Solaris Power has a reputation for building the most beautiful boats on the water, and the Solaris Power 60 Coupé is their latest masterstroke. Blending the sleek lines of a performance cruiser with the protection of a hardtop, it represents a masterclass in Italian design.

The exterior styling is defined by a signature vertical stem and a hull shaped with complex, elegant curves. Every detail is engineered for aesthetic purity; a hydraulic tender garage hides toys and equipment completely out of sight, while pop-up cleats and a recessed anchor locker maintain an unbroken profile.

Inside, the 60 Coupé offers an impressive experience. The defining feature is a pair of massive side windows that drop electronically into the hull. When paired with the large overhead sunroof and a pantograph helm door, the fully enclosed, air-conditioned saloon becomes a breezy, semi-open lounge in seconds.

The interior is finished in a warm blend of natural teak, Alcantara, and leather, featuring clever touches like a pop-up coffee station and a dedicated day head positioned for easy access from the cockpit.

Accommodation is equally impressive for a 60-foot yacht. A massive full-beam owner’s suite sits amidships, utilising the boat’s generous width to provide a sense of luxury usually reserved for much larger vessels. This is complemented by a VIP cabin forward and a versatile third cabin that can be configured as a guest twin or a private office.

On the water, the Solaris Power 60 Coupé is as poweful as it is elegant. Powered by twin Volvo Penta IPS 1350s, the hull’s low centre of gravity ensures a stable, dry ride even in choppy conditions.

During Hugo Andreae’s sea trial, the boat reached a top speed of 36 knots, though it felt most at home at a comfortable 28-knot fast cruise. Starting at €2.1 million, this is a premium machine for those who refuse to choose between the thrill of a sporty open boat and the serious capability of a long-distance cruiser.

Solaris Power 60 Coupé

LOA: 60ft (18.29m)
BEAM: 17ft 6in (5.35m)
ENGINES: twin Volvo Penta IPS800-1350
TOP SPEED: 27-36 knots
PRICE: From €1.7m ex tax
CONTACT: solarispower.com

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This article Watch: Solaris Power 60 Coupé sea trial appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

One year on from the launch of its first-ever powerboat, young Turkish brand Aiata is back with a new flagship. Created in collaboration with Finnish designer Jarkko Jämsén as a fast and spacious multi-purpose family boat, modular versatility is again key. But while the original Wayfinder 38 used a four-season pilothouse approach, the emphasis here is very much on expansive, open-deck Med-style living.

This shift in philosophy addresses a different breed of boater—one who prioritises the connection to the water and the social beach club experience over all-weather protection. By stripping back the enclosed cabin in favour of a sleeker, T-top-style architecture, Aiata has opened up the cockpit to create a seamless flow from the helm to the swim platform. It transforms the vessel from a rugged commuter into a sophisticated Mediterranean day-boat that can still handle a weekend’s coastal hop.

While details are extremely limited ahead of the world launch at Düsseldorf, you can expect a second cabin for extra cruising flexibility, plus a separate bathroom and toilet and a larger wet bar sheltered by the roof structure. This layout suggests that despite the Sunfinder moniker, the boat hasn’t sacrificed the practical comforts required for genuine overnighting.

Happily, the flared bow, with its high-capacity dining station and convertible sunpad, will simply be increased in scale on the new boat. The tiltable sunbed above the engines should also make the transition unscathed, taking the day spaces a little bit further aft and providing a prime lounge spot directly over the water.

It’s another promising design from Aiata, and it will be joined in Germany by a 38ft model based on this same Sunfinder concept, signalling the brand’s intent to build a comprehensive, multi-tiered range in record time.

Aiata Sunfinder 50 specifications

LOA: 50ft (15m est)
BEAM: Pending
ENGINES: Twin outboards
TOP SPEED: 45 knots (est)
PRICE: Pending
CONTACT: aiataboats.com

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The original 31, created by Nuremberg-based boatbuilder Sterk, was a fast, pretty, and beautifully built powerboat, and the smaller Sterk 26 looks set to emulate that. As the company’s first trailerable model, it has natural advantages in terms of ease of ownership, but it still comes with all the very grown-up Sterk assets—not least an aggressive twin-stepped hull with a range of single and twin outboard options for speeds in the region of 45 knots.

What makes this hull particularly special is its focus on efficiency; the double-step design is engineered to reduce water resistance so effectively that fuel consumption is significantly lower than traditional shapes.

This technical precision, born from hundreds of hours of CFD testing, ensures that even as a smaller “entry-level” model, the 26 remains a serious piece of performance engineering that doesn’t shy away from choppy coastal conditions. It is a boat designed for the driver who enjoys the mechanical feel of a well-balanced helm, regardless of the hull’s size.

In terms of layout, it comes with a very decent transverse wet bar aft of the two-man helm, plus seating areas at the bow and stern that can be converted into sundecks without obstructing ease of movement along the port side.

There’s also a very acceptable size of cabin, which is a rare luxury for a boat under 8 metres, featuring a separate wetroom-style heads compartment. And if you want to extend your boating season, you can turn the cockpit into a weatherproof saloon with the optional T-top or bimini.

It’s not quite as fast or as different as the original Sterk 31, but it’s a great-looking boat that successfully shrinks the flagship experience into a more manageable footprint. If outright petrol performance isn’t critical for you, the electric drivetrain option, in partnership with Vision Marine Technologies, might also appeal.

This “e” version utilises a high-voltage system that promises a silent, emission-free alternative without sacrificing the striking aesthetics that have quickly made Sterk a brand to watch across the European market.

Sterk 26 statistics

LOA: 26ft 7in (8.14m)
BEAM: 8ft 4in (2.53m)
ENGINES: single 250hp to twin 250hp outboards
TOP SPEED: 45 knots
PRICE: Pending
CONTACT: sterkyachts.com

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Mercan Yachting is a very successful Turkish builder. It exports to 46 countries around the world and, over the last 38 years, has become well known for the creation of active commercial craft that specialise as tour boats, dive boats and sports fishers. It’s easy to see then where the new Petra SF-39 comes in.

Designed to redefine the recreational sports fisher with extra space, comfort and light, it uses a walkaround layout with a beamy aft cockpit, providing all the uncluttered deck space you need for an easy day’s fishing.

The modular design also means you can add pursuit-specific extras like a second helm station and a tuna door.

But the Petra SF-39 is designed as a compact cruiser too, so you also get a galley and dining area tucked away in the shelter of the pilothouse, plus a couple of dedicated cabins and a bathroom down below.

The SF-39 is built on a soft-riding Category B hull for covering long distances at speed in relative comfort through exposed seas. And while the show boat will be equipped with twin Mercury 425hp Verado V10 5.7L outboards, you can flex that too, by opting for twin 400s or 450s instead.

Mercan Yachting Petra SF-39 specifications

LOA: 38ft 3in (11.65m)
BEAM: 12ft 6in (3.82m)
ENGINES: Twin 400-450hp outboards
TOP SPEED: Pending
PRICE: €375,000 ex VAT
CONTACT: mercanyachting.com.tr

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Having revealed preliminary details of its 42ft project at Cannes in September, the new Greenline 42 is ready to make its world debut in Düsseldorf. Built at the firm’s Slovenian shipyard, Greenline is calling this its most versatile model yet.

Part of that comes down to a semi-custom approach that enables you to tweak the cabins, bathrooms, furniture and appliances to a greater degree than on any previous Greenline model. But even the base package comes with some very handy options.

Steep trawler-style windows do good things for light and views

The aft cockpit, for instance, can be specced either with a pair of fashionable facing benches ahead of a pretty glass balustrade; or a fully naked deck with a folding transom, creating masses of open space for whatever kind of furniture (or application) you favour.

The foredeck lounge also does a much better job than you would expect of a boat of this size, thanks to some aft-facing seat pods in the bow that generate a proper seating zone at the leading edge of the island sunbed.

It’s a great looking boat too. There are plunging windows at the aft end of the superstructure, plus neatly raked bulwark cut-outs that marry up with the slender
low-level glazing. There are glass panels in the roof struts too, plus plenty of playful angles in the hull, windows and topsides that lend it a very appealing sense of modernity.

Headroom in the midships twin looks uncommonly strong

That raised bow structure also does a great job of increasing volume down below without in any way disrupting the loveliness of those looks.

Inside the shelter of the saloon, a port galley aft comes with a hinge-up widow and sliding doors so you can open it up to the cockpit. There’s also a long L-shaped dinette opposite the single helm further forward.

And while that bow height does limit forward visibility from those saloon benches, it also means plenty of headroom in the bright and spacious owner’s cabin in the bow, plus a twin guest cabin further aft that looks almost as good.

Wraparound windows do a great job in the bow cabin

As for performance, twin Yanmar 4LV-250 diesels on straight shafts will propel this “superdisplacement” hull to a surprisingly brisk top end of 25 knots.

But as you would expect from Greenline, it’s more about smoothness, stability and efficiency than outright pace, so you can also equip it with a 4.3kW solar array on that big flared roof structure, plus a Greenline H-Drive 6G system for silent electric manoeuvring.

Article continues below…

Greenline 45 Fly Hybrid review: Can this Hybrid hold up to my overnight test pushing its systems to the limit?

Greenline 45 Fly: Options abound on wonderfully decadent yacht

Greenline 42 Specifications:

LOA: 56ft 8in (17.27m)
Beam: 15ft 7in (4.74m)
Engines: twin MAN V8 1000-1200hp
Top speed: 25 knots
Price: Pending
Contact details: www.greenlinehybrid.com

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Hot on the heels of Highfield’s first RIB-style 7m ADV model, Boot Dusseldorf will host the world launch of the new ADV9 – and while details remain scarce, the basics look similar to those of the smaller boat.

A narrow slide-on inflatable collar, which sits a good distance above the waterline, steals minimal space from the internal beam leaving more room for guests to enjoy.

And once again, that looks beautifully used with a full U-shaped dinette in the aft cockpit and a drop-down backrest that enables the sunbed to project out over the engine well, while also providing direct access to the swim platforms.

Ahead of that is a transverse galley with an extra drop-down bench seat to add even more dining capacity at the aft end.

Further forward, three helm seats face a tall console which extends into the bow space, creating volume beneath it for the cabin that the smaller boat lacks.

Factor in a claimed 300-mile range, a Category B rating and an optional camper hood with infills and Highfield is touting this boat as an extremely versatile four-berth adventure companion.

Highfield ADV9 specifications

LOA: 29ft 11in (9.12m)
BEAM: 10ft 2in (3.10m)
ENGINES: single/twin outboards up to 600hp
TOP SPEED: 50 knots
PRICE: Pending
CONTACT: highfieldboats.com

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Indulgent weekenders are what Italian builder, Santa Severa, is all about, and that’s perfectly illustrated by the new 42. Available in three configurations (an Open, a Hard Top or the Sport model with the side windows you see here) this 42-footer only provides one cabin for two people but the day spaces are suitably generous.

Based around a walkaround layout with an open transom, it does a great job of enabling the central island sunbed of the external cockpit to integrate with the two aft-facing loungers beneath the shelter of the hard top.

Ahead of that, a port dinette looks across to a single helm seat and starboard galley, and the bow space provides another subtly integrated sunbed in a very substantially raised foredeck. But that big aft deck is the real hub of the action on this boat, so the uprated shelter of the Sport model’s superstructure looks likely to be a very popular option.

Article continues below…

As for the engines, you can spec outboards or IPS drives, each with multiple horsepower configurations for speeds of up to 30 knots, or you can opt for the sterndrive configuration of the Düsseldorf show boat.

Santa Severa 42 Sport specifications

LOA: 42ft 0in (12.80m)
BEAM: 13ft 0in (3.96m)
ENGINES: twin Volvo Penta D4-320
TOP SPEED: 30 knots
PRICE: Pending
CONTACT: santaseverayacht.it

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Motor Boat & Yachting is the world’s leading magazine for Motoryacht enthusiasts. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams, as well as tests and news of all the latest motorboats.

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The overlap between the Marco Polo MP12 and Marco Polo MP10 could hardly be more evident.

As on the smaller boat, you get symmetrical walkaround decks, a pilothouse that opens up on three sides and the option of an open variant instead, should you prefer to go boating in the Med, rather than northern Europe. But the three main upgrades do make a difference.

Firstly, the extra length is particularly well used in the bow, where some facing seats in the forepeak and a backrest at the sunbed create a viable alternative to the dining zones of the internal pilothouse and aft cockpit.

Down below, the MP12 replaces the MP10’s convertible bow lounge with a second dedicated sleeping space and a twin cabin further aft.

And on the transom, you get triple V10 450hp Outboard engines instead of twins, sensibly backed up by a radically increased size of watertank.

On the basis of the early renders, these boats look a bit like the progeny of a Saxdor and a Sargo. But only time will tell whether they are sufficiently different, or sufficiently capable, to make a serious dent in a market already populated by so many capable players.

Article continues below…

New Boats at Dusseldorf: Marco Polo MP10

boot 2026: Much more than just a boat show

Marco Polo MP12 specifications

LOA: 41ft 8in (12.70m)
BEAM: 13ft 4in (4.05m)
ENGINES: Triple 450hp outboards
TOP SPEED: 35 knots
PRICE: Pending
CONTACT: marcopoloadventureyachts.com

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One of Boot Düsseldorf’s best attended launches will be that of the Axopar 38 XC – the first of the new 38 series models and what Axopar is calling its “most ambitious” product line yet.

Designed as a year-round, all-weather companion, it will apparently introduce a fresh walkaround concept, “reimagined cabins” and a greater degree of modularity. The idea behind that is to enable you to adapt it to your day out – whether that involves family cruising, overnight stays, fishing, watersports or long passages.

You do of course get the trademark gullwing doors, fold-down bulwarks and aft cabin option, plus a pilothouse that opens up on both sides and a bow and cockpit that come with a whole range of layout alternatives.

You also get an upgraded bow cabin with increased headroom, a redesigned heads and a practical kitchenette option. And while the new boat uses the same twin-stepped hull form we’ve seen before, that too has apparently been fine-tuned.

This 38 XC will be followed by the Sun Top, Cross Top and CCX models later in 2026 and 2027. But for now, rest assured, the much-loved and multi-award-winning Axopar 37 will continue to be available for the next year or two.

Axopar 38 XC

LOA: 38ft 10in (11.84m)
BEAM: 11ft 8in (3.56m)
ENGINES: Twin 300-350hp outboards
TOP SPEED: 45+ knots
PRICE: Pending
CONTACT: axopar.com

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Would this look or feel any more on trend? With its pilothouse, reverse screen, stepped hull, plumb bow, outboard engines and folding aft terraces, it’s got all the key boxes ticked. And with a name like Marco Polo, you’re right about its market sector too. This is the smaller of two rough-tough new boats from an all-new Italian brand dedicated very keenly to the creation of adventure yachts.

Designed by Roberto Delfanti and constructed by the 3AF Shipyard in Sicily, it comes with a playful quasi-military aesthetic and a very hardworking layout.

Deep, safe walkaround decks orbit a central pilothouse with twin side doors and a good flat rooftop for loading up your toys.

The lower lounge can also be specced as a convertible bed

The window of the aft bulkhead hinges up too, enabling the internal furniture to spill out into the external deck, creating either a dining station or a long sunbed at exactly the point where the drop-down bulwarks expand the aft deck and open things up to the water.

And the bow is massively flared, adding some handy forward day space and the promise of extra dryness underway.

Marco Polo MP10 specifications

LOA: 32ft 8in (9.96m)
BEAM: 9ft 11in (3.05m)
ENGINES: Twin 450hp outboards
TOP SPEED: 35 knots
PRICE: Pending
CONTACT: marcopoloadventureyachts.com

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Motor Boat & Yachting is the world’s leading magazine for Motoryacht enthusiasts. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams, as well as tests and news of all the latest motorboats.

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The new Nimbus 12 series looks uncannily like a stretched version of the established Nimbus 11, and in many ways, it is.

For instance, it retains the same twin-stepped hull form as the award-winning Nimbus 11, so it’s reasonable to expect a low-planing threshold, very decent efficiency and user-friendly stability and dryness, even at serious speeds. And as you’d expect from this highly respected Swedish yard, it also retains the same triple-variant model line-up…

The Commuter 12 is all about comfy year-round recreation

The Tender 12 (or T12) is a versatile walkaround open sportsboat with plenty of open deck space and some usefully convertible furniture. The Weekender 12 (or W12) extends your weekending possibilities with a whole load of extra seating plus storage space for your baggage and water toys. And the Commuter 12 (or C12) enables year-round recreation and long-distance passages, courtesy of an enclosed pilothouse.

However, in spite of outward appearances, the new Nimbus 12 does incorporate hundreds of tweaks and improvements over what’s gone before – and all of them are inspired directly by feedback from the water.

There’s a new extended swim platform structurally integrated into the hull, plus a new helm seat design with enhanced ergonomics for reliable comfort during extended passages.

The starboard terrace is a neat new addition

The T12 variant also gets a longer, wider T-top with integrated solar panels and acrylic see-through glass sections, plus a folding starboard terrace directly next to the dinette to help extend the aft party space.

As for the accommodation, while pictures and details are still scarce, it would be reasonable to expect each of these variants to offer a pair of doubles, separated by a single heads compartment.

But in the case of the C12, even with the galley up, the new saloon layout is enough to provide a convertible sofa and black-out curtains so you can boost the sleeping capacity to six when required.

The Weekender 12 brings extra seating and storage to the party

Engine options look plentiful too. You can opt for twin Mercury V10 425hp outboards for speeds beyond 45 knots; and you can also opt for Mercury joystick control with integrated bow thruster right across the range. But if you go for the Commuter 12 or Tender 12, Volvo Penta inboards are also on the cards – and they too come with the option of a joystick as part of the assisted docking package.

Article continues below…

Nimbus C11 review: New flagship is a cultured cruising machine

Nimbus 495 review: Unlike any you’ve seen before

Nimbus 12 Series Specifications:

LOA: 41ft 7in (12.70m)
Beam: 11ft 4in (3.46m)
Engines: Various options up to 850hp
Top speed: 45+ knots (est)
Price: Pending
Contact details: www.nimbusboats.com

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While lovers of fully open boats will have to wait until the launch of the Speedster variant at the Miami International Boat Show in February, the Wellcraft 28 T-Top and Explorer models will be making their world debuts in Düsseldorf.

Built on the basis of a Navia-designed twin-stepped hull for a faster plane, more urgent pick-up, extra efficiency and a drier ride, flexibility once again sits at the heart of the Wellcraft concept. The cockpit, for instance, can be configured in one of four ways – the Lounge (with a sociable L-shaped dinette and wet bar); the Barracuda (with rod holders, fold-up seating, a live well and a fish box); the Relax (with a large island sunbed, lots of storage and extra seating for the two open models); and the Sleeper (with a very handy cushion-topped aft cabin for the pilothouse-equipped Explorer).

Constructed using what Wellcraft calls “Infujection”, where the hull and stringers are moulded as a single part for a lighter, stronger, stiffer build, you can pick from a range of single or twin outboard rigs, encompassing everything from low-speed cruising to 50-knot performance. And you can upgrade the fuel tank from 340L to 530L for extra range too.

In all cases, though, the critical basics look very well covered. In spite of its potent performance-driven styling, you get a small overnighting cabin beneath the helm console, which doubles as a handy summer changing zone and bulky storage locker.

Security for family users is also nicely taken care of, thanks to single-level walkaround decks with a closed transom and substantially raised bulwarks. And while the Explorer model keeps the pilothouse relatively narrow to preserve easy movement along both side decks, its use of that big beam-forward bow looks every bit as good as the two open models.

While the aft cockpit is the chief hub on this boat, visitors to the bow can expect a really spacious dinette with seats on all four sides, plus some forward-facing backrests on the side seats so you can put your feet up, and a spot for a cool box in the forepeak so you don’t have to head aft for your drinks.

Wellcraft 28 specifications

LOA: 28ft 0in (8.56m)
ENGINES: Single 225hp to twin 250hp outboards
BEAM: 9ft 6in (2.90m)
TOP SPEED: 50+ knots
PRICE: Pending
CONTACT: www.wellcraft.com

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Motor Boat & Yachting is the world’s leading magazine for Motoryacht enthusiasts. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams, as well as tests and news of all the latest motorboats.

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This article New Boats at Dusseldorf: Wellcraft 28 appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

This new Gran Turismo flagship is so far removed from the old GT50 that it’s like a boat from an entirely different product line. But given the style and playfulness of the smaller next-generation GT35 and GT40, recently unveiled in Cannes, the dynamic distinctiveness of this new boat makes a lot of sense. And yet, on the face of it, the external decks do seem to tread a relatively familiar line…

The bow’s island sunbed leads aft along symmetrical side decks to a cockpit with a central sun pad and dining unit, an open transom, a high-low platform and a pair of drop-down bulwarks.

The styling and deck layouts are on a completely different level to the old GT line

It’s a really generous space by the standards of a 50ft boat and it’s good to see that the dinette seating is nicely contoured to increase intimacy. But it’s not until you look at the internal design that the layout begins to feel genuinely different.

For a start, the big aft end keeps the saloon relatively short and the vast majority of it is taken up with a broad transverse galley, which leaves just the port door available for foot traffic.

The sociable helm set-up pushes the steps to port

Ahead of this is a wraparound seating unit that sits directly beside and ahead of the starboard helm, cutting into the dash moulding and dominating the centre of the boat. It might sound odd but, at a stroke, that creates one of the most inclusive and sociable driving positions you’re ever likely to encounter.

This same feature squeezes the staircase over to the port side, where it leads down to a very hard-working lower deck. There are twin and bunk cabins amidships, plus a bigger owner’s cabin in the bow and a pair of very decent bathrooms. Whether you will be able to spec that midships space as a full-beam owner’s cabin instead is currently unconfirmed but what is not in doubt is the style.

The owner’s bow cabin is nicely proportioned

Apparently, the Japanese-inspired principles of Kanso (simplicity) and Yugen (gracefulness) are hard at work in the balance, clarity and elegance of this new boat – and while that looks to us very similar to the classical Nordic design principles of modesty and cleanliness, you also get the option of souping this boat up with the automotive-style special edition vibes of the Alpine pack.

If you opt for that, the GT50 is spiked with all manner of material and trim upgrades, plus a range of coloured hulls, stylish accents and an extra bit of choice
in relation to your engine options.

Article continues below…

New boats at Cannes Yachting Festival: Beneteau GT35 + GT40

Used Beneteau GT46 Review: Is it a Budget Buy or a Smart Choice for a 46ft Sports Cruiser?

Beneteau GT50 Specifications:

LOA: 52ft 4in (15.95m)
Beam: 14ft 8in (4.48m)
Engines: Twin Volvo Penta IPS-650s
Top speed: 32 knots
Price: Pending
Contact details: www.beneteau.com

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This article New Boats at Dusseldorf: Beneteau GT50 - Inside this Japanese-inspired design appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

This second iteration of the extraordinary SAY 42 is apparently designed to offer “even greater versatility, comfort, and usability” than the original model.

That seems like a sensible move given that the original open 42 was about as focused and uncompromising as it’s possible for a 42-footer to be. With its radically beautiful hard top, fully equipped galley, revised bow layout and extra luxury, the new Sport model certainly does look like a more usable machine with broader appeal to would-be buyers.

That said, it still remains true to the SAY DNA. Built using a carbon fibre epoxy sandwich boat hull structure, it has a draft of 87cm and a dry weight of just 4.5 tonnes, which is truly extraordinary for a boat of this length. And with the option of Volvo Penta V8 6.2L 430s (rather than the standard D4-320s), operating through sterndrives, married up to a Petestep hull with a clever downward-pointing spray rail design, that puts the 50-knot mark well within reach.

As a very light, very stiff and very quick boat, there is of course the potential for some firm impacts, so SAY has helped compensate for that with an extremely fine entry and a set of adjustable impact-mitigation seats. But further aft, the feelgood openness of the deck remains very much intact.

The central dinette backs onto an island sunbed that projects out and through the open transom to a fixed aft platform, making access to the sea extremely simple. And up in the bow, the rigorously flat, extravagantly flared foredeck of the base 42 is replaced here with a more practical raised sun deck, dropped a little beneath the level of the gunwales, with wraparound cushions and a forward-facing bench built into the leading edge of the helm console.

Like the original 42, that’s likely to provide space for a moderately sensible cabin with a fixed double bed for the odd winter away. On a boat that could easily justify their absence, the fact that you get some decent hull windows is also a major bonus. And you can even expect a heads compartment with a loo, a shower and just enough vertical space for standing headroom.

At around €1.25m ex VAT, it’s by no means cheap, but at €700k more than the SAY 32 and €800k less than the range-topping SAY 52, the price looks neatly judged too.

Say Carbon 42 Sport specifications

LOA: 42ft 6in (12.96m)
BEAM: 13ft 1in (3.99m)
ENGINES: twin D4-320s / V8 430s
TOP SPEED: 50 knots
PRICE: From €1,250,00 ex VAT
CONTACT: saycarbonyachts.com

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Very few modern shipyards (Axopar included) have forged a more powerful reputation for innovation than Saxdor. In fact, its capacity to create versatile spaces on modestly sized powerboats from 20 to 40ft has seen it become one of the world’s fastest growing powerboat brands, so the arrival of the all-new 46ft flagship is cause for serious excitement.

It all starts with a full-beam pilothouse that can be fully enclosed for year-round boating or fully opened up, both at the sides and at the back end, for summer parties.

The full-beam pilothouse opens wide, both at the sides and the aft end

With fold-out backrests at the big starboard dinette and the port bench, you can make brilliant use of the long drop-down bulwarks that marry up with the saloon’s side doors. And if you want to go a shade further, the provision of optional terrace-mounted hammocks is also a lovely touch.

The permanent outdoor spaces also look very positive. A clever (patent-pending) two-part door ahead of the port galley takes you forward to a big, safe convertible foredeck lounge. And further aft, the stern bench is framed by a half-height window and a port door so you can merge the saloon and cockpit into a single integrated space.

The convertible bow lounge is big, deep and safe

The cockpit itself comes with some useful layout options too. You can stick with a pair of sociable sofas and a table for easy dining in the lee of the superstructure; or you can go for a spacious sunbed on top of the optional aft cabin, taking the boat’s cruising capacity to six.

But either way, the twin cabin beneath the forward part of the saloon looks surprisingly spacious and the ensuite bow cabin also appears to make great use of the bow seats’ raised mouldings.

Saxdor is calling this the largest saloon in the sector

The early indications look good in terms of performance too. That proven twin-step hull form, with its soft-riding entry and robust bow flare, ought to mean a productive blend of efficiency, dryness and comfort. And while triple Mercury V8 300s ought to provide plenty of grunt for watersports, load carrying and family cruises, the option of twin V12 600s or triple V10 425s is also likely to be a bit of a tempter.

Article continues below…

Saxdor 400 GTC Review: ‘A Half-Way House Between a Med-Style Sportscruiser and an Enclosed Adventure Boat’

£468174

Saxdor 400 GTO yacht tour: Stunning new 50mph sportsboat at a price you won't believe

Saxdor 460 GTC Specifications:

LOA: 46ft 0in (14.00m)
Beam: 11ft 10in (3.60m)
Engines: Twin/triple outboards from 900-1,200hp
Top speed: 50 knots
Price: Pending
Contact details: www.saxdor.com

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Motor Boat & Yachting is the world’s leading magazine for Motoryacht enthusiasts. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams, as well as tests and news of all the latest motorboats.

Plus you’ll get our quarterly Custom Yachting supplement where we share the last on offer in the superyacht world and at the luxury end of the market.

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This article New Boats at Dusseldorf: Saxdor 460 GTC - A Masterclass in Versatile Motorboat Innovation appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

World premieres from major European boat builders were few and far between at this year’s Düsseldorf show, so the unveiling of the new Princess F58 provided a welcome highlight.

It didn’t disappoint. The replacement for the much-loved Princess F55 may not be packed full of crowd-pleasing gizmos, but what it does have is acres of space, plenty of performance, lots of meaningful improvements and the usual Princess attention to detail.

Take the new ‘beach club’ stern; there are no complex balconies or electric garage doors to worry about, just an oversized hydraulic platform for a Williams 325 jet tender, a manual drop-down bench, a Seabob locker and a transom-mounted wet bar and grille.

Article continues below…

Princess F55 or Sunseeker Manhattan 55? We help you decide: Head-to-head yacht tour

Watch: Prestige F5.7 sea trial – Exclusive drive of new £1.2M Prestige

But the way the Seabob slides out on a special little rack will be music to the ears of anyone who’s ever tried to lift one into a locker. It’s a similar story with the optional crew cabin that now has its own access under the starboard steps rather than wrestling with cushions in the cockpit.

Then there are the optional side boarding gates and the sociable new foredeck lounge with face-to-face seating and a chilled drinks locker between the sunpads, not to mention the new flybridge layout with another wet bar and grille in the port aft corner. Incremental gains that together make life aboard the F58 that much easier and more enjoyable.

Separate lounge and dining areas feels more upmarket

The bigger wins are saved for the interior, where there is now room for a separate dining area next to the aft galley, as well as a wonderfully big, bright lounge area forward. Everything, from the comfort of the settees to the sightlines from the helm and the choice of materials used, feels perfectly judged.

All three of the cabins also feel usefully bigger, particularly the owner’s cabin which now has its ensuite bathroom and walk-in wardrobe located behind the bed like its larger siblings. The third cabin is another big improvement, featuring proper twin beds, rather than bunks, that can also be converted to a double.

The new Princess F58 may not set the world alight but it’s exactly what a Princess should be – a perfectly honed study in understated luxury.

Princess F58 specifications

LOA: 59ft 8in (18.20m)
BEAM: 16ft 1in (4.90m)
ENGINES: Twin 1,000 to 1,200hp MAN V8
TOP SPEED: 35 knots
PRICE FROM: £1.8m ex tax
CONTACT: princessyachts.com

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This article WATCH: Princess F58 tour – All-new British beauty appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

Following on from last year’s Virtue V10 Open, Polish builder, Virtue, is using Düsseldorf Boat Show as the launchpad for a new multi-purpose four-season variant of that same platform, the Virtue V10 Cabin.

As the first all-weather boat in the line-up, it will use the same Swedish Petestep hull we saw on the original V10, with its unusual spray rail configuration, designed to increase efficiency and improve ride softness by diverting water downwards rather than sideways.

And it will also feature a welcome update to the ergonomics, including a redesigned console, which is significantly wider, with extra space between the seats and the console, generating much better comfort for larger skippers.

Article continues below…

Watch: Solaris Power 60 Coupé sea trial

New Boats at Düsseldorf: Sunseeker Manhattan 68

On this model, the original boat’s bow cabin is also supplemented with a convertible two-man settee in the pilothouse; and the pilothouse itself provides impressive headroom of 1.95m (6ft 5in).

While each new V10 Cabin will be built to order and tailored in line with customer specifications, the show boat will aim to optimise its four-season credentials with optional extras like air conditioning and heating throughout, plus a roof rack for your toys and a Webasto sliding glass roof hatch for extra light and ventilation.

Virtue V10 Cabin specifications

LOA: 32ft 8in (9.95m)
BEAM: 9ft 6in (2.90m)
ENGINES: single 250 to twin 300hp outboards
TOP SPEED: 40 knots
PRICE: from €260,000 ex VAT
CONTACT: virtue-yachts.com

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The MAX43 Comfort was designed by Alex Cherigny and engineered by Spanish studio, Isonaval, the main deck is arranged around a central helm station with quadruple seats that back onto a transverse wet bar.

If that much is relatively commonplace on a day cruiser with a 13ft beam, the use of lateral benches on both sides creates a huge dining station bang in the centre of the deck. Angled cushions and folding table leaves help keep the traffic flowing freely between the swim platform and the bow deck; and further aft, a pair of long drop-down bulwarks make great use of the single-level open-transom design, creating ample space for up to 16 people at a time.

The quality, like the styling, looks distinctly high-end and with a pair of 440hp Volvo Penta inboard engines delivering speeds in the region of 45 knots, it’s no slouch either.

As regards accommodation, the Düsseldorf show boat will feature a two double-cabin layout and a very slick contrast between the matte Nardo grey exterior and the bright but subtle chalk-white interiors – but the yard has stated that significant customisation potential has been deliberately dialled into the design, so if you have other ideas, they are extremely receptive.

Article continues below…

Boot Dusseldorf 2025

Maxim MAX43 Comfort Specifications

LOA: 42ft 10in (13.07m)
Beam: 12ft 1in (3.70m)
Engines: twin Volvo Penta 440hp diesels
Top speed: 45 knots
Price: from €1.044M ex VAT
Contact details: www.maxim.yachts

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More a mid-life facelift than an all-new model, the 2025 edition of the Sunseeker Manhattan 68 boasts a number of desirable upgrades for Düsseldorf Boat Show attendees to ogle.

You’ll need to be quite an expert to spot the changes, however, as the exterior developments are quite subtle.

The previous model’s shark fin side mouldings at the aft end of the flybridge have been ditched in favour of a lower, sleeker solution and the hardtop is now gloss black rather than white.

The pillars supporting the flybridge overhang have also changed shape and location to accommodate a new privacy screen shielding the cockpit’s occupants from prying eyes in the marina.

What you can’t see from this rendering is the flybridge’s new layout, which promises a larger, more versatile seating arrangement, new exterior upholstery and updated helm console.

The interior changes sound even more comprehensive with revised three or four-cabin layouts, with or without a private staircase to the owner’s suite, and a brand new fit-out from Design Unlimited.

Sunseeker Manhattan 68 specifications

LOA: 69ft 7in (21.21m)
BEAM: 17ft 3in (5.26m)
ENGINES: twin 1,000-1,200hp MAN diesel
TOP SPEED: 31-32 knots
PRICE: POA
CONTACT: sunseeeker.com

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Motor Boat & Yachting is the world’s leading magazine for Motoryacht enthusiasts. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams, as well as tests and news of all the latest motorboats.

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Making its world debut at the Düsseldorf Boat Show 2025 is a boat with a name that evokes plenty of happy memories for those of us who grew up in the 80s. But while the GTIs of that era were about sport, this new Galeon 435 GTI (or Grand Touring Icon) is clearly about parties.

It takes all the spectacular dayboating deck space of the Galeon 435 GTO and wraps the middle half in a glass-enclosed, climate-controlled wheelhouse so you can carry on the fun when the weather turns. But the outdoor spaces remain just as strong as they always were.

The aft cockpit uses a central seating/sunbed unit that can adjust to face forward or aft. While a garage under the seats swallows up your water toys, a hydraulic platform gives you direct access to the water and a retractable sunshade extends the hardtop shelter aft.

This new Galeon 435 GTI is clearly about parties

As you would expect, the whole deck can also be expanded, courtesy of large, partially glazed balconies. And when you head forward, a radically flared bow carries that massive 19ft beam almost to the forepeak, where large convertible seats enable lounging, dining or sunbathing.

It’s principally a day boat of course but if you want to use it for the occasional cruise, there are also two cabins: one amidships with a double and a single; and a broad owner’s cabin forward of the starboard bathroom.

Galeon 435 GTI specifications

LOA: 44ft 10in (13.65m)
BEAM: 19ft 5in (5.91m)
ENGINES: twin 600hp inboard diesels
TOP SPEED: TBC
PRICE: TBC
CONTACT: galeon.pl

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We’ve already had a look at the new Aquador 400HT, thanks to a December trip to Poland where the new boats are being built. As expected, the Aquador 400HT is based squarely on the same principles that made the smaller 250 and 300 so effective. Just as before, raised hull sides, narrow side decks and a generous beam-forward hull ramp up the volume to such a degree that both the main deck day spaces and the lower deck accommodation provide far more than you would expect of a boat at this length.

The new Aquador 400HT

Down below, you get three double cabins: two splitting the beam amidships beneath the forward saloon; plus a forward owner’s cabin. An open (bulkhead-free) arrangement makes the most of the space while still leaving room for a really impressive starboard day heads with separate shower.

If you head back up top, the convertible cockpit dinette can also step in as an extra bed when required, taking sleeping capacity to eight people. That’s an impressive haul but arguably it’s the day spaces that really excel on the Aquador 400HT.

It’s a dining station, sunlounger and swim platform all in one

The extra length has been used here for three tiers of seating on the port side: a raised companion section adjacent to the twin helm with excellent all-round views and an ingenious pull-out infill; a larger U-shaped dinette amidships for sociable gatherings directly across from the galley; and an aft-facing L-shaped lounge at the stern, which drops directly onto the big aft swim platform for unobstructed access to the water.

Virtually the entire 13ft beam is used for the living spaces

Happily, this unit can also be converted into a sunlounger to supplement the foredeck’s raised island sunbed so, in spite of its relatively modest proportions, this is a boat that ought to enable the full ship’s company of 12 to gather for day parties without getting under one another’s feet.

In terms of engines, you have a choice between inboard and outboard. Twin Mercury V8 300hp outboard engines, hidden beneath a De-Antonio-style sunbed, will deliver around 35 knots, alongside extra refinement and simplified maintenance.

An open-plan layout maximises space in the owner’s cabin

Twin Volvo Penta D4-320 sterndrives will add another knot of pace, as well as improved weight distribution, a more open back end and, if precedent is anything to go by, around 30% more bang for your buck in terms of running efficiency.

In all cases, with package prices starting at around €500,000 including tax, this Aquador 400HT is the largest ever Aquador and looks like the finest HT model yet.

Article continues below…

Aquador 300 HT review: now a wholly excellent boat

Is this the best compact cruiser money can buy? Aquador 250 HT tour

Aquador 400HT Specifications:

LOA: 39ft 7in (12.10m)
Beam: 13ft 0in (3.96m)
Engines: twin 300-350s outboards/Volvo D4-320s/Mercury V6 270s
Top speed: 35-37 knots
Price: from €499,000 inc VAT
Contact details: www.aquadorboats.fi

One of two midships doubles beneath the forward saloon

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This article New boats at Düsseldorf boat show: Aquador 400HT with sleeping capacity for eight people appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

Award-winning Finnish builder, XO, will be taking not one but two of its new flagship models, the XO EXPLR 44 to Boot Dusseldorf 2025. Boat number 1, which we tested back in the summer, will come in ‘traditional’ XO grey with twin 600s on the transom; and boat Number 2 will feature a raft of subtle updates, alongside a Champagne-coloured wrap, lots of high-spec gadgets and triple Mercury 400hp V10s.

While that will enable XO to demonstrate what can be done with this platform, the basic underpinnings of the new model speak for themselves. Built tough, with aluminium construction, a plumb bow and a long keel, it uses a walkaround design with a central pilothouse and open fore and aft decks.

There’s a super-slick wet bar ahead of the low-slung seats

But what’s unusual here is that XO has raised those fore and aft decks above that of the central pilothouse, creating a pair of private cabins at opposite ends of the boat, while keeping the roofline low, the weight deep, the profile aggressive and the windage in check.

In terms of the accommodation, the ensuite forward cabin adopts much the same approach as that of the DFNDR 8, with a double bed in the vee of the bow and easy sundeck access through a right-angled swing-up hatch built into the foredeck’s island sunbed.

Article continues below…

The aft cabin, meanwhile, is accessed by means of a hinged seat on the port side of the pilothouse dinette and it really is quite striking. You step down into an atrium with open access to an enormous lounge and sleeping area aft. There’s a door that leads forward into a separate heads and there’s also a huge one-piece window that looks aft over the furniture of the external aft cockpit.

Back in the pilothouse, a transverse pantry, with twin helm seats on its leading edge, slides forward, enabling those at the convertible dinette to get in and out on the starboard side, even when the skipper’s in his seat. Headroom is also excellent in here and if you’re keen to enjoy the full spectrum of outdoor pursuits, the rooftop is well designed for solar panels, bikes, kayaks and standup paddleboards.

The port seat hinges up for access to the aft cabin

Critically though, this is also a great boat to drive. The attitude is flat, the tracking is straight, the handling is clean, the visibility is superb, the ride is soft and the noise remains conspicuous by its absence. Chuck in good looks, novice-friendly manners and a range of 250 miles at everything from 20 to 35 knots and this is a boat that deserves a closer look.

XO EXPLR 44 specifications

LOA: 44ft 0in (13.40m)
BEAM: 12ft 2in (3.70m)
ENGINES: Twin 600/triple 400hp outboards
TOP SPEED: 50 knots
PRICE: from €853,390 ex VAT
CONTACT: xoboats.com

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The current Princess F55 is already one of the brand’s best selling models and this new Princess F58 looks set to raise the bar even higher.

As you would expect, it offers significantly more space than the F55 (it’s 1ft 8in longer and 1in wider) but it’s the Princess F58’s extra features that are most likely to grab people’s attention. Foremost among these is a beach club stern with a folding aft bench, a dedicated Seabob garage, an oversized hydraulic platform and a transom-mounted barbecue.

The hatch above the bench lifts to reveal a BBQ and sink

That focus on outdoor living is replicated at the bow, where a versatile foredeck lounge features twin sunpads with a small drinks fridge and adjustable headrests. These transform into backrests, creating two aft-facing bench seats
to link up with the forward facing one.

The flybridge uses the same layout as the larger models

To cap it all, the flybridge is bigger than ever and adopts the same layout as larger models in the range, including an optional hard top, a central helm position with convertible seating to starboard and a comprehensive aft wet bar so cooking smells are carried away by the breeze. However, it’s inside where the extra space is most likely to be felt, especially on the main deck, where there’s room for a dining area opposite the aft galley.

A dining area opposite the aft galley is a major step up

The lower deck has the same three-cabin, two-heads layout as the F55 but with one major difference – the owner’s cabin has its ensuite bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe positioned behind the bed. This should make it feel more luxurious and help insulate it better from engineroom noise.

Lifting backrests create a neat dining station at the bow

On that note, the Princess F58 will also be the first sub-80ft Princess to offer a silent running option for all the hotel loads, using a lithium-ion battery pack and inverter instead of a generator.

A transverse bathroom and walk-in wardrobe occupy the space behind the owner’s bed

Propulsion still comes from a pair of big diesels though, in this case shaftdrive MAN V8s rather than Volvo D13s. These should deliver a very impressive claimed top speed of around 35 knots – unusually fast for a boat of this size.

Article continues below…

Princess F55 yacht tour: £1m flybridge cruiser uses every inch of space

Princess F55 or Sunseeker Manhattan 55? We help you decide: Head-to-head yacht tour

Princess F58 Specifications:

LOA: 59ft 8in (18.20m)
Beam: 16ft 1in (4.90m)
Engines: Twin 1,000-1,200hp MAN V8s
Top speed: 35 knots
Price: TBA
Contact details: www.princessyachts.com 

There’s easy low-level lounge seating to port of the helm

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This article New boats at Düsseldorf: The highly anticipated Princess F58 appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

Italian design studio, Ferragni Progetti, has collaborated with Cobra Yachts in the creation of this latest 42ft flybridge cruiser – and while the bold window shapes and angular lines suggest a lot of effort has been put into the style, it’s the multi-function practicality that really shines. Available in either Fly or Coupé versions, both models can be specced with three cabins and three bathrooms; with two bathrooms and an enlarged owner’s cabin; or with two larger cabins and bathrooms.

Remarkably, the options are every bit as flexible in terms of power too. You can spec anything from a single 80hp Yanmar diesel engine to twin 370hp units, enabling the Campione 41 to excel either as an inland cruiser or as a dedicated coastal platform. It’s good to see then that the waste, fuel and water tanks can also be tailored to match the demands of the engines and how long you intend to stay on it.

Even with three cabins and bathrooms the owner’s ensuite double looks pretty generous

In all cases, though, the day spaces look strong, thanks to a decent bow lounger, a flybridge option with plenty of wraparound seating and a spacious internal saloon that integrates with the open aft cockpit.

Article continues below…

World’s coolest boats: Why the Chris-Craft Cobra is the Corvette of the seas

Cobra RIBs: Everything you need to know

Cobra Campione 41 Specifications:

LOA: 42ft 0in (12.80m)
Beam: 11ft 6in (3.50m)
Engines: single 80hp to twin 370hp Yanmar diesels
Top speed: TBC
Price: from £261,550 inc VAT
Contact details: www.cobrayachts.com

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This article New boats at Düsseldorf boat show: The angular Cobra Campione 41 appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

Before you think we’ve lost the plot and suddenly started testing 55m superyachts we should probably explain that the Sunseeker Ocean 182 is not 182ft long. It’s not even close. Its actual LOA is 88ft 11in – exactly the same as the Sunseeker Ocean 90, with which it shares a hull and drivetrain.

It’s only from the main deck upwards that things start to differ, making it all the more confusing why these two closely related siblings use such different model designations.

The reason comes down to consumer expectations; based on length alone the pricing of the Sunseeker Ocean 182 looks out of kilter with 90ft models from rival brands but switch the measurement to volume (182 Gross Tonnes) and thanks to its wide beam and enclosed upper deck, it suddenly looks much better value.

The only trouble is that most people have no idea what Gross Tonnage is and few other yards quote the figure in their literature so it’s all a bit academic anyway.

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The key thing you need to know is that the 182 (and Ocean 90) is an exceptionally beamy boat; at 23ft 6in it is 15in wider than a Princess X95 and 26in wider than a Riva 90 Argo. Thanks to a near vertical stem, it also carries that beam a lot further forward than normal, creating valuable extra cabin space in the bow.

But the real game changer is the new enclosed upper deck that doesn’t just create another entire ‘room’ up top but enables the main helm to move up there too, freeing up yet more space on the main deck.

That all adds up to a lot of extra interior volume, the bigger question is what that space is used for and how it affects performance because unlike the Princess X-Class or Ferretti Infynito, the hull was originally designed as a two-deck flybridge boat and it was only when customers started asking whether the upper deck could be enclosed that it was adapted into this tri-deck model.

The result is not one of Sunseeker’s prettiest boats but to be fair to its designers the end result looks remarkably well integrated if a little top heavy – an unavoidable consequence of its relatively short LOA. It’s not as if either of its key competitors are world renowned beauties after all, even with the advantage of being clean sheet designs.

Engine choices are all MAN V12s on V-drives with power options ranging from twin 1,650hp up to 2,000hp units for an impressive top speed of around 27 knots and a quoted slow speed range of up to 1,800nm.

“I never used to be a fan of tri-deck designs on boats with an LOA of less than 100ft,” says MBY editor Hugo Andreae. “Too often they looked like a hurriedly designed after-thought to eke out a few extra sales in the US or UAE. But I doff my hat to Sunseeker’s designers for managing to make this Sunseeker Ocean 182 look surprisingly good.”

Sunseeker Ocean 182 specifications

LOA: 88’11” / 27.10m
Beam: 23’6” / 7.16m
Draft:  6’1” / 1.86m
Displacement: 79,300kg / 174,827lb
Fuel capacity: 13,000 litres / 3,434 US GAL
Water capacity: 1,500 litres / 400 US GAL
Engine options: Twin MTU up to 3,000hp
Top speed: 27 knots
Cruising speed: 12 knots
Range: Up to 1,800 nautical miles
CE classification: Category B
Starting price: £7,700,000 (ex. VAT)

This article Sunseeker Ocean 182 – see how this compact superyacht copes in a wet and windy sea trial appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

As you can probably see form the pre-show image, the new Saxdor 400 GTC is ostensibly a 400 GTO with less in the way of openness and more in the way of pilothouse protection.

Like the GTO variant, the wheelhouse encompasses the full-beam of the boat, maximising internal living space while providing easy movement fore and aft via a generous offset door in the windscreen.

But unlike that boat, the Saxdor 400 GTC model replaces open space and canvas curtains with permanent glazing on both sides.

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Direct access to the long fold-down side terraces is still perfectly achievable though, thanks to big sliding side doors, and the configurable aft deck can also join the party courtesy of the same aft door and hinged window as the GTO variant.

The bow lounge looks as impressive as ever and the glass inserts in the drop-down terraces remain a cool way to expand your views, both when closed and when deployed.

It looks pretty practical for a cruise too. In spite of those slick looks and all that user-friendly day space, you still get the luxury of an offset forward cabin and a separate bathroom, each with standing headroom of more than 6ft, plus the option of an additional double cabin beneath the cockpit further aft.

Further details are currently scarce but this latest Saxdor could yet turn out to be one of the most warmly welcomed debut boats at Boot Dusseldorf 2024.

Saxdor 400 GTC specifications

LOA: 40ft 8in (12.4m)
BEAM: 11ft 8in (3.55m)
ENGINES: Twin Mercury 300-400hp outboards
TOP SPEED: 50 knots
PRICE: To be confirmed

This article Saxdor 400 GTC tour: Düsseldorf launch for new flagship appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

Wally describes the new Wallypower 50 as bridging the gap between its ‘stylishly practical’ Wallytender range and its ‘practically stylish’ cruising range.

It’s an eloquent turn of phrase but having seen it in the flesh, the dial feels pretty firmly cranked over towards the stylish end of that particular spectrum.

Teak decks are made from thousands of recycled offcuts. Photo: Motor Boat & Yachting

Admittedly, the layout works very well as a weekender and a chase boat for a megayacht.

You can also opt to have the Wallytender’s square-section rubber fendering fitted along the topsides. But that sounds like asking a supermodel to wear wellies and claiming they’re a farmer.

Details in the decks

What the Wallypower 50 really excels at is knocking people’s socks off at 500 yards and this one just gets better the closer you get to it.

The decks, for instance, are made from thousands of thin teak offcuts compressed and bonded into planks that not only look great but are also more sustainable too.

All-carbon superstructure, table and helm seats keep weight down. Photo: Motor Boat & Yachting

The cockpit table is moulded from pure carbon fibre (as is the hardtop) but has been given a matt finish that looks and feels even cooler than the usual glossy surface.

The iconic angular wheelhouse is as striking as ever and protects the helm and seating area well.

The visibility out is better than ever thanks to slender mullions and a remarkable one-piece windscreen that remains distortion-free despite a pronounced kink in the middle.

And those folding bulwarks add a really useful extra 6m² to the size of the cockpit when deployed.

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Watching Windows on Wallypower 50

For a 50ft boat there’s not a lot of accommodation below deck but the open-plan cabin is exquisitely finished.

Those virtual hull windows (cameras that relay the view to window shaped screens) are remarkably convincing.

Virtual hull windows relay the view from topside cameras. Photo: Motor Boat & Yachting

And who doesn’t enjoy the decadence of a carbon-fibre toilet in the lavishly appointed heads compartment.

It will be interesting to see whether the driving experience lives up to the promise of those looks.

However, with the option of quad Mercury 500 outboards for a top speed of over 50 knots in place of the standard twin Volvo IPS650s, it certainly won’t be short of performance.

Specifications

LOA: 46ft 11in (14.6m)
BEAM: 14ft 1in (4.3m)
ENGINES: Twin 480hp Volvo Penta IPS650
MAX SPEED: 36 knots
PRICE: From approx €1.5m ex VAT
CONTACT: www.wally.com

This article WallyPower 50 tour: Italian beauty with a cool interior trick appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

It has taken more than a decade for someone to knock the Princess V40 off its throne but the all-new Fairline Targa 40 didn’t just steal its crown at Düsseldorf, it tore it off, swung it around and blew a raspberry in Plymouth’s general direction before planting it firmly on its own head.

The key to its appeal is a design that looks modern and sporty without scaring the horses or compromising on space. Quite the opposite, thanks to the extra height and beam of the hull, it actually packs in way more space than its svelte exterior suggests.

That starts at the stern with a neat tender garage under the port side seating that takes a fully inflated 2.3m Zodiac or a partially deflated 2.7m. Tick the £4,000 tender option and you’ll also get a built-in compressor and charging point for the Torqeedo motor.

Rear seats that transform into aft-facing sunbeds by folding the backrest forward are as quick, effective and robust as you’d hope, while the magic vanishing cockpit table that folds under the seating when not required is as brilliant as ever.

We’re not so sure about the optional hydraulic bathing platform, given that it’s only a couple of feet wide and doesn’t launch or carry the tender, but the drop down cockpit balcony with integrated storage for the safety rails and wraparound LED lighting is a must have, even at £30,000. Steps lead up from here to the foredeck, featuring another vast sunbed with adjustable headrests and a cosy seat at the bow.

A huge fabric sunroof and sliding windows on both sides of the hard top do a great job of making it feel as open as possible, while a wetbar keeps guests fed and watered. The helm looks bang on too, although the seats could do with a bit of extra adjustment to increase kneeroom when seated.

Below decks there’s a good sized lower saloon with a C-shaped dinette that converts to an extra double, a decent little galley and a wonderfully spacious forward owner’s suite with ensuite access to the shared bathroom.

The aft guest cabin has just enough headroom to sit upright on the two beds, which also slide together to make a double.

If the space impressed us, the detailing blew us away with the same glossy woodwork, expensive fittings, subtle lighting and classy storage solutions found on larger Fairlines.

It’s not cheap, the one on show came to £834,195 ex VAT thanks to £280,000 worth of extras, but you should be able to spec one with the bigger engines and the key features for around £699,000 ex VAT.

Fairline Targa 40 specifications

LOA: 39ft 3in (11.99m)
BEAM: 13ft 0in (3.97m)
ENGINES: Twin Volvo Penta D6-340 / 380s
TOP SPEED: 32-36 knots
PRICE: Available upon application

This article Fairline Targa tour: Sensational new British sportscruiser appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

Very few boat builders in the world can match Galeon for the fun they incorporate into their designs. In fact, even in the shipyard’s most basic GTO line of open dayboats, each model courses through with a tangible sense of innovation. And yet if you’re keen to experience Galeon’s design creativity at its most playful and unconstrained, its multi-award-winning Flybridge and Skydeck models have generally been the place to look.

So it was with a great deal of anticipation that we headed to Southampton for a sea trial of the Galeon 440 Fly at the hands of new UK importer, Argo Yachting.

Seating galore!

When you step on board any Galeon, you immediately look for the one key design feature that enables everything else to work, and in this case, it’s actually very simple.

The Galeon 440 Fly is designed to be a sociable boat for up to 14 people to gather together in comfort, so Galeon has split the saloon in two. At the raised forward section, there’s a compact port galley, directly across from the helm station.

Galeon’s new flybridge cruiser is likely to prove a dangerous temptation

That keeps the practical work zone very small, neat and self contained, which in turn frees up a huge amount of single-level deck space further aft for communal seating. It’s arranged around a long starboard dinette opposite a smaller inward facing bench, with a neatly conceived three-part aft door that sweeps well out of the way to port.

When the glass partition is removed, the aft part of the internal dinette can then be hinged outward, straddling the threshold and integrating with the L-shaped unit of the external cockpit. At a stroke, you have a convivial seating section big enough to accommodate the entire ship’s company.

That in itself is something to be applauded, but if you know Galeon, you tend to anticipate a linear and unbroken wraparound bench opening up before your eyes like a magic trick.

What you actually get, however, is a staggered arrangement, with one backrest sitting a good few inches forward of the others.If that looks a bit odd, it also feels a bit odd when you sit on it.

But to its credit, it does leave space for a handy gap to access the starboard side deck. And it’s also good to see that, like the cockpit’s fixed bench, the backrest can be reversed, enabling up to three people to face out over the starboard terrace.

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As for the drop-down terraces themselves, they are really well judged. Such is their vertical elevation that they add a massive 7ft (more than 50%) to the beam when deployed; and when they’re raised, the fact they use large integrated glazing sections enables them to add plenty of security without blocking your view.

But that’s not the end of the main deck fun because when you step further aft, the hi-lo platform is lined at its leading edge with a big transverse wet bar. It’s optional of course but with an electric griddle, a sink and plenty of work space, it provides everything you need for beach club-style fun, without forcing you inside to the main galley and without stealing any space from that all-important cockpit party.

Between the lower saloon and the external cockpit, there is ample space for up to 14 guests

It’s stylish, too, not least because of Galeon’s use of Permateek decking. You can pick from a variety of both ‘wood’ and caulking colours, while sidestepping the supply and consistency issues commonly associated with natural teak.

It also enables the designers to factor in some really elegant curves where the wet bar integrates with the deck. There’s no doubt that this feels like a premium part of the boat and, while you can’t of course use the wet bar with the platform deployed, there’s lots of space for a Williams jet tender, without obstructing the cockpit steps.

As a party-centric 45-footer, the bow and flybridge also have to perform and for the most part, they absolutely do. The foredeck carries the beam well forward to an angular squared off forepeak, creating the space for a neat little forward-facing settee built into the leading edge of the island sunbed. And up top, the flybridge again does everything it can to prioritise seating capacity.

There’s a compact wet bar at the top of the port steps, plus a starboard helm with space for two. But aside from that, the flybridge’s entire periphery is occupied by wraparound bench seating. The forward section makes a handy spot to keep the skipper company when underway; and when you come to anchor, the helm seat’s backrest flips over, enabling you to make that enormous dinette even bigger.

Galley duties are confined to a compact raised area alongside the helm station

Two or three cabins?

A quality mid-sized flybridge cruiser has a big job to do for cruisers as well as day boaters, and Galeon has attempted to nail the brief with a catch-all choice of two or three-cabin layouts.

In the two-cabin layout of the Galeon 440 Fly, the forward and mid cabins are split by a central section comprising a fore and aft companionway with a bathroom on either side. In the test boat’s three-cabin variant, however, both bathrooms are reduced in size and shifted to starboard, enabling a bunk cabin to be slotted in to port.

That obviously shortens the forward cabin a little bit, with the lateral bulkheads on both sides shifting forward and swallowing up a bit of space. But the way Galeon
has managed that compromise is very impressive.

The aft section of saloon seating swings round to link up with the cockpit seating

The central bed has been eased across to starboard and subtly angled, creating excellent space on the port side for moving fore and aft. Galeon’s trademark forward hull swellings, which project out like a thickset flare beneath the rubbing strake, also pay big dividends here.

They significantly expand the forward breadth in this VIP cabin and the fact that they are lined with glazing introduces plenty of extra light too.

The bunk cabin also does a fine job, particularly at the upper bed, which marries up exactly with a huge deepset hull window that runs all the way from the foot to the bedhead for astonishing views. In stark contrast, the guest on the lower bunk gets nothing but a blank and featureless bulkhead so squabbles are a certainty.

But what your bunk guests will both appreciate is the headroom (more than 7ft) and the storage (a full-height hanging locker that could be used equally well for bulky baggage or spare infills).

The two starboard backrests can also be reversed to face out across the terrace

Over to starboard, the day heads is required to make best use of the reduced space by placing the toilet in the shower compartment. But that aside, the three-cabin compromise looks well worth it.

Light, headroom and storage are again very positive and it’s also good to see that, in spite of the additional space it requires above the deckhead, both bathrooms come with proper rain showers.

Oddly enough, it’s the owner’s mid cabin, which is broadly similar in both configurations, that is likely to cause the fiercest debate among potential owners. On the plus side, the footprint is good, the windows are huge, storage is plentiful and the quality of the finish in terms of the interplay between trim and lighting is really attractive.

It just feels as though the space is slightly bullied by fluctuating deck levels and ceiling heights caused by things happening elsewhere. But if you’re okay with that, then it’s actually more practical than it looks.

There is still plenty of room to sit up in bed for a six-footer and, while standing headroom is at a premium here, there is a decent space on the starboard side, where the forward part of the saloon dinette elevates the deckhead and enables you to stand up straight to get changed.

The big glazed terraces add more than 50% to the beam

Shaft-drive simplicity

This is a big, weighty boat with plenty of volume forward, plenty of deck space up top and plenty of toys aft. It’s also equipped with a pair of D6-440s rather than 480s so while it’s easy to imagine that a top end of 27.4 knots might have you lamenting the absent 80hp, the dynamic behaviour of the test boat more than makes up for that.

With the engines hooked up to straight shafts and positioned a good way forward, the weight distribution feels supremely well judged.

Even with the tabs disengaged, the flatness of the running attitude enables you to run up a restricted estuary at displacement speeds or through lumpy seas at semi-displacement speeds in great comfort.

In fact, whether you’re at eight, ten or 14 knots, the ride feels flat and efficient, with excellent directional tracking and no sense at all that the bow is creeping skywards.

The foredeck sunbed provides adjustable headrests and a two-person bow settee

That opens up a really wide and user-friendly cruising band and the behaviour of the bow is positive in other ways too. Assuming you show the seas your keel, the softness of ride feels perfectly decent and, even with that huge skipper’s door slid right back, the dryness is good here too – spray puffing out from the rails at such an angle that very little seems to find its way inboard.

Sadly, we were unable to gather any real-time fuel flow data on the day because the test boat’s electronics were not yet up to speed, but a combination of figures from Volvo Penta and Galeon appear to support our impressions regarding this boat’s running efficiency.

While the fluctuating deckhead of the owner’s cabin looks intrusive, light, storage and style are strong

As you would expect, the on-water figures show a level of fuel flow significantly higher than Volvo Penta’s quoted data for the D6-440s, but the linearity of the Galeon’s performance looks every bit as clear as the running attitude suggests.

At everything from ten to 23 knots, the efficiency sits at between 5.5 and 6.6 litres per nautical mile for a range of between 200 and 240 miles – and for a big beamy flybridge cruiser, weighing the best part of 20 tonnes fully loaded, that looks like a pretty good return to us.

The forward VIP is shortened to make way for the twin guest cabin

Galeon 440 Fly verdict

Galeon’s new 440 is a well conceived and user-friendly boat with huge reserves of seating and a really easy drive. Ironically, its only real stumbling block is likely to be the new Galeon 480, which looks set to offer a tried and tested back-end formula that is just a bit more polished.

In addition to an inside-outside bar, it will use sliding windows and reversible settees at the aft end of the saloon so you can face out over the balconies from the inside.

If its price exceeds that of the 440 by less than 10% (as currently looks likely), that will pose a serious dilemma for potential buyers of this boat. In the meantime, the 440’s ability to combine big party spaces with enjoyable looks and a well behaved drive is enough for us to consider this a job very well done.

Like the main deck, the flybridge will comfortably seat up to 14 people

Galeon 440 Fly specifications

LOA: 45ft 8in (13.97m)
Beam: 13ft 8in (4.2m)
Engines: Twin Volvo Penta 480hp D6/440hp IPS600
Top speed: 30 knots
Starting price: €692,100 (ex. VAT)

This article Galeon 440 Fly sea trial: You won't believe how much they've packed in! appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

Quarken’s largest model yet the, Quarken 35 Cabin, follows much the same principles as the award-winning Quarken 27 Cabin. There’s the elegant twin-stepped hull, the plumb bow, the flared foredeck, the glass-lined pilothouse and the Yamaha outboards.

But here, the pilothouse is offset to port, narrowing the port side deck, while opening up a larger walkway on the starboard side – and that’s a handy feature because both the foredeck and the aft cockpit harbour day spaces of genuine merit.

At the back end, the cockpit’s central aft bench sits opposite a transverse wet bar built into the pilothouse’s aft bulkhead. There are also half-height drop-down coamings on both sides, enabling you to create four additional seats without swallowing up valuable deck space.

That means the show boat could easily seat seven, but the UK spec looks likely to trade in the wet bar for an additional aft-facing bench, creating sufficient space for the full ship’s company of ten.

There are extra peripheral tables to keep those on the bulwark seats properly serviced – and when you want to change the scenery, the foredeck provides a raised three-man lounging section, plus a neat little five-man dinette.

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The inside of the pilothouse is arguably even better resolved. The inverted screen, huge windows and slender mullions generate light and visibility as good as anything in this class – and the fact that the new Quarken flagship benefits from both an aft door and a sliding skipper’s door makes this a very simple boat to helm single-handed.

Better still, the sheer scale of the side door makes this feel like a proper open boat at the helm; and when you come to anchor, you can slide both panels forward to open up the same order of aperture at the starboard dinette.

If you’re keen to go cruising, you’ll be grateful for the separate heads and shower compartment – and you’ll be equally happy about the convertible settee at the foot of the main double bed, which (in tandem with the saloon dinette) enables this boat to sleep up to five people at a time.

As for performance, even the base F300s will hit 46 knots. But with the 350s, it will apparently achieve 51 knots, while still achieving 2.6 litres per mile at 28 knots for a range of around 230 miles. In short then, while this boat might straddle a whole range of categories, so clear is the merit of the design, so obvious its breadth of application, that it’s difficult to discern any way in which it falls short.

Quarken 35 Cabin specifications

LOA: 35ft (10.68m)
Beam: 11ft 5in (3.48m)
Draft (inc. props): 3ft 3in (1m)
Displacement (approx – inc. engine): 4,400kg (9,700lb)
Engines: 2 x 300hp Yamaha outboards
Top speed (estimate): 44 knots
Fuel capacity: 750L (198 gal)
Water capacity: 120L (26 gal)
CE category: B for 10 people
Price: £330,000 (inc. VAT)

This article Quarken 35 Cabin tour: all-new 36ft adventure boat appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.