Tiara EX60 Yacht Review: Luxury Meets Performance on the Water

The Tiara EX60 represents a big step up for the builder, and not just in LOA.

In my mind, Michigan’s Tiara Yachts has always been something of a quintessential American boatbuilder which you’ll note during this Tiara EX60 Review. Its models are typically highly versatile, family-friendly, and have an endearing air of Midwestern humility about them. Tiaras range in size from 34 to 49 feet in length, and though the word “yacht” is in the builder’s name, the emphasis has always very much been on building boats. That is, until now. With its new flagship the EX60, Tiara not only makes a sizable 11-foot leap up the ladder in LOA but also brings to the table a level of fit and finish and other creature comforts that are befitting a real-deal yacht.

Discover the Tiara EX60: A Review of This New Era of Luxury Yachting

The Tiara EX60 I boarded at the Miami boat show had made the trip on its own hull down the Mississippi River and all the way to the Magic City. I was fortunate enough to meet the captain and first mate, a husband and wife team, when I made my visit. They were positively glowing about the boat in a way that far exceeded whatever Tiara was paying them. It was clear that their enthusiasm for this vessel was genuine. They were particularly happy with the portside settee that mirrors the starboard helm. It has its own Garmin screen and Flir readout that took some pressure off the captain as he navigated the oft-foggy and flotsam-and-jetsam-packed Mississippi. They also enthused about the standard Dyson vacuum cleaner and charger that Tiara packed aboard, which helped them keep the yacht spic and span for her big debut. And they raved about the vessel’s 15-inch-wide side decks, which when paired with a door to starboard of the helm, and an electrically opening window to port, made docking exceptionally easy for a two-person team.

A Standout Feature

One trait that immediately grabbed my attention on the EX60 is her level of fit and finish. Tiara has always done a fine job in this regard, but this boat is unequivocally a step up. The builder teamed with Seattle-based interior designer Mary Flores, a megayacht veteran, who imbued the EX60 with her beachy vibe focusing on warm colors and varying textures. All of this model’s soft goods are customizable, a break from the typical three or four options Tiara usually offers.

Space To Stretch Out

The EX60 is a full 16 feet, 11 inches wide, meaning the boat has plenty of space to hold all manner of cool features. The show begins on the hydraulic swim platform, which acts like a transformer, lowering and raising in and out of the water aiding both in tender launching and making this space usable as a beach club. A Kenyon grill in the transom is a very nice touch in regard to the latter. There are also built-in chocks to ensure your little boat rests safe and sound.

Reviewing The Tiara EX60’s Cockpit – Satisfied Is An Understatement

The Tiara EX60’s cockpit, however, may have been my favorite thing about her. It’s a mezzanine setup, which I always appreciate for its versatility. The lower portion on the boat in Miami had a folding teak dining table with bench seating fore and aft. An “Adventure Package” option is also available with a more open layout and fishy accouterments like extra rod holders. Both versions have foldout terraces to port and starboard that make this an excellent space for entertaining. The upper portion for both versions has a high-gloss teak table at the aft bulwark with three modular seats that stow neatly beneath it. This is a top-tier spot to hang out while underway or on the hook, enjoying something cold to drink.

Interior Space

The salon is flush to the mezzanine deck and separated by a sliding glass door with an electrically actuated window to starboard. An expansive aft galley to starboard serves both interior and exterior areas with equal aplomb. Twin Kenyon cooktops, a sink, and a good deal of prep space will keep the designated chef happy. A 55-inch pop-up television tucked to starboard of the counter faces a settee with a high-gloss teak table on the portside. One small detail that I really liked about this table—and which I think is indicative of Tiara’s focus on safety and its customer base—was the cut-out handhold it had that runs along the boat’s centerline. Tiara is at its core a family boat company, and extra handholds, as well as the many rounded edges seen throughout the boat, show the builder’s safety-first DNA. Another thing about the salon, it’s nearly completely encircled by windows and glass, and all at a height that’s easy to see out of while sitting down. It’s a design trait that expertly complements Flores’ laid-back, West Coast aesthetic.

Belowdecks

Reviewing Tiara EX60’s belowdecks features will put a smile on anyone’s face. A full-beam amidships master with excellent natural light and clever stowage tucked into every imaginable crevice. A fold-out work-from-home station next to the queen-size berth is a smart and useful detail, as is the standard safe that fits snugly in the expansive stowage compartment beneath the berth. The EX60 is a three-stateroom vessel, with a forepeak VIP and a guest at amidships to port. It’s a fairly standard layout for a boat of this size and type, but what isn’t standard are the myriad “yachty” touches seen on this, the most intimate of decks. The headboards over the beds have wavy patterns done in teak reminiscent of ones I’ve seen on 100-footers. The berths have inductive phone chargers to either side, so you never run out of juice. And the mirrors in the heads have ring lighting that makes you look precisely 17 percent better-looking, for a nice little self-esteem boost before heading out for the evening.

Another place this yacht certainly has a boost is in her performance. The captain described the EX60 as a Ferrari, and a 42-knot top end with a 35-knot cruise says why. Throttle down to 25 knots and she sips 52 gallons per hour. The boat has twin 1,000-hp Volvo Penta IPS 1350s, making her not only a joy at fast speeds, but a cinch at slow speeds. A Seakeeper 9 teams with Volvo Interceptor trim flaps to keep this boat steady both on the go and at a standstill.

Tiara EX60 Review: A Comprehensive Look at the Flagship Yacht

One last thing about this Tiara: She is exceptionally quiet. That aforementioned sliding glass door that separates the salon and mezzanine reminded me of the scene in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective when Jim Carrey opens and closes a glass balcony door while screaming at the top of his lungs to prove a point to his doubtful colleagues. When the Tiara’s door is open, conversation flows easily between outdoors and in. But when it’s shut, the salon becomes all but whisper-quiet—though I doubt anyone will be whispering about the EX60. She’s a real coup for Tiara, and she’s about to have the whole world talking.

-by Kevin Koenig

Blackfin 400CC: The Ultimate Family and Fisherman Center Console Boat

The Blackfin 400CC is one for the family and the fisherman.

I love walking out to the docks and looking at all the boats. There’s such a variety, and the ones I see are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the different options available. Knowing I’m going to step aboard a new model, my thoughts automatically size up the boat before I even see it. That can be a bad thing, but when the Blackfin 400CC came into view, I was pleasantly surprised. Its black hullside color shows a sign of strength as it wrapped up to a subtle, yet commanding Carolina-style bow flare. The center console with its solid hardtop setup has a somewhat swept-back look with double row seating that makes her look fast just sitting there, and seeing four Mercury 400-hp V10 outboards on the back, well, it definitely has the power to go fast.

Stem to Stern

Anglers and families will appreciate this boat as it’s designed for both. In the bow, the flare allows for a wide gunwale that not only houses the anchor locker, but storage boxes for fenders, dock lines, or extra gear. Along with inset rod holders and pop-up cleats, the gunwale is clear so fishing lines or pulling in a catch won’t get caught. An insulated cooler in the forepeak provides a step-up to aid in setting the anchor as well as does double duty to hold cold drinks or as a 30-gallon livewell with acrylic lid. There are also two in-floor storage boxes with overboard drains.

A thick coaming pad cushions the rail, and there are plenty of drink holders, including those on the sunpad armrests. Music is provided through a JL stereo system that has a wireless remote at the bow along with four speakers. Whether cleaning up after fishing or needing to cool off from the heat, raw- and freshwater washdown hoses are tucked in a cubby. In addition, a bow shade is available to help block the sun. A really nice and secure safety feature is the recessed grab rail along the entire gunwale, and even more secure is the freeboard; it’s above waist high.

Access to the cabin is on the starboard side ahead of the helm and includes a circular vessel sink with a wine chiller below and microwave above along with the flat-screen TV. A bench seat folds down to a bunk. There are three convenient rod storage brackets on each side wall as well as storage cubbies. The enclosed head also has a sink with a separate shower stall, a nice feature on a boat this size. For real comfort, the cabin is air-conditioned, perfect when you’ve been in the sun all day. A skylight in the cabin top and forward keep the cabin bathed in natural light. Access to all the electrical and mechanical connections is in the cabin protected from the outside elements.

Command Center

The center of operations is under an oversized T-top, oversized meaning everyone’s comfortably covered, and there’s room for outriggers, a rocket launcher, antennas, a FLIR camera, and radar on top as well as controls, VHF, and an engine status display underneath above the helm. The command center at the helm can accommodate two 24-inch displays, in this case, Garmin, along with controls for a bow thruster, Zipwake trim tabs, the JL Audio system, and Mercury controls with joystick. A SeaDek helm pad atop the dashboard keeps stuff from sliding around.

Two rows of heated, bolster seats are covered with Ultrafabric’s Coast fabric that resists moisture and UV rays. The second row is elevated to give passengers a great view, and grab rails, cupholders, and charging ports keep guests secure and devices charged.

Anchoring the T-top aft is an ingenious entertainment center. Open the countertop to reveal an organized tackle station with holders for line spools, tools, knives, and lures, as well as a cutting board. Open the second cover to access the sink and optional electric grill. Three storage drawers underneath hold accessories for fishing or cooking, and two Yeti pull-out 45-quart coolers are below and standard equipment. Nice.

The Blackfin 400CC Is Lifestyle Friendly

The entertainment/fishing center faces the cockpit, and with the boat’s 12-foot beam, there’s plenty of room for anglers or the family. A large tuna door has room for a big catch and for boarding. For swimmers, a boarding ladder is stored under the gunwale next to the door. A starboard transom door provides access to the aft swim platform that has ladders on each side for water access. There are two in-floor 160-gallon fish boxes with macerated pump-outs, and the finished center bilge compartment has plenty of room for dive tanks or inflatables and a gyrostabilizer as well as easy access to the filters and pumps. Additional storage is in the transom to port and in cubbies under the gunwale where raw- and freshwater faucets are located. For a little more stability while fishing, molded toe-kicks get you a little closer to the gunwale and the padded, upholstered coamings provide a soft cushion when leaning over, just as in the bow.

Blackfin came up with a unique transom bench seat that sets over the 70-gallon livewell. The seat is removable when the fishing is hot or, if you want to sit and watch the trolling lines or have a place for the ride out and in, the center of the seat cushion opens to the same size as the top of the livewell for easy access.

Blackfin celebrated 50 years in 2023, and the flagship 400CC stays in step with its tradition, “designed by fishermen, built for life.” The Michael Peters’ designed two-stepped, deep-V bottom improves performance and ride, and the deck layout accommodates more utility and family friendly features. Almost everything is standard, including the FLIR camera and Taco outriggers. Powered by twin quad Mercury 400XXL V10 Verados, she not only has the comfort and ability to please any boater, but also the power and stability for a safe and enjoyable ride.

-by Steve Davis

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA (w/engines): 39′ 10″

Beam: 12′

Draft (engine down): 3′ 3″

Draft (engine up): 2′ 8″

Fuel/Water: 475/100 U.S. gals.

Dry Weight: 22,000 lbs.

Max Power: 1,600 hp

Max/Cruise Speed: 70.3/45.4 mph

Range: 318 miles @ cruise

Contact: Blackfin Boats

blackfinboats.com

Introducing the RIO DAYTONA 50: A Blend of Luxury, Power, and Style

Updated: December 06, 2023.

Update - This Yacht Is Available For Immediate Delivery:

Contact: Jeff Eldon

Phone: 954-234-9873

Email: Jeff@TheHelmYachtGroup.Com
DM (Instagram): @yachtguy954

Original Story:

Make your heart flutter with the Rio Daytona 50.

Recently, I thought I was having a health scare. I mean, my heart was palpitating, I broke into a sweat, and felt butterflies in my stomach. I thought for sure it was the big one coming on, but no. As I self-diagnosed my condition, I realized it was one thing: love at first sight! The subject of my admiration was the Rio Daytona 50.

An Enchanting First Impression With Curb Appeal

Now, you may think this is just another go-fast that does nothing more than try to look good running the Intracoastal Waterway with loud tunes. But this is so much more. For one, she has great curb appeal. Following the gently curved sheer line, you see a generous freeboard that blends in a gentle bow flare which results in a dry ride. Hull contours break up the flat surface while housing well-sized portholes. Toward the aft end, there are beach terrace doors that fold flat, increasing the deck space, creating more ways to access the water and opening up the view. An integrated swim platform wraps around the hull with rub-rail protection.

One very cool design innovation is the placement of the engines. When looking at the Rio Daytona 50, it’s not readily evident as to what is powering the yacht. Since she doesn’t have outboards hanging off the end, one must assume she has inboard or I/O propulsion. Ummm, no.

Rio has designed the 50 with a pocket under the large aft sunpad lounger that houses triple Mercury Racing 450R outboards. This is a smart idea as it changes the profile of the yacht and keeps the outboards out of the eye of a thief but also allows 360-degree access to the powerplants for maintenance. It also muffles the sound quite a bit, making for a more enjoyable ride. With the flick of a switch, the sunpad rises for engine access.

Power and Design Working Together

When you merge this level of power with a hull design that works well through the speed range, you understand that the Rio Daytona 50 is something to be seen. It’s not only that this boat looks good, but the handling and comfort also made this a love at first ride. Pushing the throttles up doesn’t mean the bow goes up too. There is minimal rise and adjusting engine trim and tabs gives the captain great visibility. A little more height at the helm is courtesy of a fold-down standing platform for those vertically challenged.

My test run numbers were pretty much in line with Rio’s numbers so safe to say this is a 49 mph/42.5 knot yacht at wide open. Cruise along at 32.2 mph/27.8 knots, 4,700 rpm, 58 gph burn, 237 nautical mile range. With 423 gallons of fuel, cruising at 9.2 mph/8 knots will offer 324 nautical mile range burning about 12 gph. What’s good to know is that you can have the range when desired or speed when needed depending on cruising preferences.

Historic Roots: The Rio Yachts Legacy

Rio Yachts started in 1961 on the banks of Sebino Lake, in Lombardy, Italy. Building recreational mahogany motorboats through the ’60s, Rio switched to plastic construction in the 1970s, to build “a boat for all!”

The Scarani family has held onto the business for several generations, adding commercial vessels and patrol boats to the lineup. Currently, the recreational line includes Coupes and Open styles, of which the Daytona 50 is the largest.

Bringing the yachts to the U.S. takes a dedicated, exclusive dealer, one with the experience of new builds and brokerage. Enter Jeff Eldon, president and CEO of The Helm Yacht Group. Normally I wouldn’t mention a dealer in an article, but Eldon’s relationship is so tight with Rio that he might as well be part of the family. Eldon explained that he has taken actual design changes back to the team in Italy to enhance the products and make them more user friendly, and they listen.

For example, the Daytona 34 is now offered as the Daytona 35 since Eldon asked Rio to extend the swim platform aft to allow for easier boarding and more foot space around the outboards (those outboards do hang off the transom and not in a pocket). That means you as a buyer have a pretty direct line to the factory in the event you would like some modifications. On the Daytona 50, there is no lower galley since there is an exterior galley on deck. But if you want a small one below, Eldon and Rio will build one as they can.

Access All Around

The low profile yet unencumbered center line helm looks a bit futuristic thanks to the Dual Garmin multifunction displays that handle all the operations and functions of the yacht, thereby reducing the number of switches at the helm. An app can be downloaded to an iPad or other device for remote control and monitoring. A Mercury engine monitor, joystick, throttles, VHF radio, and several illuminating cupholders fill out the helm space. Three individual bench seats with armrests and bolsters face the helm, so the operator can engage with guests.

With full walkaround decks, this is one easy boat to navigate from bow to stern. Forward is a large sunpad in front of the raked back single-pane windshield. In front of the sunpad is a forward-facing bench seat with backrest. Across on the peak is another bench seat that faces aft. The ground tackle locker is just forward, out of the way and secure. For shade, a four-post awning can be installed. Grabrails on the gunwales offer safety when transiting.

Aft is another well-sized sunpad and electric awning that retrieves from the integrated hardtop feature. Aft the forward end of the pad is another bench seating area, flanking a flip-out teak table. The entertainment station has a flip-up top that reveals a built-in electric grill and deep stainless steel sink. Below are a fridge/freezer unit and ice machine. The Daytona 50 can carry a crowd and serve them as well.

As mentioned, the port and starboard gunwales open to create beach terraces, a classy touch that really opens the deck.

Relax in Elegance: Daytona 50 Interiors

Accommodations below make the Daytona 50 a true weekender. Thanks to the more than six feet of headroom, side windows, and atrium door, the cabin’s open feel invites you in to relax. Curl up with a good book on the port-side sofa. Guests can stay in the midship cabin with twin berths.

Forward, the master stateroom has a king centerline berth accessible from all sides, storage, and side windows. Another great idea is that the master utilizes bifold doors so when open, it really adds to the overall sizeable feel and usable day space of the cabin.

A single head has a basin sink, electric toilet, and separate shower stall. The room is tastefully appointed with high-gloss wood counters, stylish faucet, and dark flooring. Or ask Eldon to create your own look.

Not to be outdone, the cabin and master use a combination of high-gloss wood doors and trim, leather pull handles, and light flooring. Or change it to make it your own. After all, it should be love at first sight.

-by Tom Serio

The Pioneering Aquila 42 Catamaran: Crafted For Modern Boaters

Exploring the Aquila 42: A Catamaran Designed for Modern Cruisers

Aquila 42 is a compact cat with a big appeal.

Aquila Power Catamarans has just grown by one—a 42-foot model designed by VPLP Design that may just be the right choice for couples who want a stable platform with lots of room, plenty of personalization choices, and a good turn of speed. Cruisers looking to set off for the horizon may find the new Aquila 42 a perfect escape pod.

A Closer Look at the Aquila 42 Catamaran: Innovation Meets Comfort On Deck

There are many examples of the well-established Aquila DNA starting with the familiar wide foredeck topped by twin sunbeds and the molded stairs which lead up to the flybridge. The value of not having to go aft, down, and around when moving between the upper helm and the foredeck cannot be understated.

Also present is the bar top in the aft cockpit with two stools beside a small counter and a window which connect the galley with the dining area. This intermediate space between indoors and outdoors is an Aquila trademark and it’s an immensely popular place to hang out at anchor or underway.

The cockpit’s long transom seat and folding table make this a perfect place for breakfast or cocktails, especially if a brisk breeze is blowing because this space is protected by the cabin house and the hardtop. Speaking of the hardtop, a dinghy crane protrudes from its aft end and is used to hoist the tender onto the fixed platform between the two swim steps. No davits are needed and with the tender launched, this is a special spot to relax on a chaise and watch fish swim by.

The cabin house is on the centerline making this model symmetrical which leaves wide side decks to both port and starboard. Two welcome surprises on the bow include a large, well-organized midline locker that houses the anchor, bow roller and windlass, and a cavernous stowage space in the starboard bow that’s large enough to carry loads of gear as well as an optional freezer. It will take restraint to not overload this deep lazarette or the cat will become bow heavy and may hobby horse. This space may be put to another use but more on this later.

Explore The Two Oceans 555 Power Catamaran: A Blend Of Luxury And Performance

Outdoor Living on the Flybridge

The aft cockpit is inviting but so is the flybridge which will be a favorite spot to gather. It feels as if the outdoor living space nearly doubles with the addition of this flybridge where you’ll find a long L-shaped settee running along the port side and aft end. Two tables can be combined with an added leaf so six may dine together, and there are companion seats to both port and starboard of the helm.

An island occupies the center of the flybridge. The backside of this module holds a summer galley with a sink, refrigerator, and a Kenyon electric grill. The front side forms the double helm seat with a flip-up bolster. The seat faces the dash which is bordered by a thick handrail. A single Raymarine Axiom multifunction display (MFD) is on the centerline with a small wheel offset slightly to starboard. Engine throttles are to starboard and two cupholders are to port.

The benefits of this helm station include good forward visibility and the rail which helps to steady anyone heading toward the forward steps. However, there are also a few drawbacks to this design. First, the midline placement means that you can’t sight down either the port or starboard side when coming into a slip. Second, the wheel has seven turns lock-to-lock so it will take some getting used to. Third, there is room for only one MFD which is a surprise on a boat in this class. Finally, the helm “island” chops up the available space, forcing odd traffic patterns.

Customized Layout

Inside, the Aquila 42 is a bit of an origami boat with lots of options. Hull No. 1 that we visited featured an unusual layout. Once we stepped through the bifold door, we had a fridge/freezer to starboard and a straight-line galley to port with cabinetry and storage space outboard. Production models will offer a traditional and more functional U-shaped galley with higher cabinetry that extends up to the headliner for more stowage space.

The main seating area in the salon includes a U-shaped dinette to starboard that will accommodate four to six people comfortably, especially if extra chairs are added. On our model, a funky “nav station” was to port. It had no seat and no MFD and seemed like an afterthought that topped a sizeable storage locker below. We have learned since that this will be replaced by either a corner seat (a good choice for charter) or a full interior helm (an excellent option for private owners).

Forward is a utility cabin that holds an optional washer/dryer, a bottle fridge, and a single bunk. This space would work for kids or a professional captain although North American couples who work remotely may want to create an office here instead.

The Aquila 42 Catamaran can be specified with two to four cabins and three heads. On our boat, the entire port hull was dedicated to the owner’s suite with a bed aft, a vanity desk amidships, and a large head in the bow. The VIP ensuite cabin was in the starboard hull.

When four cabins are spec’d, it gets interesting. The owner’s hull holds two cabins with a shared head, and the utility room goes away as does that large lazarette space in the starboard bow that we described earlier. These two areas are then joined into another ensuite cabin with an athwartships bed.

Indirect and courtesy lighting throughout the interior create a warm ambience, and the surrounding tempered glass windows provide great views even from a seated position.

Aquila 42’s Performance

The Aquila 42 comes standard with twin 230-hp Volvo Penta D4 diesels, but with the upgraded 300-hp engines, expect a top speed around 21 knots at 3,400 rpm.

Cruising speed is 16 knots at 2,800 rpm where the engines burn 16 gph, delivering one nautical mile per gallon depending on load and conditions. With 290 gallons of fuel, that translates to an approximate 275-mile range with a small reserve.

The VPLP hull is designed to pop up on plane in less than nine seconds, and the elongated underwater bulbs help keep the bows high and prevent hobby horsing. Aquila also plans to offer a Yanmar engine with a V-shaped semi-foiling system which will lift about 40 percent of the boat’s weight, enabling faster speeds and better fuel consumption. For easy close quarter maneuvering, a bow thruster can be added to the starboard bow.

Aquila Has Some Intriguing Options

Aquila offers owners myriad ways to make this model their own with a long list of options. Besides the choice of layout and wood colors (dark walnut or light ash), owners can add two AGM house batteries, two 100-watt solar panels, a 17-gallon per hour Spectra watermaker, and a Kohler 9kW generator. Comfort options include a washer/dryer, the 23-bottle wine fridge, an icemaker, a propane cooker, and of course, the entire lower helm.

Why the Aquila 42 Catamaran Stands Out: A Comprehensive Review

Verdict

Aquila, which launched its first hull just over a decade ago, continues to fill out its line. Smaller models include the Molokai 28 and the Aquila Sport 32 and 36. At the luxury end, Sino Eagle Group offers the Aquila 70. In the middle, we find three models including the Aquila 54, 44, and now the 42 which the company hopes will attract seasoned cruisers downsizing from bigger boats as well as young families stepping up through the line.

Although Hull No. 1 seemed to be a prototype with an atypical layout, Aquila has left the door open for many future iterations of this design, one of which is bound to suit a cruising couple looking to get away from it all.

-by Zuzana Prochazka

Aquila 42 Catamaran Gallery

Large Center Console Boats Are Redefining The Luxury Experience

We take a deeper look into what’s driving the market for larger center consoles.

It was not so long ago that a 39-foot center console really got you noticed. Take, for example, the Yellowfin 39, a lovely and, some might even say, iconic boat, that one magazine proclaimed its “mammoth size” in a 2011 write-up. But in today’s hypercharged, large center console market, that sportfishing machine could be taken for a guppy. Heck, a 39-foot LOA won’t even get you in the door at that club. These days, it takes at minimum 40 feet to be considered a large center console, and with true monsters like the much ballyhooed HCB Estrella 65 and the even larger, soon-to-come, Scout 670LX in the mix, the ceiling seems nearly limitless.

But what’s driving this push for the seemingly outrageous? It turns out a few factors, from age-old ticks of the human psyche to the most modern outputs of engineering and design. Perhaps Mark Taiclet, Pursuit Boats’ director of brand management, put it most succinctly when he told me, “It sounds almost too simple, but people are building these boats because they can.”

The Driver

Any discussion of mega center consoles and the factors that are, well, propelling them, needs to begin with the recent onset of massive outboard engines—first from the now-defunct upstart Seven Marine, and then in expectedly more long-lasting form from industry giants Yamaha and Mercury.

Mercury Verado Outboards, 300 HP, 400 HP, and 600 HP

“We started coming to the market with outboard boats right around when Mercury released the three hundred-fifty and four hundred, and then a four hundred-fifty-horsepower V8 in 2019, and then the six hundreds came out,” says John Cosker of Mystic Powerboats, which has a 52-foot center console flagship. “That’s the real driver. You can have a fifty-foot center console now because of these outboards; they’re so fast and powerful. And they’re also easy to maintain. The reliability of the outboards has gone up so much that there’s very little problems. I’m in the Bahamas right now with twelve outboard-powered boats and nothing else. If you told me ten years ago I’d just be building outboard boats, I would have said you were crazy, but they are just so easy and reliable. We don’t even make inboard-powered boats anymore.”

Chris Landry, marketing director at Viking Yachts, echoes Cosker’s sentiments about the new generation of massive outboards, particularly in regards to maintenance. “The outboards are easy to get to and easy to maintain,” he says. “What’s great about them is that they’re readily accessible. If one engine needs to be replaced, it’s right there. You don’t need to do major surgery to fix anything.”

Viking’s Valhalla line of center consoles had the unusually fortuitous situation occur where they were invited to Mercury’s headquarters to get a sneak preview of the 600-hp V12s that are currently all the rage with the biggest center consoles. “When it comes to the forty-six and fifty-five, those boats were actually designed specifically for the six-hundred Mercs,” says Landry. “So I think, inarguably, you can say the power is driving it.”

Viking wasn’t the only one who got an early look at the 600s. “We brought down key people from Valhalla, Formula, and Tiara in 2019,” says Jeff Becker, Mercury’s senior category manager for outboards 150-horsepower-plus. “We gave them a sneak peek into what we were doing, and we showed them all the features and benefits, and told them our launch plans, and gave them an opportunity to think about what they wanted to do.” The largest Valhallas, the Tiara 48 LS, and the Formula 500 SSC became some of the first boats to showcase the now nearly ubiquitous engines.

Yamaha has its own relationships, perhaps most notably with Pursuit, who runs the company’s biggest engines, the 425s, on the back of its biggest center console model, the S 428.

The Desire

So, okay, the potent and capable propulsion units made possible today’s colossal center console models at a macro level, but what is driving this market at a human level? What is it about the boats that make them so popular?

Well, for one, this is the boating industry, so we might as well get this part out of the way first—a lot of it has to do with ego. “Guys want to go bigger and bigger and bigger,” says Taiclet. “You pull into the marina, and you want to have the baddest boat. For years, maybe, people didn’t think a market for these boats over forty feet was sustainable, but now if you’re not over forty feet, you’re not really a player in the game, and a lot of these guys are going a lot bigger than that—they want the biggest boat wherever they go.”

Another factor manufacturers point to for the popularity of these boats is their versatility. “Before the advent of the large center consoles, a lot of owners had multiple boats depending on what they wanted to do,” says Becker. “They had a twenty-five- or thirty-five-foot center console and a large sportyacht, and as the forty-two, forty-five, fifty, and sixty-five center consoles emerged, these owners could consolidate from two boats that do separate things to one boat that can do it all—cruise, entertain, fish—and they feel comfortable captaining it. This is really a do-everything segment of the market.”

Seven Marine and Volvo Penta Partnership

The consolidation makes not only for easier boating, but also for more cost-efficient boating—for one thing, a lot of these owners don’t feel they need a captain to help them run the boat.

Compared to a convertible, the single-level center console is a much simpler boat. The model type is much less cumbersome to clean after a day on the water, easier to maintain, as we’ve already discussed, and they are also easier to drive thanks to joystick controls at slow speeds and two-speed transmissions that help the boats get on plane quickly and safely.

“That was a big thing when we were developing the six hundred,” says Becker. “We talked to owners moving up from smaller center consoles or down from diesel sportfishers, and in both cases, they wanted acceleration and an ease of operation getting the boat on plane. These big heavy boats can lose the horizon when they start to plane, and that can be dangerous.”

Mercury found an answer in a two-speed transmission that works first to get the boat on plane and second to quickly get it up to full speed.

Performance

Speaking of speed, it’s an area where center consoles really shine. It’s not just a folly for thrill-seekers; it gives these large center consoles a major leg up on the tournament trail. Think about it. The benchmark for a fast convertible is 40 mph. The Viking 80, for example, is a celebrated platform, known for being able to get to and from the fishing grounds swiftly, with a top speed around 43 mph. Yet some of these center consoles can go 60 mph. “That’s a real advantage to the center console,” says Josh Slayton, product specialist at Scout Boats. “It means you can fish for an extra hour. That’s legitimate; that can help you in a tournament.”

Of course, what you give up in speed aboard a convertible, you gain in comfort. And that’s another driver of the large center console market. Customers want to be able to take their boats across to the Bahamas and elsewhere and spend real time aboard, overnighting on the boat, perhaps even with another couple. Thus, the real driver at the very upper end of the market, say 55 feet-plus, is accommodation space. “We were getting customers looking at our forty-two and even our fifty-three, and they just couldn’t see themselves spending multiple nights aboard,” says Slayton. “So we figured, ‘Shoot, we’ve already got them here, we might as well give them what they want.’ On the sixty-seven, you’ve got a master and a VIP, and you can fit two couples or five or six friends comfortably.”

So where does it all end? Will we one day see a true center console superyacht, 80 feet long and powered by as-yet mythical, quintuple Yamaha 850s? The answer is anyone’s guess, but as long as the propulsion units keep growing, it seems unlikely that owners’ collective thirst for something even bigger and badder will ever actually be slaked. But don’t feel bad for the Yellowfin 39s of the world. Once these monster center consoles reach superyacht size, they’re all going to need tenders.

-by Kevin Koenig

Explore The Two Oceans 555 Power Catamaran: A Blend Of Luxury And Performance

Two Oceans 555 Power Catamaran is made to fit like a glove

Owners love to make a new boat their own, which isn’t always easy with production models where little more than fabric colors and wood finishes are up for personalization. However, that’s where the semi-custom nature of the recently launched Two Oceans 555 Power Catamaran comes in. With the emphasis on “custom” rather than on “semi,” this model from South Africa is tailored to each owner’s specific needs and desires.

Experience Luxury On Deck with the Two Oceans 555 Power Catamaran

There’s a lot to take in on deck including three separate social spots. The recessed forward cockpit, which is three steps down from the main deck, will be a great place to enjoy happy hour when swinging to anchor in the tropics as the sun blazes down on the transom. Here, a C-shaped dinette with a hi-lo table is the perfect spot to enjoy breakfast, play a game, or relax with a book. A raised sunpad flanks each side. This zone is accessed directly by an interior door or from the side decks.

Because of the extensive foredeck area, the aft cockpit is a bit understated. Rather than molded structures, this zone is outfitted with loose (but secured) furniture, and our boat had twin rattan loveseats with a coffee table in between. The optional hydraulic platform aft has chocks to carry the tender, or it can become an extra play space when lowered. Otherwise, the area is clean and simple. The sole provides access to the engine compartments on either side, and there are storage lockers along the glass door and window that lead to the interior. An optional docking station is to port, and the stairs to the flybridge are to starboard.

The flybridge is the star attraction on the 555 Power. Starting aft, there’s open deck space to put a chaise or two and work on a tan. You can also carry a PWC here that’s loaded with the optional crane. Moving forward, a dinette with a hi-lo table is to port and a long, curved companion seat is in the starboard forward corner. An optional galley module adds a summer kitchen with a refrigerator, sink, electric grill, and icemaker. It’s easy to see why people would gather up here more than in the aft cockpit.

The helm is on the centerline behind a windshield that protects only the console and seat. The angular dash is molded into the forward bulwark ahead which is another sunbed that’s accessed through a short bulkhead door. Most equipment at the helm is standard including a Stidd bench seat with armrests, twin multifunction displays, engine screens, autopilot control, and a spotlight. The wheel is offset slightly to port, behind and below the compass. One large wiper services the whole tempered glass windshield, and the hardtop covers most of the flybridge with the exception of
the aft deck and the grill area.

Discover the Tailored Interior of the Two Oceans 555 Power Catamaran

The standard layout includes three to four cabins and three to four heads with the master placed either on the main deck and forward (standard) or down in the hull. With the master down, the forward part of the main deck features a wet bar and sofa or a full interior helm. The boat we visited in Miami was reflective of very specific owner requirements which made it somewhat memorable. Our boat had the master down but had no helm or wet bar. Instead, there was a sofa to port and a dinette in the starboard corner, both flanking the watertight door to the forward cockpit. Some people prefer to separate where they eat from where they lounge, and the plan we saw accomplished this effectively.

The main social salon is aft with a C-shaped sofa for six to port and facing a galley island with a hidden TV on a lift. The L-shaped galley doesn’t skimp on storage lockers or Corian countertop space. On one end is a side-by-side refrigerator clad in wood to disguise its location. A four-burner electric cooktop, a double sink with garbage disposal, and a microwave are within steps of each other. A dishwasher,
wine fridge, and icemaker are options.

The galley, dinette and salon are all on the same level so moving about is easy with no tripping hazard anywhere. Ample direct and indirect lighting as well as large windows brighten the interior and air conditioning vents are integrated discreetly above the windows.

The staterooms in the hulls below are accessed via steep steps on both sides just ahead of the galley and salon. On our model, the master was to starboard and had a queen-size athwartships bed, a desk, and a large head. The toilet compartment with one sink is separate, but there are additional twin sinks near the shower stall. Two guest staterooms were in the opposite hull—one outfitted with two berths that can be joined together using a filler cushion.

Performance Insights of the Two Oceans 555 Power Catamaran

Standard power is provided by twin 370-hp Yanmar 8LV diesels, but the boat in Miami was upgraded to 550-hp Cummins QSB 6.7 engines. The exhaust is underwater, and the five-blade propellers are ensconced in tunnels with a sacrificial keel just ahead for protection. Top speed is 25-27 knots with a cruising speed of 18-19 knots at 2,600 rpm. At cruise, the 555 Power will burn 31 gph providing a range of 410-420 nautical miles with a small reserve.

The 555 Power has a high bridge deck clearance to reduce pounding into head seas and a spray rail to stay drier on deck. The engine compartments are cavernous and easily accessed. Large 24V alternators and twin Racor filters are at each engine. A 21.5 kW generator is to port but with an Integral power system to charge the bank of lithium house batteries, it will most likely see little use.

Options and Upgrades

There’s a long list of available options beyond the placement of the master suite and the choice of engine size. Comfort items include a Fisher & Paykel dishwasher, a Splendide washer and dryer, icemakers in the galley and on the flybridge, a Kenyon electric grill, air conditioning, a Glendinning Cable Master, a Steelhead davit on the upper deck, a KVH TracVision TV antenna, FLIR cameras, and more.

The Verdict

Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing builds a range of custom power catamarans, and the 555 Power is now the smallest and, therefore, the entry point into the line. Just like its siblings, the newest design can be made unique and aims to make owners feel special. Between technical items like the underbody design and the Integrel power system, and the highly personalized interior, the 555 Power will likely appeal to a clientele looking for exclusive experiences that fit each owner like a glove.

-by Zuzana Prochazka

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA w/ platform: 57′ 7″

Beam: 25′
Draft: 3′ 6″

Displacement (dry): 49,600 lbs.
Fuel/Water: 750/200 U.S. gals.

Power (standard): 2x Yanmar 8LV @ 370-hp

Contact: HMY Yachts/Two Oceans

(561) 228-4300

hmy.com

Spotlight: Grady-White 281 CE — Family, Fishing, and Extra Fun

The new Grady-White 281 CE blends the best of fishing and water sports fun.

The best way to test a boat is to take it out on what some would call a crummy day. It was definitely not a beach day when I walked down the dock at MarineMax in Pensacola, Florida, to take a ride on Grady-White’s 281 CE, the new addition to the inshore/offshore Coastal Explorer series. A storm front had just passed through that made my flight circle the airport for 45 minutes before it headed off to bring tornadoes to the eastern side of Florida. It was cool, cloudy, windy, and rainy, but the ride was smooth, steady, and stable as we played around in Pensacola Bay. As Grady-White describes it, the 281 CE is “an inshore piece of Heaven with an offshore peace of mind.”

The Grady-White SeaV² hull design is the foundation for this versatile fishing and family-fun model. Tagged as a “sandbar chariot,” the 281 CE is designed to venture out to deep waters yet easily go shallow where others in her class might not.

“This model is really meant to be that perfect crossover, the sandbar chariot while also having all the fishing features,” says Katie Creech of Grady-White. In other words, anglers can fish offshore in the morning and then take the family to the sandbar or the beach in the afternoon. She has all the amenities, features, and creature comforts for both.

Let’s Talk Fishing

The SeaV² hull is designed to handle the waves with its continuously variable-V design. “On this boat, it’s a little bit different than previous models,” says Creech. “It’s still a SeaV² hull design, but in the back of the transom, deadrise is about sixteen degrees, much shallower than our other styles. However, it is similar in that it continuously sharpens going forward, so amidship, it is around thirty degrees and up to around fifty degrees at the bow stem.” The hull also has a shallower draft, about 19 inches, to get close to the shore, and with the strakes and the Carolina-style flare, the boat stays dry, which was evident as we powered out into the Pensacola Bay chop.

There are padded bolsters all around, and the optional Elite lean bar has Command Elite captain’s chairs with flip-up bolsters and armrests. The Deluxe lean bar is standard but with bench seating. Both lean bars include tackle storage, separate knife and plier holders, rod holders, rigging station with a recessed freshwater shower, cutting board, bait locker, and a 38-gallon insulated raw-water livewell. There’s also an 18-gallon insulated livewell under the transom bench with a 500-gph pump that offers plenty of room for bait so you can fill both 70-quart fish boxes in the bow. In addition, a 296-quart cooler under the forward console seat with a removable divider is the spot for drinks, lunch, snacks, and, perhaps, the fish caught on that perfect day when the other fish boxes are full.

The entire bow area can transform into a casting platform. With the cushions removed and the casting platform insert (along with an optional crescent-shaped insert that connects the bow seating to the forward console), anglers have full range across the bow.

Back at the transom, the newly designed aft bench can configure for three different uses. For fishing, remove the cushions and swing the port and starboard backrests aft as well as remove the optional center backrest to create a raised casting platform with ample space to pull in your catch on the lower engine mount platform.

“An interesting thing about this model that I’ve not seen on another Grady is that there’s no engine well, it’s just flat back there,” says Creech. “So you have a Euro transom design without the well, and you can actually come back here and have another fishing platform.” The backrests can also act as a bolster when on the engine platform. Swing the backrests back, insert the optional center backrest, and add the cushions to reset the comfortable bench seating.

The 281 CE is available with a single Yamaha 425 or a dual Yamaha 300 engine configuration, both with digital integrated electric steering. Standard steering is through the Helm Master EX, but does not include the joystick. The option then is the Full Maneuverability Helm Master EX that includes the joystick and autopilot.

“My opinion is it’s pretty much like a rocket ship,” says Andrew Haring, a MarineMax Pensacola team member who is at the helm. “I mean, on a calm day, it comfortably runs at fifty miles an hour with these three hundreds. This boat, when I took it out, got up to sixty, but obviously I’m not running that fast for that long, but comfortably, fifty miles an hour.”

Another fishing option is a trolling motor swivel mounting bracket with quick release, head stabilizer, three 12-volt batteries, and a 20-amp battery charger. The choice of trolling motor is up to you.

Let’s Talk Family

If the family loves to fish, then they’ll appreciate all the features noted above. But if cruising around and playing in the water is the name of the game, then Grady-White has done its job in making the 281 CE a “sandbar chariot.”

To start, Grady-White has designed an innovative cockpit side door that sets it apart from other boats in that style—the new portside Sport Deck. “It was very evolutionary for Grady because, like many other manufacturers, we got into the cockpit door game in the past decade or so,” explains Creech. “This is going to be completely different because it’s much wider than your average cockpit door, and it opens out to be a deck instead of just swinging in on the hinges….It is electro-mechanically controlled and is the only one on the market right now that’s a standard feature.”

A sturdy, four-step ladder is fitted to the door deck for swimming, diving, etc., and is removable (with its own storage cabinet under the gunwale) so it can act as a flat deck for fishing. It’s not meant for boarding at the dock as the door opens outward. Additionally, there is a pull-out, single pole ladder with folding steps that stows within the hull at the transom.

When you add all the cushions back after a morning of fishing, there is abundant seating and sunpad options both in the bow and the stern. Besides the port and starboard swing-away transom backrests, the bow seating on each side include electro-mechanically adjustable backrests for comfort. There’s also an optional bow table.

Rarely a day goes by without music, and the standard stereo system, which includes a waterproof color touchscreen display, an AM/FM tuner, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and speakers with LED lights in the bow, cockpit, and T-top will satisfy music lovers of any age. Speaking of which, there are accessory outlets and USB ports in the console to keep devices charged.

Seating and music are important, but most of all, the 281 CE offers a sizable console cabin area for a marine head with electric flush. The holding tank with macerator has overboard discharge and a deck pump-out. The cabin is lockable to keep gear and valuables safe when off the boat and has a composite cherry and holly sole.

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Another family advantage is the optional SureShade electrically retractable cockpit shade for shelter from the hot sun as well as an “Easy Up Bow Shade” for those in the bow. Cold drinks are also refreshing, and as mentioned, the 296-quart cooler under the bow lounge seat will hold plenty.

For those who like to ski or wakeboard or tube, an optional ski pylon is available with the twin 300 outboard setup, while a ski arch is available if the boat has the single 425 outboard package. Either way, the water is always invigorating on a hot day, and that flat Euro transom platform makes it easy to get into and out of the water.

“For me, personally, I think this boat is the perfect size for a great inshore boat,” says one of MarineMax’s deckhands walking by on the dock. “And if you still want to go forty miles out, you can definitely go forty miles out.”

“Grady’s are notoriously overbuilt because they’re built for saltwater,” adds Creech. “They’re built for rough seas, and you’ll be able to put your family on it and feel comfortable and safe.”

Grady-White has succeeded in designing a family boat that is easy to handle and has loads of standard features on a stable platform for an exceptionally comfortable day on the water. Whether fishing or playing sandbar chariot, the 281 CE is an outstanding crossover for Grady-White Boats.

-by Steve Davis

The Grady-White 281 CE Boat Test Video:

Elegance at Sea with the Hunt Ocean Series 68 Flybridge

The latest Hunt Ocean Series 68 Flybridge reflects its owner’s character.

Each boat has its own personality, even if it’s a simple, no-thrills 20-footer. There are a lot of white boats plying the waterways, which is why one with hull color makes you look a few seconds longer as it brings out more of its style. The same goes when you step aboard. More than anything, the interior truly reflects the owner’s personality, and I was reminded how beautiful the elegant look of rich wood invites one into a timeless space of traditional luxury.

The Hunt 68 is a Home Away from Home

I’m on the new Hunt 68, the latest in its Ocean Series. This particular owner loves the classic, traditional look and after owning a Hacker-Craft, a 34-foot Hinckley runabout, and a 43-foot Hinckley flybridge, he moved to a more comfortable Hunt 68. His model is the flybridge edition. The size gives him and his wife plenty of interior and exterior room to enjoy a day on the water, and with the grandchildren and lots of friends, afternoon and weekend cruises are the norm. “He’s very busy…and it’s really his second office,” says Pat, the yacht’s captain. However, he loves boating and finds relaxation on his home away from home, even spending nights aboard when it’s at the dock. “It’s like a little bit of an oasis for him,” adds Peter Truslow, managing director for Hunt Yachts.

The flybridge and the cockpit are the most lived-in spaces. The fresh breeze and open air are two of the most logical reasons to have a boat; taking a break from everyday life is another. The flybridge model offers two helms, so if the weather does get dicey, the yacht keeps on cruising.

The owner’s priority in the build was elegance and day boating with occasional short cruises, but the yacht can easily handle long distances. Primarily spending the summer up north and the winter in Florida, a trip over to the Bahamas isn’t unheard of. The interior is designed for that purpose and not setup for long distances, but it can be. “I think this boat for him is an excellent layout for just what they do,” says Truslow. “They’ve got the galley up
for entertaining.”

“They don’t do a lot of overnight stuff,” adds the captain. “They wanted to go as minimal on galley as possible. …They’ll do all their cooking on the grill or bring it on from the house.”

Photo Credits: Jim Raycroft

The galley up saves on time and keeps the chef part of the social action. Although smaller than a full galley below, there are under-counter refrigerators, a Wolf three-burner cooktop, and a double stainless steel sink set in an L-shaped counter. Because this owner decided on the galley-up design, they turned the extra room below into a pantry where a washer/dryer could be installed or, in this case, a full-size fridge.

Accommodations below include three generous ensuite cabins. The midship, full-beam master with an island king berth that has storage underneath boasts a settee to port and a desk to starboard along with a full-height, cedar-lined closet. The VIP cabin with a walkaround queen berth is at the bow, and the starboard mid cabin has twin bunks. The entire level, as well as the salon, shines with the most elegant African Cherry wood (imagine a mahogany color).

Unlike a place where you’re afraid to sit down because you might ruin the furniture, the owners have made this “home” a cozy, comfortable space where they can relax or have family and friends on board in the sun, the shade, or in air-conditioned luxury. Most of their time is spent up on the large covered flybridge that is the perfect spot for additional entertaining. These owners put a huge sunpad along the aft rail. The grill and a sink area divide the aft seating from the L-shaped settees on each side with tables. Two Stidd Admiral captain chairs are forward with a full helm for control. With Strataglass clear vinyl fitted to the hardtop, owners and guests can still enjoy the flybridge in inclement weather.

The flybridge extends far aft enough to provide protection over the main-deck cockpit from the sun or rain. It’s a great area with many uses, from enjoying a meal, sipping cocktails, having a cup of coffee, reading, or watching the kids playing out in the water. A stairway on each side leads down to the swim platform that hydraulically lowers into the water for easy access, which also makes it easy to launch and retrieve an inflatable tender. The owner of this model employs a captain, and the crew quarters and engine room are accessible from this deck. Speaking of which, the engine room has plenty of space for service and as Capt. Pat noted, it’s air conditioned.

FLIBS Preview – The Explorer 62

Built from Experience

Hunt is very well known for its legendary deep-V hull design. The Ocean Series hulls are engineered to be the best riding hulls among others in this model’s category. The hull rises quickly onto plane and affords a comfortable ride throughout a range of conditions and speed.

“These boats are overbuilt,” says Truslow. “They’re pretty heavy, but really solid and structurally sound.”

Capt. Pat gave us one experience when he started the trip north. The forecast heading out of St. Lucie Inlet was for two-foot seas. “We got out there, and it was two-foot seas…for an hour,” he says. “And then it built, and it built, and it built…coming out of the northeast, so we were probably in four to sixes. We threw on the stabilizers and you took a little bit of spray, but it wasn’t stuff coming over the top…. We were walking around. We didn’t have our legs spread apart for balance. It’s a really comfortable boat.”

“It’s not revolutionary, but it’s a planing hall, so it gets up and gets all the dynamic stability because it’s lifted, so it’s drier and stable,” adds Truslow. “And then just about on all of the boats, we have the Humphree stabilizer system with the interceptors and the foils. They’re amazing.”

The Ocean Series is also noted for speeds near 30 knots. This flybridge model has a top speed of 27 knots with a cruising speed at 24 knots, plenty of power with the upgraded Caterpillar C-32 engines to get back quickly if conditions warrant it. She’s also equipped with the most advanced electronics and systems available to make piloting this boat a breeze, including Garmin GPSMAP 8617 multifunction displays, C-Zone to control DC circuits, as well as the aforementioned Humphree stabilizers and fins to smooth the ride.

Owner’s Choice Connects You To The Hunt 68

Hunt makes a point of including owners to be part of the build process that makes it more personal. As mentioned, this owner loves the classic, traditional look, and it shows with it its warm, full gloss African Cherry wood. It’s exquisite and is the accent throughout the boat, including the staircase that winds from the salon to the flybridge. In contrast, the owner of a Hunt 63 chose the opposite, a much lighter theme, and one currently in build is going with a pickled oak that has a somewhat whitewashed look. The point is, Hunt works closely with owners to meet their wishes. For instance, the granite countertops on the 68 exactly match those in the owner’s home.

Hunt boats are more than semi-custom. “We have the hull and the deck,” says Truslow. “Whatever you want without moving bulkheads and stringers. Ray Hunt Design has literally designed every interior corner and then does the weight studies and all that.” In other words, Hunt doesn’t make modifications without a strict analysis of how the boat will float. “He is involved through the whole process of what the owner wants because if you want a larger kitchen or different equipment, he has to be part of that.”

Needless to say, this new Hunt 68 is exactly what the owner wanted and knows that he’s found a boat that is beautifully built to last; one that he can comfortably fit into the demands of everyday life yet allow for his escape.

-by Steve Davis

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA: 72′ 11.5″

Beam: 19′ 6″

Draft: 5′ 4.5″

Fuel/water: 1,620/490 U.S. gals.

Displacement (half load): 100,000 lbs.

Power: 2x Caterpillar C-18 @ 1,136 bhp (standard)

Max/Cruise speed: 27/24 kts. (standard)

Range: 380 nm @ 24 kts.

Contact: Hunt/Hinckley Yachts

(401) 683-7100

huntyachts.com

The Marlow 70E MKII: Experience Luxury and Performance at Sea

The Marlow 70E MKII yacht takes center stage and performs eloquently. It deserves a round of applause.

It’s not one thing that determines the boat you buy. There’s certainly a first impression, but it’s not until you get down to the brass tacks and see what she’s made of that gets the checklist started. The sea trial is an important test to feel how a boat behaves at sea. It’s also a time when seasoned boaters get a sense of whether the boat will fit into their lifestyle, including comfort, ease of operation, and dependability in the boat’s systems. When the cruising couple I spoke with recently told me of their decision to build a new Marlow 70E MKII, they added one more factor—the relationship with the builder.

“I really came away with a good feeling because of their flexibility and design as much as anything,” say the owners about their first meeting with Marlow Yachts. “Some of the other boats that are this style, you know, you can choose different carpet, you can choose the color of the fabric, but you couldn’t choose a lot of the things that we wanted.”

The really significant options were already incorporated in the MKII design, such as a large engine room and enclosed bridge. “I wanted the engine room I could walk around in, that was a big deal, and I wanted an enclosed glass command bridge, and I wanted a day head up there,” he adds. “They were willing to do all of that and more for us, and that went a long way with me.”

As Times Change; Transitioning to the Marlow 70E MKII.

The couple spoke with anonymity (and not all things can translate to print), but it was easy to see they were happy and loved the cruising lifestyle. “We’ve been boating most of our lives and when the kids were small, we had lake boats,” they both say at once. “Then, as the kids moved away and went out on their own, we bought our first ‘big’ boat (a forty-two-footer),” he continues.

Like many boat owners, they consider themselves going through the natural progression of stepping up to larger boats from the 42 to express cruisers in the 50-foot range and up to a 70-foot motoryacht. They enjoyed them all, and over time, they learned what features made their experiences special.

The decision to buy their first Marlow, a 49, wasn’t made lightly. The owners did their due diligence and looked at other builds, but on the recommendation of a friend, they reached out to Marlow and made their first appointment. It was during the sea trial that the owners realized how well the boat handled.

“I liked the ride. The visibility was good. The engine room was good, and the boat felt solid,” says the husband. “That was a lot of our decision-making to go for the first one. We went with a forty-nine because we didn’t want to get anything, at that time, too big…that we couldn’t take care of, keep clean, polish the stainless, and do all the work. That was important also. We were both still working quite a bit. You have a passion for the water and a love for boating, but you have to sometimes go to work to pay for that too.”

The owners were delighted with the features on their first Marlow and enjoyed it for five years. As the family grew, so did perspectives. “My son decided that he wanted to do more entertaining and more boating, so we decided to partner up,” says the dad. “So we ended up with something a little bigger.”

Step onto the Marlow 70 Explorer MKII

I have to admit when I first saw the owners’ new Marlow 70 Explorer MKII from the marina office, it had the classic Marlow profile, but there was something different. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but then realized it was the owners’ way of matching the metallic stone gray color of the hull with particular trim lines for each level above the deck. It wasn’t white on white, and with the added black mask window treatment, the yacht looked…well, slimmer.

“We did a lot of playing with the design on the computer for the look that we were looking for, a sleek, modern look for a trawler—a modern trawler, you might say,” says the husband.

And that carries on into the interior as well. “Typically, what you see in a lot of boats is a lot of wood,” he continues. “We used a lot of whites on the walls inside, which we felt brightened it up.” In addition, a lighter teak and ebony wood was used for the floors, a warm golden wood for the cabinetry and accent panels give the interior a soft and natural feel, and the white fabrics along with white with gray etched quartzite countertops articulates a clean, elegant style.

Then there are the windows. They’re wide, tall, and surround the boat on each deck. They not only allow light in to brighten the interior, even on cloudy days, but they also provide big views of the surroundings.

“I’m a big window person,” says the husband. “It’s not like a lot of these boats where you see glass everywhere, but it’s definitely different than traditional trawlers.” In the master suite, for example, the owners worked with Marlow to design the windows so when they sat on the side of the bed, they could look out and enjoy the view.

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Accent lighting is another aspect of brightening up the interior and it’s evident throughout the boat. It adds a unique effect to the modern trawler look the owners desired. Multiple options light up each room differently, but with the same purpose—to see or to create a mood, from under and around the beds, behind accent panels, around mirrors, lining hallways and stairs to the specially made headliner lighting in the salon and the enclosed bridge.

The owners saw a design of recessed strip lighting across a ceiling that diffused the light for a softer glow and asked if it could be done on the boat. “I just thought they were the coolest things,” says the missus. “I mean, just very modern, very sleek. It just made the room, and Marlow went to work.” The LED RGBW lights easily change color for the mood or for nighttime piloting. Even the engine room has custom RGW lighting.

Another modern feature that is rarely found on board is that all the heads have heated floors. The master bath also includes a steam shower. Marlow Yachts works with all owners to customize the boat to their liking. These owners travel with their cat, and Marlow was able to design and build into the accommodation deck a customized litter box. It has access doors from the hallway and from the master suite—luxurious living.

As You Like

The Marlow 70E MKII provides its owners and guests comfortable living quarters on every deck. Accommodations below offer a full-beam midship ensuite master, a VIP queen cabin forward, and cabins both to port and starboard. Storage cabinets line the hallway and include room for a full-size washer and dryer. There are also quarters for a captain accessible from the cockpit or garage door off the aft swim platform.

On the main deck, the owners opted for a huge galley with island forward. As I mentioned, experienced boaters usually know what they want and don’t want, and besides the large windows surrounding the galley, these owners decked it out with optional Sub-Zero refrigeration/freezer drawers, full-size dishwasher, induction cooktop, and convection oven. A large U-shaped settee with table for conversational dining sits aft and divides the galley from the salon. “It feels like a home,” says the missus.

The galley deck is raised two steps from the salon to provide more headroom to the forward accommodations below. Mounted on the backside of the galley dining settee is the flat-screen TV that conveniently opens to reveal cabinets for all the entertainment equipment.

The salon is a roomy living area and leads to the same-level cockpit that has an aft bench with table for alfresco dining. A small entertainment center with refrigeration is tucked to starboard while the stairs leading to the upper deck are to port. Walkaround access to the bow is protected with a solid tall rail as part of the Portuguese bridge. This version does not walk completely around and has two doors up front to reach the bow because the owners wanted to include a large lounge area for sunning and relaxing in the center. Remove the filler cushions and a table becomes available for numerous uses. The bow area also has plenty of room for anchor work, and the missus, with the help of a Yacht Controller, can control the boat while bringing up the anchor, which includes an anchor wash below the pulpit to wash away any mud—much easier than using a separate hose and hand signals directing the one at the helm.

Speaking of the helm, there’s a reason they call it the command bridge. On the Marlow 70E MKII, whoever sits in the chair truly has the conn. Besides the 360-degree view through the surrounding windows, experience led the owners to choose a navigational equipment package from Garmin. Most helms are customized with the gear desired by owners, and because they were planning to spend more time on board and cruise longer distances, the helm sports three 22-inch and two 12-inch multifunctional displays for charts, radar, sounder, cameras, FLIR and A/V controls. All systems have backups to the backups. One camera is located in the engine room to keep an eye on the power equipment, including the twin 1,150-hp Caterpillar C18 engines.

“This boat will run very comfortably at nineteen or twenty knots, and the fuel burn is not significant,” says the husband. “I did find out on a couple of occasions that it’s very smooth at that speed. And if you want to really get somewhere in a hurry, you can run twenty-five or twenty-six knots. Most boats that can typically get the kind of fuel burn at ten knots, typically won’t run that fast and get up and go if you need to go. In fact, we ran some hours at seventeen to eighteen knots, and the fuel burn was very minimal.”

Why The Marlow 70E MKII Is The Top Choice For Seasoned Boaters

For these owners, the Marlow 70E MKII new build was their perfect choice. The ability to work with the builder to make the modifications they knew would make them comfortable was key. “We’re able to live aboard longer periods of time, and certainly travel more and be able to have another couple or family on board and not feel like you’re on top of each other,” they both say in chorus.

They were happy knowing that they got that as well as the performance they were looking for all in one package. They looked at the boat with an experienced eye during the orientation before they actually took delivery. “We did our first trial run with the boat for a couple of days just to get a feel for it and we’re very happy…and that you can print.”

-by Steve Davis

Regal’s All New LX9 Is Here

Regal's New LX9 Provides Unmated Boating Experiences

Step aboard Regal’s new LX9, a 29-foot outboard-powered masterpiece that redefines excellence, luxury, and performance. The LX9 leads her class with cutting-edge technology, from intuitive digital switching to the Seakeeper 1, reducing boat roll by up to 95 percent. Stay connected and in control with two 12-inch Garmin screens, providing access to navigation systems, entertainment features, and vessel monitoring for an enhanced boating experience. There is also a wireless phone charger at the dash for added convenience. Other technical features include a bow thruster for increased maneuverability and power-assisted hydraulic steering for maximum comfort.

The LX9 offers protection from the elements with its power hardtop, which lowers with ease, combining innovation with style. She boasts a versatile transom with dual multi-position UltraLounges and a low-to-the-water swim platform, along with fold-away rumble seats. The bow walk-through door keeps the cockpit warm, and there is designated storage for the YETI 45 cooler. Edge-to-edge seating with more space and storage compared to similar-sized models, a double-wide social seat, and angled backrests ensure ultimate comfort for you and your guests.

The Stereo Performance and Lighting Package includes eight Fusion signature speakers, an 800W amp, and a 10-inch subwoofer for an exceptional audio experience. Or enjoy high-quality audio with the innovative SandbarSubs option, designed for bass-pumping sound while swimming or relaxing at the sandbar.

The LX9 promises an unmatched boating experience, combining innovation, luxury, and advanced technology. regalboats.com

64th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2023: A Grand Showcase of New Boats

The 64th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show takes place October 25-29

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) is a magnet for new boat debuts as consumers and builders look toward the new model year. This year’s FLIBS, set for October 25-29, is no exception as new powerboats, center consoles, and yachts are making their debut at the 64^th annual event.

Billed as the world’s largest boat show, FLIBS has more than 1,300 boats on display and draws more than 100,000 people, primarily to the Bahia Mar Yachting Center and Broward County Convention Center. Other show locations include the Las Olas Marina, Hall of Fame Marina, Superyacht Village at Pier 66 South, Pier 66 Marina, and the 17^th Street Yacht Basin.

Parking is at a premium, and it’s why organizers encourage attendees to take advantage of the 3,000 parking spaces at the Convention Center. Shuttle buses and water taxis will get visitors where they need to go over the five-day show, which is owned by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida and produced by Informa Markets.

Among the attractions worth noting include: Superyacht Village, featuring superyachts and exhibits; Windward VIP Club, exclusive club with gourmet food and premium bar; The AquaZone by Nautical Ventures, freshwater pool with in-water demos; Fort Lauderdale Concours features rare cars, fine art, and live music; educational seminars for adults, and a kids’ corner.

Tickets for a one-day general admission is $42, while a two-day general admission pass is $70 and recommended because of the show’s size. The special Wednesday preview ticket is $64, while the Windward VIP tickets start at $398 and include early entry. FLIBS opens daily at 10AM (Wednesday starts at noon) and closes at 7PM (Sunday closes at 6PM), but the parties go well into the night.

Celebrate these new boats making their first appearance at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

-by Gregg Mansfield

Here are the FLIBS Boats to Look Foward To:

A Sneak Peak For Some Photos Of The Boats Above:

FLIBS Preview – Boston Whaler Reimagined 350 Realm

Boston Whaler Brings the 350 Realm

The reimagined 350 Realm is a three-in-one offering with the performance and capability of a center console, the luxury of an express cruiser, and the functionality of a dual console. Boston Whaler modernized the cabin space and created an adaptable cockpit layout complete with an optional Divino wine cooler. A teak trim package offers additional customization. The hardtop on the 350 Realm (35′ 6″ LOA, 10′ 10″ beam) and easy-up curtains offer protection from the elements. The helm comes fully integrated with Simrad electronics, and Boston Whaler offers Mercury Marine power with either 300-hp V8 outboards or 400-hp V10 Verado outboards. Joystick piloting is available as an upgrade. bostonwhaler.com

FLIBS Preview – Princess Yachts Y95 And X80

Princess Premiering Two Yachts

Princess Yachts America will be premiering the Princess Y95 and Princess X80 yachts in Fort Lauderdale. The Y95 (95′ 6″ LOA, 22′ 3″ beam) is the new Y-Class flagship and features the longest and most expansive hull windows ever installed on a Princess yacht. The main deck offers a full-beam master stateroom and four ensuite guest cabins. The X80 (82′ 7″ LOA, 19′ 11″ beam, above) has a “super flybridge” that reportedly provides 30 percent more interior space than a traditional flybridge yacht. Princess offers an optional main-deck master stateroom with a private owner’s sundeck. Belowdecks, four ensuite cabins sleep eight people. The X80 can be modified for long-range cruising with a 2,325-gallon fuel tank. princessyachtsamerica.com

Click the image to view a Y95 Video

Click the image to view an X80 Video

FLIBS Preview – The Explorer 62

The Revolutionary Explorer 62

Italian design and German engineering have come together to offer the revolutionary Explorer 62 (60′ 8″ LOA, 17′ beam). Winner of the Best Layout 2021 award at the Cannes Yachting Festival due to her innovative floor plan, impressive hull design, and 360-degree views of the ocean, she is available in a three- or four-stateroom layout. Two massive outdoor spaces, a large salon, and an open galley make this a great yacht for entertaining. She has a range of more than 500 nautical miles from twin Volvo IPS 800 engines and is the first yacht to have ever been intentionally crash-tested for safety—run into a concrete wall at 18 knots and then driven 25 miles. thehelmyachtgroup.com

FLIBS Preview – Novurania Como 24

Novurania's New Como 24 Renews The RIB Look

Novurania’s new Como 24 (24′ LOA, 8′ beam) was designed to renew the traditional RIB look. Modern style, comfort, and efficient performance are her key distinctive traits. Novurania continues its focus on innovative engineering and environmental friendliness and showcases the Como 24 as a luxury yacht tender and a high-performance leisure boat at the Fort Lauderdale show. She is composed of a fiberglass hull, deck, and liner as well as Hypalon tube. With her center console design, she guarantees easy walkability and boarding as well as spacious seating areas both on the bow and stern. She can transport up to 12 people to the beach, on the water, and to the dock. With a 150-hp outboard engine, the Como 24 can reach 52 mph with ease, even in choppy or rough offshore conditions. novurania.com