New Model: Sunseeker 80 Predator

It was more or less nineteen years ago that Sunseeker presented its first eighty footer the 80 Predator, considering how big its super yacht portfolio has become and the size increase of the British Poole based brand has increased, at the moment a new flagship 155 Yacht is in build that was an important move back then.  This new 80 Predator follows the name of that first Sunseeker super yacht with two generations of design difference and a confidence that today marks it as among the top semi producers in the eighty plus foot segment.  This new 80 Predator follows Sunseeker latest design stints of huge glass surfaces both above and below in the cabins area.  Her accommodation plan is a spacious traditional layout with a full beam midships owners stateroom, VIP suite to fore, and two guest cabins in between.  A galley is located below to port side in a separate conceived area, while a crew cabin with two berths is located to aft.  The living is all located on the main deck with a large lounging saloon to starboard, and a dining to port.  Power options are a varied choice from MTU which starts at 1550 and ends up to 2640hp with the large engine available only with Arneson surface drives set up.   

Technical Data:

LOA - 24,9 m (81.8ft)

Beam - 6.09 m

Draft - 1.86 m inc props

Displacement - 56,000 kg half load

Fuel Capacity - 6000 l

Water Capacity - 1200l

Accommodation - 8 guest berths in 4 cabins, 2 crew berths in 1 cabin

Engines - 2 x MTU 12V 1550hp, 12V2000 M94 1950hp, 16V 2000 M94 2640hp only with surface drives

Propulsion - line shaft with props in semi tunnels, or Arneson surface drives

Speed - 46 knots max, 30 knots cruise with MTU 2640hp and Arneson surface drives option

Construction - hand laid GRP with Vinilester skin coat and powder pound mat

Certification - CE B, MCA - 24 m

www.sunseeker.com 

New Model: Carver C34

A much awaited new Carver in my books, and also an interesting offer for customers looking in the ten meter flybridge motor cruiser segment, this is the C34.  One of the most interesting themes of this new Carver C34 is for sure the very European looks which also shows how this kind of style has become a World affair in recent years for flybridge cruisers and yachts.  Accommodation wise the Carver C34 offers an interesting plan with two cabins sleeping four; owners cabin to forward, and a twin berth guest cabin to starboard side at midships.  Extra two berths which bring the total to six are found in the convertible dinette which becomes an extra double bed.  The galley is located at the main deck and is in L-shaped form with the lower helm choice, or a bit larger in C-shape if one does not want the interior pilot station.  Other interesting spacious themes are the flybridge with a small sunpad to aft, and a well spaced C-shaped settee to port side opposite of the upper helm station.  Engines are a standard twin Mercruiser 300hp petrol gas, and a diesel option from Volvo with the same output.  Unlike most recent new offers the C34 goes to the tried and tested line shafts propulsion with a V-drive system which while adds a bit more to consumption can find the favour of experienced buyers due to known reliable this system brings.   

Technical Data:

LOA - 10.82 m (35.6ft)

Beam - 3.96 m

Draft - 1.07 m

Displacement - 7484 kg dry

Fuel Capacity - 946 l

Water Capacity - 340 l

Accommodation - 4 + 2 berths

Engines - 2 x Mercruiser 5.7 l 300hp gas petrol, Volvo D4 300hp Diesel

Propulsion - V-drive line shaft

Construction - hand laid core build with infused epoxy resins

www.carveryachts.com

Project: Absolute 64 Fly

Absolute present the project of the 64 Fly, an interesting follow up to its new 72 flagship presented past Summer 2012.  In this latest project the North Italian builder follows a lot of the themes it has shown in recent years from modern lines with large window surfaces especially noted on the main deck, and IPS pod drives for the propulsion.  Worth to note that IPS are currently used on all Absolute to a total of sixteen models.  Apart being among the first users of Volvo's IPS pods Absolute did distinct itself to a huge following for the drives. The Absolute 64 Fly will feature a four double cabin lower deck; some notes here are the full beam owners stateroom to midships, and a bunk berths fourth cabin.  A crew cabin is located aft.  The main deck of the Absolute 64 Fly will feature a single level flush deck minus for the pilot station area which is raised by one step. So far the galley seems to be located centrally and not astern as the new well praised 55 model.  Power is twin Volvo 800 or optional 900hp units, and as stated both choices come only with the IPS pod propulsion. 

www.absoluteyachts.com 

New Model: Beneteau 49 Gran Turismo

Beneteau finally shows some real photos of the new 49 Gran Turismo a model which is a further development of the previous 47 Monte Carlo launched in 2009.  The main difference here between the two models is a new larger bathing platform with hydraulic up down movement creating a space for an extra small PWC, and new view windows for the forward VIP cabin.  For the rest the 49 Gran Turismo follows the appreciated themes of the model it replaces from a two or three double cabins lower deck choice, enclosed hard top with patio door, and a spacious galley located below in between the cabins.  Power is twin Volvo 435hp with IPS pod drives propulsion.

Technical Data:

LOA - 15.6 m (51.2ft)

Hull Length - 14.0 m

Beam - 4.30 m

Draft - 1.09 m including props

Displacement - 12,500 kg light

Fuel Capacity - 2 x 650 l

Water Capacity - 2 x 320 l

Accommodation - 4 berths in 2 cabins, 6 berths in 3 cabins

Engines - 2 x Volvo D6 435hp

Propulsion - Volvo IPS600 forward looking dual propeller pods

Project - Andreani Design, Beneteau Power Boats

Certification - CE B14, C16

www.beneteau.com

Project: Benetti Class 108 Tradition Supreme

The shape of things to come at Benetti as the builder showcases its upcoming model in its semi custom Class range the 108 Tradition Supreme.  This model is a further development of the 105 and previously 30M Tradition model.  Three decks characterize the second smallest Benetti a feature actually of all the models of the range even the entry level 93 Delfino. The 108 compared to the previous models it replaces has been interestingly reworked to offer guests a special view to the outside to the sea with swiveling balconies and large terrace windows clearly available on the main deck.  Here the most prominent new feature being the opening patio door in the saloon to starboard.  In all this Stefano Righini still manages to create that classic touch to the 108 Tradition Supreme.  Sleeping accommodation is a five double cabin layout with two central VIP suites at midships, and an owners stateroom on the main deck.  Three double crew cabins are located to fore.  Power is twin MAN engines with top speeds estimates at 13 knots.     

www.benettiyachts.it

Improve-it = Galeon 550 Fly

For those following Galeon it will come to no surprise that the renowned Polish builder presents a new wood trim option for its models, this time it is the turn for one of the 2012 novelties the 550 Fly.  Galeon this time around presents an ultra modern Wenge wood interior for the 550 Fly which was added with light colored leather mixed and brown bamboo inserts.  This option makes an interesting diversity to the dark walnut finish as shown in hull number one. Standing in the middle of its fleet which starts at 29 and ends with a 78 flagship the Tony Castro designed 550 Fly has seen itself as one of the most sought third generation Galeon for some important reasons.  First of all is the three double cabins lower deck with full beam owner room, second is the very nice main deck with its astern galley featuring a serious dining area to fore, and last is the full opening patio door which joins exterior with interior.  Power options for the Galeon 550 Fly start from Volvo 600 up to 900hp engines, with the smallest choice available only with IPS pod drives and the rest with shafts.

www.galeon.pl  

Project: Gulf 75 Exp

During the recently ended Dubai boat show Gulf Craft showcased the project of a new 75 Exp model.  The second in this new range which was presented last year with the 95.  The Exp range is a hybrid looking modern classic with some hints of US styling going into the overall looks.  This style looks more emphasized in the 75, then in the 95.   Some interesting features of the 75 seems to be the integrated hard top on the flybridge, the free fore deck, and an integrated staircase to the fly located exterior starboard side to midships.  Not much details is given on the interior but usually this size gives a four or three double cabins choices.  What we do know is that the owners room is located to midships thanks to one of the renderings.  Power is from twin MTU 1200hp engines.

www.gulfcraftinc.com

New Model: Linssen 450 Range Cruiser Sedan Variotop

The Dutch builder Linssen Range Cruiser series updates itself with four models in a range divided by two feet in size and the Sedan Variotop or Wheelhouse versions.  Here we are showing the Summer and more open 450 Range Cruiser Sedan Variotop.  This being a patented automatic soft sop system.  The Linssen Range cruiser differentiates itself from the other models of the range for its more modern stern and no aft cabin, this being the norm in the long standing Sturdy range.  Still the Linssen 450 offers plenty of space inside in a split level area seperated by the wheelhouse part, the lounging area, and the cabin rooms to fore.  Power is from Steyr and come from a single 150 or twin 120hp engines.   

Technical Data:

LOA - 14.45 m (47.4ft)

Beam - 4.40 m

Draft - 1.22 m

Displacement - 20,500 kg

Fuel Capacity - 1260 - 40 l (also available 2 x 50 l day tanks instead of 1 x 40) 

Water Capacity - 600 l 

Accommodation - 4 berths in 2 cabins

Engines - 1 x Steyr MO156K25 150hp, 2 x Steyr MO126K25 120hp

Propulsion - line shaft

Construction - steel with Linssen patented Hardchine Prestressed Hull

Certification - CE B

www.linssenyachts.com

Project: Queens Yachts 50 HT

Queens Yachts presents the project of the 50 HT.  This new project bases itself on hull lines of the Fly model presented in the fall of 2012.  The Queens 50 Hard Top is again a design of TDF studio from Milan Italy, and is a fully enclosed sport yacht with some interesting living solutions coupled to modern aggressive lines.  Customer satisfaction is the main selling point of the 50 HT available in two internal layouts both of which in three cabins and with full beam midships owners room, with the main difference in this being the position of the galley.  Latest trend of main deck and astern galley in configuration one, or below in between the cabins in the version two.  Power for the Queens 50 HT is twin Volvo 435hp with IPS pods, or 575 Cat engines with line shaft.  

www.queensyachts.com 

blogger - Open Yacht?

Sometimes looking at new designs first time sends always emotions running but after the news has passed over me I do like to come back to my senses and weigh up the good and the bad.  So if you go to the many boat shows one can easily see that the open sport yacht over fifty feet is for the most part in today lost.  What do I mean?

That if you like life in the open most of the offers today look like flybridge boats but have an opening hard top replacing the fly deck with not much place to enjoy life outside in the open air.  Some sport yacht have also smaller outside areas then to a comparable flybridge boat of the same length, and that is excluding the fly deck.  Is not a sport yacht meant to be a Summer using high season period boat.

Personally I am a fan of the hard top sport yacht concept but I think in recent years the market has lost balance on what an open should look and offer to the customer.  That's not to say all major builders have sold to this, and some of them quickly changed direction while others have never actually gave to it.  Still the majority of the builders is still in pursuit of creating the have everything enclosed hard top without a flybridge.  Wait, yes now a bridge although smaller is also being offered in some fifty feet plus boats.  Do not flybridge boats already offer this? 

Anyways the 2013 season is here, and in the Mediterranean sunny days are just becoming longer. Finally!