Top Trawlers 

The following 15 trawlers are all vessels we’ve written about. They are listed in no particular order.

• Nordhavn 96: Built for an owner who desired to self-sufficiently while cruising the world, literally.
• Beneteau Grand Trawler 62: This trawler can travel nonstop for 1,000 nautical miles.
• Kadey-Krogen 52: This twin-engine-capable, all-oceans trawler is a solid fit for voyaging cruising couples.
• Bering Yachts B76: The B76 is the builder’s first fully custom trawler in this size range.
• Ranger Tugs R-43 Command Bridge: This vessel is equally comfortable at a 7-knot stroll or an 18-knot jog.
• Beneteau 48 Swift Trawler: Based on the builder’s Swift Trawler 47, this yacht has a resin-infused fiberglass hull.
• Kadey-Krogen 50 Open: The 50 Open can cruise at 6 knots nonstop for 5,000 nautical miles.
• Outer Reef 620 Trident: It has a three-stateroom layout and optional 600 hp Cummins diesels.
• Grand Banks 60 Skylounge: This yacht is efficient across a variety of cruising speeds.
• Krogen Express 52: Headroom to spare, two staterooms, a chef-ready galley and long range define this trawler yacht.
• Grand Banks 85 Skylounge: Grand Banks’ V-warp hull form makes for a level running attitude, seakindliness and long range.
• Vicem Yachts 82 Classic: Construction is in cold-molded, strip-planked mahogany with epoxy.
• Outer Reef 610 Motoryacht: Power on this Outer Reef is a pair of 500 hp John Deere 6090 diesels.
• Nordhavn 59 Coastal Pilot: Did someone say this is a 20-knot Nordhavn?
• Marlow 58E: A high level of customization and admirable performance are at the heart of the Marlow 58E.

Nordhavn 96

The Nordhavn 96 is the yacht builder’s second-largest yacht its 17-model fleet, which ranges from 41 to 120 feet length overall. (There is a new 112 on the drawing table.) The builder says the N96 is based on its earlier 86-footer with a 10-foot cockpit extension, which increases both main-deck, skylounge and below-deck volume. The N96 we reviewed was built by an owner who previously had an 86-foot Nordhavn, but with his plans for extended cruises to remote destinations, the 96 was the right size for his voyaging plans. In fact, since the owner took delivery of the boat, it has been on a continuous circumnavigation.

Quick Specifications

Beneteau Grand Trawler 62

Beneteau’s Grand Trawler 62 has 1,000-plus-mile range and 20-knot speed with twin 730 hp i6 MAN diesels. The Grand Trawler 62 is the builder’s flagship in its Trawler series, which also includes the Swift Trawler 35, Swift Trawler 41 Sedan,  Swift Trawler 41 Fly and Swift Trawler 48. Small touches set the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 apart. They include sea rails on all lockers to keep stowed food and gear in place, leather-wrapped interior handrails for security in a seaway, and leather drawer pulls like those found on larger yachts. Long-range cruising accommodations include a full-beam master stateroom aft, a forepeak VIP and twin-berth guest stateroom. A Quick X3 gyrostabilizer helps mitigate any potential rocking and rolling on rough days.

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Kadey-Krogen 52

The Kadey-Krogen 52 is the trawler-yacht builder’s smallest offering in its raised-pilothouse series, complete with a Portuguese Bridge. Owners can choose from either a two- or three-stateroom layout, and between a single-diesel engine or twin-diesel engines, for owners seeking redundancy. The standard engine is a 231 hp John Deere diesel. With the single-engine setup, draft is 5’5” and with twins it’s a shallower 4’6”. At 6 knots, range is an ocean-crossing 4,850 nautical miles. At 7 knots, it’s 3,300 nm. At 9 knots, it 1,700 nm. The builder states, “The entire Krogen 52 is built from only three molded pieces for maximized structural integrity. There are no additional secondary bonds or caulk joints that can inevitably cause issues. All deck and superstructures are cored and vacuum-bagged to maximize strength while minimizing weight.” Additionally, six longitudinal stringers enhance overall strength.

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Bering Yachts B76

Lemanja is the first custom boat that Bering has built in this size range. The yacht is notable for its steel hull and aluminum superstructure, and for its 4,000-nautical-mile-plus range with its twin 404 hp Cummins QSL9 diesel engines. As rugged as the Bering 76 is built on the outside, it also offers homelike comforts in its skylounge inside, offering panoramic views out large windows surrounding the space. Sole-to-ceiling glass offers similar views in the open-plan salon. Accommodations are fox six guests in three staterooms with a master stateroom and two guest staterooms, plus crew accommodations. In addition to its traditional diesel engines, the B76 has a solar-rechargeable battery bank for hybrid propulsion.

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Ranger Tugs R-43 Command Bridge

The Ranger Tugs R-43 Command Bridge is a long-distance cruiser with creature comforts. Our expert found the R-43 Command Bridge to be a solid candidate to cruise The Great Loop. We agree. Twin Volvo Penta IPS450 pod drives give the boat efficient low and high cruise speeds at 7 and 18 knots, respectively. For those that have work during their cruise, the R-43 Command bridge’s master stateroom is set up with an office with a desk. Long trips require extra stowage and a way to clean salty clothes, so on the R-43 Command Bridge there is a washer, dryer, auxiliary refrigerator/freezer and stowage under the dinette, which rises on electric rams. Voyagers who buy a R-43 Commander Bridge can opt for a Factory Delivery Experience, which is three days of instruction on Puget Sound, and includes in boat systems, handling and maintenance.

Quick Specifications

Beneteau Swift Trawler 48

The Beneteau Swift Trawler 48 has a 1,300-nautical-mile range at 8 knots, but can also speed away at 26 knots if the weather goes south in a hurry. Based on the builder’s 47-footer, the three-stateroom, two-head Swift Trawler 48 has a resin-infused fiberglass hull. Power is a pair of 425 hp Cummins diesels. The main-deck layout includes a galley aft setup, which is accessible to the cockpit. There, the seating and dining area can be fully enclosed, with tracks in place for side curtains. The helmsman is kept comfortable on long passages with a bolstered, pedestal bucket-style seat with a flip-up footrest. The Swift Trawler 48 we reviewed had upgraded 12-inch Raymarine HybridTouch displays (9-inch screens are standard).

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Kadey-Krogen 50 Open

Designed for serious extended cruising, Kadey-Krogen Yachts 50 Open provides owners with amenities that will enhance those longer passages. The galley is fitted with a Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer, a four-burner Wolf range, a microwave and an optional dishwasher. Unlike in many trawlers and their traditional pilothouse design, the galley is located on the same level as the helm and salon. Belowdecks is the master stateroom amidships with two hanging lockers, 12 cabinets, additional drawers for stowage and an en suite head, shower and two sinks. Forward of the master is an office. The 50 Open’s hull has soft chines and a curved after end, much like the characteristics of a sailboat built for cruising. The result is an efficient hull form that provides a gentle landing into troughs when the sea gets a temper. This trawler can cruise at 6 knots for 5,000 nautical miles; 7 knots for 3,000 nautical miles; 8 knots for 2,100 nautical miles; and 9 knots for 1,200 nautical miles.

Quick Specifications

Outer Reef 620 Trident

Outer Reef Yachts 620 Trident delivers a three-stateroom layout and optional 600 hp Cummins diesels that allow this vessel to approach a top hop of 21 knots. Cruising speed is a little over 16 knots, burning about 34 gallons of fuel per hour at 2,750 rpm. The amidships master stateroom has 6-foot-8-inch headroom, a walk-in closet and a shower enclosed in smoked glass. In the forepeak VIP stateroom, there are seven drawers, a hanging locker, a 31-inch Samsung TV and 7-foot headroom. The portside guest stateroom can convert to an office, too. The aft galley has a U-shape countertop, a three-burner electric cooktop, a Bosch microwave and a Vitrifrigo refrigerator and freezer. Cherry, walnut and oak are the available wood options.

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Grand Banks 60 Skylounge

It’s obvious after a quick peek inside the Grand Banks 60 Skylounge that the Grand Banks Yachts trademark external DNA is retained. The deck, cabin house and skylounge are all composed of infused carbon fiber, reducing weight aloft and creating a lower center of gravity. With twin 900 hp Volvo Penta D13 diesels, the 60 Skylounge can accelerate to 31 knots and cruise at about 25 knots. The 60 Skylounge can also travel up to 2,000 nautical miles at 10 knots on a 1,530-gallon fuel tank. Twin 1,000 hp Volvo Penta IPS1200s are also available.

Quick Specifications

Krogen Express 52

The Krogen Express 52 runs on twin 440 hp Yanmar diesels and can cruise at 8 knots for 1,680 nautical miles or at 16 knots for 500 nautical miles. Top hop:  22 knots. In the interior, Krogen Express has outfitted the 52 with a master stateroom and a guest stateroom. The former has a queen island berth, more than 7-foot headroom, hanging lockers and smaller cubbies to port and to starboard, and an en suite head with a molded fiberglass shower stall with a seat, a VacuFlush toilet and a granite countertop. A power lift elevates the berth and grants access to more stowage underneath. The Krogen Express 52’s salon has a 26-inch HD LED TV and a home-theater system, leather Stressless chairs to port and a built-in, L-shape settee to starboard. The galley boasts granite countertops, a three-burner Force 10 propane range with an oven, a refrigerator, a GE microwave oven, a deep Elkay sink and a pullout sprayer faucet. There is a Buff Ultraleather Stidd helm seat for extra comfort during long runs.

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Grand Banks 85 Skylounge

The Grand Banks 85 Skylounge comes in at more than 87 feet length overall and displaces 108,000 pounds, with a 22-plus-foot beam and an air draft of just under 26 feet. Owners can choose either a three- or four-stateroom layout. The standard motors are twin 1,000 hp Volvo Penta IPS diesels, twin 1,300 hp MAN straight-shaft diesels are optional. With the larger engines, owners can also choose an optional stern thruster, in addition to the standard bow thruster. With the IPS diesels, top speed is 26.5 knots and fuel burn is 100 gallons per hour, resulting in a range of 699 nautical miles. At a 21-knot cruise speed, fuel consumption drops to 57 gph, and range climbs to 972 nm. At a 9-knot jog, fuel burn falls to 9 gph, and the Grand Banks 85 Skylounge can cruise nonstop for about 2,500 nautical miles.

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Vicem 82 Classic Flybridge

The Vicem 82 Classic is a flybridge model built in cold-molded mahogany, which creates a stout hull form with reduced weight. The yacht is notable for its timeless Downeast lines and strong joiner work. For cruising enthusiasts, the Classic 82 Flybridge is powered with twin 900 hp Volvo Penta D13 diesels. The yacht has a top-end speed of 17.8 knots, and the cruising speed is 15 knots. At 9 knots, and considering a 10-percent fuel reserve, range is reportedly 1,100 nautical miles.  Accommodations three en-suite-equipped staterooms. The master stateroom is full-beam and amidships with a king-size berth is on centerline. The starboard-side guest stateroom and a forepeak VIP each have queen-size berths.

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Outer Reef 610 Motoryacht

Built for an enthusiastic cruising couple after a three-year boat search, the Outer Reef Yachts 610 Motoryacht (part of the builder’s Classic series), was customized with a fore-and-aft berth in the owners’ stateroom (as in, not athwartships), and berths rather than bunks in the smaller of two guest staterooms. This Outer Reef 610 was designed to be used as a liveaboard vessel, so the salon is not set up for dining (there are tables in the pilothouse, on the aft deck and on the bridge). A pair of swivel chairs in the salon face the built-in couch and the pop-up TV to port. The 610 is built with hand-laid fiberglass, PVC coring above the waterline, resin infusion and a vinylester barrier coat against osmosis. Power is twin 500 hp John Deere 6090 diesels turning ZF transmissions. The 610 tops out at about 13.5 knots with full tanks and 21 people aboard. The engines burn 20 gph at 1,800 rpm for 11 knots at 45 percent engine load. Those numbers should allow it to cross oceans without shortening engine life.

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Nordhavn 59 Coastal Pilot

Nordhavn has long been known for its stout circumnavigation-capable craft, and the Nordhavn 59 Coastal Pilot carries on the the tradition of a beefy build with addition of…speed. Twenty-knots-plus, actually. Twin 715 hp Cummins diesel inboards and a new semidisplacement hull form are said to be key to the performance equation. The Nordhavn 59CP has a 777-nautical-mile range at a 9.3-knot cruise, and a 255-nm range at its 20.3-knot top-end. Construction is a solid fiberglass hull bottom supported by full-length longitudinal stringers and a series of transversal supports for added backbone. High freeboard should keep the decks dry in a seaway, while rails keep the crew secure during transits. Nordhavn says the 59CP has a “CE category A unlimited offshore rating, ensuring the vessel has the seakeeping and strength capabilities to take on most serious coastal cruises up to 1,000 miles.”

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Marlow Yachts 58E

Following on the successful Marlow 57, the Marlow 58E was started from scratch on a blank sheet of paper. The essence of the 58E is that it has better performance and more internal and external volume than her predecessor. The centerline length grew 10 inches over the 57, but the waterline length increased 16 inches and the beam widened 4 inches. If you were to examine the two boats out of the water, you would see more bell-shaped forward sections making for a soft impact with the vee’d portion. Power options start with twin 575 hp Caterpillar C9 diesels, but the 58E we got aboard had beefier twin 1,015 hp Caterpillar C18 diesels. Top speed: 27.9 knots. At 8 knots, the Marlow 58E can cruise nonstop for 1,400 nautical miles.

Quick Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a trawler yacht?

A true trawler typically has a full-displacement hull form and robust construction to handle open-water operation, and it’s designed to operate self-sufficiently for long periods of time. They are slow-cruising vessels, but over the years, hybrid yachts called fast trawlers have emerged to offer displacement-speed operation as well as the ability to run at planing speeds when desired.

What is a full-displacement hull form?

A displacement-hull form is known is for its rounded nature and deep draft. Full-displacement vessels do not plane on the water, but rather push through the water. This hull design makes displacement-hull vessels incredibly seakindly, but it also makes them relatively slow (think 5, 6, 7, 8 knots) when compared to semidisplacement- and planning-hull designs.

Is a long-range cruiser the same as a trawler?

While all trawlers are certainly long-range cruisers, not all long-range cruisers are trawlers. True trawlers will have full-displacement hull designs and not all long-range cruisers have them.

The post Top 15 Trawlers for 2023 appeared first on Yachting.

If Mother Nature had been less obstinate, Miles Cherkasky might have continued to sail.

“I’ve been sailing since I was probably 14 years old, almost half a century of sailing,” he says, now in his 60s. “One day, I was doing a delivery from Baltimore down to Miami Beach where we have a slip, and there was no wind, and I was sitting there listening to my engine run, and I couldn’t go anywhere, and I thought, ‘This is stupid. Time to get a trawler.’”

But what kind of trawler? He and his wife, Laureen, knew they liked longer-distance, offshore cruising—after Miles retired back in 2007, they bought a 47-foot high-performance sailboat and cruised it from Nova Scotia to the Bahamas a few times—but they weren’t quite sure how to achieve a good cruising experience in a powerboat. That is, until the day Miles helped with the delivery of an Outer Reef.

“When they came out of the inlet, Miles was putting away his cup of coffee, getting ready, thinking there were going to be all these waves and it would be sloppy, but nobody around him was moving or getting prepared for these big seas,” Laureen recalls. “The ride was like glass. When he came home that day, he said, ‘We have to get an Outer Reef.’”

Just like that, the Cherkaskys became members of a club that has grown almost exponentially in recent years, as an increasing number of boaters realize they can live their long-distance cruising dreams with the kinds of creature comforts that used to be limited to land. Today’s offshore-capable power yachts for cruising couples and families, built by companies such as Outer Reef, Nordhavn and Kadey-Krogen, are being built for go-anywhere adventure. They’re also being outfitted for the specific types of adventures that owners want to undertake.

“These boats are not marina queens,” says Jeff Druek, president and CEO of Outer Reef. “We talk a lot about equipment on board, things like inverters, solar panels, how many generators, what size generators, what type of air conditioning—things of that nature. Every piece of equipment in the boat is talked about, in terms of how they plan to use their boat, how far they’re going to go afield, how long they’re going to be away from the dock and where they’re going to be cruising.”

Nordhavn President Dan Streech says the way today’s bluewater hulls are being built and outfitted is making adventure cruising a real option for people who just a couple of decades ago would have feared it. The kinds of discomfort and danger that used to be part and parcel of crossing oceans are now minimized by modern construction, communication tools and redundant systems, so much so that all kinds of people feel comfortable cruising far and wide.

“You’re seeing normal people who in no way would’ve been sailboat material 35 years ago,” Streech says. “They have the chart plotters and Starlink. They’re sitting on the open ocean doing Facetime with their grandchildren. They’re not disconnecting from the world. It’s not necessary to have physical sacrifices or the emotional trauma of cutting themselves off. They have washers and dryers, wine coolers, TV, communication as they’re heading down to the South Pacific, and they are part of a huge social network, even just inside the Nordhavn world. We have 600 boats. The owners’ group—there are probably 20, 30, 40 posts a day with people who have a question. That feeling of isolation is gone.”

John Ellis took delivery of his Nordhavn 68, Dragon, in 2021 with a vision of following in his parents’ wake, only in a less-stressful way.

“I have a lot of sailing experience. My parents were cruisers,” Ellis says. “I spent time on board with them in the South Pacific. I’ve been on long passages with slanted decks. That wasn’t really what I was looking for. I loved those years—they were wonderful—but I’m looking for a different experience.”

A big part of the offshore powerboat experience for Ellis is fishing, so he customized his Nordhavn with extra bait tanks and rod stowage, along with two Seakeepers: an SK9 and an SK16. “When we stop and we’re fishing in the open ocean, we need to keep the motion down on the boat,” Ellis says. “The ocean has a tendency to want to rearrange the furniture on these big boats. Now, we tap a button, and it’s just as solid and stable as it can be. Nobody’s mad at me, and nothing’s breaking. No plates are crashing inside.”

That change in the way bluewater boats are built, Streech says, is also changing the profile of offshore cruisers. Back in the day, the typical Nordhavn customer was a husband who wanted to point the bow offshore and a wife being dragged along for the white-knuckle ride. Not so today, Streech says: “Just a shower alone was a luxury 35 years ago, and now you’re standing in a stone shower with gorgeous fixtures and a heated towel bar. What we’re seeing more and more is teamwork. A couple comes in, and she’s not looking at her phone half-mad because they just had a fight in the car. Not at all. She’s right there on the team and leading it sometimes. She has deduced that this is a path where they can share something, have an adventure and travel the world.”

Ellis says that’s exactly the plan that he and his wife share, now that both their kids are off to college. Their intent is to complete a 10-year circumnavigation.

“We’re going to go to the Caribbean and then come up the Eastern Seaboard, then go up to Nova Scotia, then back down to Florida after hurricane season next year, then Bermuda to the Azores, then get to Portugal and figure out whether we want to go up the Thames for fish and chips or whether we want to go around the corner to France,” he says. “It’s inevitable that we’re going to do both. My wife wants to do all the things, and we’re super happy with all the confidence we’ve been able to build aboard the boat so far.”

Sandy Peretsman says it was actually his wife’s idea to buy the Kadey-Krogen 48 that they named Third Child. She’s still winding down her career, but he retired this past January and started thinking harder about what comes next. They’d always had smaller boats and chartered larger ones in destinations such as the British Virgin Islands; he wanted them to have a bluewater-capable boat of their own, one that would let them do more as owner-operators. “My wife pushed me to do this a few years ago when I was turning 60,” Peretsman recalls, adding that his wife told him, “You don’t want to be one of those people who say, ‘I’m going to do it,’ and you don’t.”

So, they’re doing it. They base Third Child out of Charleston, South Carolina. So far, they’ve gone as far south as the Bahamas, and they’re thinking about heading up to New England, as well as cruising farther south into the Caribbean, as they become more comfortable aboard. “You can island-hop your way all the way to the Virgin Islands without ever driving more than 200 miles at a time, and we already drive that along the East Coast,” he says. “My personal preference is offshore because there’s a lot less traffic. It’s more relaxing. You don’t have to worry about how deep the ocean is or running aground, or boats passing you and crossing you. It’s just a big, blue patch, so you can go where you want, as you want.”

The more time he spends running his Kadey-Krogen, Peretsman says, the more he’s thinking about increasing his cruising distances. “I can go from Charleston to Europe and most of the way back on one tank of gas,” he says. “These boats will go 4,000 or 5,000 miles on a single tank of fuel. It doesn’t suit everybody, but if you want to be out there, it’s a wonderful boat for it.”

Streech says that for Nordhavn owners, ocean crossings aren’t even big news anymore. The company has had 13 boats complete circumnavigations so far; one of them did it three times. Over at Outer Reef, Druek says, so many people want to cruise off the beaten track that the resale value of the bluewater-capable boats stays high. Some of them, he says, he’s resold eight or 10 times.

It’s a testament to how far powerboat building has come that adventures so impressive are increasingly common. “To the Marquesas, that’s 3,000 miles,” Streech says. “It’s shocking, it’s mind-numbing that if you looked down from an airplane, you probably couldn’t even see the boat, and these boats make it. They do it over and over and over again.”

The Core Elements

Nordhavn President Dan Streech says that for distance cruising, “there are basics that have to be adhered to in terms of stability, structure, fuel capacity, fuel handling. All those things need to be there. They don’t get talked about that much anymore. They’re a given for us now at Nordhavn.”

Having It All on Board

Production Manager Fran Morey says Kadey-Krogen owners typically stay on board at least six months each year. “They want everything that’s the latest and greatest, and they also want the creature comforts of home,” he says.

The post Building Bluewater Cruising Yachts appeared first on Yachting.

Beneteau’s Grand Trawler 62 has admirable fuel consumption and long range, but the most important number you need to know is 24. That’s how many wine bottles fit in this yacht’s chiller, and it might govern the range of your adventures more than something like mere diesel fuel.

The Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 itself is kind of like a fine French wine: robust and full of fun, but with hidden notes that become apparent upon closer examination. Take the cockpit, for example. Instead of the usual forward-facing settee, the 62 has an L-shaped settee with a folding table tucked into the forward port corner. Thus, the view is not of the salon, but aft through clear Lucite panels in the railing—a much more pleasant panorama. And set up against the house and protected by teak-slat “fashion plates,” the settee is out of the wind and sun. For boarding, easy steps lead from the hydraulic transom platform, which has a ladder that unfolds automatically when the platform is lowered.

Thoughtful details extend beyond creature comforts. In the cockpit, there are husky mooring bitts on each corner with warping winches and roller chocks. There’s also a tidy opening to stash stray lines so no one trips. Another welcome design element is the two separate stairways to the bridge, both gentle with good rails. One leads from the cockpit, while the other is just abaft the lower helm so the skipper can easily scamper to and from the bridge.

The Alpi-veneer, gloss-oak salon is light and bright, with a U-shaped sofa aft facing a pop-up TV. The galley is amidships for minimal motion, which should delight chefs balancing full pots. The galley, in keeping with European tradition, is separated with full bulkheads. They can have openings, and snack grabbers can get in via a sliding door. On Euro versions of this yacht, the galley bulkheads have glass windows. Amenities include a four-burner Siemens cooktop, a Miele dishwasher and a full-size Vitrifrigo fridge. A sliding door connects the galley to the side deck and makes provisioning easy. An L-shaped settee with a dining table is opposite the galley on the pilothouse level for casual meals.

At the helm, the skipper and a companion have upholstered bucket seats. Their raised position allows a commanding view through the forward-raked windshield, above triple Raymarine displays. Bow and stern Side-Power thrusters—with a “hold” feature for docking—pair with the Aventics joystick controller. (A mini helm station is in the cockpit.) A sliding door to starboard should make shorthanding easy, with another large bitt just outside. A settee for guests is tucked to port by the helm, enabling them to watch the action.

A curving stairwell next to the helm leads to the lower foyer, with the full-beam master stateroom located aft. The 62’s almost 18-foot beam is put to good use, and a nearly king-size island berth offers stowage underneath. Adding to this stowage are six drawers and lockers to starboard, and a vanity to port. Natural light is courtesy of rectangular hullside windows. The en suite head has a stall shower with a Lucite door and seat. There is 6-foot-8-inch headroom, and the space exudes luxury.

Next off the foyer is a twin-berth guest stateroom to port. The VIP stateroom is forward with an angled berth and an en suite head that doubles as a day head.

The flybridge is full-beam, with a U-shaped dinette, space for chaises aft, and a bar and grill abaft the twin helm bucket seats. A double-wide settee is to port, and a 6-by-11-foot sunroof opens in the fiberglass hardtop.

At the foredeck are sun pads, two 4-by-3-foot clamshell lockers for deck gear and fenders, and the anchor windlass stowed in a locker, as well as a snubbing capstan atop the coaming for dock lines. Teak-planked decks make for secure footing, and the 20-inch-wide side decks have high bulwarks—up to 4 feet, 2 inches forward of the helm—for safety when handling lines. There also are double-welded rails forward.

Power for the 62 is a pair of 730 hp MAN i6 diesels. The engine room is laid out for owner-operators: It has diamond-plate soles for security, the engines are a whopping 50 inches apart, and there is 5-foot-10-inch headroom. The 62 I got aboard also had a 7.5 kW Onan genset, which was equally serviceable. Access to the engine room is via the crew quarters, which have crisscross berths and separate shower and head compartments.

Underway in the Gulf Stream, we saw lumpy leftover seas with a few 4-to-6-footers mixed in, and the 62 ate it up. This yacht had an optional Quick MC2 X3 gyrostabilizer. Even when the captain put us beam on to the seas, the 62 remained as stable as a table. The most devout landlubber’s stomach could enjoy this ride, which, despite the lumps, was at just over 20 knots when desired.

The Grand Trawler 62 is the largest vessel in Beneteau’s power fleet, and the builder has raised its own bar for finishing and details. The yacht is delivered with a full set of dishes and flatware, so all owners need to bring is a toothbrush. And oh, yes, the 24 bottles of wine.

Grand or Swift

Beneteau debuted its Swift Trawlers in 2003. So far, 1,300 of the hulls have been built. The full- displacement Grand Trawler is aimed at the voyaging set, with a range of 1,045 nautical miles at 9 knots (burning 7.9 gph), although it can hit 20 knots when needed.

Details, Details

Small touches set the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 apart and make it one of the more luxurious trawlers on the market. They include sea rails on all lockers to keep stowed food and gear in place, leather-wrapped interior handrails for security in a seaway, and leather drawer pulls like those found on larger yachts.

On an Even Keel

Quick is an Italian stabilizer company that’s been in the marine market since 1983 and that builds marine electronics, refrigeration, air conditioning and electrical systems. It established Quick USA to provide technical assistance. The Quick X3 gyro produces 3,900 newton meters (2,876 foot-pounds) of torque with a spool-up time of 10 minutes.

Take the next step: beneteau.com

The post Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 Reviewed appeared first on Yachting.

Bering Yachts has released the first images of the B76 Lemanja, which is the first custom design the yard has built smaller than 78 feet length overall.

Lemanja is designed for bluewater exploring and longer voyages, making it a top trawler choice. The yard says: “This boat has been constructed as a good house. Lemanja is surprisingly spacious and comfortable for her length. Her state-of-the-art design is optimized to provide the owner with full operation autonomy. With this homey feeling, you might even forget that you are traversing an ocean on a yacht.”

Accommodations are for six guests. The yard says it paid special attention to noise-reduction on board, stabilization systems and use of alternative power to reduce the yacht’s environmental footprint.

What’s the main power package? Twin Cummins QSL 9 engines for a maximum speed of 12 knots and a cruising speed of 9 knots. Range is reportedly more than 4,000 nautical miles.

Where to learn more: go to beringyachts.com

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I looked around the flybridge of the Grand Banks 85 Skylounge and counted 14 people as the yacht cruised comfortably at around 21 knots just off the coast of Cannes, France. There was room to spare on this deck inside and out, with an L-shaped lounge, a Vitrifrigo ice maker, and a drawer fridge and freezer creating an alfresco oasis with ocean vistas.

Grand Banks CEO Mark Richards was at the bench-style helm seat forward and to starboard, with a view of three Garmin multifunction displays illustrating all mission-critical data on board the yacht and beyond the bow. He had unobstructed sightlines through three gently raked windows. The sky lounge’s retractable roof was open, the side windows were open, the aft door was open, and the cross breeze coming off the salt was downright balmy.

It was quite a memorable moment as I got to know the Malaysia-based builder’s new flagship. In sheer size and scope, the Grand Banks 85 makes a statement. This yacht comes in at more than 87 feet length overall and displaces 108,000 pounds, with a 22-plus-foot beam and an air draft of just under 26 feet. It’s a formidable cruiser.

It’s also eminently warm and inviting. The teak-sole cockpit can be accessed by stairs flanking the transom off the full-beam, integral swim platform, which can stow a 14-foot AB Inflatables Alumina tender with a 40 hp outboard. (The tender can also stow aft on the sky-lounge deck, and be launched via davit.) In the cockpit, a bench seat is set against the transom, and loose chairs fill out the alfresco dining area for six or more. The entire area is protected from the elements by the sky-lounge overhang.

A door off the cockpit to port provides access to the salon, where an abundance of glass in the 85 Skylounge’s superstructure creates a bright interior. The salon’s 7-foot headroom enhances the sense of volume. There is a U-shaped settee to starboard, forming a guest conversation nook, with two barrel chairs to port. A walkway to port leads up an 8-inch step from the salon, providing access to the formal dining table for six guests to starboard.

The main-deck interior has a relaxed feeling, created via natural light coming in from the nearly 360 degrees of windows, through indirect lighting, and from the use of satin-finish teak. Standing in the salon, I had an unimpeded view from the cockpit door through the windows forward on the port side.

There’s an open-style, reverse-angled stairway to port, leading to the sky lounge, while a bulkhead forward of the dining space to starboard separates the galley. Since this is a yacht that will likely have crew, the galley is set up for chef-level meal prep with a Miele oven, a four-burner electric cooktop, a Panasonic microwave, a Liebherr fridge and freezer, a Nespresso machine and a nearly 18-inch-deep, pull-out pantry for serious summer-cruising provisions. There is also a docking station located here with side-deck access to starboard via a pantograph door.

Five steps down from the salon and galley is a landing with access to a day head with a shower stall, which is a precursor to the accommodations spaces. Owners can choose from several three- or four-stateroom setups. This owner chose to give up a full-beam master stateroom and instead get an additional stateroom for his grandkids. The layout of this amidships master includes an en suite head to port with his-and-hers sinks. There is also an average 6-foot-9-inch headroom, a 42-inch Sony TV, two closets, a table with seating forward of the berth, and a cleverly concealed piano. (Yes, a piano.)

In the full-beam layout, the head is set abaft the berth, and there is a walk-in closet that’s also abaft the berth, to port.

The grandkids’ stateroom—next to the master and to port—has two bunks. There is also a forepeak VIP with an en suite head. Abaft that VIP and to starboard is the fourth guest stateroom, with twin berths and an en suite head.

Two crew cabins, a crew mess, a galley and a head are aft with engine-room access. Owners have choices for engines too: The standard motors are twin 1,000 hp Volvo Penta IPS diesels, but owners can also have twin 1,300 hp MAN straight-shaft diesels. With the larger-engine option, owners can also choose an optional stern thruster, in addition to the standard bow thruster.

Some other notable options include a Seakeeper gyrostabilizer, Victron solar panels for the flybridge hardtop, a passerelle, Garmin electronics, KVH satellite and a 23-bottle wine chiller.

This 85 Skylounge had the IPS diesels, which provide a top hop of 26.5 knots, according to the builder. At top speed, fuel burn is 100 gallons per hour, resulting in a range of 699 nautical miles. At the vessel’s 21-knot cruise speed, fuel consumption drops to 57 gph, and range climbs to 972 nm. At a 9-knot jog, fuel burn falls to 9 gph, and the 85 Skylounge can cruise nonstop for about 2,500 nm.

A timeless exterior design, today’s technology, and a hull form penned for seakindliness, efficiency, comfort and performance make the Grand Banks 85 Skylounge a thoroughly modern yacht ready to take adventurous cruisers waypoint-hopping until they feel like stopping. Or not.  

Shallow-Water Access

The Grand Banks has a 4-foot-11-inch draft with Volvo Penta IPS diesels, and a 4-foot-1-inch draft with straight-shaft MANs. In either scenario, the yacht is primed for the Bahamas, cruising and exploring with the ability to access most anywhere an owner may want to go. This is a great trawler for the island hopper.

Built for Blue Water

The Grand Banks 85 Skylounge has an infused, foam-cored, E-glass hull, with the deck and superstructure built via infused carbon fiber. According to the builder, all bulkheads and furniture are also structurally bonded to the hull, enhancing overall strength even further.

The Range

The 85 Skylounge is Grand Banks’ largest model, but the builder also offers 54- and 60-foot flybridge or sky-lounge yachts, as well as 44- and 60-foot Eastbay express cruisers. All these models run on the same V-warp hull form.

Serious Seakeeping

Under CEO Mark Richards, Grand Banks has implemented its patented V-warp semidisplacement hull design across its fleet, including this 85-footer. Starting with a fine entry, the deadrise transitions with notable flare amidships, which helps “roll water away” from the hull’s surface. Farther aft, the deadrise reduces to 6 to 8 degrees, adding stability and lift, and resulting in a vessel with little to no bow rise when throttling up. The hull design also enhances overall performance and efficiency, and leaves a flat wake. 

Take the next step: grandbanks.com

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Feeling the command behind the wheel of a yacht is almost unmatched. The boat is under the control of the skipper, and where it goes is entirely up to who’s at the wheel. Whether you’re seeking a premium dayboat for the weekends, a flybridge model to feel the salt or a long-range cruiser, there’s something here for all on-the-water enthusiasts. Here are nine owner-operator yachts under 100 feet that are ready for a new season on the brine.

Maritimo M55

As we turned the bow north, the Maritimo M55 met 6- to 8-footers, with some 10s mixed in. Our captain, Shawn Minihan, didn’t hesitate when he pushed the throttles down. After that point, we regularly went astronaut (you know, totally weightless) on more than a few launchings at 20-plus knots.

The M55 was a rock, cleaving the seas even though we were sluiced with solid water onto the windscreen of the enclosed bridge. There was not a squeak or groan even though we were moving somewhere around 35 tons of yacht into the air and then back into deep, green-water valleys. — Chris Caswell, “Maritimo’s Sea-Tamer: the M55”

Jeanneau DB/43

Powered with a pair of 380 hp Volvo Penta D6 Duoprop sterndrives, the Jeanneau DB/43 I got aboard topped out at 32 to 33 knots at two-thirds load with 39 percent fuel, 100 percent water and seven people aboard. At a 25-knot cruise, the engines burned about 29 gph, which translates to a theoretical range of 170 nautical miles. At 8 knots, expect 340 nautical miles.

The yacht felt nimble at the wheel and turned tightly. The Michael Peters-penned hull form romped through the lively seas. Close-quarters maneuvering with the joystick was easy as well. These latest sterndrives and their electronic clutches are streets away from the old, clunky installations of the past. They slip in and out of gear smoothly. — Phil Draper, “Jeanneau’s DB/43 Reviewed”

Sunseeker Predator 65

Based on the same hull as its sistership, the 65 Sport Yacht, the Sunseeker Predator 65 has an even purer profile. It eliminates features such as the 65 Sport Yacht’s upper deck, extra stairs, and sports-fly setup with a low-slung driving position, and instead offers a sliding carbon-fiber-and-glass sunroof—which means a proper open-yacht vibe on the main deck. There’s also a foredeck terrace and various cockpit furniture choices, along with a swim platform that can combine with the garage to create a beach club. Suffice it to say, during the day, the outdoors is awesome. — Phil Draper, “Sunseeker Predator 65 Reviewed”

Absolute Yachts 56 Fly

It’s hard to give us more without sacrificing what we already have and want to keep, but that’s exactly what the Absolute Yachts 56 Fly has achieved. It falls in the boatbuilder’s lineup between this past year’s 60 Fly debut and next year’s 52 Fly, and it’s a yacht with serious personality. This Italian-built yacht is, as the builder says, all about charisma.

The 56 Fly has a snub-nosed bow and big windows forward that, to my mind, look like the eyes of a sea turtle. Those full-height picture windows to the sides benefit hugely from notched, cut-down bulwarks, as does the aft deck from the fretted quarter rail. These design elements are all about boosting the views out and underscoring the connection to the sea. — Phil Draper, “Reviewed: Absolute Yachts 56 Fly”

Beneteau Swift Trawler 48

For traditional trawler enthusiasts, the Beneteau Swift Trawler 48 offers a range of 1,300 nautical miles at a leisurely 6.7 knots, or 1,000 nm at 8 knots. Owners can run nonstop from New York to Miami or San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

And yet, with the twin 425 hp Cummins diesels on the Swift Trawler 48 that I got aboard (380 hp Cummins are standard), owners also can scamper for home at 26 knots, if foul weather threatens or reservations for dinner ashore are waiting.

In other words, yachtsmen can have the best of both worlds: range when wanted, speed when needed. — Chris Caswell, “Beneteau’s Swift Trawler 48 Reviewed”

Azimut Verve 42

Blasting off waves, the Azimut Verve 42 landed softly thanks to the 22.5-degree transom deadrise and Michael Peters hull form. Yes, there was spray, but most of it was thrown aside, courtesy of double strakes and a wide spray chine/rail. We were in flat water long enough to see a top speed of 45 knots, and then the Gulf Stream dictated our speeds while we occasionally pushed the envelope. — Chris Caswell, “Azimut Verve 42 Reviewed”

Viking Yachts 64 Convertible

The cockpit’s uncluttered layout is the result of thousands of hours of experience aboard other Vikings in big-game tournaments around the globe. The 64C I got aboard had a leaning post/rod holder that bolted into an aluminum backing plate laminated in the cockpit sole, with double-hatch fish boxes on each side. Abaft that, a rounded teak cap rail held a livewell. Overlooking the whole scene was a mezzanine for crew to keep an eye on the spread, along with tackle stowage and a cold box. This 64C also had a Dometic ice machine on the port side for chilling down the fish boxes. — Chris Caswell, “Reviewed: Viking Yachts 64 Convertible”

Hinckley Yachts 35

This 35-footer has notable speed, thanks in part to a pair of optional 350 hp Mercury outboards. The 35 I got aboard made 40 knots on the pins running at 6,000 rpm with a full load of fuel and a half-tank of water. This thoroughbred-level gallop burns 60 gallons per hour. At top speed—and considering a 10 percent fuel reserve—range is about 180 nautical miles. At 4,000 rpm and a 24-knot cruise speed, fuel burn plummets to 23.5 gph and range jumps to 276 nautical miles.

It’s admirable performance when you consider that those engines are pushing a boat displacing 13,174 pounds. Hinckley also offers Yamaha outboards, and the 35’s standard engines are twin 300s, from either Mercury or Yamaha. At press time, Hinckley had sold 15 hulls, and all the owners had picked the bigger engines, Bryant says. — Patrick Sciacca, “Hinckley Yachts 35 Review”

Riva 68 Diable

A pantograph-framed canvas awning protects most of the aft deck when desired. The whole space forms one big, open main-deck lounge, effectively seamless from the swim platform through to the helm console. As with the smaller Dolceriva and Rivale hardtops, the 68 Diable incorporates air-conditioning ducts, but there’s still plenty of headroom beneath—at least 6 feet, 6 inches. The cockpit furniture that isn’t optional is symmetrical on each side of a central corridor. Two L-shaped sofas extend along each side, with a dining table to port (this table could be specified to starboard instead, or on both sides). On Hull No. 1, this table is mahogany and inlaid with the Riva logo. It’s on a pedestal than can rise or drop at the flick of a switch, creating a day bed. A pop-up TV is abaft the observer bench to starboard. — Phil Draper, “Riva 68 Diable Review”

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What’s an ideal boat for cruising North America’s Great Loop? Answers abound, but the Ranger Tugs R-43 Command Bridge makes a strong case.

Built for the Pacific Northwest, the R-43 CB that I got aboard proved rugged and able for rough, near-coastal waters. Twin Volvo Penta IPS450 pod drives give the boat efficient low and high cruise speeds at 7 and 18 knots, respectively, combined with a 3-foot-6-inch draft.

In the pilothouse, the helm has Garmin and Volvo Penta electronics displays, along with video cameras to monitor the engine room and aft deck. The throttle/shift levers and joystick are alongside the skipper’s seat, and a sliding door leads to the starboard deck. Volvo Penta’s Dynamic Positioning System is optional. A 7.5 kW Westerbeke genset fueled by a 30-gallon diesel tank provides AC power.

The master stateroom has an island queen berth, an office with a desk, and an enclosed head with a shower. The combination pilothouse and salon is bright and open, with a galley, dinette and lounge (the guest stateroom is beneath).

The R-43 CB’s cockpit and beamy swim platform create an adaptable outdoor living space. Three insulated lazarette hatches on electric rams provide access to the engines and pod drives. The cockpit’s focal point is a pair of three-person lounges with tables that can face forward side by side, rotate to face each other with the tables coming together, or turn aft side by side for watching sunsets. The cockpit also has a sink and ice maker to port and steps to the command bridge. Tucked under the lower step’s hinged tread is an after helm with a joystick for docking.

The upper deck accommodates a 12-foot RIB with a 20 hp outboard and davit. The command bridge has a fully equipped helm, seating for eight, a sink, refrigerator and grill. An optional Bimini top shades the space.

The owners of the R-43 Command Bridge that I got aboard recommend the optional Factory Delivery Experience, including three days of instruction in boat systems, handling and maintenance on Puget Sound conducted by Ranger’s customer-service team. As you read this, the boat and its well-trained owners will be making their way around this classic circuit.

Cruising In Comfort

Home-type amenities in the salon include a leather recliner, a great addition for living aboard. Likewise, the master stateroom has an office with a desk large enough for a laptop, a printer and file storage. The R-43 CB’s U-shaped galley has meal-prep counter space, a butcher block, a propane stove with a broiler oven, a double sink and a pantry lazarette. The R-43 CB is a classic trawler with all the bells and whistles.

Weather or Not

I got a good look at the R-43 CB with northeast winds in the midteens, 2- to 3-foot seas with short periods, and spitting rain. The bow threw spray, but vertical windows and Rain-X cleared the view, even without the triple wipers engaged. The optional Quick MC2²X gyrostabilizer kept boat roll to a minimum. 

All Access

Ranger Tugs engineers fit a guest stateroom with standing headroom, a queen berth, and an enclosed head with a shower beneath the starboard lounge.    

Take the next step: rangertugs.com

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The year was 1978. Fiberglass boatbuilding was exploding in popularity, and Taiwan was the fiberglass capital of the world—the majority of its yards building hulls for other boat brands as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Taiwanese entrepreneur Alex Chueh came into ownership of a fiberglass production facility and was consequently connected to American designer and naval architect Ed Monk Jr. This business connection formed the foundation of what would become one of the world’s leading production yachtbuilders. 

Classic Trawler Days

From 1978 through the late 1990s, the Ocean Alexander offering grew from 38- and 39-foot trawlers to the extremely popular 58 and 64 pilothouse motoryachts, with a few larger one-off and custom builds in between. The Classico trawler line was a mainstay in the OA design, which enjoyed tremendous popularity on the US West Coast for its seakindly design, sturdy build, high-caliber engineering and considerable storage.

By the mid-2000s, Ocean Alexander remained a family-owned business, operating under the direction of Alex’s son Johnny, with Richard Allender serving as director of US operations. The market was changing, motoryachts were becoming bigger and bigger, and the company focus was on anticipating the future market trends and being prepared to move in a new direction, which included expanding into new boating markets such as South Florida and along the Eastern Seaboard. OA launched its first 100-plus-foot model—a 98-foot Ed Monk design that became a 102—in 2006. Monk’s traditional design, while appealing to the sturdy nature of West Coast boating, wasn’t quite what the East Coast lifestyle was after, so OA began working with London-based designer Evan K. Marshall on a brand-new line for a new market.

European Flair

Ocean Alexander took the East Coast by storm with its line of 112- to 120-foot series of Evan K. Marshall-designed yachts. The series enjoyed tremendous popularity in the mid to late 2000s, with the flair of European design blending with durable vacuum-infused construction, the sturdy OA trawler DNA, and the reputable OA brand name appealing to a wide swath of boaters. OA was now importing directly into Florida, and owners of larger motoryachts began paying attention.

The Kaohsiung-based shipyard had expanded to meet production and size demands, as the Evan Marshall designs would extend up to a 135-footer. But the true turning point for the yard came when Marshall introduced OA to Christensen Shipyards, the Vancouver, Washington-based composites superyacht builder, and in 2013, the two decided to collaborate on a 120-foot build—a hull that would be shipped to Taiwan to be completed under the direction of Christensen’s staff.

“Having two builders collaborate on a build like this spun the industry on its head,” recalls OA vice president of marketing Sally Doleski, “But the process was a fantastic learning experience for both of us; it enabled our Taiwan factory to learn new skills such as floor inlays, and we were able to share some production efficiencies with Christensen. It was a turning point for OA.”

The experiences and skills acquired in that joint build were applied to OA’s 80-foot range, and the yachts’ look and feel were elevated instantly. This in turn increased OA’s brand awareness on the East Coast, particularly in Florida. 

The OA Revolution

An expanded shipyard, expanded market reach and evolved designs inspired more creativity, and in 2018, the builder introduced the 27-meter 90 Revolution: a high-volume, high-style design with a dramatic vertical bow and sweeping metallic radar arch. This next step in the brand’s evolution was an abrupt departure from the traditional V-shaped hull and vertical flare of the classic yachts, and the company quickly realized that clients would either love or hate this bold new design. The interior volume afforded by the vertical bow design allowed the accommodations and amenities of a 112- or 120-footer, however, and the series that now spans the 27R, 30R and 35R gained a following, particularly in the Florida and California markets. The 35R won “Best of Show” at the 2021 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, continuing to cement Ocean Alexander’s place in luxury yacht building.

To Each Their Own

To appeal to all of its distinct boating markets, the Ocean Alexander motoryacht series today includes the Revolution (R) Series, which appeals particularly to the company’s more European-focused clients who appreciate elegant styling, a luxurious interior and a sturdy build.

The Legend (L) Series (32L, 37L) received an update at the hands of Evan Marshall but offers more of the classic OA exterior styling, and the new Explorer (E) Series has recently debuted with the first 28E, which brings a long-range cruiser with a multifunctional beach platform to the market.

What Ocean Alexander has focused on over the past four decades is the lifestyle of its owners, and each OA series is designed to suit the intended market. Craftsmanship in woodwork and stonework remains a strength of this storied builder, and the OA designs feature superior stainless work and oversize components for increased redundancy.

That market focus came to a crescendo during the 2022 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show when OA unveiled the Puro Series, a stunning megayacht line designed by famed Italian designer Giorgio Cassetta and intended for the global market—the first of which will be the 35 Meter Puro (35P), debuting at FLIBS 2023. 

“When you grow too fast, you can have a problem if you don’t have the right facilities,” Doleski says. “We delayed entering the European market until we had the distribution network, yard connection and service facilities set up.”

With this well-rounded scope of designs, strategic market outreach and new global presence, Ocean Alexander is poised for the next decade as a world-leading production yachtbuilder.

To learn more about Ocean Alexander, visit oceanalexander.com.

The post The Ocean Alexander Edge appeared first on Yachting.

Bob Giles had a goal. Whereas most yachtsmen who head to French Polynesia aim for Tahiti or Bora Bora in the Society Islands, he was instead anchored in a less-traveled archipelago called the Tuamotus—trying to find one particular dolphin.

“Where we are here, there was a dolphin that swam up to me, in this pass, and let me pet her like a puppy dog,” Giles said in mid-May. “Came right up to me, and I really didn’t know what to do. I started petting her back, and she rolled over for me to rub her belly. After six, seven, eight minutes, she swam up to the surface to get some air. So, I’m hoping she’s still there.”

Such are the goals a yacht owner can set when he owns a boat built by Nordhavn. The brand has been synonymous with go-anywhere, ocean-crossing powerboats since 1989, when it completed Hull No. 1 of the N46. Today, the company makes some of the best trawlers and offers models from 41 to 148 feet length overall and routinely sees owners cruising them everywhere from the Panama Canal to Australia.

Giles became part of the Nordhavn family about a decade ago, when he bought a Nordhavn 86 on the brokerage market. He liked the boat well enough but never got any farther than the Caribbean. He’s not sure exactly where, but it was somewhere in those islands—maybe the Grenadines, maybe St. Maarten—where, he says, “I just decided that I wanted to go around the world.”

As the chairman of Giles Automotive, he had the ability to do it. He ordered a Nordhavn 96 and took delivery five years ago at the factory in China. That’s the moment his circumnavigation began aboard the N96 VivieRae. It’s been continuing ever since.

“I want to take my time,” he says. “When I picked up the boat, the trip was 270 days from China to San Diego, and I was on the boat 210 of those 270 days. That, and I am just kind of bored of the Caribbean. I wanted to go somewhere different. Where I am right now, in Apataki, that’s an atoll just north of Fakarava, and it’s very remote. Those are the places where I love to be—the places where most people don’t go.”

Building a boat from scratch was a process he found intriguing. He hired interior designer Destry Darr, lengthened the sky-lounge deck and sun deck so the overhangs would provide more shade to the decks below, and built the sky lounge to convert into a fifth stateroom.

“If I want to bring four couples in addition to my wife and myself, I have room for it,” he says. “I also charter some, so the boat can accommodate 10 people.”

He also built a scuba center off the stern to support his passion for diving every day, two to three times a day. There’s space to carry 10 scuba tanks, as well as a station to refill them. There’s also a hyperbaric chamber on board.

“I bought it when I bought the boat,” he says. “Just because of how much we dive and how remote we are, if somebody gets the bends, there would be no time or no way to get them to treatment.”

Those kinds of locations also tend to lack trash facilities, which mattered to Giles because he used to end up with stinky bags of garbage in the bow, attracting flies. Aboard VivieRae, Giles asked the yard to build the swim platform, which is usually hollow, with watertight hatches and a freezer plate on one side, so he has a place to store trash when the boat is away from shore for weeks at a time.

“It has worked phenomenally well,” he says. “It almost freezes the trash, and it’s watertight. It’s about 6 feet by the width of the boat.”

Inside VivieRae, Giles had the yard set up an office so he can continue running his automotive company from anywhere in the world. He owns five dealerships and is in the works to buy a sixth, and he owns a tunnel car wash with a second one about to come online. Global Data Systems in Louisiana set him up with the bandwidth he needs, and the yard installed satellite-communications equipment, including a 3-meter Intellian dish.

“Communication hasn’t been a problem,” he says. “There’s worldwide coverage. It allows me to get away and still allows me to stay connected with what’s happening at home.”

And get away he has. So far, his itineraries have included the Panama Canal, Costa Rica, Cocos Island for some diving with hammerhead sharks, the Marquesas Islands and more. VivieRae was expected to be in French Polynesia through July before heading to Fiji this month and then Vanuatu from there.

He remembers Vanuatu from a previous visit. It’s a memory as vivid as the dolphin that acted like a puppy.

“We went to some amazing places there,” he says. “One was a volcanic island where the caldera had collapsed, so we could sail up into the middle of the island. As we approached it, about 20 dugout canoes came out to greet us. Our mate was ahead of us in the tender, and I was flying my drone, and these looked like warriors coming out and surrounding him. I thought, Oh, my God. They’re going to kidnap him or something, but they were so happy to see him. They hadn’t seen anyone in three years.

“We’ll visit that place again and then go north to the Solomon Islands, and then around to West Papua and Raja Ampat and all through Indonesia, and then Malaysia, Thailand and the Maldives, and through the canal to the Med for maybe six months or longer and then back to the Caribbean.”

The day before he spoke with Yachting, Giles had dived at Manihi Atoll, just ahead of a naturally occurring grouper-spawning event.

“At the entrance to the pass, there were thousands of 1-, 2-, 3-pound grouper that were all arriving to spawn,” he says. “As we went through the pass, it was filling up with the sharks that also come to feed on the grouper when they start spawning. These were gray reef sharks and some small whitetip reef sharks, all common in the Pacific.”

He was hoping to see something similar at Fakarava.

“That’s where there’s lots of sharks in the pass, going in and out,” he says. “People that don’t understand think you’re crazy, but I love diving with sharks. When we went out to Cocos, there [were] some tiger sharks out there that have killed a couple people in the last few years, so we were diving with the hammerheads and looking over our shoulders. There are a lot of sharks I wouldn’t want to spend a lot of time with, but the reef sharks are really fun.”

He also likes the comfort that he returns to after every dive. VivieRae is the kind of boat he always told himself he’d buy when he turned 60. Now that he’s 68, he appreciates having not only go-anywhere capabilities, but also plenty of creature comforts.

“He uses that boat as his own personal cruise ship to take him anywhere he wants, and it has all of the amenities,” says Jenny Stern, Nordhavn’s director of marketing. “If you look at their Instagram, it’s phenomenal—the diving, the fishing, the local food, the locals themselves, getting into the cultures where they visit. He is the epitome of what we hope the average Nordhavn owner will strive to do.”

Giles definitely is still striving to explore, and he says he’ll probably buy a 120- or 130-foot yacht next, to get even more interior volume for even more comfortable world exploration.

“But when I bring people on the boat and tell them that, they always ask, ‘Why?’” he says. “I don’t know why.”

He’s just going.  

Take the next step: nordhavn.com

The post The Nordhavn 96 is a Passport to Adventure appeared first on Yachting.

For traditional trawler enthusiasts, the Beneteau Swift Trawler 48 offers a range of 1,300 nautical miles at a leisurely 6.7 knots, or 1,000 nm at 8 knots. Owners can run nonstop from New York to Miami or San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, making it a top choice for a long-range trawler.

And yet, with the twin 425 hp Cummins diesels on the Swift Trawler 48 that I got aboard (380 hp Cummins are standard), owners also can scamper for home at 26 knots, if foul weather threatens or reservations for dinner ashore are waiting.

In other words, yachtsmen can have the best of both worlds: range when wanted, speed when needed.

The Beneteau Swift Trawler 48 is based on the builder’s 47-footer, with a resin-infused fiberglass hull. It’s also based on owner feedback, with a three-stateroom, two-head layout, including a near-king transverse berth in the master stateroom.

In the salon, the galley is aft and accessible to the cockpit. There, the seating and dining area can be fully enclosed, with tracks in place for side curtains. Just forward of the galley is a dinette; at the touch of a button, it disappears flush into the salon sole, leaving a wraparound sofa.

The skipper has a bolstered, pedestal bucket-style seat with a flip-up footrest. The 48 I got aboard had upgraded 12-inch Raymarine HybridTouch monitors (9-inch displays are standard), with backup analog dials and a separate Cummins engine monitor. Side-Power bow and stern thrusters are a savvy option, especially for short-handed cruising. Speaking of that, a sliding door allows easy access to the side deck right at the boarding door through the coaming, for hopping out to help with the lines. I liked the helm door stops that let the door slide to various opening widths for fresh air. And, like all the doors, this one had pullout screens to defeat those pesky no-see-ums.

Opposite the helm and under the windshield is a dead giveaway of the 48’s cruising intentions: an oversize locker for full-size charts (because some of us still like paper backups).

The dinette and lounge to port is raised 8 inches, giving guests a panoramic view through side windows, but Beneteau recognizes that not all of us are Michelin-starred chefs, so a sizable backsplash keeps spills from intruding on the dinette. This galley has all the amenities for making extended voyages, including a 9-cubic-foot Vitrifrigo full-height fridge, Miele convection oven and Kenyon two-burner stove. There is also a dishwasher, an undercounter ice maker and a wine chiller. The eye-level cabinet to starboard—almost a decor item with Lucite doors—was fitted for highball glasses on this 48.

The cockpit has more thoughtful touches. First, the ladder to the bridge not only has double handrails, but also the whole unit slides out of the way when owners want to free up deck space to entertain guests. Double doors lead to the transom platform, which, on this boat, had the optional hydraulic lift for a tender up to 700 pounds. The folding swim ladder has hinged rails.

Because the sitting area is offset to starboard, a Lucite door is fitted at the end of the side deck to protect against spray or wind. The port side is accessible via a pair of teak steps from the cockpit.

Up on the foredeck, I liked the solid double stainless-steel rails from the cockpit to the twin anchor rollers—a good setup for cruisers who need anchors for mud and sand, or want to swing on two hooks. Both rodes are handled by the Lewmar windlass with a gypsy for chain and a capstan head for either rode or for warping dock lines, with controls at both helms as well as a wired remote. The cabin top forward has a sun pad that flips up to become a forward-facing couch. And the 16-inch cleats all around the decks can handle the oversize lines that cruisers might encounter at marinas.

Up top, the flybridge is arranged for lounging as well as dining, with L-shaped settees on both sides and a dining table to starboard. Next to the radar mast are a Kenyon grill, sink, fridge and ice maker. The skipper, again, has a bucket seat, but this time there is room for companions; the backrests for the two settees flip to face forward. Just abaft the galley is a deck to stow water toys or put out chaise-style chairs for lounging.

When the party’s over, the master stateroom down below is forward with a queen island berth that has walk-around space on each side. Two windows with opening ports add brightness to an already cheery space with standard light-oak decor (teak is available). The en suite head, with Villeroy & Boch sinks, has two ports, and there’s an overhead hatch to get rid of the steam from the stall shower, which has a teak seat.

Just aft is the guest stateroom to starboard, with the optional washer/dryer hidden away, and another guest stateroom to port with twin berths. The twin stateroom has direct access to the second head, which also serves the guest stateroom across the hall and functions as the day head.

I also give the Swift Trawler 48 points for the engine room, which is accessed via two oversize hatches in the cockpit sole. Even with the upsized 425 hp Cummins diesels, all the service and maintenance points were within arm’s reach. There was a 7.5 kW Mase genset with convenient access for maintenance, as well as Webasto air conditioning. On deck, the fuel and water fillers are on the starboard deck.

In the lumpy Gulf Stream at 18 knots (2,370 rpm), this Swift Trawler 48 ate up the miles comfortably with nary a drop of spray on the windshield. For owners looking for a yacht that can either cast off tomorrow for faraway ports or harbor-hop with enough speed to get everyone home for work on Monday, the Beneteau Swift Trawler 48 is worth a look.  

An App for That

A feature unique to certain Beneteau yachts, including the Swift Trawler 48, is Seanapps, a proprietary program that lets owners monitor yachts from smartphones or tablets. The program can request routine maintenance, order a pre-departure wash or fuel-up, monitor battery and bilge levels, or check on interior temperature or water-tank levels. It integrates a maintenance logbook to schedule service.

Euro Certification

The 48 meets the standards of Euro Category B Offshore, which means it’s deepwater-rated for winds up to 40 knots and “significant” seas up to 13 feet with 14 people aboard. With 16 aboard, the yacht is Category C Inshore for winds up to Force 6 (27 knots) and 7-foot seas on coastal waters and large bays.

Take the next step: beneteau.com

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