Project: Mazu 92 DS

After winning over an international clientele for its fast planning sports cruisers and yachts built of lightweight carbon composites, Mazu Yachts from Turkey has announced its entry into steel construction with the 92 DS, the first of a new semi-displacement series that will be followed by a 112 DS and 132 DS model. The steel keel of the first semi-custom 92 DS has been laid, but Mazu is drawing on its experience of working in carbon composite for the superstructure to keep the weight down and the centre of gravity low. The yacht will be powered by triple Volvo 800hp with IPS drives as propulsion for a top speed of 22 knots and a cruising speed of 16 knots. This is the first time IPS propulsion has been installed on a steel-hulled yacht, requiring close collaboration with Volvo and Profjord in Sweden for the engineering and naval architecture. The Crossover-style exterior profile by Red Yacht Design features a raised pilothouse positioned forward in order to maximise the interior volumes. The dramatic vertical bow adds visual impact and increases the waterline length. The two-tone hull design introduces a striking new aesthetic. The owner’s suite in Red Yacht Design vision is located in the widebody section of the main deck forward with a bathroom in the bow. The walk-around section of the superstructure houses the main salon illuminated by full-height windows and the galley. There is al fresco dining for a full complement of eight guests and sun loungers on the open aft deck. Stairs on both sides lead down to a very large swim platform with room for stowing a tender and Jet Ski while under way. The bulwarks fold down on either side to increase the platform area. Glass sliding transom doors lead into a relaxing beach club area with bar that can be arranged according to client preference.  The beach club also features interior access from the main salon. Forward are two twin-single guest cabins and a full-beam VIP suite. There are two crew cabins with shared bathroom in the bow. Unusually for the size of yacht, the crew have their own service stairs. There is more lounging space, as well as dining facilities and the exterior helm station shaded by the hardtop on the fly deck.

www.mazuyachts.com

New Model: Fiart 43 Seawalker

 

Fiart where among the first among European boat builders to enter the medium large centre console walk around segment, with the 33 Seawalker they launched in 2011.  Now following nearly ten years the company look back into the line with the new 43 Seawalker which the company launched at the end of 2020.  Ten years is a lot of time and Fiart have catch up to do in a segment which has grown not little, and today following the success of some are starting to get back interested in, with two other projects also upcoming in the line for 2021.  The Fiart 43 Seawalker offers an interior sleeping four guests in a forward double berth and a midships cabin with two berths.  As any centre console walk around sport cruiser the 43 Seawalker is all about outside, and the here this thirteen meter sport cruiser does not disappoint thanks to the full deck use form fore to aft. The helm station central console offers three bolster type settees, behind this is the galley, and more aft we find two opposite looking bench settee with table and a sun-pad. There is also an option to replace the central aft sun-pad with a large C-shaped dinette, this following Fiart's offers in its sport cruisers line up.  The Fiart 43 Seawalker is powered by four Volvo engine options from 380 to 480hp.  Propulsion is Volvo's forward looking IPS pod drives and or stern drives with 400hp engines.  Hull one of the 43 Seawalker was sold to a South of France customer.  

Technical Data:

LOA - 13.84 m (45.4ft)

Beam - 3.99 m

Draft - 1.04 m 

Displacement - 11 t

Fuel Capacity - 1150 l

Water Capacity - 620 l

Accommodation - four berths in two cabins

Max Person - 14

Engines - 2 x Volvo D6 380hp, D6 400hp, D6 440hp, D6 480hp

Propulsion - Volvo DPI dual propeller stern drives, forward looking dual propeller IPS pod drives

Certification - CE B

www.fiart.com

Project: Sirena 68

Sirena Yachts is proud to announce their all-new addition to the fleet, the Sirena 68 that will make her public debut at the 2021 Cannes Yachting Festival. The 68 is the direct result of Sirena’s response to its customers’ requests. The hull shape encapsulates a cavernous volume of space, allowing everyone onboard to get comfortable, but still be together. Like all Sirena’s, the 68 incorporates the innovative German Frers hull design which delivers world-class range by allowing displacement speeds for extended cruising. The saloon welcomes those entering from the aft deck where a dining area and open-concept galley awaits them. One will notice the play of light in this expansive space, as enormous panes of glass draw the eye to ever-changing views. On the lower deck the Sirena 68 offers three double cabins with a midships master stateroom stretches across the full beam, where a king-size berth welcomes the owner, a floating sensation is provided thanks to the unique inventive lighting design and to the large hull side windows admit natural light.  The Sirena 68 is standard powered by twin Volvo 900hp, with optional 1000hp and line shaft V-drive propulsion.  Top speed is 26 knots with standard power and two more knots with the optional units.  Range is up to 1200 nautical miles at a ten knots cruise.

www.sirenayachts.com

Lake Lanier Boat Explosion Injures Six Persons

An eleven meter Carver motor cruiser injured six people as it exploded and went on fire after refuelling at the gas dock in Margaritaville, Port of Indecision, Lake Lanier, Georgia at about 14:30 hours of Sunday, May ninth.  Georgia game wardens and Hall County Fire Services found a devastating scene and had to airlift a 16-year-old female and a 13-year-old male to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. Hall County Fire Services also transported a 39-year-old woman to Grady by ambulance.  A nearby dock also went on fire due to a jet ski that drifted away from the area.  Hall County Fire Marshal is investigating what caused the fire and explosion to the Carver Cruiser.

The Carver motor cruiser in this fire is a 638 Santego model produced from 1990 to 92, and then renamed as the 380 and produced till 2002.  An evolution of the 3867 which introduced Carver's Santego line, the 638/380 Santego is reported to have sold a thousand units in its twelve year production run.  The Carver Santego was an evolution of the Mariner line which was introduced in the seventies featuring a semi-raised bridge station to allow for a roomier interior.

Falcon Yachts New Web Site

Falcon Yachts present its new World wide web virtual showroom.  This new website coincides with the relaunching of the brand, with a new ownership, T-Quest Holdings taking over the name in 2019.  Falcon Yachts was founded by Edoardo Spreafico in 1988, when he opens his boat yard in Viareggio and with it launches the Falcon Yachts brand.  But Spreafico entrance into luxury yachting starts in 1968 when he opens the CTM Cielo Terra Mare luxury goods shop in Milan.  In 1970 the Milan office is followed by a new one in Viareggio dedicated to yachting and becoming Versilcraft official dealer.  In 1988 the Canteiri Navali Versilcraft in Viareggio is opened by Spreafico and with it the Falcon Yachts brand is launched.  The idea here is to build the Falcon Yachts brands in the size of sixteen to 23 meters, leaving the yachts larger to this for the Versilcraft brand.  Following increase in demand another establishment is opened in Viareggio in 1992, called Falcon Yachts, while the Versilcraft shipyard is renamed to Cantieri Navali Falcon, this is also marking the separation of the two brands. Falcon Yachts had an incredible success in the nineties and first decade of the new millennium with various semi production super yachts; 82, 86/90, 91/92 series, and 100 models being top sellers in there respective sizes and semi-custom offering. Falcon Yachts will close its doors in 2015, but in 2019 T-Quest Holdings will buy the brand and a new facility in Pisa to cater for production. Falcon Yachts new website takes you around in Italian, English, and Spanish language. 

www.falconyachts.com

Production History;

24 1987-88 (3)

80 1992-93 (3)

80S 1993-95 (18)

92 1994-97 (7)

82S 1994-98 (13)

91 1996-98 (2)

100 1996-2005 (25)

86 1999-2009 (28)

106 2001-02 (2)

80 2001-05 (2)

112 2003 (1)

114 2004 (1)

102 2005-08 (8)

90 2006-11 (7)

115 2006-11 (5)

New Model: Grand Banks 85

In March 2021 Grand Banks launched its new flagship, the much awaited 85 model.  This new Grand Banks flagship enters the famous brand into the Super Yacht beyond eighty feet, with the previous largest model being the 76 launched in 2011.  With Mark Richards taking over Grand Banks in 2015 the famous brand has changed dramatically in recent years becoming from a traditional trawler inspired product with a semi planning hull to an innovative one characterized of a light weight stiff strong construction, and a planning V-warp planning hull shape design for maximum efficiency.  The Grand Banks 60 first model of the new management launched in 2017, showed the new direction of this important name in production pleasure boating.  Considering Mark Richards CV of Americas Cup and his Palm Beach brand we are looking at impressive performance details from weight saving which is about 30% less to most of the competition in the same size without losing any technical attributes, to the design of the V-Warp hull form which moves little to less water and provides maximum efficiency.  Both these details have been always present in the Palm Beach brand, putting them in the Grand Banks without losing the identity of a brand build on the opposite is not easy.  I personally like what Richards is producing with Grand Banks, it is interesting to see what the brand followers and long standing fans think of this.  Sales are definitely complimenting what Richards is doing with the 60 arriving to twenty hulls up until the start of 2021, even though she is among the most expensive nineteen meters production boats in the market.

Technical Data:

LOA - 25.91 m (85ft)

Hull Length - 24 m

Waterline Length - 22.7 m

Beam - 6.71 m

Displacement - 49 t light

Fuel Capacity - 10031 l

Water Capacity - 1500 l

Accommodation - nine guests in four cabins, three crew in two cabins

Engines - 2 x Volvo D13 1000hp

Propulsion - Volvo forward looking dual propeller IPS pod drives

Speed - 30 knots max 27 knots fast cruiser 21 knots cruise

Range - 1000 nm at 21 knots

Hull Shape - V-warp hull

Construction - vacuum infused cored Corecell with E-cell, Carbon fibre in structural areas  

Project - Grand Banks Mark Richards, Grand Banks Dovell for naval architecture

www.grandbanks.com

Improve-it = Fairline F//Line 33

Fairline stylish F//Line 33 now offers a new cockpit layout, which provides both sunbathing and seating options simultaneously. Additional improvements include a larger helm, a sleek hard top and a below deck galley all of which expand the thrilling possibilities onboard the F//Line 33.  Fairline’s sleek and sporty dayboat, the F//Line 33, has taken the market by storm since launching in September 2019, winning awards across the industry. A collaboration between Fairline and Italian designer Alberto Mancini, the F//Line 33 has been highly praised for its breath-taking design and impressive performance achieving speeds of 48 knots and comfortable 30 plus cruising. The new cockpit features ‘C’ shaped seating to the starboard side with the aft backrest doubling up as a headrest for the two-person sunbed. The cockpit will comfortably seat four to six people around a fixed height teak-top table. There is also an optional cantilever pedestal, which neatly stows the table behind the seat cushions when not in use. A wet bar to the port side includes a fitted sink and folding tap as standard, which can be upgraded to include a fridge and electric griddle, with a drawer icemaker in the seat base opposite. The new option to add an electric hob and sink below deck as well, means customers can enjoy their F//Line 33 during an even longer boating season and the more spacious helm allows for up to two large Garmin touchscreen displays.  The F//Line 33 interior features an immaculate design, which is complimented with a refined neutral palette, modern pops of colour and luxurious veneer finishes, all paired with technologically advanced daylight panels and a mirror TV to add light and space.

www.fairline.com

Sportfish Boat With Migrants Beaches in Boynton Beach Florida

A twelve meter sportfish cruiser coming from Haiti with thirty migrants onboard ended aground and partly sank in Boynton Beach, Florida on the morning of third May. Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and Gulf Stream Police Department detained all thirty individuals, keeping them in federal custody. The sportfish was reported leaking fuel, and was cleaned from all contaminations on Thursday sixth, and then salvaged by TowBoatU.S Fort Lauderdale on Saturday eight May.  It is not reported if the sportfish cruiser was stolen. 

The sportfish cruiser in this sinking is a first generation Post 42 Sport Fisherman.  Introduced in the fall of 1974 and produced till 1983, Post produced 230 units of the 42 Sport Fisherman, making it's best sold model to date.  The Post 42 Sport Fisherman was replaced by the 43 in 1984, with a second generation 42 coming in 1997.

New Model: Azimut 53

There was a lot of interest for the launch of the Azimut 53, from the brand fans, competition, and self generated by the largest privately owned yacht and super-yacht builder. The self generated interest was very well thought with three pre-launch information Youtube video series, and official digital unveil of the model on 13 March.  The 53 continues and expands Alberto Mancini story with Azimut, which started in 2018, and with it is in his second model for the Flybridge line following the 78 launched in 2019.  This new Azimut 53 changes how the medium sized flybridge yachts sub twenty meter from the Italian builder look by not little, and here we see a motor yacht with a very low sporty upper structure.  The Azimut 53 following the 78 is also the second flybridge model to be powered by Volvo IPS propulsion, this choice being made to increase space, allow better performance and also make owner operation easier thanks to the systems joystick.  Contrary to the 78 and the sports S series models onwards from 2011, the 53 features a traditional dual propulsion set up. Azimut was one of the first to join the IPS revolution in 2006 with the 43S, and then in 2008 it followed this with the sister Atlantis brand and its 50X model.  But putting the IPS into the flybridge line has been a long research process from Azimut even though back in the IPS initial sea trials from 2005 the company was rumoured to have done extensive testing on flybridge boats with both the 50 and 55 models from that era.  The results of that testing seems to have brought us here to this new Azimut 53, which possibly has been in the making especially below the waterline much longer then we think.     

Technical Data:

LOA - 16.78 (55.1ft)

Hull Length - 15.8 m

Beam - 4.95 m

Displacement - 30 t at full load

Fuel Capacity - 2400 l

Water Capacity - 590 l

Accommodation - six berths in three cabins one crew cabin berth

Engines - 2 x Volvo D11 725hp

Propulsion - Volvo forward looking IPS950 dual propeller pod drives

Speed - 31 knots max 26 knots cruise

Project - Alberto Mancini exterior, Azimut for interior and naval architecture

Certification - CE, UNI ISO 8666 for data

www.azimutyachts.net

Leonardo da Vinci DNA

Sometimes I wonder if it was not for the Italians where would yachting be.  The Italians have been pushing the envelope in design and engineering in boats since pleasure boating started, and they seem to never stop.  Actually when you think they can't go any further here comes the next break through and again it is from the shoe shaped peninsula.

For the past months we have seen again the Italians push the envelope again, and while some of these may get the stick for being too different they do bring something fresh to yachting design.

A recent fresh revolutionary design comes from the Cetera 60, a new brand founded by Fiart entering into explorer and live aboard segment.  This explorer motor yacht, reinvents cabin space by putting all three cabins on the main deck.  With the top deck serving as lounge dining area.  

Another technical break though comes from Bimax who present a forward looking shaft drive system on an eight and a ten meter sport cruiser.  This system called Eco Drive System apart improving efficiency, also reduces bow angle at lower speeds.  

Sure some reviewer sometimes calls the Italians to much design focused, but really yachting has a big thank you to give to Italy and all the inventions they brought of a lot of stuff which today we take fore granted.   

Extended bathing platform and tender garage by Ferretti in the mid eighties, surface drives and propeller tunnels by Italcraft along with the variable deep Vee hull, full beam midship cabin by Versilcraft in the seventies repicked by Azimut in the late nineties, large windows in cabins by Azimut in late nineties, astern galley again by Ferretti in 2005, integrated windscreen by Pershing in early nineties, and Baia also being the first to use Arnesons trimmable surface drives on a production motor boat.