A funny thing happened to Nordhavn chief of design Jeff Leishman one day while he was standing on the docks, looking out at the boats. Before him were a Nordhavn 120 and a Nordhavn 96, docked side by side. He knows each model inside and out, but in that moment, he realized just how different in size the two vessels were, and how hard it might be for owners to move up from one to the next. “It was evident that we needed something in between,” he says.

Enter the Nordhavn 112, which the company hopes will appeal not only to buyers looking to move up to a bigger boat, but also to buyers who want to downsize from larger yachts with extensive crew into something less complex.

“I think this design would be a perfect fit for anyone who has owned a large yacht with lots of crew and is looking to simplify things,” Leishman says. “Or anyone looking to upsize from something smaller and wants a true expedition yacht. She’ll be versatile enough to be ideal for a number of different buyers.”

Leishman expects the Nordhavn 112 to come in at less than 400 gross tons, with more manageable equipment and systems that can be handled by a small crew. The full-displacement steel hull will be able to carry enough fuel for transoceanic crossings, and the superstructure could be built in either aluminum or FRP.

Accommodations will include five staterooms for 10 people: a master and four queen-berth guest spaces. There also will be quarters for six crew, along with superyacht-style amenities such as fold-out balconies, a flybridge hot tub and a gym. The deck abaft the pilothouse will be sized to carry a 26-foot tender in addition to a smaller inflatable and personal watercraft.  

The post Go-Anywhere Style: the Nordhavn 112 appeared first on Yachting.

Outer Reef Yachts, whose boats are known for their globe-girdling cruising itineraries, has launched its 670 Azure Sport Yacht.

This bluewater-capable, owner-operator cruiser, which is the flagship of the builder’s six-model S Class lineup, starts with solid hand-laid fiberglass construction for the hull below the waterline. Above the waterline, PVC sandwich core is used for strength without added weight. All in, this 67-footer displaces about 99,000 pounds. The yacht is outfitted with ABT Trac 220 stabilizers with 6-square-foot fins to further enhance the ride over the long haul.

Power for the 670 Azure Sport Yacht is a pair of 985 hp Caterpillar C-12.9 diesels paired to a ZF transmission. (The standard spec is twin 500 hp John Deere diesels.) In addition to main engines, those passages are supported by two 20 kW Northern Lights gensets to ensure all of the hotel loads, including the MarineAir direct air conditioning, have the required juice when the only sight is the next horizon.

The 670 Azure Sport Yacht has two helm stations, one forward and to starboard on the main deck with a single helm chair and companion seat across, and a second, double-wide helm seat on centerline on the flybridge. Both helm stations have Stidd seats and Garmin multifunction displays. The flybridge also has an L-shaped settee seating to port and abaft the helm as well as room for a grill and tender stowage on the aft deck.

Accommodations include a full-beam (17’2”) owners’ stateroom amidships with a king-size berth, a walk-in closet, satin-finish teak bulkheads, doors and cabinets, and an en suite head with teak-and-holly sole and a shower. There is also a forepeak VIP with a queen-size berth and a guest stateroom to port with two bunks. The VIP has access to the guest head with a shower. There is also head access off the companionway.

On the main-deck, the entertainment-centric layout starts with the galley aft. A drop-down window helps create a seamless connection between the salon and cockpit. The Azure 670 Sport Yacht’s galley is set up with GE appliances, in microwave, electric cooktop, oven, undercounter refrigerator, trash compactor and garbage disposal.

In the cockpit, there are two bar stools and a countertop facing the galley further illustrating the indoor-outdoor connectivity. There is also a dining table under the flybridge overhang abaft the bar area with bench seating along the transom.

Stairs to starboard lead to the lower teak cockpit, while a second door provides access to the hydraulic swim platform, which lowers to let owners to launch a tender and water toys, as well as prep to go scuba diving and swimming.

For sun and breeze, accompanied by some quietude, the 670 Azure Sport Yacht has a foredeck lounge with U-shaped seating around a teak table. It’s a great spot for sundowners on the hook.

With its robust construction, long-range-cruising accommodations, reliable power and a layout conducive to family-friendly voyages, the Outer Reef Yachts 670 Azure Sport Yacht should make the short list for enthusiasts ready to aim for that second star to the left and head straight on till morning.

Take the next step: outerreefyachts.com

Quick Specifications:

• Length Overall: 67’6”
• Maximum Beam: 17’2”
• Draft: 5’
• Fuel Capacity: 1,000 Gal.
• Freshwater Capacity: 300 Gal.
• Displacement: 99,000 Lbs.

The post Outer Reef Yachts Debuts 670 Azure Sport Yacht appeared first on Yachting.

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.

Quick Specifications

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.

Quick Specifications

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.

Quick Specifications

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).

Quick Specifications

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.

Quick Specifications

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.

Quick Specifications

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.

Quick Specifications

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.

Quick Specifications

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.

Quick Specifications

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.”

Quick Specifications

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

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Outer Reef Yachts is sharing more details about its new 670 Azure Sport Yacht.

The defining design feature on this model is an indoor-outdoor galley and aft deck for guest relaxation and entertainment.

According to Outer Reef, this hull of the 670 Azure Sport Yacht is built for a young cruising couple. Exterior features include what the builder calls a “Serenity Foredeck Lounge,” and a hydraulic integral sports platform aft. The sports platform submerges into the water for launching equipment, tenders, fishing and more.

What is the Serenity Foredeck Lounge? It’s an optional entertainment zone on the foredeck of Outer Reef models, for owners who want additional privacy from traffic on the docks at marinas.

Where to learn more: go to outerreefyachts.com

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Trawler owners are a different breed. They know boats—that is, they really know boats. By and large, the trawler owner—oftentimes ex-sailors or longtime serial boaters—eschews the frail daintiness of the crystal Champagne-flute luxury lifestyle in favor of liveaboard comfort, with its solid, fist-to-table ruggedness, one-with-the-sea efficiencies, and devotion to the pure deliciousness of life’s simple pleasures.

It’s been 20 years since French mega-brand Beneteau introduced the first Swift Trawler, but in those two decades this series has dominated the 35- to 50-foot trawler market segment worldwide. So, when the company unveiled its next-generation trawler evolution in the form of the voluminous Grand Trawler 62 perched atop a full-displacement hull, the proverbial record scratched and all eyes took notice.

Economical speeds, space and comfort are mainstays of a trawler design, and the Grand Trawler 62 takes these features to the next level. While the nontrawler prospect might be enticed by the 62-footer’s robust and contemporary profile, spacious interior accommodations and plentiful alfresco deck areas, even the trawler purist can appreciate the ample 17-foot beam, wide symmetrical side decks, unbridled use of glass in the superstructure, and full-displacement hull form.

Full-Displacement Superpower

Aside from the 14-foot leap in LOA, the Grand Trawler 62’s full-displacement hull is the most significant deviation from its semi-displacement, semi-planing-hulled sisters. And yes, while a full-displacement hull does yield a more voluminous interior within which to nestle an enviable three- or four-stateroom layout, the raison d’être behind this design departure was more carefully calculated.

“We analyzed all of the engine-hours data provided by the engine manufacturers and followed this up with a survey of our Swift Trawler owners to gather feedback on their average cruising speeds,” says Beneteau product manager Robert Chaffer. “With the exception of one client who regularly exceeded 20 knots, we found that the majority of our customers stick to speeds between 8 and 12 knots, but they like the security of having the reserve power to go up to 20 knots when necessary. So, we thought, why not design a hull that sees optimum efficiency in the 8- to 12-knot speed range?”

Designed by Beneteau naval architecture partner MICAD, the new hull allows for long-range, low-speed comfort and seaworthiness coupled with optimal fuel efficiency. Onboard comfort is enhanced by the displacement hull form and the directional stability-keeping skeg keel. While they provide the reserve power to achieve a 20-plus-knot speed, the Grand Trawler 62’s twin MAN i6 730 hp diesels operate at a 35 percent power deficit at 9 knots, sipping 30 percent less fuel than with an equivalent planing hull.

Interior Wow and Flow

Of course, interior volume is the secondary byproduct of the full-displacement hull form, and the Grand Trawler 62 takes full advantage of this space with an inviting three- or four-stateroom layout, which is enhanced further by plentiful natural light through the generous windows.

Italian firm Nauta Design crafted the Grand Trawler 62’s interior configuration, which balances large social spaces with comfortable private areas. Nauta Design carefully selected a range of materials and textures to enhance the feeling of elegance, while waxed oak and walnut woods allow for easy maintenance.

Forward of the U-shaped salon, the galley can be fully enclosed with a sliding door and an inboard glass sliding hatch. A space-saving convertible dining table for eight slides outboard to reveal a handrail when not in use, and dedicated storage is set up for the folding dining chairs. Nauta’s chief designer Massimo Gino has flawlessly executed an interior that is fresh, clean and usable, where owners have the option to weave in their identity through color and soft goods.

Show Me the Practicality!

Now, the trawler traditionalist will say all of this design is lovely, but is it practical? Not to worry, the Grand Trawler 62 cleverly incorporates every practicality expected of a trawler and then some. 

As with all trawler builds, interior-exterior circulation is a critical factor, and the Grand Trawler 62 features carefully designed and logically situated storage throughout. Every area has been considered, whether it is dedicated dishware, glassware and cutlery storage adjacent to the dining table, dedicated storage for the aft cockpit covers in the overhead deck head, plentiful overhead and bulkhead grab rails, port and starboard transom and bulwark gates, all-starboard service ports, and even a portside galley door that accesses the galley’s trash bin from the exterior.

“Our boats have been designed with the help of the owners, many of whom are very experienced sailors with extensive career engineering backgrounds,” Chaffer says. “We’ve paid attention to how they use their boats and implemented features to facilitate this use into the next-generation designs.”

The transom area of the Grand Trawler 62 is another departure from the flagship’s older sisters and just another example of the intuitive boating ideology incorporated into the design. While most boats feature cockpit seating that faces the salon doors, the layout here is orientated to enjoy water views. A transparent coaming and sliding port, and starboard transom gates allow for an uninterrupted connection with the water, just three steps down on the transverse swim platform. A dual-use day head with a separate shower is accessed through a gull-wing hatch on the port side.

The lazarette area offers convenient access to the engine room and can be arranged for storage or as a separate space for crew. The forward guest-cabin arrangement sees either a full-beam master amidships with a twin to port and a VIP in the bow, or two convertible twin cabins amidships in place of the master to comprise four staterooms. Thoughtful storage and use details appear at every turn, and the option for the Luxe Package steps up the interior design another notch with louvered woodworking throughout.

“It’s not about the glamorous looks,” Chaffer says of the Grand Trawler 62’s stylish design, “but we do like a clean boat, where the chairs, the fenders, the Bimini has its own space. Everything in the trawler is simple and has a home.”

Focused on the Future

The Swift Trawler line’s success draws from a collective history of boatbuilding that extends well before 2003, beyond the decade of Beneteau fishing boats and even further back—to the story of Benjamin Beneteau’s engine-powered fishing-boat design of the early 1900s. The Grand Trawler 62 builds upon this heritage and the accumulated knowledge of the Swift Trawler series while implementing forward-leaning applications, like the six solar panels affixed to its hardtop. In fact, Groupe Beneteau has begun implementing renewable woods in lieu of teak and has taken other steps toward sustainability in its builds, such as recyclable resin and upholstery materials. 

“We monitor the life span of our products and look to constantly evolve the range,” Chaffer says. “Customers change over time.”

While you might not catch one on the Great Loop this summer, if the fundamental focus of the trawler owner is one of pure, intuitive boating bliss, then the Grand Trawler 62 provides flawless passage-making in an atmosphere of refined simplicity.

For more information about the Grand Trawler 62, visit beneteau.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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Kadey-Krogen says there has been a $40,000 price drop on the 1987 Krogen 42 Bonnie Dawn. The current asking price is $199,000.

Bonnie Dawn is a two-stateroom, two-head boat that has Naiad hydraulic stabilizers. The most recent servicing was done in May 2022, and the engines are showing 700 hours SMOH (since major overhaul).

Recent improvements include the addition of stern and bow thrusters, new aluminum starboard fuel tanks, upgraded pilothouse and flybridge electronics, new Sunbrella canvas, solar panels and fresh varnish.

Where is Bonnie Dawn available for tours? The yacht is lying in Stuart, Florida.

Take the next step: contact a sales broker at kadeykrogen.com

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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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