July 13, 2023

Project: Michael Rybovich 70 Sportfisherman Hull#9

Michael Rybovich has in the end of 2022 starting to build its ninth hull, what will be a 70 Sportfisherman.  Fully custom and to be build in the jig method, Michael Rybovich hull nine will offer a four cabin with three heads interior, with an owners stateroom located forward, and a VIP suite located at midships on starboard side.  The living like most sportfish yachts of this size is on the main deck with a galley forward to starboard featuring a central bar alley, dinette opposite to port, and welcoming sofa on entrance.  Michael Rybovich 70 Sportfisherman is to be powered by twin Cats 2000hp.  Speed estimates are not given, but 68 Sportfisherman Hull#3 had a top speed of 42 knots in a smaller two foot length and one of beam and slightly less powerful engines.  So expect the 70 Sportfisherman Hull#9 wide open throttle numbers around the forty mark.

July 12, 2023

New Model: Italyure 35

Italyure makes its second step of expansion following the success of its 38 model now in its fifteenth hull after two years of production, enters its new 35 model, called the 35 Furore translated to Fury in project stages.  A one meter smaller to the 38, the first Italyure 35 was sold to a Neapolitan customer and is powered by twin Cummins 355hp engines with line shaft propulsion. Looking nearly identical to its larger 38 sister outside, and offering little less in the exterior accommodation, the difference from the bigger model is in the cabin, with the Italyure 35 offering a lower deck with a double berth forward, and roomy shower head to port side.  For comparison the 38 has two lower deck layouts and can be specified with two cabins, and or single head two cabin version.  The Italyure 35 is also offered in the Sport outboard version with twin Suzuki 350hp.  So far a sterndrive version seems not to be on offer, although being a custom builder, I am sure that if someone asks Italyure to make one, they will do it.
Technical Data:
LOA - 10.80 m (35.4ft)
Hull Length - 9.50 m
Beam - 3.50 m
Displacement - 5.5 t dry
Fuel Capacity - 600 l
Water Capacity - 200 l
Accommodation - two berths
Engines - 2 x Yanmar 250hp, FPT 370hp, Cummins 355hp or 380hp, Suzuki 350hp outboard
Propulsion - line shafts, or outboards with petrol gas 
Speed - thirty knots max with Cummins 355hp
Construction - resin infusion
Project - Maurizio Marzocca
Certification - CE B

July 11, 2023

Pursuit Hits Stuart Sand Bar

A ten meter express sportfish cruiser ended aground when it hit a sand bar in Stuart Florida on the late morning of eleven July.  A video doing the rounds on social media shows the sportfish doing sustained planning speeds when it practically stopped to a standstill in a space of a few seconds.  BoatU.s. assisted the express sportfish and surprisingly and thanks to a careful removal it had very little damage, and left the spot with its own steam.  In the same area or very close by a sand bar nearly sank a fifteen meter sportfish in end February and was saved by the same BoatU.s. team.
The sportfish express in this grounding is a Pursuit 3400 Express.  Produced from 1997 till 2002, the 3400 Express is one of the few inboard made Pursuit and is powered by twin Cummins or Volvo 370hp diesels with shafts.  The Pursuit 3400 Express offered an interior sleeping four with a double berth forward and a convertible dinette.

Project: Sunreef 44 Ultima

During the fall 2022 Sunreef presented its new Ultima range, first with a 55 and now with this smaller 44, which was first announced as a 45. The Sunreef Ultima range presents itself as a fast power catamaran range, designed with hybrid propulsion showing Francis Lapp leadership in offering forward thinking catamarans of all types.  The Sunreef 44 Ultima will offer a large aft deck with openable side bulk heads extending size by about fifty per cent in this area.  Living is to be under the hard-top on the main deck, with a dinette to port side and galley opposite, with dual seat central console helm station forward.  Accommodation is located below with the two hull offering identical double berths with a private shower head layout.  Sunreef has not announced any engine data or performance numbers for its Ultima range, although the photos show them going fast and press releases call them as eco-speedsters, so imagine speed above thirty knots for this 44 Ultima.   

July 10, 2023

Flybridge Cruiser Sinks in Manfredonia

A fourteen meter flybridge cruiser titled m/y Antonella under Italian flag partially sank while moored and unattended at the yacht marina in Manfredonia, on Italy's eastern Adriatic coast on the early morning of July tenth.  The flybridge cruiser was later in the day recovered, by the Mandredonia marina yacht yard.  Some unconfirmed reports are saying the flybridge cruiser sank from a failing generator raw water inlet.
The flybridge cruiser in this sinking is an Ars Mare Advantage 140.  Presented in 1994 the 140 Advantage comes from a design of Fulvio de Simoni and offered a comfortable three double cabins interior layout.  Produced till 2004 the Advantage 140 was updated with a sleeker radar arch and other modifications in the year 2000.  Unfortunately Ars Mare stopped producing in around 2007 which is a pity cause it build solid and nice cruisers.

New Model: Vicem 65 Classic Flybridge

Turkish boatbuilder Vicem Yachts has a new addition to its strong fleet of cruisers and yachts with the new 65 Classic Flybridge going into the water. The Vicem 65 Classic Flybridge prides itself on a timeless design inspired to DownEast lobster boats, total customization from construction in fiberglass or cold moulding and shafts or IPS pod propulsion, and excellence in craftsmanship. Those three characteristics run throughout its fleet, but perhaps nowhere are they more evident than aboard this new 65 Classic Flybridge.  This twenty meter Vicem offers an accommodation with two plus one stateroom layout, with an owners amidships master stateroom anda VIP suite forward.  In between the two suites is a galley and a dining/lounge room, with this dinette converting into an enclosed third cabin complete with sliding doors for privacy.  The Vicem 65 Classic Flybridge main deck has a massive, full-teak cockpit with an L-shaped settee and a second dining table for alfresco dinners. The salon has another L-shaped settee, plus additional seating, and excellent natural light thanks to large windows. The two spaces are connected via a door with a frameless, electric window that creates a feeling of openness and continuity. An aft galley in the salon has a small bar area with a sink, icebox, and icemaker that services two alfresco Besenzoni bar stools. Throughout all of these areas, Vicem’s trademark woodwork is on display. The builder relies on years of Turkish craftsmanship to produce beautifully appointed woods which are hard to find in the industry.  As for the boat’s namesake flybridge, there is a wetbar and barbecue, a third L-shaped settee, which can convert into a sunpad and the second outdoor helm.  The first Vicem 65 Classic Flybridge was powered by twin Volvo 725hp with line shaft propulsion which give a twenty knots top speed, though bigger 1000hp engines fitted IPS pod drives will take wide open throttle speeds to 32 knots.  Another feature of this hull #one is a Lithium battery set up which can operate the boat for fifteen hours with the use of generator.
Technical Data:
LOA - 20.10 m (65.9ft)
Hull Length - 18.45 m
Beam - 5.50 m
Draft - 1.70 m
Displacement - 40,000 kg half load
Fuel Capacity - 4000 l
Water Capacity - 830 l
Max Persons - thirteen
Accommodation - six berths in three cabins, optional crew cabin berth
Engines - 2 x Volvo D11 725hp, D13 1000hp optional
Propulsion - line shaft V-drives, Volvo IPS forward looking dual propeller pod drives
Speed - 20 knots max 14 cruise Volvo 725hp line shafts, up to 32 knots max 26 cruise with Volvo 1000hp and IPS pod drives
Range - 300 nm at fourteen knots with Volvo's 725hp
Construction - fiberglass E-glass  Vinilester polyester resins, hull bottom in monolithic and sides in PVC foamcore and vaccum bagged same to top sides, optional cold moulding wood with fiberglass available
Project - Vicem
Certification - ABYC, CE B

July 9, 2023

Eight meter Sport Cruiser Burns in Rocchette Tuscany

A eight meter sports cruiser titled m/y Madimar under Italian flag with two persons on board burned down and eventually sank in front of the bay of Rocchette, in Castiglione dell Pescaia, Tuscany, Italy just after 10:00 hours of Sunday ninth July.  No injuries where sustained to the two persons onboard, assisted by two military personnel who where patrolling the whereabouts in that moment. The Guardia Costiera has later interviewed the two persons about the fire sinister, and requesting to recover the sunk wreck being it is a pollutant with fuel and resin.
The boat in this is fire is a Mano Marine 25 Sport build in the noughties.  The Mano Marine 25 Sport offered a two berth accommodation and was usually powered by twin Mercruiser 225hp petrol gas on stern drives.

Colombo New Web Site

Colombo presents its new website.  Founded by Giacomo Colombo in 1956, he signs the yard as custom in Italy in those times with his surname.  Born 1931 and passionate about boats Giacomo starts to work in ship building as an apprentice, moving to work with Abbate and then with Cranchi, up until 1956 when he decides to go on his own.  He starts with a boat service centre Colombo Menaggio which in 1962 becomes the Riva Boat Service of Mennagio, assisting and servicing the famous runabouts from Sarnico. In 1969 along with long time friend Antonio Ornelli, Giacomo starts series production first in wood, then offering models in both wood and fibreglass, to switch totally to the new material of the time by the end seventies. Colombo was acquired by the Sarnico Group in Summer 2007. The current Colombo range offers eleven models and starts from the 25 Super Indios and goes up to the 40 Bellagio. Colombo was also a pioneer for fitting out its sports cruisers with mahogany finish outside but structurally build of fiberglass. The models offered in this finish are the 32 Romance, the first built in this technique introduced in the mid nineties and the 25 Super Indios. Colombo new website takes you around with the following buttons: Philosophy, Models, Dealers, and Store. Colombo is also on social media with links at the bottom of the page taking you to its Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages.   
Production History:
Super Rocket 6,15 m 1963 (4)
18 Super Indios 1971-
22 Super Indios 1972-
Super Indios 19 1979-86
29 Racing 1979-
27 Antibes 1981-93
31 Super Indios 1982-
Blue Shore 41 Sport 1982-
Blue Shore 41 Yacht 1983-
36 1984-
33 1986-96
25 Vantage
21 Super Indios
32 Aliante 1989-
41 Blue Shore Special 1989-
38 1991-
48 Miami 1992-96 (4)
26 Vantage 1994-
34 Virage 1997-
Verve 43 1998-
37 Alldays 2009-11 Sarnico ownership starts/Nuvolari Lenard design
26 Bellagio 2010-
36 Bellagio 2011-22
39 Alldays 2012-
32 Tender 2012-
40 Bellagio 2023-

July 8, 2023

Flybridge Cruiser Goes Ablaze in Gozo Marina

A fourteen meter flybridge cruiser titled m/y Tiffany went ablaze in Mgarr marina Gozo, at around 18:30 hours of Saturday eight July.  The owners had just boarded the fourteen meter flybridge cruiser when it went on fire.  Malta Civil Protection from a boat and the marina pontoon controlled and then contained the fire onboard the vessel and with the help from Mgarr Marina personnel also stopped it from spreading to other vessels, with the only Gozo island yacht harbour being particularly busy in Summer weekends, and a Saturday evening in July.   One of the fire fighters fighting the blaze was treated for injuries.  The cause of the fire are not reported, though an investigation is underway. The same Mgarr Marina had a big fire involving four boats in the early morning of June 25 2020 which unfortunately left one person dead.
The flybridge cruiser in this fire is an Enterprise Marine EM46, a popular model from the Adriatic sea based boat builder founded in 1984. Released in 1998 the EM46 offers a three double cabins interior, and is powered by twin Volvo 480hp and or 575hp engines.  The Enterprise EM46 is still in production, although Enterprise Marine does not produce much boats nowadays.

Rybovich Yacht Collision South to Martha's Vineyard Island

A sixteen meter custom Rybovich sportfish yacht collided with a twelve meter express sportfish cruiser titled m/y Salty Seas, south of Martha's Vineyard island to the North of New York on the morning of Saturday eight July.  According to reports the Rybovish yacht was fast cruising at about twenty knots in poor visibility, while the smaller express sportfish cruiser was fighting a tuna.  Luckily no one was injured in this collision, with the above Rybovich suffering the worst outcome, with important hull breach of about eight meters to its starboard side.  Salty Seas the other boat in the collision suffered a disintegrated pulpit, outrigger damage, and some minor fiberglass dings.  The sixteen meter Rybovich was later towed and taken to a yard for an evaluation of the damage.  A couple months later Michael Rybovich reported on his monthly newsletter that the yacht was destined for scrap even though he offered to save her, with the insurance not getting it that she could be saved.
The Rybovich in this collision is the 54 hull #123 from 2007 and launched as Lizzy Bee.  Build for a repeat Rybovich customer, this was his fourth, and is currently in his fifth with the 64 Walkaround hull #1 of the Micheal Rybovich and Sons era which replaced this 54.  Founded in 1919 and building its first boat in 1947 Rybovich from Florida is considered as one of the most exclusive and prestigious custom sportfish builders.
The other express in the collision m/y Salty Seas is an Albermarle 410 Express.  The Albermarle 410 Express is produced since 2002 currently renamed as 41 Custom Carolina Edition.  The Albermarle 410 Express offers an interior sleeping four, and powered by twin Cats 710hp reaches speeds in the mid thirties.