June 29, 2020

Project: Sealine S430

Sealine present the project for a new S430 model.  The Sealine S430 is all about enjoying the outside, with a spacious cockpit deck offering among the most space in its size category.  The deck dinette is available in two versions, with the standard being a U-shaped resting to port side and passageway to starboard, and optional layout offering two L-shaped dinette and a central passageway.  Forward of the dinette are two double settees looking forward one of which is for the helm station to starboard.  Below the Sealine offer options in a traditional lower deck layout with two cabins sleeping five; forward owners cabin, single shower head, three berth guest midships cabin, and a dinette and L-shaped galley in between the cabins.  But Sealine also offers alternative layouts, five in total for the midships cabin which go from having an en-suite shower head, to a walk-in wardrobe, or a washing room all replacing the third berth.  Another option will also be available for the forward owner cabin, with a choice to have a scissor movement and splitting the berth to two cabins.  The Sealine S430 will be standard powered by twin Volvo 340hp engines with IPS pod drives, which will give top speeds up to 28 knots.  Optional engines of twin Volvo 380hp or 440hp are available with the large option giving max speeds up to 34 knots.

June 28, 2020

Sunseeker Yacht Fire in Bahamas

A twenty mere Sunseeker titled m/y Vanish was destroyed on the morning of 27 June at Valentines Marina, Harbor Island, Bahamas.  The yacht owner and his four relatives plus a captain where all onboard and jumped for safety in the water when the fire started.  The fire is reported to have initiated from the galley, and this could have had far worse consequences being the yacht moored in close proximity to the fuel station.  The Sunseeker yacht was destroyed and sank couple hours later, and damaged about thirty meters of the dock including some service pedestals of the Valentines Marina, with some services interrupted and to be restarted back on first July.
M/y Vanish was the latest version of Sunseeker Manhattan 66 model which was produced from 2016 up to 2019, and replaced in 2020 by the 68 model.  The Sunseeker Manhattan 66 offers a four double cabins lower deck layout, with a two berth crew cabin aft.  Power for the Manhattan 66 is by twin engines from Volvo 1000hp with IPS pod propulsion, or Man 1200hp with shafts.

June 27, 2020

Cranchi Sinks in Lipari

A fourteen meter Cranchi sport cruiser with eight passengers onboard hit a reef in Lipari, on Saturday 27 June at around 1220 local time.  The eight passengers where rescued immediately by the Coast Guard, while the Cranchi sport cruiser was saved from total sinking by a local company, who then took it to the Lipari harbour for salvaging.  The passengers where taken back to the sister island of Salina from which they departed.  The Cranchi hit the reef called Secca del Bagno, which translates to Bathers Reef located on the Western part of the island.
The Cranchi in the accident was a 47 Mediterranee model, a two cabins sport cruiser designed in-house by Aldo Cranchi and produced from 2004 up till 2010.  The 47 Mediterranee was also available in a HT hard top version, and was powered by standard twin Volvo 500hp or optional 575hp engines.

New Model: Riva 88 Folgore

Splendid and dazzling as its name implies, Riva 88 Folgore immediately won the hearts and minds of those who saw it cut through the waves.  The most eagerly awaited vessel by Riva enthusiasts was launched on Monday, 25th May in La Spezia, where the production facility dedicated to the 76-to-110-foot models is based.  It is the first launch of a new Riva model at the time of Covid-19 and celebrates the non-stop activity of all shipyards, confirming Ferretti Group in its role as a tenacious and solid builder of dreams and emotions.  Riva 88 Folgore, the project of which was presented in January, perfectly complied with the deadline set for the construction time.  The new exterior design philosophy displays lines and elements inspired by the automotive world, combining luxury and sportiness.   In a happy balance between past and present, it combines the use of innovative materials like carbon with traditional stylistic elements such as mahogany inlays and steel decorations.  In the perspective of a design proposal that combines aesthetics and functionality, Riva 88 Folgore offers the owner a completely redesigned stern concept, with the garage door that swings open and can be positioned in two ways: parallel to the waterline, to become a beach club, and immersed, to allow the launch and landing of the tender. The cockpit, on the other hand, is a large space of 22 squared meters that features a huge sofa area with table and also a bar unit with electrically opening marble top.  Another interesting element of style is the glass hardtop located on the superstructure, which opens up and can be tilted toward both the stern and bow, to let in fresh air during navigation or when at anchor.  The interiors have also been extensively renewed in style, created using precious materials such as wood, steel, marble and glass. They feature a number of particulars, including the option of three different layouts for the master cabin.  The sleeping area is completed by a VIP cabin at the bow and two double cabins, each with its own bathroom.  The area reserved to the galley remains separate, with a dedicated entrance to guarantee maximum service privacy.  Like all the Riva masterpieces of recent history, the 88 Folgore is the result of the collaboration between Officina Italiana Design, the studio founded by Mauro Micheli along with Sergio Beretta, the Product Strategy Committee headed by engineer Piero Ferrari, and the Ferretti Group Engineering Department.
Technical Data:
LOA - 26.92 m (88.4ft)
Hull Length - 23.9 m
Waterline Length - 22.12 m
Beam - 6.31 m
Draft - 1.97 m
Displacement - 70000 kg unloaded, 82000 kg loaded
Fuel Capacity - 8000 l
Water Capacity - 1200 l
Accommodation - eight berths in four cabins, three/four crew in two cabins
Engines - 2 x 16V2000 M96 2435hp. M96L 2638hp
Propulsion - line shaft
Speed - 36 knots max 30 knots cruise MTU 2435hp, 38 knots max 32 knots cruise MTU 2638hp
Project - Officina Italian Design of Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta

June 25, 2020

Two Injured Four Boats Destroyed in Gozo Marina Yacht Fire

A fire which broke out at 0400 in the morning of Thursday, 25 June, at the Mgarr Marina on the Island of Gozo, left two man injured one grievously and another in serious condition, and totaled four boats; three sailing boats and a fourteen meter size flybridge motor cruiser.  The fire is believed to have originated from the flybridge motor cruiser.
The flybridge motor cruiser of the fire was a Princess 45, a model build from 1982 up until 1991 sold in over four hundred units.  At launch the 45 was Britain's largest production boat and for three years up until 1985 was also Princess flagship model, over taken by the 55 at the end of 1985.  Designed by Bernard Olesinski the Princess 45 offered a three cabins interior layout, and a hull shape with a modified medium Vee which closed at fifteen degrees deadrise aft.  The model was powered by twin Volvo 306hp, optional 380hp, and or Cat 380hp. Early models had a two pole central mast style radar arch, which was improved to an integrated design in 1986. 

Improve-it = Rio Parana 38

For 2020 Rio starts the year with an update to one of its strongest models, the Parana 38.  The Marino Alfani designed Rio Parana 38 while keeping the same hull lines, gets a full update to its windscreen and hardtop, and a new stern design.  The hard top now is a fully integrated and extended design and follows similar line to those of the larger 44 and 56 models.  For the rest the new 2020 version of the Parana 38 keeps the great features of the first model, with two options for the midships cabin, standard in three berths or a master stateroom bed looking to aft layout.  Another great feature of the Rio Parana 38 is its 9.98 registry length to a thirteen meter plus overall length.  The Rio Parana 38 is standard powered by twin Volvo 300hp with stern drive propulsion.

June 23, 2020

Project: Fiart 52 Open

Fiart return to its roots and presents the 52 Open, a new version for the 52 which launched in 2017 as a fully enclosed with patio door coupe hard top model.  The main difference of the 52 Open will be that this will be a no hard top model, but Fiart also redesigned the cockpit with the double dinette; one inside and other outside, replaced by a large dinette and a chaise lounge to port side of the helm station.   For the below the 52 Open brings the features of the standard model as the three double cabins interior, with full beam midships owners stateroom.  The Fiart 52 is powered by twin Volvo 600hp with forward IPS pod drives.

June 22, 2020

Sea Ray Boat Fire on Tennessee River

A seven meter Sea Ray sport cruiser with two persons onboard went on fire in the Tennessee River, near Downtown Knoxville at about 15:30 hours of Sunday 21 June.  Knoxville Fire Department responded to the fire, saving the two persons onboard first, and then towing the boat to safety.  There were no injuries from the fire, and the causes of the blaze are under investigation.  The Sea Ray sport cruiser became a total wrecked loss from the fire as it fully burned down.
The Sea Ray boat in this fire looks to be a 230 Weekender model, as produced from 1985 up to 1988.  The Sea Ray 230 Weekender came out as a replacement to the 225 Express Cruiser, and was replaced by the 240 Sundancer in 1989.

June 21, 2020

Maiora New Web Site

Maiora from Italy updates its World wide web showroom to a new platform.  Located in what is known as the global Yacht building capital, in Viareggio Italy, Maiora was founded in 1971 a  model line name Intercantieri of Viareggio gives to its motor cruisers and yachts from eleven to 25 meters.  In 1988, Fipa which was founded in 1980 by still today owner Franceso Guidetti, acquired Intercantieri and the Maiora name.  Guildetti entered the boating business in 1970 building fibreglass hulls and parts for third parties.  Today Gruppo Fipa apart Maiora consists of three other brands; AB Yachts, CBI Navi, and Intermare, this last being a metal carpentry division.  All the Fipa brands are located in Italy, Tuscany in or close to Viareggio. Maiora had a lot of success in the nineties and early two thousand with the clean and modern design done in cooperating with Roberto del Re proving to be very successful, especially with the 1992 launched 20 model which was produced for over two decades and delivered in over eighty units with very minor changes. Today the Maiora range consists of eight models from a new upcoming 20 S model to a 46 Royale flagship, styled by Gruppo Fipa design department with Quartostile giving design consultations.  Quartostile took collaborative design duties with Maiora in 2016, taking over from Roberto del Re who assisted from the founding in 1971 up till 2015. The Maiora new web site is available in English and Italian language and takes you around with the following buttons; Company, Custom Concept, Yachts, Services, and Contacts.
Production History;
45 1975-78  Roberto del Re design/Intercantieri ownership
38 1875-78
53 1976-83
40 1979-83
50 1977-81
60 1980-85
53 S 1982-84 *53 project
Offshore 55 1986-89
57 1986-90
70 1986-90 *65 project 
85 1986-91
22 1991-92  Fipa ownership
23 1993-94
20 1993- (80) *includes S version
25 DP 1996-98 (2)
25 1997 (1)
31 DP 1998-2014 (18)
26 1998-2006 (11)
20 S 2000-15
24 2000-06 (6)
26 2001-12 (11)
28 DP 2001 (1)
29 DP 2001-06 (6)
24 S 2003-15 (12)
27 2004-14 (15)
43 2005 (1)
38 DP 2005-08
33 DP 2006-09 (5)
32 DP 2008 (1)
35 DP 2009-10
27 S 2010-13 (3)
29 Convertible 2012 (1) 
29 2012-16 (5)
33 FB 2016 (1)
36 FB 2017-
30 WA 2020- (4  Next Group ownership
35 Exuma 2020- (5
30 Convertible 2021-

June 20, 2020

Sport Cruiser Damaged in Malta Summer Storm

A cuddy cabin sport cruiser finished on the rocks in Malta in the North Western coast of the island an area called Bahar ic-Caghaq, snapping its swing mooring after strong North East winds reached the Mediterranean island on the early morning of twentieth June.   Swing mooring are popular in Malta during the Summer months, and all are made in protected bays, which are usually exposed to one or two winds which are not so frequent in Summer.  The particular area where this cuddy cruiser was located, is exposed to the North East winds which are not so frequent in Summer.
The above cuddy sport cruiser is a single engine with stern drive propulsion Bayliner with a size lenght of around six meters.