Workboats, reimagined for cruising. Trawlers, with their full-displacement hulls, sea-keeping ability and fuel-efficiency, are the ideal boats for long-range cruises. Tugs, their workhorse sibling, are smaller and “saltier,” but just as efficient. If you’re looking for a jack-of-all-trades boat for long leisurely cruises, browse our library of trawlers and tugs to see the options available. Dreaming of completing the Great Loop or an extended stay down south? Trawlers or tugs might be the right boat for you!
A proven design evolves with the Beneteau Swift Trawler 48.
Beneteau has built more than 1,300 Swift Trawlers, so it has the market dialed in. The builder knows that these fast trawlers appeal to both novice and salty cruisers, and it listens to owner and dealer feedback to make each successive design better and more user-friendly. That’s how the new Swift Trawler 48 was designed, with smart improvements and more upmarket features. We took Hull No. 2 out for a spin with Justin Joyner, Beneteau’s powerboat manager, to see how things have evolved.
As I walked down the dock, I noticed one of the Swift 48’s new additions—a slatted fashion plate that was borrowed from the Grand Trawler 62. It’s not only a statement piece, but it also provides the anchoring structure for an acrylic door that blocks the breeze from pummeling anyone on the transom seat. The plate is only on starboard, which is the wider side deck because this model, like her predecessor, is still asymmetrical in layout with an offset cabinhouse. Also to starboard is a small hull gate that allows the driver to quickly hop onto the dock when tying up. Normal boarding is via the transom where there’s a double gate to port. These doors separate the cockpit from the swim platform. Our test boat featured the optional hydraulic version that can carry a 770-pound tender and be used as a teak beach.
Steps to the flybridge are to port. With the help of a foot pedal, they slide forward and tuck up next to the glass entry door when not in use, thereby opening up the cockpit. When deployed, they’re more like a staircase than a ladder with good hand railings on both sides. On the flybridge, you’ll find facing L-shaped settees with a folding dining table in the middle. A wet bar module is aft, and the helm is on the centerline with a single bucket seat, twin MFDs, and a small steering wheel. The forward ends of the settees have hinging backrests to form companion seating on both sides of the driver.
Our test boat had the optional hardtop with an electrically actuated sunroof in the middle. Its design includes slender supports that make the structure appear to be floating—yet another feature that mirrors one on the Grande 62. It doesn’t matter if you choose the soft Bimini or the hardtop, the radar arch gives this boat a 19-foot air draft so be warned if you plan to cruise around low bridges. There’s no sedan version of the Swift Trawler 48, but it would be hard to give up this nice flybridge where everyone will want to enjoy happy hour sunsets and dinners under the stars.
Transformed Interior
Inside is where the serious changes become obvious. The galley has moved aft and to port so it’s easier to serve anyone in the cockpit or on the flybridge. A Kenyon two-burner induction cooktop was spec’d on our boat but according to Joyner, about 40 percent of Swift buyers opt for propane so there’s no need to run the genset to make breakfast.
Refrigerated space has been enlarged to nine cubic feet in the full-height refrigerator and freezer, and the countertops are now Corian as they are on the Grand 62. There’s an option for a dishwasher, and the ample stowage space that runs along the starboard side makes sure the chef lacks for no tools. An icemaker is optional, and there’s room for a 23-bottle wine fridge because the Swift Trawler 48 is a French boat after all.
Forward is a U-shaped settee/dinette with an optional electric hi-lo table that converts into a berth. There’s no designated companion seat but since the dinette is elevated, several people can congregate here and keep the driver company.
The lower helm moved from the centerline on the 47 to starboard on the 48, and it’s impressive. Twin 9-inch Raymarine MFDs are standard, but our boat had the upgraded 12-inch screens (the same as at the upper helm) with the engine information display on the outboard bulkhead. The throttles are on the dash to the right and the joystick is just inboard. A third station is available with joystick steering in the cockpit. It may be a worthwhile addition for docking in reverse since it’s not easy to see the platform from either the upper or lower helm. A backup camera is another solution.
Because the helm is offset, the driver can easily step out onto the wide side deck through the sliding door to help with lines, tie up with the midship cleat that’s at hand, sight along the entire starboard hull, or jump onto the dock through the hull gate mentioned before. The side door also has a full sliding screen so it’s a perfect way to welcome a breeze even in buggy cruising grounds.
Below, the three-stateroom/two-head layout remains as it was on the Swift Trawler 47, but the storage space has been increased in both guest cabins, and the twin stateroom added a direct door to the second head making it an ensuite. The guest cabin with the double berth also has space for an optional washer/dryer. The standard finish is Alpi teak, but our boat had the optional oak that Joyner said is gaining in popularity.
Performance
Standard propulsion is provided by a pair of 350-hp Cummins QSB6.7 diesels, but our boat had the upgraded 425-hp motors. There were four people aboard, the fuel tank was nearly full, and the water tank was nearly empty. The hull is the same as on the 47 and because all Swift designs have a semi-displacement hull, they’re trawlers that will plane. We popped up at 16 knots and went all the way to wide-open throttle where we reached 25.8 knots at 3,100 rpm and burned 40 gph. A more fuel-efficient cruise can be found at 2,500 rpm and 18 knots where the consumption drops to a more manageable 24 gph. With 510 gallons of fuel, there’s an approximate 1,000-mile range at six knots.
We had feisty conditions with lumpy seas outside of Miami, but the Swift Trawler 48 wasn’t rattled. She sliced through the chop easily and turned sharply, ever responsive to the wheel. “This is a ‘go anywhere’ boat,” says Joyner. “It’s a long-range cruiser that can also pop up to twenty knots in twenty seconds.”
Going Fast
The Swift 48 replaces the 47, and she benefits from three things: a proven hull design identical to the 47, a refreshed interior that works better for today’s cruisers, and luxury features that have trickled down from the Grande Swift 62 which will likely proliferate throughout the entire line over time.
She’s all about going fast, both on the water and in terms of sales. With the changes, the new model has already caught the eye of many. Our test boat sold in one hour and four others were placed on order at the recent Miami boat show. If you’re thinking of distance cruising on a trawler with long legs and an impressive turn of speed, place your order quickly because this model, which took the best of what came before and then improved upon it, won’t just be sitting on the shelf.
Sundeck Yachts, whose modern trawler line has been very well received in Europe, is bringing its 580 to U.S. shores for the first time at the Fort Lauderdale boat show. The young company started in 2015 and now has seven designs with the 580 (58′ 1″ LOA, 16′ 5″ beam) as its current flagship and greatest success; 18 have sold in three years. Providing both speed and range, the transitional hull can plane and go 25 knots or 900 nautical miles at 8.5 knots in displacement mode. An axe bow and beamy hull give greater than normal interior volume, affording up to four staterooms, and, likewise, there is vast outdoor space from the bow to the flybridge. sundeck.yachts
Grand Banks offers its new GB60SL with an enclosed flybridge for maximum cruising comfort.
Lighter and stronger. Faster and more fuel efficient. Today, nowhere are these key pillars of contemporary boatbuilding more evident than in the new Grand Banks 60 Skylounge. The GB60SL follows closely on the heels of the first of the new Grand Banks 60 series—an
open flybridge that debuted in 2017—and is based on the same proven hull. (An aft cabin model is on the boards and available as well.)
“The new Grand Banks 60 is taking Grand Banks in a whole new direction in terms of appearance, performance and construction techniques,” says Grand Banks Yachts CEO
Mark Richards, who came to the company with its acquisition of his well-regarded Palm Beach Yachts brand.
For Grand Banks and Palm Beach designs, it’s all about reduced weight plus additional strength, which results in outstanding running and fuel performance efficiencies. The
new Grand Banks 60 was the first collaborative effort between the design teams of both brands, and it resulted in an all-around better performing yacht with a fresh appearance.
It ain’t your daddy’s Grand Banks…
The new GB60SL differs dramatically from the large Grand Banks yachts of the 1990s, like the 58 Classic, a heavily built (100,000 lbs.), 11- to 12-knot boat meant to cruise at 8 knots to achieve a 1,400-nm cruising range. That was then. But when the advances of leading-edge materials and contemporary boatbuilding methods are fused with the traditional luxury and accommodations of a Grand Banks, the resulting yacht excels in both expected and unexpected ways.
Welcome to now. The deck and superstructure of the GB60SL are fully cored, with PVC foam core and Corecell in areas of specific application, sandwiched between skins of stitched, multiaxial carbon fiber, bonded with infused vinylester and epoxy resins, and supported by infused composite panels to create a robust grid system.
“The new GB60SL structure is fifty percent carbon fiber but from the rub rail up. We don’t use carbon fiber in the hulls, which is due to Mark’s desire to keep some weight lower,”
says Grand Banks Yachts Global Marketing Director George Sass. By keeping the majority of hull structure weight and major machinery and tankage low, the GB60SL designers
have optimized the center of gravity to better control handling underway across a wide band of conditions.
Power Up
Standard power is twin 900-hp Volvo Penta D13 diesels (or an optional pair of 1,000-hp Volvo Penta D13 diesels) turning shaft drives or a brace of optional 900-hp IPS 1200s.
Depending on the engines selected, the GB60SL is capable of 36-knot top speeds and cruising ranges of approximately 1,100 nm at 21 knots or 2,500 nm at 10 knots.
Optimal control was not overlooked. The fuel-efficient twin 900-hp Volvo Penta D13s are mated to Twin Disc MGX 5095A QuickShift marine transmissions. Twin Disc EC300 Power
Commander Electronic Controls and Twin Disc Express Joysticks control not only the main propulsion straight shaft drivetrains, but also the Twin Disc BP300 bow and (optional) stern thrusters, and they combine to give the helmsman fingertip control at low speeds
for precise maneuvering capabilities around crowded docks or tightly packed slips as well
as instant throttle response in open waters.
A touch on the Express Positioning button engages the system to automatically hold the
GB60SL in the desired, GPS-located position and heading. This feature is a definite benefit
when waiting for a bridge in tricky winds and currents or when shorthanded and necessary for the helmsman to leave the helm momentarily to tend to lines and fenders.
The GB60SL is a large, comfortable yacht that can be owned and operated by a knowledgeable cruising couple. The width and interior volume makes extended stays practical for owners and their family members or guests, and its design is capable of exploring waters not often frequented by other 65-footers with deeper drafts.
Fly or Sky?
There are some interesting comparisons to note between the flybridge and the skylounge models. Both have three large staterooms and two full-size heads, fitted and finished with Grand Banks’ hallmark craftsmanship and style. Guests overnight in the spacious forward VIP stateroom and enjoy accommodations usually reserved for owners. The master stateroom is located amidships to port with ensuite head. To starboard is the second
head and single cabin with another cabin aft amidships separated from the engine room by a full-beam utility room. It’s on the main deck level where changes get interesting.
“The lower helm station is eliminated on the Skylounge version of the GB60, bringing the galley forward with added storage and transforming the larger salon seating into two
sitting areas with facing settees to starboard, essentially creating separate relaxing and dining areas,” says Sass. Large windows bathe the main salon and the large, U-shaped galley with an abundance of natural light and clear views all around, perfect for family and friends to relax.
Interior Delights
The galley is shaped well for use underway, but its real appeal has a lot to do with the large-area Silestone counters. An electric induction cooktop is standard as is a single-drawer dishwasher, large single bowl Franke stainless steel sink with designer faucet, a microwave/convection oven, and two refrigerators plus a freezer from Isotherm. Hand-selected and finished Burmese teak hardwoods and veneers add golden warmth to every interior detail. A teak and stainless interior stairway to starboard opposite the galley
leads up to the enclosed skylounge, and its see-through design adds appeal to the contemporary open plan of the salon.
For those who wonder if a skylounge-style flybridge is right for them, consider that it’s a comfortable place from which to operate the boat in temperatures hot or cold, it’s well
protected from high winds and intense sunlight, and it offers twin Stidd helm seats with a magnificent view of the waters all around for safety.
Window Down
On temperate days, the two side windows as well as the window in the aft bulkhead open or close at the touch of a button and along with two overhead hatches, provide abundant natural ventilation. The designers included an enclosed dayhead to starboard for convenience as well as an L-shaped settee to port that can serve as a berth for the off watch on overnight runs. For those who want to take in a bit of sun, there is outdoor seating on the boat deck, on which Grand Banks furnishes a Steelhead ES1000 Davit plus an AB Alumina 12 ALX RIB with a 30-hp Yamaha outboard.
Grand Banks also offers a full suite of Garmin electronics as an option, including a pair of 8617 MFDs, an autopilot, the GMR Fantom 4 open-array radar, AIS 600, and much more. For those who want to run offshore in stable comfort, a Seakeeper SK9 or Sidepower Vector Fins is available.
To my eye, it is evident that Grand Banks is delivering a design that hearkens back to the days when balance and proportion were prerequisites for a desirable yacht that would be visually pleasing over decades. With a large and well-protected enclosed flybridge, an extended boat deck that helps shelter the aft deck from the elements, and wide side decks with high bulwarks and handholds, the GB60SL is obviously a well-thought-out ocean-going yacht.
The Sargo line of sterndrive family cruisers is designed for comfort and performance throughout the year. The Sargo 31 is no exception.
Remember those weekends, particularly during the early or late weeks of the typical prime boating season, when you canceled your boating plans because the weather forecast was less than pleasant for one of the two (or three) days? An all-season design like the Sargo 31 has the features to help optimize your comfort and protection for that forecast, and the performance gives you a wide range of options for fuel efficiency and schedule-keeping speed.
Keep on Keepin’ On
The idea that the Sargo line of family cruisers might add weeks or even months of on-the-water good times makes great sense for your return on investment and especially for your ability to spend the maximum amount of time together on the water with friends and family.
Sargo boats are created by the Sarin family, three generations of boat builders in the industry since 1967. From its factory on the western shore of Finland, the company has produced three distinct ranges of boats, including a line of vessels for professional government, law enforcement, and life-saving users. The Sargo line and its related Sargo Explorer line are well known to European boat owners ranging from Greenland to Italy, and the company has been active in the U.S. market since 2008. Suffice it to say, Sargo boats are meant for use in some of the more extreme, short-season climates around the globe.
The interior of the Sargo 31 is surprisingly spacious.
There’s nothing even remotely Eurostyle about the Sargo 31. Its design lines flow from Scandinavian workboat traditions, with bows well flared for good buoyancy and lift in a seaway as well as for a drier ride. The sheer springs higher from about amidships and the stem is sharp and shaped for speed. The angled-forward pilothouse reduces glare looking forward, and the wide side decks connect the fore and aft decks on a single level. Bulwarks are high and handrails are plentiful. For those times when a little family fishing is planned, safety is a given.
There’s a built-in bench on the forward edge of the coach roof, and a very handy split bow pulpit can be equipped with a ladder for beach boarding. Large cleats are positioned atop the bulwarks, and the amidships cleats make it easy to get a line on the dock when you’re single-handing.
Upgrades Available
The model I reviewed was a 31 Explorer Aft Door, and it included an appearance package upcharge ($11,000) that packaged a gray hull, black powder-coated rails and on-deck hardware (even the antenna) for a very contemporary look. Walnut graces the interior of the salon in this package, a nice change from the standard teak panels and furniture, and you have to see the brushed aluminum, leather-covered handrails used throughout to appreciate what they add to the clean, stylish Scandinavian interior design.
For foul weather cruising, the Sargo 31 provides shelter and ample space for a family.
The aft door option ($14,168) opens from the salon directly to the aft deck. All of the Sargo models I’ve inspected have standard sliding forward doors for access to the side decks, but the aft door is a convenience all will appreciate. The typical Sargo 31 layout includes a U-shaped dinette across the back of the salon and a mini-galley forward and to port, but the optional aft door layout features a C-shaped dinette to port (with electrically adjustable hi-low dining table and a forward convertible seat back that shifts aft to create forward facing passenger seating) and a very well-equipped galley (three-burner gas stove, gas oven, fridge, and large sink) abaft the helm. A pair of fold-down wood countertops hide the range and sink when not in use for a clean, contemporary look, and there’s plenty of storage beneath the sink, under the cabin sole, and inside the dinette settee.
The salon is blessed with an abundance of windows for near 360-degree visibility. This includes a swing-up window opening on the aft deck. A wide, manual sliding sunroof locks open in two different positions to flood the salon with natural light and ventilation. One option includes three clear panels set into the sunroof for excellent light, even when it is closed on rainy days.
Baby, it’s Wet Outside
When conditions outside are less than hospitable, Sargo offers Webasto heating and air conditioning (12,000 BTU) options to keep the climate in the salon family friendly. The Webasto units get power from either an optional Fisher Panda genset at anchor or an inverter drawing down the house batteries while underway. A 4kW diesel-fired heater is available for those who do their cruising in more northern climes.
Forward, down near-centerline stairs, accommodations include a V-berth cabin in the bow (each side measures six feet, six inches long, and a filler cushion converts the berth into a double), a wet head to starboard, and a storage cabinet to port. The amidships cabin is located under the salon sole and dinette and is accessible through a lifting hatch in the dinette bench. You’ll find storage in the forward cabin is beneath the berth. However, some room is lost to the bow thruster and battery. There is space under the deck, and storage in the amidships cabin includes two big storage lockers with shelves. Natural ventilation forward is well thought out with two portholes and an overhead hatch. All of the openable windows have mosquito screens, even in the head.
Choose your own propulsion adventure
Propulsion choices include three single-engine and two twin-engine Volvo Penta installations with Duoprop sterndrives. Single-engine power is based on the D6 engine with outputs of 330, 370 or 400 horsepower and top speeds of approximately 32, 35 and 37 mph respectively. Twin-engine power is based on the D4 engine with total outputs of 450 and 600 horsepower. Top speeds, in this case, are 38 and 42 mph. Twin engine installations are available with larger fuel tankage, 154 gallons versus 110 gallons.
Some boat owners insist on twin engines when headed out into long stretches of open water, and the Sargo 31 has the room for a brace of Volvo Penta in-line D4 diesels in a massive space beneath the aft deck. The lockable, gas strut-supported hatch allows easy access to the main engine(s) and the genset for daily inspection and maintenance. A water-separating diesel fuel filter is standard. There’s a fire extinguisher in the engine room…just in case.
Driving the D6-400 equipped Sargo 31 was a breeze, thanks to the flawless hydraulic steering. The boat is powerful yet agile. With a transom deadrise angle of 19.5 degrees, the deep-V bottom made short work of the heavy wind chop we encountered. At the helm, the leather-covered stainless steering wheel included a knob to make fast directional changes possible, a real convenience when backing a single stern drive. Both the binnacle and the 4-hp bow thruster were within easy reach for minute adjustments in tight quarters. A 12-inch Garmin 7412 chartplotter is standard, although Sargo offers an upgrade to either two 7412s or a larger 16-inch 7416 screen.
Taken all together, all the features and performance of the Sargo 31 Explorer Aft Door make it well suited for a family of four, who doesn’t want to give up their time on the water for a less than sunny forecast.
The Ranger Tugs R-27 (31’4″ LOA, 8’6″ beam) is outfitted to cruise, fish, and play in comfort and style. Powered by a single Yamaha F300 outboard motor, the new R-27 allows for more cruising in less time. The R-27 is equipped with the Garmin 7612 chart plotter, solar panel, bow thruster, LED lighting, private stateroom, enclosed head with shower, full galley with propane stove and refrigerator/ freezer, outdoor electric grill, and sink, ice box, and concealed ski tow.
The curved front windshield and overhead glass atrium provide beautiful 360-degree views and generous light throughout the salon. Open the aft glass bulkhead in tandem with any of the hatches, windows, or port lights to deliver a fresh breeze throughout the cabin. Chefs will be delighted to cook in the full galley or to simply grill on the removable electric Kenyon grill.
This isn’t your father’s tugboat. It’s the next-generation of Ranger tugs.
As the latest of the next-generation Ranger Tugs, the 2018 R-27 (27′ LOA, 8′ 6″ beam) follows the design cues of her big sister, the R-29S, with a curved front window and overhead glass atrium that brighten the interior. It offers a fast, dry ride, courtesy of a single Yahama F300 outboard making it the second Ranger Tug model to look outside the hull for power. A bow thruster comes standard to ease docking. Plenty of accommodation space also distinguishes the brand, and the R-27 features a private double cabin forward and an additional salon berth by converting the dining table opposite the galley.
Nordhavn acknowledges that not everyone wants to fish or dive, so its new version of the Nordhavn 59 Coastal Pilot is for those who don’t need a cockpit. Extending the aft and main deck all the way back, the Coastal Pilot has a roomier salon/galley and engine room, which has full standing headroom aft. Water babies will still get their fix of the sea thanks to an integral swim step.
The Nordhavn 59 Coastal Pilot is capable of both fast cruising speeds and extended passagemaking. Powered by twin Cummins QSM 11 715-hp diesel engines, the 59 CP runs up to 20 knots and can cruise more than 1,000 miles at reduced speeds. She offers a modern profile with a contemporary, open interior that emphasizes stainless and horizontal grain accents and radiates light throughout.
Main deck accommodations provide for a large galley, dinette and a lower helm station with double helm seat. This arrangement is very appealing for a coastal cruising couple as it eliminates the isolation and separation of a raised wheelhouse.
Nordhavn acknowledges that not everyone wants to fish or dive, so its new version of the 59 Coastal Pilot is for those who don’t need a cockpit. Extending the aft and main deck
all the way back, the Nordhavn 59 Coastal Pilot has a roomier salon/galley and engine room, which has full standing headroom aft. Water babies will still get their fix of the sea thanks to an integral swim step.
Expand your cruising landscape with new, trailerable models from Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boats.
In just the past few years, Fluid Motion, LLC has become one of the most successful boat builders in the United States, if not the world. Fluid Motion is the brainchild of the father-son team of David and John Livingston, who have decades of experience building boats. In 1999, John created Fluid Motion and bought Ranger Tugs, a company that has been in business since 1958 but by the end of the 20th century was building only a 21-foot character tug. “It was just me, my wife, Jenn, my dad, and six employees in a World War II Quonset hut,” says John Livingston. Today, Fluid Motion has about 200 employees in six factories across Washington State. They still build the Ranger 21, plus a 23, 25, 27, 29, and 31. And in 2011, Fluid Motion started the Cutwater line for people who want to go faster in a more conventional-looking boat. Cutwater now makes a 24, 26, 28, and 30.
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to have firsthand experience cruising on Rangers and Cutwaters both in the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands in the Pacific Northwest as well as from Manhattan to Quebec City in the Northeast, and I’ve always come away impressed. Both brands manage to pack a lot of boating innovations, features and ease of operation into whatever size I’ve tried. And now the company, known for making single-diesel pocket cruisers, is pushing the envelope with a new 24-foot outboard Cutwater at the lower end and a new 31-foot Ranger Tug with a flybridge at the upper.
The Fluid Motion story begins with David Livingston, who sold his first boat, an 8-foot fiberglass dinghy, at the Seattle Boat Show in 1968. Livingston then went on to design and build boats for Reinell, Wellcraft, Regal, and Fountain, among others. He was the president of Bayliner in 1988 and 1989 when the company was making 56,000 boats per year in 23 different plants. “He’s designed more boats than anyone in the industry,” John Livingston says of his father. Last year, the Northwest Marine Trade Association gave David their Legend Award. Officially, David is Fluid Motion’s Lead Designer and Head of Engineering. When I visited the company’s offices just south of Seattle a few years ago, David kept interrupting his sandwich lunch at his desk to run out back where workers were lifting a new hull out of its mold. “And I thought this was going to be a retirement job,” he says, laughing.
All of Fluid Motion’s boats are trailerable, which enables owners to explore waters near and far.
Cutwarer 24 outboard makes the best possible use of inside space.
Cutwater 24 Outboard
The Ranger Tug R-31 CB has plenty of inside room for family and guests.
The original Ranger 21 looked like a mini tugboat with a single Volvo diesel that pushed it to about 6.5 knots. It was the only boat Ranger Tugs made until 2007 when Fluid Motion introduced the 25, also an affordable single-diesel. The company sold 53 of them in the first six months. One secret to Fluid Motion’s success is that its boats are trailerable. They’re easy to buy, easy to run and easy to keep since trailering enables owners to avoid slip and winter storage fees and also to cruise anywhere their SUV or pickup can access a boat ramp. Another secret is that both Ranger and Cutwater pack a lot of usable space into all of their boats, which appeals to both first-time buyers and those downsizing from larger yachts.
A creative use of space and innovative engineering are certainly keys to Fluid Motion’s success. But so is the company’s ability to form an owner community around its brands with active rendezvous, alumni cruises, raft-ups, weekend parties, and factory visits. At least 250 people showed up at last year’s annual rendezvous at Roche Harbor in the San Juans. The Tugnuts website (tugnuts.com) promotes all of these activities as well as troubleshooting and maintenance—their forums go on for 681 pages. As a result of all this involvement, owners tend to be happy. Todd Banks, president of Kenmore Air in Seattle, started out with a Ranger 27 and is now a partner in a Ranger 31. Regarding an annual 10-day cruise to Canada’s Desolation Sound with his wife and three teenagers, he says, “[it’s] definitely the highlight of the summer. Everybody looks forward to it.” And there’s plenty of room for the family. The two boys sleep in the aft cabin, the daughter on the convertible dinette, and Banks with his wife, Jane, in the master forward. “We cruise and then drop the hook in different spots, fishing, swimming, exploring. It’s all a great family outing,” he says. “And Ranger is a first-class operation with first-class people.”
After my cruises on a Ranger 29 and then a 27 in the Pacific Northwest, photographer George Sass, Sr. and I spent five days travelling 495 nm from New York Harbor to Quebec City on a Cutwater 28, the two of us living on board 24 hours a day. Cruising up the Hudson and Lake Champlain and then down the St. Lawrence at 16-18 knots, the ride was easy, visibility excellent, and the cockpit is a perfect spot for morning coffee or evening libations. When we finally left the Cutwater in Quebec, Sass revealed, “I’m going to miss this boat.” I agreed.
Cutwater’s newest boat, a 24, breaks out of the single-diesel mold by offering a 300-hp Yamaha outboard (though you can order it with a Volvo diesel if you prefer). Designed to get more people into boating, the 24 has a private stateroom in the bow, mid-berth with a mattress, salon that seats four with a dinette that converts to a berth, a private head with shower, an electric/alcohol stove and a fridge/freezer—everything you need to go cruising. The 8′ 6″ beam makes it trailerable, and the outboard performance is head snapping with a top speed of 43.7 mph. The base model includes a Garmin 7610 GPS plotter with a depth sounder and fishfinder.
At the top of the line, the new Ranger 31 CB is the first with a flybridge. To make the boat trailerable, the flybridge folds down on hinges to reduce the air draft on a trailer to 13′ 2″. Just unhook the canvas that serves as a cowling, drop the inner supports and fold it flat. The flybridge itself seats four and is reached from the cockpit via stairs rather than a ladder. For living space, the R-31 has two staterooms and a convertible dinette. It’s easy to dock with bow and stern thrusters, and the semi-displacement hull, driven by a 300-hp Volvo diesel, tops out at over 20 knots. To make extra social room in the cockpit (an owner request), David designed a reversible settee across the transom allowing cruisers to sit facing forward while underway or face aft for watersports, plus custom gull-wing seats that fold out of the hull on both sides.
Every R-31 is water tested before delivery and comes ready for cruising; Garmin GPS units at the upper and lower stations, a safety kit, lines, and fenders are included. It’s no surprise that this flagship is proving as popular as Fluid Motion’s earlier models.
By Peter A. Janssen, Southern Boating Magazine August 2016
SPECIFICATIONS
Cutwater 24 Outboard LOA: 28′ 10″ Beam: 8′ 6″ Draft: 2′ 6″ (motor down) Weight: 4,900 lbs. Fuel/Water: 125/30 U.S. gals. Power: 1x Yamaha 300-hp outboard Cruise/Top speed: 27/43 mph Range: 249 nm at cruise Price: $109,937 CONTACT Cutwater Boats
17341 Tye Street SE
Monroe, WA 98272
(800) 349-7198 cutwaterboats.com
If a slowed-down, more economical pace is on your radar, consider these salty and seaworthy vessels and broaden your cruising horizons.
Long, long ago before the Internet, iPhones and IPS, trawlers were full-displacement, single-diesel, large-cockpit fishing boats designed to slog their way to the rich fishing grounds of the North Atlantic. Half a century ago, the first recreational trawlers looked and acted the same, although with the addition of more comfortable accommodations and usually a lot of teak. Today, trawlers—and tugs, their first cousins—are still salty and seaworthy and designed for long-range cruising or living aboard, but the genre has widened considerably. Here’s a look at some of the current fleet of trawlers and tugs from 23-96 feet LOA.
Ranger Tugs R-23
For the past 15 years, Ranger Tugs has been building popular, single-diesel, trailerable cruising boats from 21 to 31 feet. Now, the company has launched a 23-foot, outboard-powered version aimed at entry-level cruisers or more experienced owners wanting to trade down to a smaller, more easily maintained boat.With an 8′ 6″ beam, the new Ranger is still trailerable while having all the family-friendly features for which the brand is famous.
It also has a single Yamaha 200 outboard that can push the boat to a 22-knot cruising speed. The hull has hard chines, a plumb bow and narrow forefoot with 24 degrees deadrise at the transom, which all translate into a well-performing vessel even in its home waters of the Pacific Northwest. But it’s what Ranger tucks into the hull that makes the boat special. The curved windshield, skylight, sliding side windows, and four overhead hatches provide lots of natural light inside the pilothouse, while the twin V-berth forward, a dinette that converts to a double berth plus a smaller mid cabin berth, provide room for the family. There’s also a full head with shower, a galley with fridge/freezer, single burner cooktop, and microwave. For towing, the mast folds down to provide an 8′ 6″ bridge clearance. Priced at $94,937, the R-23 comes with a standard Garmin 7610 GPS chartplotter. rangertugs.com; (253) 839-5213
Rosborough 246
With salty workboat lines that reflect its Nova Scotia heritage, the Rosborough 246 is a sturdy, economical pocket cruiser with enough amenities to make a couple or small family comfortable on board. With an 8′ 6″ beam, it’s fully trailerable without requiring any special permits. Rosborough started out making small commercial fishing boats in Nova Scotia some 60 years ago and then turned to the recreational market using the same seaworthy hull. The boats are now made by Eastern Boats in New Hampshire.
The 246 has been a popular model for awhile, but now it’s upgraded to give the pilothouse, with its 6′ 5″ headroom, more moving-around space, a teak hi-low table and teak interior trim. The bow’s 7-foot-long V-berth sleeps two adults, while the convertible dinette in the salon accommodates one adult or two children. The galley has a two-burner propane stove, sink, hot/cold water, and a fridge. Doors open to the decks on each side of the helm while large windows provide excellent visibility. A hardtop covers the cockpit, and there’s a bench seat against the transom.The Rosborough 246 has a semi-displacement hull, with a full bow and shallow forefoot for a soft entry; a center keel provides stability. A single 200-hp outboard produces a 16-knot cruising speed and tops out in the 20s. rosboroughboatsusa.com
Beneteau 30 Swift Trawler
The newest addition to the Swift Trawler line first launched in 2003, the Beneteau 30 is a fuel-efficient, single-diesel cruising boat that combines contemporary French styling with traditional cruising accommodations plus a semi-planing hull with a 15-knot cruising speed. It comes in a two-cabin or one-cabin configuration. Basically, the new 30 is a slimmed down version of the popular Beneteau 34 Swift Trawler, which a group of boating magazine editors used to complete the Great Loop about three years ago.
A pocket yacht, the 30 has a bright interior with lots of windows all around, a master forward, a second stateroom to port, opposite a head and shower, and a salon with convertible sofa, so it can sleep six. In the single-cabin configuration, the port side is given to a large separate shower. But the Swift Trawler is a cruisers’ boat, with such features as a sliding door next to the helm for easy access to the wide sidedeck. Visibility from the helm, which has a two-person seat, is excellent all around. A full galley is to port, with an L-shaped settee and dining table to starboard. The cockpit is the perfect spot to enjoy an alfresco breakfast or cocktails; a sturdy ladder leads up to the flybridge. With a 370-hp Volvo D6, range is about 200 nm. beneteauamerica.com
American Tugs 365
A solid, no-nonsense pilothouse trawler from the Pacifi c Northwest, the new American Tugs 365 offers safe, secure, long-range cruising or liveaboard comforts for a couple with occasional family or guests. Well built with a 10-year hull warranty, the 365 offers a cruising speed in the 13- to 17-knot area, powered by a single fuel-efficient 380-hp Cummins diesel. Dial it back to 9 knots and the Cummins burns only 7.6 gallons per hour (gph), giving the boat a range of about 1,000 nm.Although American Tugs are built in La Conner, Washington, by the Tomco Marine Group, about half of the boats are sold on the East Coast for cruising the ICW, the coast of Maine, or over to The Bahamas.
The 18,700-pound displacement boat has a draft of only 3′ 5″, and the prop is protected by a skeg. The salon has a large galley to starboard, with a U-shaped, Ultraleather-covered settee to port that converts to a double bed. Down four steps, the master is forward with a walkaround queen berth, a cedar-lined hanging locker and a head with a stall shower.The pilothouse has seating for four on two Ultraleather® settees. Six opening windows and sliding doors give easy access to the decks on both sides. Aft, the cockpit is fully covered for all-weather protection. All in all, the American Tugs 365 is meant for easy cruising. americantugs.com
Selene 42 Europa
There’s more of everything in the new Selene 42 Europa, from more space inside and out to a greater fuel capacity (700 gallons instead of 600), increasing range for safe family cruising. Overall, the new 42 is designed as an offshore cruiser, with the same quality as larger Selenes but at an affordable price.The Selene 42 Europa has a more spacious salon, flybridge and engine room than earlier models. A newly designed stern adds to waterline length for better speed and fuel efficiency while also providing more room in the lazarette. A larger rudder gives more control at low speeds, and a deeper keel helps with stability and tracking. Inside, the master stateroom is forward, with an island queen berth and oversized head with separate shower.
The second stateroom has double berths. The salon has an L-shaped settee and two barrel chairs. The dinette has enough seating for six, while the full galley has a double stainless sink, three-burner propane stove, and grill. The pilothouse includes a pilot berth. From the cockpit, a molded stairway leads up to the large flybridge. For economical cruising, the Selene 42 Europa comes with a single John Deere 180-hp diesel; it cruises at 8 knots and tops out at 10 knots. Bow and stern thrusters make docking simple. selenetrawlers.com; (954) 525-6617
Nordic Tugs 44
Built for active cruisers, the new Nordic Tugs 44 combines the brand’s iconic salty looks with comfortable living spaces and fuel-efficient performance. The first Nordic Tug, a 26, was an instant hit when it was introduced at the Seattle Boat Show in 1980, largely because of its distinctive tugboat-like lines but also because of its outstanding fuel efficiency. The new 44 continues with that legacy and burns only 3 gph at 9 knots.
There’s a lot going on inside the Nordic Tugs 44: two staterooms and two heads below, plus an inviting salon with two barrel chairs and a convertible sofa, a U-shaped galley, and large side windows. Three steps up is a classic pilothouse; guests can enjoy the view or curl up for a nap on the settee. Doors open port and starboard to the side decks, and the large flybridge can be reached from the pilothouse or the cockpit.Proportional bow and stern thrusters make docking easy, while power comes from a single 540-hp Cummins or 510-hp Volvo diesel. The boat cruises at 14 knots and tops out at about 18 knots. The hard-chine, semi-displacement hull gives a solid, stable ride, while a full keel protects the prop and rudder. Nordic Tugs are built in a modern factory in Burlington, Washington. nordictugs.com
Krogen Express 52
New models of the classic Krogen Express 52 have two changes, or “tweaks”, as the company owner, John Tegtmeyer, calls them. Both come as the result of input from owners as well as Tegtmeyer’s own experiences in cruising on the boats with his wife, Betsie. The first is an increase in the size of windows in the pilothouse and salon, so everyone on board can have a better view even when they’re sitting down. The second is the use of all PVC coring and Vinylester resins in the hull and structure layups.
Previously, the company used end-grain balsa for coring in the decks and house. Tegtmeyer says most owners appreciate the move to all PVC coring even if it is more expensive, while Vinylester resin is less susceptible to stress and better resists osmotic blistering. With its long, sweeping shear line, plumb bow and relatively low profile, the Krogen Express 52 seems to always appeal to experienced cruisers who tend to keep their boat; 85 percent of the boats are still owned by the original buyer. The boat has two staterooms and two heads; the master has 7-foot headroom. An elevated watch berth in the pilothouse converts to a double. Powered by twin 480-hp Yanmar diesels, the Krogen Express cruises at 15-17 knots and tops out at just over 22 knots. krogenexpress.com; (866)-4KROGEN
Azimut Magellano 52
It’s not surprising that the new Azimut Magellano 53 has lots of Italian style, not to mention comfortable living areas, all loaded into a long-range cruising package. Designed for extended cruising or living aboard, the Magellano 53 offers three staterooms and two heads, a salon that would be at home in Milan’s fashion center, lounging areas almost everywhere, and a custom hull that makes for an easy ride at any speed. Also available in 43′, 66′ and 76′, the Magellano 53 replaces the 50. The 53’s three extra feet allow for a captain’s quarters aft plus a larger cockpit with a lounge, teak table and bar with sink, grill, and icemaker.
There’s also a large U-shaped lounge on the foredeck that’s almost 8 feet across plus another 7×10-foot lounge on the flybridge with a bar. Below, the midship’s master stateroom is elegant and spacious, and its ensuite head runs the entire length of the cabin. A VIP stateroom is forward, with a smaller cabin in between. The boat’s unique dual-mode hull combines the rounded sections of a displacement underbody with broad chine flats to help it run at planing speeds. At an 8-knot trawler speed, the Magellano has a range of 1,300 nm; at 16 knots the range is 350 nm. Twin 500-hp Cummins diesels push the boat to a top speed above 22 knots. azimutyachts.com; (888) 708-1128
Cranchi ECO Trawler 53 LD
Cranchi has been building boats since 1870, but the new ECO Trawler 53 LD (Long Distance) is the company’s first trawler. It’s a full-bodied, eco-friendly boat with a lot of Italian touches that make extended cruising safe, fuel-efficient and, most of all, exceptionally comfortable inside and out.When climbing aboard, the first thing that many people realize is that the Cranchi 53 is a big boat in every sense of the word. Headroom in the salon, for example, is 6′ 9″, and the countertop in the galley is 70″ long.
Down below, the midship master stateroom takes advantage of the boat’s 16′ 3″ full beam, while the VIP stateroom in the bow has almost as much room. (A third guest cabin is between the two.) Up top, the flybridge is large enough for a sunpad forward of the helm station, while there’s another lounging area aft with a grill and fridge. Four solar panels across the front of the flybridge add to the trawler’s green appeal, while the twin 435-hp Volvo diesels and IPS 600 pod drives with joystick control are all state of the art. At a trawler speed of 7.5 knots, the Cranchi 53 has a range of 1,500 nm, but you can also power it up to a cruising speed of 15 knots. Top speed is 22 knots. cranchi.it; (855) 900-BOAT
Marlow 53E
David Marlow doesn’t do things halfway. Indeed, he’s been building boats since he was 13 and building sturdy, safe offshore cruising boats under his own name for the past 16 years. The new Marlow 53E (Explorer) is the company’s latest launch, and it is ready to take its owners anywhere around the world in style and comfort. And they won’t have to stop frequently to refuel either. At a 7.7-knot trawler cruising speed, the Marlow 53E has a range of more than 3,000 nm.Even though the boat holds 2,000 gallons of fuel, that range—Palm Beach to Greenland, non-stop—means the Marlow has an efficient, low-drag hull shape.
Of course, if you want a turn of speed, Marlow’s twin 750-hp John Deere diesels produce a cruising speed of 21 knots and a top speed of just over 25 knots. The boat’s Velocijet Strut keel protects the running gear and helps provide superior stability and comfort in all sea conditions. Built with Kevlar, carbon fiber and modified epoxy, the Marlow 53E has an Ocean Class A certification, the international designation for a serious bluewater cruiser. Inside, the Marlow has three staterooms and two heads. The supersized master has a centerline king and his-and-her toilets. marlowyachts.com; (800) 362-2657
Grand Banks 55 Aleutian
The Grand Banks Aleutian 55 RP is a new and improved version of the popular yet now retired 53-foot raised pilothouse yacht. It has the room and amenities to make extended cruising even more appealing and comfortable. The new 55 uses the same hull as the 53 but is stretched in length by 2 feet. The addition creates more space in the cockpit and in the utility room—an often-overlooked area that’s important for long cruises or living aboard—located between the midships, full-beam master stateroom and the engine room. For the 55, Grand Banks also designed a new warmer, lighter interior, added more stowage in the galley, built a second boarding gate on the port side, and made it easier to access the flybridge from the cockpit.The salon remains a social area and has interior stairs leading up to the flybridge—a major safety feature.
The galley and dinette are in the pilothouse, exactly where people tend to congregate during voyages. Two side doors open to the wide protected side decks and the Portuguese bridge. Three staterooms and two heads are below, while up top the aft deck of the flybridge has a standard davit with a 1,000-pound capacity and room for a 13-foot tender. Standard power is two 715-hp Cummins QSM11 diesels producing cruising speeds of 20 knots and topping out at 24 knots. grandbanks.com; (206) 352-0116
Duffield 58
The new Duffield 58 is a traditional Doug Zurn design: low profile, classic lines, narrow beam, fuel-efficient, and low maintenance for easy, comfortable cruising. It’s sea kindly, too, even before the addition of the standard Seakeeper gyrostabilizer.The Duffield 58 is the brainchild of Marshall “Duffy” Duffield—of the Duffy Electric Boat Company in southern California—who wanted a contemporary version of an owner-operated, single-diesel traditional West Coast trawler. He turned to Zurn, whose design studio in Marblehead, Massachusetts, has drawn elegant sail and power boats for Marlow, MJM, Lyman-Morse, and Bruckman, not to mention the eye-catching Shelter Island Runabout and Billy Joel’s 57-foot commuter yacht Vendetta.
Built in Adelanto, California, the resulting Duffield 58 is powered by a 1,001-hp Cat C-18 and is so efficient it burns only 22 gph at 17 knots, topping out at 24 knots. The Cat is mounted aft, with V-drive to reduce noise. The Duffield 58 has a fine bow entry of 50 degrees, short overhangs for more interior space and a longer waterline for longitudinal stability.Inside, the clean, graceful Duffield has an open plan in the salon and galley. The master stateroom, with queen berth and ensuite head and shower, is forward. The VIP stateroom has the same arrangement, and there’s a third small stateroom for children or crew. duffieldyachts.com; (949) 645-6811
Fleming 58
The new Fleming 58 begins where the iconic Fleming 55 leaves off. It has a little more room inside and out yet still retains all of the classic lines and sea-going capabilities that have made the brand famous. In stretching the 55, which Tony Fleming fi rst launched in 1986, the company also added considerably more weight—22,000 pounds, in fact—to make the boat more sea-kindly at displacement speeds. Flemings are semi-displacement boats, and the 58, which is powered by twin 800-hp MAN diesels, cruises at 15 knots—topping out at 20—but most Fleming owners prefer to spend their time at about 10 knots, where extra weight makes cruising more comfortable. The new 58 has three staterooms and two heads below.
The master remains in the bow, although a midship master is optional. The cockpit on the new boat is a bit larger than on the 55, while the salon and galley gain some room with a wider beam. Furthermore, the pilothouse with twin Stidd helm chairs and an L-shaped settee now has a dayhead. Most important to owners, the engine room now has standing headroom—a major design feat since the 58 still has the overall low profile of the 55. Throughout the boat, the fi t, fi nish and attention to detail are flawless. flemingyachts.com
Kadey-Krogen 58 E
Over the past 30 years, Kadey-Krogen has built some 600 bluewater trawlers, all with the same characteristics: a full-displacement, bulletproof hull, usually with single diesel power, capable of cruising safely and comfortably anywhere in the world. Kadey-Krogens are recognizable by their traditional pilothouse, iconic wineglass stern and walkaround engine room. The new 58 EB (Extended Bridge) is true to its heritage, with additional amenities to make long-range cruising even more comfortable.
“People are spending a lot of time outside,” says Kadey-Krogen’s vice president, Larry Polster. “So we’re creating increased livability. We’re going for a more patio layout.” In the new 58, there’s more going on up top, where the enlarged flybridge can now seat ten, while a summer kitchen is behind the helm social area, with a propane barbeque grill, fridge, wet bar, and storage. The extended bridge on top also means a larger, covered aft deck below for more comfortable dining and relaxing.The 58 EB comes with two or three staterooms and two heads, a large salon, a galley as well-equipped as the kitchen in most homes, and a pilothouse with an optional berth and interior access to the flybridge. A single 325-hp John Deere diesel tops out at 10.4 knots. The 58’s sweet spot is 8 knots, with a range of 2,600 nm. kadeykrogen.com
Outer Reef 580
Even though it’s the smallest boat in Outer Reef’s Classic series, which stretches up to 115 feet, the new 580 is a big, bluewater cruising boat in its own right. Like all other Outer Reef yachts, the 580 is built to Ocean Class A standards, meaning it can withstand wave heights of 18-20 feet and sustained winds of 40 knots—a serious boat. Introduced at the 2015 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, the Outer Reef 580 has everything you need for extended cruising or living aboard: three cabins, two heads, a pilothouse with side doors to a Portuguese bridge (with seating forward), full galley, large flying bridge protected by a hardtop, stand-up engine room (which can be accessed from the full-beam midship’s master or from the utility room aft), washer and dryer, and a full keel to protect the running gear.
The interior layout is open and inviting. The salon has an L-shaped settee with a teak table, two large chairs and teak cabinetry, and lockers. Two steps up lead to a large galley with Corian countertops and all of the appliances you would find in a home. In the pilothouse there’s another L-shaped settee on a raised platform with a teak table, and a teak stairway goes up to the flybridge. Power comes from two 500-hp John Deere diesels with ZF transmissions. outerreefyachts.com; (877) 606-0403
Vicem 65
There’s no danger of having a cookie-cutter yacht if you own a Vicem. Although the lines are classic, the all-mahogany, cold-molded, Turkish-built Vicems stand out from the crowd no matter where they are. Their new Custom 65 Flybridge, first introduced at the 2016 Palm Beach Boat Show, is a perfect example.Founded in 1991, Vicem concentrates on customization, craftsmanship, and timeless design with excellent fit and finish. The new 65 has a custom interior, in this case with three staterooms and a bonus child’s room or alternately used as a crew’s quarters (accessible from the VIP cabin).
But the 65 can be a two-cabin yacht if that’s what you want, or a galley up or down. In this case, it’s up, and it benefits from the yacht’s spacious interior volume and high headroom.The 65 is powered by twin Volvo 900-hp diesels with traditional shaft drives. At a trawler speed of 10 knots it has a range of 1,000 nm; at 22 knots, the range is 350 nm. Top speed is 27 knots. But what’s unusual in the Vicem is the ride’s quality—smooth and quiet, both products of the cold-mold process, which uses laminated mahogany and epoxy resin to create the hull, decks and flybridge. The result is a stronger, quieter hull with natural insulation from humidity and noise. vicemyachts.net; (954) 462-8828
Nordhavn 96
Ever since a Nordhavn 40 circled the world in 2002 and the company led the 18-boat Atlantic Rally from Fort Lauderdale to Gibraltar two years later, Nordhavns have been virtually synonymous with long-range cruising. Pick an ocean, a sea or a sound anywhere in the world, and it seems that a Nordhavn either has been there or is heading that way any time now. The new Nordhavn 96, with its 4,000-nm range at 9 knots, is designed to keep that reputation afloat. The new 96 is based on the hull of the successful Nordhavn 86.
In fact, the new owner of the first 96 is moving up from an 86 primarily because he wanted more overall interior space and room for a four-person permanent crew. (The company is quick to note that a couple can also operate the 96.) With a 400,000-pound displacement and 7,000 gallons of fuel, the Nordhavn 96 is a big boat. There’s lots of room inside, with a full-beam owner’s cabin and three guest staterooms, all with ensuite heads. The salon and galley are both a full 34 feet long. Twin MTU 600-hp diesels produce a top speed of 10 knots; tunnels protect the props. The electrical system can operate seamlessly anywhere in the world. Two 50-hp bow and stern thrusters help with docking. nordhavn.com; (949) 496-4848
The new Marlow Explorer 53E debuted at the 2016 Miami Boat Show, but this will be its first appearance at FLIBS. Exceptional use of space and space-age materials produce the largest master stateroom in this size range, with noteworthy amenities in three cabins. The centerline king master with his-and-her heads offers luxury and comfort for owners and guests.
The Marlow 53E (56’7″ LOA, 17’3″ beam) is powered by reliable and economical John Deere engines, and the machinery room offers full standing headroom and 360-degree access. A 2,000-gallon fuel capacity allows for long-distance cruising without refueling at speeds 50 percent greater than similarly sized full displacement trawlers. Three additional Marlow Explorers making their first appearance at FLIBS will also be on display: 58E, 66E and 80E. marlowyachts.com
Grand Banks Yachts is set to debut the GB60, a 65-foot cruiser with 900-hp Volvo Penta D13 engines and Twin Disc BP300 bow and stern thrusters. An exciting addition to the company’s fleet, the GB60’s lines embody the balance and proportion that are integral to a yacht’s design. Its generous beam offers ample room for three staterooms and two full heads. Seating abounds in the salon, aft deck and on the spacious flybridge. The GB60 will be delivered with Twin Disc’s MGX 5096A QuickShift marine transmissions, Express Joystick System (EJS) at three stations, dual EC300 Power Commander Electronic Controls with Express Positioning and the new Digital Thruster Panel. This provides the helmsman with effortless fingertip control. Whether pulling into a slip with a tide running, spinning the boat on its own axis in mid-channel or crabbing sideways away from a fuel dock, the GB60 offers precise maneuverability.
UPDATE: the GB60 has made its debut at the Newport Boat Show!
The smallest of the Marlow Explorers is big on style.
Marlow Yachts offers vessels that are grand in stature and classic in styling, as I’ve noted in past reviews of the Marlow Explorer (ME) 80E (see Southern Boating, February 2014) and ME 72E. Marlow Yachts also introduces the same level of superior craftsmanship and styling in a yacht much smaller—the ME 58E. Built to replace the 57E, the 58E is the smallest in the Explorer line, with a 49E in the works to debut in early 2015.
The beauty factor is carried out in the 58E’s styling. Non-skid, covered, walk-around decks, a fully covered aft deck, bow seating, and a Portuguese Bridge come standard—features typically found on larger yachts. From a side view, the house/flybridge are neatly proportioned for length and height against the lapstrake hull. Angular struts supporting the flybridge coincide with the top deck supports, and the forward windshield is swept back akin to the flybridge windshield. The bottom line? It’s one good-looking yacht.
David Marlow once told me that he builds his yachts like an airplane fuselage—fully supported around the house so there is no need for obtrusive bulkheads or posts within. This technique lends to a more open floor layout and reduces the yacht’s weight by moving the center of gravity lower, which also improves stability. Another benefit is that the interior wood is used in a cosmetic form rather than structural purposes, which creates more dynamic layouts.
The ME 58E can be construed as an extension of home. To begin, the aft deck is large with twin L-shaped settees and tables in the corners. Access to the swim platform is via a center staircase, while access to the flybridge—a preferred area for dining—is from the portside curved staircase (no ladder here). The homey feeling extends into the saloon with a gently curved leather couch to starboard in front of a decorated shelf that keeps both the couch and guest’s head off the sidewall.
Marlow piques interest with décor. Teak wood cut from the same tree ensures consistent grain, color and grade—a satin finish for the walls and cabinetry blends well with the lighter shades of the sofa and ceiling panels. The owners’ choice was to have two armchairs to port, covered in a blue plaid fabric for contrast. An entertainment console is forward with sliding doors to conceal the flat-screen TV and stereo systems, with cabinets for storing components. A wet bar to port includes a fridge, ice maker, recessed sink, and fold-down faucet.
If you’re fortunate enough to see the 58E at one of this fall’s boat shows, take a good look at the woodwork. Marlow does it right with teak grab-rails that meld into the overall décor—display cases, doorframes, teak and holly flooring, custom air conditioning vents and molding, and teak coffee table with fiddled edges all blend seamlessly.
Up a few steps is the raised pilothouse level. The AC/DC distribution/breaker panel is eye-level at the steps in its own cabinet, so there’s no need to get down on hands and knees to throw a switch. The U-shaped galley is aft of the helm station. With its mid-ship location, it’s easy to serve guests in the saloon, forward dinette or even up on the flybridge. Smartly laid out—with expansive granite honeycomb counters, over/under cabinets and drawers, Franke double sink with Grohe faucet, Kenyon electric cooktop, microwave oven, and four fridge/freezer drawers—the galley is open on the forward side but semi-enclosed from the saloon. The gourmet touches make food prep a pleasure.
The forward helm with dinette to port arrangement works well to keep the captain and crew in close proximity. With the upper Command Bridge option, the lower station is optional and the space can accommodate a full dinette under the forward windows. The multi-tiered, centerline helm has room for two or three charts and radar displays in the upper dash, with space for a bevy of components on the mid-level (i.e. CAT engine displays, autopilot, speed/depth log, Maxwell anchor controls, stabilizer controls, etc.).
It’s well known that David Marlow has personally owned more than a few of his own yachts and welcomes input from other owners, which may have contributed to the two pantograph doors on either side of the raised pilothouse for quick entry and exit. Many builders may opt for one, but this gives a Marlow owner/operator ease of access when docking or handling lines without having to walk around the house to get to the other side.
Accommodations are accessed from the staircase next to the helm. The master is mid-ship just aft of the foyer. You’ll find a king berth just off center, with the head/shower stall running along the port side and chest of drawers and locker along the starboard, thanks to the generous 18-foot, 6-inch beam. With the head and locker being side–to rather than aft of the stateroom, it keeps all staterooms well sized, with ample room for the engine room and aft crew quarters. Locating the fuel tank between the stateroom and engines helps buffer noise.
The queen VIP is forward, with ensuite head and shower stall—old-world charm exudes thanks to the teak finish that fully envelops the room. A third stateroom has double bunks but can also double as an office, thanks to the built-in desk unit with cabinets and even a dedicated printer cubby. Crew quarters located aft have twin bunks, fridge, microwave, TV, and a private head.
Not to be outdone by the rest of the 58E’s luxury, the flybridge is not only a space for relaxation but also to take in the sights of new destinations. Twin Stidd helm chairs, full helm electronics and a chart table next to the captain add to the business function. Relax on the aft corner settee with table across from the exterior entertainment center; it could also include a grill, icemaker, and fridge. With the deck extended fully aft, there’s room for a davit and dinghy or a few chaise lounge chairs.
If speed is what you need, opt for the C-18 CAT engines. Chances are, however, as with every Marlow I’ve enjoyed, you’ll want the ride to last as long as possible. Marlowyachts.com
When the Grand Banks Yachts’ design team conceived the new Eastbay 50 SX at the 2012 Miami International Boat Show, choosing Volvo Penta IPS (Integrated Propulsion System) propulsion was a landmark move. IPS was introduced in the mid-2000s and is now common, yet Grand Banks had never utilized the forward-facing propeller IPS design. “It’s our first foray with Volvo Penta and we are impressed,” explained Tucker West, general manager of Grand Banks Northwest in Seattle. Tucker was on hand at the 2013 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show to introduce the brand-new Eastbay 50 SX. “The horsepower is outstanding, and the location and setup of the engines allows us to keep the cockpit lower.”
Volvo Penta isn’t the only company offering pod propulsion, and Grand Banks has offered boats with Cummins diesel power and Zeus pod drives. However, the combination of new twin Volvo Penta D11 700-hp engines and IPS 950 drives are a superb fit for the low-profile Eastbay 50 SX (traditional shaft drives are also available.) The yacht features a swept-back look from bow to stern with large side windows that create a feeling of speed even at rest. “The IPS propulsion offers an improvement in fuel efficiency and excellent maneuverability with the joystick controls,” West said. “At 28 knots you are burning 45 gallons per hour of fuel, and that is excellent for a boat of this size.”
Grand Banks launched the Eastbay Series in 1993, and the new 50 SX stays true to the C.R. Hunt design, while adding big boat features such as side bulwark doors, an integrated foredeck sunpad, retractable cockpit awning/shade, side helm door, and a mammoth retractable sunroof. Opening the sunroof fills the helm station with natural light and connects the captain and passengers to the outdoors. The boat’s stout construction begins with a PVC foam-cored, hand-laid fiberglass hull, with a deep-V entry for excellent sea-keeping in rough water. Humphree trim tabs are standard equipment with the Volvo IPS package—with the push of a button, a stainless steel plate descends or ascends to change the running angle of the boat.
“Most Eastbay owners cruise the Eastern seaboard down to The Bahamas in the spring and cruise New England, Maine or Canada in the summer,” West said. “If you were to order one right now we can deliver the boat in about 12 months. The boat is built at our factory in Singapore, shrink-wrapped and delivered to the U.S., where we install the electronics to the owner’s liking and do the final fit and finish. We are on hull number three. Hull number one was sold to the same customer that bought our first Eastbay 49 in 1996.”
The 50 SX is entirely done in teak, and when boarding the boat the aft cockpit offers a stately setting with a white transom couch and table forward. The table folds in half and allows access to the engine room through a hatch in the deck. Removable buckets act as storage bins when in place—simply remove the bins to access the pod drives for servicing. An optional docking station was added to the boat we reviewed, housed inside a hideaway compartment aft of the deckhouse. The IPS package also offers Volvo Penta’s optional DPS (Dynamic Position System), which holds your boat’s heading and keeps it within a very limited area—even in a current or in windy conditions—while you set fenders and lines.
Off the back of the boat is a teak swim platform that’s both wide and deep enough to accommodate a few deck chairs for lounging, and it also has chocks that pop out and rise up from a flush position for mounting a dinghy. An optional hydraulic swim platform with a 350-kg capacity can help assist the launch and storage of a tender.
Double-sliding six-panel doors lead into the main saloon with 6′ 8″ headroom and elongated side windows to provide expansive views. Comfortable couches are positioned to port and starboard with a popup flat-screen television for an extra touch. The control station with two Stidd helm chairs is to starboard and offers an expansive dash with all the necessary electronics, steering wheel, and throttle and trim tab controls.
The galley and staterooms are accessed down a three-step staircase and again, the teak joinery is resplendent amid the drawers and cabinets of the portside galley. The galley features intelligently designed pullout glassware stowage, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer, and Meile fourburner cooktop. “We offer this boat in numerous different layouts,” West said. “This is the midship master two-cabin layout option, and the master has a queen bed, and an ensuite head with a full vanity and shower that closes off. The VIP or bow stateroom also has an ensuite head and separate shower with a queen bed, a deck hatch and port holes for lots of light.” A second layout option situates the galley starboard of the helm, with three separate staterooms below. The third option is a mid-level galley, and instead of three steps down, it’s up a little higher and allows a view of the water.
Moving forward to the bow of the 50 SX, the wide side decks are easily accessed from the cockpit, and sturdy stainless-steel handrails provide security. The huge windlass and anchor are easily accessed if needed, but it’s more likely you’ll come to the bow to recline on the two-person sunpad. From here you can watch the voyage unfold in comfort on board the Grand Banks Eastbay 50 SX.
