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Fly Over the Waves on a Foiling JetCycle

Zeelander 8 Number 2 Launched in Early October. A Study in Marine Elegance

On October 4, Zeelander launched hull number two of their 79-foot 8 model. The gala party for the launch was held at the builder’s facilities in The Netherlands and was attended by the family that bought the new 8, many other owners and the Zeelander staff. The new 8 represents the apex of the Zeelanded line and is a highly refined motor yacht that combines the company’s unique curvaceous hull and cabin designs with the highest of high-tech engineering and onboard systems. As the builder likes to say, Zeelander yachts are not for everyone. The 8 is a three-season cruising…

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Cruising Life

Introducing the New Saxdor 340 GTWA Spacious Weekender

The Finnish boat builder Saxdor introduced their new 34-foot this year to acclaim. The boat was awarded a Finish Design Innovation Award and it has been nominated for the prestigious European Power Boat of the Year Award. But such elevated status should not be too much of surprise given the company’s pedigree. Saxdor was founded by Sakari Mattila who was also a founder of  Aquador, Paragon, XO Boats and the incredibly successful Axopar. The. new boats Mattila is building in Finland and Poland are brimming over with high-tech, high-speed powerboat DNA. The new 34 GTWA is one of the few…

Back Cove 41 Reinvented with Many New Features. Now called the 412

Back Cove Yachts, the venerable Maine builder of classic-looking Downeast-style cruisers announced at the Newport Intrnatijonal Boat Show in September that they were reintroducing the Back Cove 41 with many upgrades and new features. The 41 is the builder’s flagship and has proven to be extremely popular worldwide. The new version has so many new features that Back Cove has given it a new name, the 412. Because the boat’s essential design features work so well, in the 412 the hull, deck and accommodation plan remain the same in the 41.  But Back Cove has added a full height door…

Outer Reef Introduces New, Steel Expedition-Capable Adventure 780

Here’s an announcement from Outer Reef Yachts that will really catch the eye of cruisers who are seeking true seafaring expeditions to the earth’s far corners aboard a vessel that is a special combination of strength, seakeeping-ability, self-suffiency and luxury. Enter the new Adventure 780 that was introduced to the world this week. The new design, which is the first in Outer Reef’s new Adventure series, is the first new yacht to emerge from the recent merger between Outer Reef and the Dutch shipyard Lynx Yachts. The 780 is now in build in The Netherlands and will be ready to…

Maritimo to Introduce the Enhanced M55 Black Edition at Ft. Lauderdale Show

Maritimo will be bringing the new M55 Black Edition to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show later this month and the new boat has been upgraded with truly enhanced living spaces. The changes to the design, already a popular model for the Australian builder, begin with the spacious cockpit that connects via sliding doors to the aft galley in the salon. A new wider transom island has been added between the cockpit and the swim platform that creates a better social area and enlarges the barbeque grill and counter. The cockpit’s dinette/lounge now faces forward and socially links the cockpit…

Sirena Launches New 48 Coupe Hybrid

The successful Turkish builder Sirena yachts has gained a huge worldwide following in the last decade with their distinctive angular designs, plumb bows and creatively planned living spaces. The original 48 Flybridge is a large part of the company’s success. This fall, Sirena launched their new 49 Coupe Hybrid, based on ther first 48’s hull design,with a flat-top coupe roof, wrap around salon windows end even more salon and cockpit living space. The company has made a commitment to “eco-friendly propulsion” and developed a true hybrid system with twin 213kW E-Motion motors, a 39.1 kWh lithium battery pack and twin…

New Sabre 51 Salon Express Design Preview

At the Newport International Boat Show in September, Sabre Yachts announced the design completion of their brand-new Sabre 51 Salon Express. An all-weather couple’s cruising boat, the design emphasizes entertaining, weekending and ultimately long-term living aboard and cruising. It is always exciting news when this highly respected Maine builder of Downeast-style cruising boats comes out with a new design since the company has been a trend setter for more than 40 years.  The new boat will fit neatly between the 48SE and the 58SE The new 51 is the fruit of a deep-dive, information gathering process to find out just…

Boat Reviews

Inside the Marex Gourmet Nordic 440 Cruiser Sport Coupe

Now and then when we attend boat shows in Europe and the US, as we do many times every year, we come across new boats that catch our eye. The Norwegian builder Marex is just such a brand and their 440 Gourmet Cruiser Sport Coupe and the smaller models in their line offer cruising couples and families classy alternatives to others in the midrange, sport coupe fleet. The new flag ship of the Marex line is the new 440 Gourmet sport coupe. A fast, family cruiser, the 440’s whole design concept is to link a family to the natural ocean…

Sargo 45 Expedition Gets You There in a Hurry

The Finnish builder of stylish, purposeful express cruisers, Sargo introduced their flagship 45 at the Dusseldorf show in 2023. It still is a head turner. A two or three-cabin express cruiser with a large, all-weather salon, the 45 has a sleek low roof profile, forward windows that are tilted forward and a useful cockpit and slim platform aft. The salon windows are huge and can be opened in warm weather. Starting at the swim platform, you’ll find a large locker for fenders and docking lines built into the deck. On the port side, a stern anchor and roller is fully…

Dutch Builder Doggersbank Introduces New 90 and 105-Foot Steel Trawlers

The Dutch builder Doggersbank which has been building rugged steel-hulled offshore cruising boats since 1968 took the opportunity at the Cannes boat show to introduce two new models at 90 and 105 feet. Designed by the Dutch naval architects Vripack, the new designs add modern styling and updated arrangements to the line. In both designs, the bows are sharper than in the past, the sheer lines are crisper and the glazings in the hulls, salon and bridge are much larger with modern shapes. The boats will still have the Doggersbank DNA with welded steel hulls that can stand up to…

New Omikron 60 Blends Tradition with Modern Innovation

One of the boats that caught my eye while at the Cannes Boat Show was the Greek-built Omikron 60 power cruiser. The boat was designed by Juan Koyoumdjian who is best known for his stylish and fast cruising and racing sailboats. The builder’s brief to the designer was for a family cruiser that offers the quiet and peace of a sailboat with the luxury and conveniences of a powerboat. The Omikron 60 is the result and it’s traditional deck house and strong sheer line have echoes of Eastern Mediterranean boats from the 1950s. Missing is the acre of varnished mahogany,…

Protect Your Boat and Gear from a Lightning Strike

Of all the natural phenomena that we run into out on the water, lightning may be the most worrisome. A direct strike can blow a thru-hull right off the boat creating a gaping hole, it can fry your electrical panel and battery bank and it can start a fire. Even near misses can create a mess inside marine electronics and the autopilot, or in the alternator and starter motor on your engine, or it can blow up an inverter-charger. Lightning works in mysterious ways so you can never predict where it will go and what damage it can do. That…

Skyhawk Oversea Provides Efficient Monitoring systems for Your Boat

Since its founding in 2019, Skyhawk has become a leader in wireless, battery-operated, cellular-connected monitoring devices.  Last year, the company came out with its Oversea models designed for boats and they earned both an Innovation Award at the 2024 Miami Boat Show and a place on the NNMA’s Top 100 New Products list for 2024. Oversea monitors keep an eye on all the important aspects of a boat that has been left untended for a length of time. Monitors have specific responsibilities, so you can mix and match them as you deem necessary. You can have monitors for your battery…

Spring Commissioning Checklist from BoatUS

It’s that time of year again; your boat is calling, and it’s time to get ready for a new season. Here’s a thorough spring commissioning checklist from BoatUS to help you get underway:  Before You Launch Check the condition of antifouling paint and repaint if necessary. Inspect all hose clamps for rust and replace as necessary. Double clamp fuel lines and exhaust hoses with marine-rated stainless-steel hose clamps. While not technically required, it’s wise to double clamp whenever possible on all hoses — especially those below the waterline. Inspect all hoses for stiffness, rot, leaks and cracking, and replace any…

Furuno Unveils MFDs Using AI for Routes

Furuno has unveiled a new series of MFDs that feature AI-assisted routing to take you on the best, safest and most direct path to your destination. And if an obstacle appears along the way, Furuno’s AI Routing will create a new route around it in real time. The new AI feature is part of Furuno’s new NavNet TZtouchXL series of multi-function devices designed for the helm of cruising powerboats. The AI routing uses Furuno’s new TZ maps to create routes along channels and to inlets and marina entrances using the draft of your boat, chart data and other safety parameters.…

Destinations

Explore Indonesia’s Vast Archipelago on Boutique Luxury Yachts

Now here is something different for adventurous travelers, a boutique-style charter on mini-cruise vessels in Indonesia. The outfit is called Rascal Voyages and they have two vessels Rascal and Rebel, each with five cabins, that will take you to the most pristine islands, reefs and beaches on the planet. Indonesia is a vast country made up of thousands of islands. It is also one of the world’s most populous countries but most of the people live on Java and very few live on the outer islands where there is no infrastructure, no airports and no bridges. The only way to…

A Local’s Guide to Newport, RI at Boat Show Time

The Newport International Boat Show is only three weeks away with the kick-off on Thursday September 12. There are many reasons for coming to Newport for the show. It is the largest in-the-water show in the Northeast and features a broad selection of both sail and powerboats. Plus, acres of tents house hundreds of marine vendors of all types, many of whom offer great show discounts on their products and services. If you are coming to the show, you are also coming to the City by the Sea that is considered the sailing capital of America and has a new…

The Best Online Cruising Guide to the Maine Coast

The Cruising Club of America is a private, not-for-profit organization that has a membership of experienced cruisers and sailors, both power and sail. For CCA members and many like-minded adventurous cruisers around the world, the Maine coast is hallowed ground. Maine veterans will tell you that it would take a lifetime of summer cruises to get to know all of the coast from Kennebunkport to Machias. There are hundreds of rivers, coves, harbors, islands and coastal villages to explore. Yes, there are millions of lobster pot buoys in every harbor and thorofare. Yes, fog is a regular occurrence, particularly in…

New $43.5 Million Marina for Clearwater Beach

Here’s some good news for anyone cruising along the Gulf coast of Florida or even on the Great Loop. The City Council of Clearwater just voted to replace the aging  Clearwater Beach Marina with a new one with about 165 slips, modern amenities and a waterfront promenade. For the Clearwater Beach Marina, location is everything. It’s on Clearwater Bay, just south of the Memorial Causeway leading to the mainland and with no bridges between it and the Gulf, basically just around the corner. The ICW is on one side, and the iconic Clearwater beach is just three blocks away on…

Electronics

Heading Offshore? Rent an EPIRB from BoatUS

There’s no doubt that an EPIRB could save your life if you have a problem while cruising offshore. But new ones are expensive. BoatUS now offers an affordable program where you can rent one for $65 a week, plus $25 for shipping. Read about it here: SPRINGFIELD, Va., March 25, 2024 – The majority of the nation’s nearly 12 million recreational boaters don’t often travel far offshore, beyond cellular or VHF range. But for those who only do on a rare occasion, having an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) is important, allowing you to summon rescuers if there’s a…

C-MAP Updates Charts for North America

C-MAP just announced that it has updated its charts for North American with enhanced images and more detailed information. Founded in 1985, C-MAP has become a leader in digital marine cartography and cloud-based mapping. Its C-MAP App makes planning and navigating simple and easy. It’s made for your smart phone, tablet or personal computer, and you can personalize a chart with the layers you want and view it any time you want in the palm of your hand. You also can check the weather, create your own route, or rely on C-MAP’s Autorouting to do it for you. Now, the…

Simrad Unveils New ULTRAWIDE Displays

Simrad just introduced its new NSX ULTRAWIDE MFD that it says is the world’s first ultramarine display with all the features. Simrad says the new display has all the benefits of dual screens in one place, and is 63 percent wider than previous models. The NSX ULTRAWIDE results in an elevated-dash look that offers easier, faster and more efficient installation for OEM or existing boat owners with fewer cables and less set up. It is available in 12-inch and 15-inch screen sizes. The ULTRAWIDE will make its first appearance at the Düsseldorf show, starting Jan. 20, and in the U.S.…

Best New Electronics: NMEA Awards

The National Marine Electronics Association just named this year’s award winners at its annual conference in Orlando. The awards were chosen by NMEA members  who voted online in 17 categories for Product of Excellence Awards, while a panel of judges named winners of the NMEA Technology Award and Best New Product Award. The Best New Product Award celebrates a new product that was introduced at the conference and that the judges thought was best in innovation, benefit to boaters, practicality and value. The winner: Furuno’s FCV800 fishfinder, which the judges said was “a real powerhouse of a standalone fishfinder.” The…

Uber Europe Expands Its Yacht Share Services

Now, here’s something new from the market disrupters at Uber. Uber Europe, which pioneered facilitating Uber users to book yachts for day trips or more, announced this month that the service would be expanded to deluxe resort areas in Ibiza, Venice, Paris and Greece. A typical Uber Yacht experience in Ibiza would get you and up to seven friends aboard a private Sunseeker for eight hours of touring the island as well as swimming and other water sports. It would  cost $1,600 for the day and comes with a complimentary bottle of champagne. Uber also noted that the ride sharing…

The Moorings Opens New Base in La Paz

The Moorings, the worldwide charter giant, is adding a new location in La Paz, on the tip of the Baja peninsula in Mexico. The Moorings new base there, with sail and power charter boats, will open in time for the 2025 season. La Paz is at the entrance to the Sea of Cortez, which Jacques Cousteau called “the world’s aquarium” – for good reason. Also known as the Gulf of California, it’s one of the most biodiverse ecological regions in the world, and  its warm waters and low surfaces protect coral reefs, plankton and algae. The area was declared a…

Beneteau Building 400 New Boats for Le Boat

Beneteau just announced that it’s signed a 100 million Euros contract with Le Boat to supply it with a fleet of 400 new Delphia boats for its international boat rental fleet over the next ten years. Both companies said they wanted to expand their business in North America; Le Boat, which claims to be the largest boat rental company in Europe, already has an active boat rental and ownership program in Canada. Delphia is a Beneteau Group brand in Poland that makes river-cruising boats. The announcement said that Delphia will deliver 100 new boats to Le Boat in the next…

Ritz-Carlton Building New Luxury Cruise Ship

If you’re looking for a cruising vacation where somebody else does all the work, you can always charter a wide variety of power and sail boats with a crew in most of the popular yachting areas around the world. But if you really want to kick back and relax, move up a notch and take a look at the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. Ritz-Carlton already has one ship, the Evrima, in operation, but it’s building a second one, the Ilma, that’s bigger and has more living and relaxing space, at a yard in Saint-Nazaire, France. It’s scheduled to make its maiden…

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Editor Peter Janssen. *  Publisher  George Day. *. Partner Scot Akerman

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