360 Goldstar S, looks as much as her bigger sisters from the design to the practicality of its accommodation plan.  Estensi with the 360 Goldstar Sport follows a function of cabins and galley below, and a relaxing saloon up top.  Engine choices are twin FPT from standard 280hp to optional 370hp.  The bigger engine choice gives a max speed of 33 knots, five more to the standard engine.  Interesting is a very low planning speed of only 10 knots, which Estensi says keep also a low bow attitude making helming also easy.   

Technical Data:

LOA - 11.65 m (38ft)

Hull Length - 11.35 m

Waterline Length - 9.7 m

Beam - 3.90 m

Draft - 1.20 m

Displacement - 8 t unloaded, 10,3 t loaded

Fuel Capacity - 900 l

Water Capacity - 400 l

Accommodation - 4 + 2 berths

Max Persons - 10 with CE A

Engines - 2 x FPT N67 MNT M28 280hp, N60 EMT M27 370hp

Propulsion - line shafts with ZF transmissions

Speed - 27 knots max, 23 cruise with 280hp, 33 knots max with 370hp

Project - Zuccheri Yacht Design

Certification - CE A 10, B 12, C 14

www.cantieriestensi.it 

Project: Maritimo M58 Motoryacht

Maritimo shows off the project of new M58 Motoryacht, second in size of this range behind the M73 flagship, and third in the whole Aussie builder fleet.  The Motoryacht range from Maritimo and its boss Bill-Barry Cotter is a cross over design with sport fishing looks, and a yachts practicality.  You can see the sloop stern or walk around side decks, and the settee in the aft deck to notice that the M58 Motoryacht is indeed a yacht more then anything else.  The Maritimo will be an enclosed bridge version only with a single very comfortable helm up top.  Accommodation will offer three cabins with an owners room to midships, VIP suite to fore, and a third guest cabin in between.  Other appreciated features for the M58 Motoryacht will be the much an astern galley, and an internal staircase for the third deck enclosed bridge.  Standard power will come from twin 800hp Volvo, which should give a cruise of about 25 knots.

www.maritimo.com.au

Gin Palace

Seems every previous generation likes to call most of the recent more modern looking yachts as Gin Palaces.  It is a term which usually means that the boat is just a luxurious harbour house, good to stay in the marina, and rarely leave the docks unless the sea is flat calm.  But are recent models so much Gin Palaces.

Surely no!

Recent models have evolved more the concept of design and functionality, and many modern yachts although looking bulkier offer more of this then ever.  Try to move from aft to the side decks, or going up a flybridge and you see how easier it is with the latest models, even in high seas. On the other part try to do this previous to late nineties sub fifty feet yachts, and one will see that clever steps integrated in design, safety railing, and bulwarks are less user friendly. 

Intelligent space use has always been important, and sometimes even if you look at a boat from the seventies you find very clever solutions.

So where does the extra space in modern boats come from?  Surely engines have become smaller, and so generators, and boats have become wider, higher, and fuller with less flared bow nowadays.  To give an example a Volvo 500hp is for example half the size of a GM of the same power coming from the eighties or nineties, and weighing more or less fifty per cent the weight.

Sure some of this will make performance issues but to call yachts with these changes Gin Palaces is a bit out of place.  Hulls have also evolved, and in order to accommodate the extra beam the deep Vee is replaced by a modified shape with a sharp entry and medium deadrise aft.  The deep Vee of plus twenty degrees deadrise is still unbeatable in rough water but at a minus thirty knots cruise, this more modern hull medium shape which pays a price for its wide beam is usually more comfortable and drinks less fuel too.

Some builders those following a bit more tradition will be more keen to call the latest designs Gin Palaces, or Harbour Houses, but if you are not convinced a sea trial in a bit of moderate chop can always give some real answers.