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The perfect 10 knot boat/Lowest Cost per Mile?

Discussion in ' Motorsailers ' started by RHough , Aug 29, 2008 .

RHough Retro Dude

I've read many posts here and not found a thread on the total cost per mile for motorsailers compares to either pure power boats or pure sailing boats. At the large end of the scale there is Mirabella V ... 200ft and 795 tonnes. No doubt a great sailboat 18 knots under sail and 14 knots at S/L = 1. She also has 2 1,000 HP engines. She makes her passages under power ... because sailing her is more expensive! It seems to me that a good design would return the lowest cost per ton/mile. Why add sails to an efficient power boat if the net running costs are not lower? Pure sailing vessels have operating expenses too. If the rig has to drive the boat in all sorts of weather a selection of sails must be on hand. The sails and rigging are an expense. At 10 knots the rigging has a 3000 hour service life, the sails perhaps 1000 hours. It would seem that not having a huge rig for light air power by using the engine for propulsion would save money. Does motorsailing ever result in lower overall costs? Can the sails save enough fuel to justify the added expense? It would seem that a motorsailer and modern power assisted sail handling systems would make an ideal passage maker, are these boats limited to displacement speeds? If the goal was a nearly all weather 10 knot boat, for the lowest cost per mile, would it have sails or not? How big would it be?  

Knut Sand Senior Member

Aaaannd here comes one of my favorites (linked to on many an occasion....): http://www.setsail.com/dashew/do_paradigm.html Edit... But initially I would expect that sails would be cheaper, if you do not expect 100% performance/ stiffness out of them, accept to repair from time to time, replace them when _really_ worn out.... The boat linked to, have moderate engine installations, compared to the size of the boat, which again give less cost per seamile.  

lazeyjack Guest

sailing is not cheap, , yes when you have finished the high cost of the build it become so, gpm, but 200000 k of above deck gear, masts, sails rig, winches on a 55 ft boat buys a lot of fuel here is a site we have just finished new design same principal different use see the economy http://www.boattest.com/oem/general-info.aspx?ID=476&lp_id=295#OverView the red boat is the model, successful, that we based our idea on, the render is by bhnautika, an idea by myself and him hope to go into production soon Mirabella, economical for such a size you take a Riviera, aust design, 55 foot, twox1015 shp cats, 390 litre per hour at rated hp, 5000l tanks, , in my view ought to be banned, using more than their fair share of worlds resource  

Attached Files:

Jenny 061.jpg, biggerboat2t-2.jpg.

northerncat Senior Member

cant go past a 40 ft displaning powercat in my humble op, peter kerr is cruising around the whitsundayas in one of his new cats designed around this concept from all accounts he gets 20 knots flat out 14 on one motor and economical cruising at around 12 -14 knots sean  

Tad Boat Designer

There is a huge thread somewhere here on sail vs power and which costs more per mile. What the argument boils down to is, "what is the design criteria?" Adding a modern high-tech aluminum or carbon spar, and dozens of expensive rigging and deck fittings, the structural reinforcements as required, plus a keel and rudder up to the job, will never pay off. Except when the cost of diesel goes to perhaps $100 a gallon! (wild guess) But you can turn down a telephone pole to make a mast, and sew a lug sail out of plastic tarps, and the payback will start very quickly. The most efficient 10 knot boat might be a pure power trimaran. The main hull will be perhaps 100' long and 10' wide, ocean crossing weight will be 65,000 pounds, in flat water with no wind she would make 10 knots with 58 HP. About 2.7 gph.  

TeddyDiver Gollywobbler

RHough said: ↑ If the goal was a nearly all weather 10 knot boat, for the lowest cost per mile, would it have sails or not? Click to expand...

the1much hippie dreams

sails are only more economicle if the winds blowing. Lazyz,,,i like that first pic.,, reminds me of the mail boats we had in maine.  

Tad said: ↑ There is a huge thread somewhere here on sail vs power and which costs more per mile. What the argument boils down to is, "what is the design criteria?" Click to expand...

FAST FRED Senior Member

That SL of 1.5 on a sail hull will require tons of power , even if the boat is very skinny. Simply make the boat longer , but NOT wider and higher , and plan on a SL of .9 under power for low fuel use. A conventional old fashoned alluminum mast and SS rigging is well proven , and perhaps could be found used . The Parachute kite folks can also make an argument , but I'm not sure how reliable it would be all night with the SS driving. A 100 ft lwl boat does NOT have to cost 11 times a 50 ft boat, tripple maybe , but that's it IF its the same beam and hight. FF  

FAST FRED said: ↑ That SL of 1.5 on a sail hull will require tons of power , even if the boat is very skinny. Simply make the boat longer , but NOT wider and higher , and plan on a SL of .9 under power for low fuel use. A conventional old fashoned alluminum mast and SS rigging is well proven , and perhaps could be found used . The Parachute kite folks can also make an argument , but I'm not sure how reliable it would be all night with the SS driving. A 100 ft lwl boat does NOT have to cost 11 times a 50 ft boat, tripple maybe , but that's it IF its the same beam and hight. FF Click to expand...

RHough said: ↑ What's the hurry? LOL!!!! 10 knots is pretty slow. If a passage is planned, there is a trade off in weight of stores and fuel. If the extra weight of provisions exceeds the weight of the fuel to get there sooner, you might as well drive the boat faster. Speed is also a safety factor. Weather routing is easier at higher speeds for two reasons, shorter passages do not require as long a range forecast and higher speed gives more escape options. 10 knots vs 8 knots is more than a 50% gain in area you can cover in 24 hours. The idea that the costs of the rig and sails are never recovered wold seem to be based on economical cruise speed under power ... Click to expand...

Adding length is the cheapest speed you can buy. The 45' boat will have to weigh 30,000 pounds, be 11' wide, and will require at least 90hp at the prop (in flat water, no wind, or current) to manage 10 knots. That's about 4.4gph, or a minimum of 1320 usg for the 3000 mile voyage. Make the hull 60' long, S/L of 1.34 at 10 knots. Weight can go up to 40,000 and beam drop to 10', with required power at 76hp for 10 knots. That's about 3.7gph, or 1100 usg for the voyage. Say the sail rig knocked 20% off the fuel consumption, about 220 gallons less (per year) for the 60' boat. At $5/gal that's $1100 per year or $11,000 over 10 years. The addition of a sail rig may or may not cost more than $11,000.  

RHough said: ↑ I suspect that no hull designed to run S/L 1.5 as "economy cruise" will sail worth a damn. And no sailing hull will be effecient under power above S/L = 1 Click to expand...

Tad said: ↑ Both statements above make no sense. Your suspicions are incorrect. There are far too many variables involved to make such blanket declarations. Certainly many (most?) sailing hulls can be powered to S/L 1.34 at better than 1mpg (your scale). How does one evaluate "worth a damn" as a measure of performance. TP 52's and VOR 70 hulls are optimized for far higher speeds than S/L 1.5. I would suggest these hulls would make great performance motorsailers, but of course there are some other considerations. Click to expand...

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"The addition of a sail rig may or may not cost more than $11,000." By NOT requiring a fully found sailing vessel, giving up the ability to "beat off " the proverbial lee shore in a gale , sailing gear becomes CHEAP. The mast you require are found holding lamps by the side of the road , or if you need really tall ones at the airport. Since there heavy wall aluminum far less rigging would be required . The old square sail was quite efficient ( Nelsons tacks were 90deg) especially if simply use for reaching and running. To simply cut fuel use and do away with a hugely expensive and complex stability system, a square sail rig would do fine. So long as its considered the secondary propulsion , although it would be a fine get home. Biggest added expense would be for a controllable pitch propeller ,CPP , at the newbuild stage to actually take advantage of the sails.That might be $10.000 but would help 100% of the time under power OR sail. FF  

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Can a Catalina 22 Cruise at 10 Knots Under Power?

• Thread starter Mutinous_Scallywag
• Start date Aug 19, 2019
• Forums for All Owners
• Ask All Sailors

Mutinous_Scallywag

Me and my girlfriend are looking at purchasing a boat next year to explore the rich ocean environment around Vancouver. We've only piloted small speedboats before, but are planning to get sailing lessons before then. As far as the actual boat selection, I'm indifferent to whether it's a powerboat or a sailboat. What we want is a boat we can easily afford, that we can live aboard for a weekend, and one that can get from port to port fast enough that we can actually enjoy the destination. The way I figure it, a sailboat checks those boxes if it can sustain 10 knots under engine power. Can the Catalina 22 do that? If not, are there other comparable boats that will? Thanks!  

With about $100,000 worth of modifications it would, but then it would make more sense to purchase a motor boat that could do 30 for under $15,000.  

I'm going to say … NO. Yes, you may be able to get up to 10kts with a big engine …. 50 hp or more.... but the boat was not designed to run that fast in any kind of seaway... and eventually every thing is going to shake loose, the rigging for instance. Not safe!!!! The larger engine will defeat your thrifty budget goals, and the excess weight will be a negative if you decide to slow down and sail. You didn't mention your budget, but you look like a candidate for the Macgregor 26x/26m with the 50hp option. Lots of those for sale. But for what folks are asking for them you could find an older, inexpensive Bayliner cabin cruiser.... If you would be happy powering along at 5kts...… or sailing that fast in normal conditions..... then lower your expectations and enjoy the Catalina 22 for what it was made for... the perfect "pocket" cruiser.  

Phil is testing

The only sailboat I can think of, under ~65', that will do 10 kts under power is a Macgregor 26X. Not everyone is a fan of those boats, but they do exactly what you're looking for.  

2/3 of the adventure in that geographic local is the "getting to" along with the being at.  

Look up displacement hull speed 6kts is about as fast as you can go in a cat 22  

Meriachee said: 2/3 of the adventure in that geographic local is the "getting to" along with the being at. Click to expand

Started looking into the Macgregor 26, and it does look good for what we want. The X's and M's however seem to be in the same price range as used cabin cruisers (20,000 CAD). We may end up going that high, but 10,000 would be that much better if we can find the right boat.  

justsomeguy

something to be said for NO engine noise! (+1 on hull speed, about 6-7kts in a C22, conventional sailboats displace, powerboats plane)  

With a 50hp, our Telstar trimaran will motor that fast, but it will sail faster than that with a lot less motor. It also generally costs more than the Mac. I think you will find that all boats are a compromise of speed, comforts, and sailing character. It sounds like you are biasing toward a powerboat’s speed in order to give yourself the greatest range in a short time. Those Macs are expensive, but I cannot think of another boat that you can use as a powerboat and then go sailing. On the other hand, I think sailors turn the problem around and plan enough time to reach the destination at sail speeds.  

sailnoproblem

You do realize that if you want to get from one destination to another fast a sailboat is not the answer. However if you are not in a hurry and want to enjoy the scenery and enjoy the time on the water then a sailboat maybe for you. As for your question, I don't know of any sailboat that will do 10+ underpower. I'll leave that to the experts on this forum.  

sailnoproblem said: You do realize that if you want to get from one destination to another fast a sailboat is not the answer. However if you are not in a hurry and want to enjoy the scenery and enjoy the time on the water then a sailboat maybe for you. As for your question, I don't know of any sailboat that will do 10+ underpower. I'll leave that to the experts on this forum. Click to expand

YES ! there a numerous companies that transport sailboat on barge and ship. Most will do greater than 10 kts  

If it's about the destination and not the journey, get a stinkpot.  

All great points above. I would add; Hunter Edge, Macgregor 26X, Macgregor 26M, Farrier or similar Trimaran (under sail with adequate breeze). Have you considered trailering to the destination and launching as part of your decision? That would open up your choices. At a $10k budget, you're probably looking for a 26X, or 26M pretty used up. You might get lucky and find one that someone is getting rid of, but you'll have to act quick. Even though they are a lightly built compromise boat, they have a pretty strong following. I own a Mac 26M because it is an adequate power boat, an adequate sailboat, and is easily trailerable. I want to sail, the kids want to go fast, and the Admiral wants to be able to run from the weather. I paid asking price, and was lucky to be the first of three interested in it. Ad was only a few days old. If I only wanted to get to destinations, I'd have bought a powerboat. Sailing is my destination. I usually motor out to get dagger board depth, raise the sails, find a broad reach, and spend the day letting the wind pick my course. Using the wind for propulsion to destinations, particularly when you're time restricted, may frustrate you and your girlfriend. Hope you find something that suits you!  

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

"Mutinous_Scallywag, post: I'm indifferent to whether it's a powerboat or a sailboat. Observing boat ownership this is a bit unusual - maybe special. The differences between the two boat types are profound. In the PacificNW and the ocean waters you want to explore they can be significant. The amenities on the boat that make up your on water experience. The smells and sounds that you intake. Even the convenience you have just moving about the boat. This takes some personal decision making. Walking on and moving about boats of all varieties. What we want is a boat we can easily afford, Afford ? Does this mean purchase? Or cover the monthly expenses of maintenance, moorage, fuel costs, etc. The fuel costs alone north of the border has Canadians going south to fill their tanks. that we can live aboard for a weekend, Sounds frugal. So is this an alternate to buying a motel room or staying in a bed and breakfast where there are hot showers and comfy down quilts? Are you tent campers enjoy waking with bugs crawling about or would prefer the feeling of an Trailer keeping the wildlife outside. and one that can get from port to port fast enough that we can actually enjoy the destination. Actually enjjoy the destination? Has me a bit stumped. If destination is the goal then the BC ferries and a car are far qucker and overall less costly than boat ownership. They service all the main “ports”. I am happy. Your exploring the idea of a water life. Sounds like much is still a fog and you have a lot to consider before empting your bank account on a flashy “10 knots under power” boat. Perhaps you and a couple of friends could try a charter out of Vancouver. There are both sail and power available. Maybe a club with a school would help you with your experience exploration. Would be a hell oh a lot cheaper. Hope to see you on the water.  

And, there's an upside. In January, as @jssailem will likely concur, there's no need to rush anywhere. Assuming you can find the dock, it's probably free and clear.  

jssailem said: "Mutinous_Scallywag, post: I'm indifferent to whether it's a powerboat or a sailboat. Observing boat ownership this is a bit unusual - maybe special. The differences between the two boat types are profound. In the PacificNW and the ocean waters you want to explore they can be significant. The amenities on the boat that make up your on water experience. The smells and sounds that you intake. Even the convenience you have just moving about the boat. This takes some personal decision making. Walking on and moving about boats of all varieties. What we want is a boat we can easily afford, Afford ? Does this mean purchase? Or cover the monthly expenses of maintenance, moorage, fuel costs, etc. The fuel costs alone north of the border has Canadians going south to fill their tanks. that we can live aboard for a weekend, Sounds frugal. So is this an alternate to buying a motel room or staying in a bed and breakfast where there are hot showers and comfy down quilts? Are you tent campers enjoy waking with bugs crawling about or would prefer the feeling of an Trailer keeping the wildlife outside. and one that can get from port to port fast enough that we can actually enjoy the destination. Actually enjjoy the destination? Has me a bit stumped. If destination is the goal then the BC ferries and a car are far qucker and overall less costly than boat ownership. They service all the main “ports”. I am happy. Your exploring the idea of a water life. Sounds like much is still a fog and you have a lot to consider before empting your bank account on a flashy “10 knots under power” boat. Perhaps you and a couple of friends could try a charter out of Vancouver. There are both sail and power available. Maybe a club with a school would help you with your experience exploration. Would be a hell oh a lot cheaper. Hope to see you on the water. Click to expand

You are talking 6 hours across the strait and even more important, you are subject to weather, and that’s just crossing. It doesn’t get you anywhere unless you’re planning on hanging around Nanaimo. Far better plan to consider 4-5 days.  

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The Power Catamaran Compilation

• By Yachting Staff
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Power Catamarans have been growing leaps and bounds in popularity, and, in lengths and widths. And for good reason. These cruise-centric yachts offer homelike livability for avid travelers, are fuel efficient and are fairly intuitive to run. Power cats are popular in the bareboat charter market too, for these very reasons.

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To understand the Horizon PC60 power catamaran , you need to put aside preconceived notions about midsize yacht amenities. For example, main-deck master suites are the province of yachts over 100 feet length overall. Incorrect. This 60-footer has an elegant and spacious owner’s stateroom on the same level as the salon. If you want a 14-foot center console tender on a 60-foot yacht, you have to tow it. Wrong again. On the PC60, you hoist it onto the upper deck, no problem.

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Fountaine Pajot MY 37

The Fountaine Pajot MY 37 easily accommodates the seafaring family with three- and four-stateroom options. In the three-cabin version, called ­Maestro, you’ll find an owner’s suite in the portside hull with a queen-size berth and en suite head. Two double-berth cabins and one more head are available for the kids. If your brood is bigger, the Quator setup features four double cabins with two heads.

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Solarwave 64

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What Size Boat can I Drive Without a Licence?

Wondering what size boat you can drive without a licence? Whether on a kayak, tender, small fishing boat or offshore cruiser, boating is a great way to spend time with family and friends, enjoying calm seas, great views and even adventurous sports on lakes, rivers and the ocean.

When it comes to driving boats and requirements for a boat licence, the rules vary significantly from State to State along the East Coast of Australia. If you’re thinking about spending time on the water without a licence then it’s best to plan ahead – so you know your limits and legal requirements so you can make a call on whether you need to invest in a boat licence.

New South Wales (NSW) and Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Wondering when you need a boat licence in NSW? When it comes to boating license requirements , as Transport NSW explains, the license laws in this state actually have nothing to do with the size of the vessel. Instead, it is the  speed that determines the license requirement  - if you plan to drive a boat at more than 10 knots, or more than 18 kilometres per hour, you will need a general boating license.

If you drive a personal watercraft (PWC) in NSW or ACT, you need a separate credential, called the PWC driving license. A PWC (such as a jet ski or jet powered surfboard) has a fully enclosed hull that may be driven sitting, standing or kneeling.

Queensland (QLD) In QLD, it's not the size of the boat that comes into play, but rather the engine power. Queensland Government specifies that any Queensland regulated ship with  engine power of more than 4.5 kilowatts  must be operated by someone with a licence. Moreover, the operator must maintain both a recreational marine and a personal watercraft licence.

Victoria (VIC) As the State Government of Victoria explained,  everyone operating a powered recreational boat  in the state of Victoria, no matter the size of the boat, must hold a license. Whether you're driving a large yacht or a canoe powered by a small engine, you must hold the proper credentials and carry them with you while in operation, thanks to the passage of the state's Marine Safety Act. Note that licenses must be renewed every five years.

Tasmania (TAS) In TAS, Marine & Safety Tasmania said, all individuals who wish to drive boats that boast at least 4 horsepower or more  must hold a motor boat license. This does not apply to hire and drive vessels, only to those who do so recreationally. They would have to complete a practical safety course at a cost through an accredited provider, and renew after a three-year period.

Boat Licence Variations As you can see, there are numerous requirements dependent largely upon where your boat is registered. It's best to check with your State government, as there is no overarching law that applies to boat owners across Australia. While some states’ regulations are based on boat size, more have to do with engine power or the type of vessel (commercial, as opposed to recreational). 

As long as you ensure that you're following the rules of the seas and taking all the proper precautions to make sure that everyone aboard is safe and happy, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to have a fun and memorable experience on the open water.

If you’re not sure what type of vessel you can drive, or are thinking about buying a boat, we’re here to help! With 75 years of experience, Hunts Marine is a third generation, family-owned business with extensive experience in recreational boating. Find out more at HuntsMarine.com.au , give us a call on (02) 9546-1324 or get in touch with our team at Hunts Marine in Sydney, Wollongong or Batemans Bay.

Established in 1946, Hunts Marine is a third-generation family-owned marine retailer with over 75 years experience in recreational boating. We have three great showrooms in Sydney, Wollongong and Batemans Bay which all stock a wide range of fully rigged, clearly priced boat packages.

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TOP 2019: here are 7 unmissable boats from 9 to 10 meters

• September 12, 2019
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The PowerBoat Guide Blog

Tracking Today’s Fast-Paced Yacht Boating Market

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At a Glance:    A huge sales success, the Mainship 350 Trawler (called the 390 Trawler in 1999–2005) is an economical, low-maintenance coastal cruiser with classic trawler lines and a good turn of speed. Stepping inside from the covered aft deck, large wraparound windows provide lots of natural lighting in the salon and excellent visibility from the lower helm. An L-shaped galley with refrigerator/freezer and Corian counter is forward to port. The teak and holly salon sole is an attractive feature, and a sliding door at the helm provides easy deck access. The master stateroom has an island queen berth and the guest stateroom (partially tucked beneath the galley) has twin single berths. Molded steps ascend from the aft deck to the flybridge. A single 370hp Yanmar diesel will cruise at 10–12 knots. Twin 230hp Yanmar diesels cruise at 14 knots.

Price Range: From $75K up to $150–175K.

Mainship 350/390

February, 2018

The market for used, late model trawlers has enjoyed renewed popularity in recent years as increasing numbers of baby boomers look to these boats for their retirement years. Economical to operate and easily handled, coastal trawlers under forty feet tend to be affordable and roomy enough for extended cruising by couples. Profiled below are ten of the most popular models in this category. Ranging in price from under $100,000 to well over $300,000, these best selling trawlers have earned a solid reputation for owner satisfaction and long term investment quality.

10 Top-Selling Used Trawlers Under 40 Feet

At a Glance:   A ’ ballasted, full displacement trawler perfect for blue water or coastal cruising. Based on the iconic Krogen 42 Trawler, the single-stateroom interior is designed for the cruising couple. Entering the salon through a watertight door from the aft deck, a dinette is to port and an L-shaped leather settee with fold-out table is to starboard. The compact galley is located forward in the salon on the starboard side. Four steps up from the salon/galley, the Krogen 39’s raised pilothouse offers commanding views of the water. The settee behind the helm pulls out to form a watch berth. The stateroom and head are reached from the pilothouse—the head is on the starboard side, and the stateroom with island queen berth is forward. The standup engine room is accessed through a door at the foot of the pilothouse steps.

Price Range: From the low $300s.

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Kadey-Krogen 39

At a Glance:    An iconic boat—over 1,200 were built during her production years. (The original GB 36 was built of Philippine mahogany until mid-1973 when the transition to fiberglass was made.) A semi-displacement hull with a long keel, hard chines and a deep forefoot provide the stability that won the 36 a reputation for seaworthiness seldom matched by other boats in her class. Several twin-stateroom interiors were offered over the years, all finished with handcrafted teak woodwork and all incorporating the very best in workmanship, hardware and materials. Notable features include teak decks and functional mast and boom. Note the cockpit door in the aft stateroom. In 1987, the 36 Classic was slightly enlarged when six inches were added to the length and four inches to the beam. Most were powered by a single 120hp (or 135hp) Lehman diesel.

Price Range: From $30K (early model) to over $200K.

Grand Banks 36 Classic

At a Glance:    With over 200 produced, the Nordic 37 Tug (called the 39 Tug in 2013–15) ranks high on anyone’s list of popular midsize cruisers. For many, this is the perfect boat for the retired couple—easy to handle, fuel efficient and roomy enough for extended cruising. The raised pilothouse floorplan of the 37 Tug was originally arranged with two staterooms forward including an island berth in the master stateroom and over/under berths in the guest cabin. In 2003, an alternate single-stateroom layout greatly enlarged the master stateroom while also adding more floor space in the shower. In both configurations, the Nordic’s full-beam salon is open to the pilothouse and cockpit. The Nordic rides on a semi-displacement hull with moderate beam and a full, prop-protecting keel. A single 330hp Cummins diesel will cruise at 12–14 knots.

Price Range: From the mid 100s to $400K-plus.

Nordic 37/39 Tug

At a Glance:    Built in Nova Scotia after 1992, the Monk 36 gained popularity in the 1980s as a durable and affordable Taiwan import. Construction is solid fiberglass, and the hull features a skeg-protected prop as well as an upswept, well flared bow that contributes to her dry ride. Early models came with plenty of exterior teak—decks, window frames, hatches, etc.—but in later models built in Nova Scotia only the handrails are teak. The galley-up floorplan of the Monk 36 remained essentially unchanged over the years although post 1992 models eliminated the tub in the aft head and moved the bed away from the wall in the owner’s stateroom—a big improvement. A single 120hp or 135hp Lehman diesel was standard in early models (about 7 knots at cruise). Later models with a single 220hp Cummins cruise at 9–10 knots.

Price Range: From  about $100K to just over $200K.

At a Glance:    An updated version of the Nova 36 Sundeck, one of the better-selling Taiwan imports of her era. Built on a solid fiberglass semi-displacement hull with moderate beam, hard chines, and a full-length, prop-protecting keel. The galley-down, total-teak interior features a roomy salon with large windows, and two comfortable staterooms, each with a double berth. Storage is plentiful for a boat this size, and a deck access door is provided next to the lower helm. The full-beam aft deck is large enough for entertaining several guests. Additional features include a teak-and-holly cabin sole, hinged radar arch, wide side decks, spacious engine room, and a molded transom stairway. A fiberglass hardtop is standard. A fuel-efficient ride, a single 220hp Cummins will cruise at 8–10 knots. Over 250 were reportedly built.

Price Range: From $75–85K to the high 100s.

Heritage East 36

At a Glance:    A sturdy, well-constructed family cruiser with a roomy interior and a salty, workboat profile. Built on a beamy semi-displacement hull with a full-length keel, the spacious teak interior of the 34 is ideal for the cruising couple. Both the stateroom and head are particularly large for a boat this size, and visibility from the raised pilothouse, with weathertight deck doors, is excellent. In the salon, a linear galley to starboard provides an abundance of counter and storage space—features quickly appreciated when it comes to daily food-prep activities. The side decks are wide with raised bulwarks all around for added security. A transom storage locker and bow thruster are standard. The cabintop can stow a dinghy. A single 330hp Cummins diesel will cruise at 13–14 knots. At 7–8 knots the cruising range can exceed 1,000 nautical miles.

Price Range: From about $200K to the mid 300s.

American Tug 34

At a Glance:    Designed for coastal cruising, the Mainship 34 Trawler combines a salty profile with sturdy construction and a practical single-stateroom interior. Built on a semi-displacement hull with a full keel, the galley-down layout of the Mainship 34 results in a notably spacious salon. A serving counter (with two stools) overlooks the galley, and a convertible sleeper-sofa is available to accommodate overnight guests. Forward, the stateroom has a centerline double berth and the double-entry head compartment includes a separate stall shower. Note that a lower helm was optional. On deck, a flybridge overhang shelters the Mainship's wide walkways. The engine room access hatch beneath the flybridge stairway is a tight fit. A single 240hp Yanmar diesel will cruise at 8 knots (12–13 knots top). Twin 315hp Yanmar diesels reach 16–18 knots top.

Price Range: From the low 100s to $200K-plus.

Mainship 34 Trawler

1986–Current

At a Glance:    The Nordic Tug 32 (called the Nordic Tug 34 since 2013) is a full-keeled, semi-displacement cruiser whose classic tugboat profile and quality construction have endeared her to yachting enthusiasts for many years. Two interior configurations were available: one with an angled double berth in the stateroom and the galley forward in the salon, and the other with V-berths forward and an L-shaped galley aft in the salon. The 32 received an extensive makeover in 2002—the result was the Nordic Tug 32+ with an island berth in the forward stateroom, a new galley layout with under-counter refrigeration, and a swim platform that extends the hull and waterline length. In 2008, the hull was revised to include a prop pocket. The Nordic Tug will cruise at 12 knots with single 220hp Cummins diesel or 14 knots with a 270hp Cummins engine. Over 300 have been built.

Price Range: From  under $100K to $300K-plus.

Nordic 32/34 Tug

At a Glance:    A popular trawler-style cruiser (over 350 were built) with distinctive styling and an innovative asymmetrical deck layout, the Swift Trawler 34 is a single-diesel sedan designed for economical coastal cruising. She rides on a lightweight hull with hard aft chines and a long shallow keel. The 34’s roomy interior has the galley all the way forward on the port side, directly across from the helm station (the refrigerator is under the double helm seat). The salon settee folds out to form a double berth, and large cabin windows provide panoramic views of the water. The master stateroom with island berth is forward and a guest cabin with upper/lower berths is to port. With her asymmetrical side decks—the starboard side deck is wider than the portside deck—getting around the 34 is easy. A single 425hp Cummins diesel will cruise at 10–12 knots).

Price Range: From the high 200s to the mid 300s.

Beneteau Swift Trawler 34

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Get boat or personal watercraft (PWC) licence

Follow these steps to apply for a general boat or PWC licence for the first time in NSW.

There are two classes of boat licence:

• General boat licence (GBL) and
• Personal Watercraft (PWC) licence.

To get a PWC driving licence you need to get a general boat licence first.

You can apply for a general boat licence from age 12 . There are licence restrictions for people under age 16 .

Steps to get your licence

Here are the steps to get your general boat or PWC licence.

Check when you need a licence

You need a licence to drive a vessel for recreational purposes on NSW waters if:

• you plan to drive the vessel at 10 knots (18.5 km/h) or more, or
• the vessel is a personal watercraft (PWC).

You don't need a licence for:

• driving a powerboat under 10 knots, or sailing boat using its engine under 10 knots
• sailing a sailing boat without an engine
• using paddlecraft such as canoe, kayak or surf ski, or rowing vessels such as a row boat
• using a sailboard or kiteboard.

What about commercial use

To operate a vessel for commercial purposes , you need a Certificate of competency . If you have this and you’re a master, mate or coxswain you can drive vessels recreationally without a boat or PWC licence.

Get evidence of practical experience

To apply for a general boat licence you need to provide evidence of practical boating experience .

You can do this by either:

• completing a Boating Licence Practical Logbook (PDF 1019.39KB) with an experienced skipper present, or
• completing an approved practical boat course with an Authorised Training Provider . They can also take you through other steps towards getting your licence.

See practical boating experience to find out how.

To upgrade to a PWC licence

To upgrade to a PWC licence you don’t need evidence of practical experience. But you do need to sit the PWC licence knowledge test (see next step).

Book and pass the knowledge test

To get a general boat licence you need to pass the boating knowledge test .

To upgrade to a PWC licence , you need to pass the PWC knowledge test .

You can get tested at a service centre , or through an Authorised Training Provider .

See boating knowledge test for practice tests and to find out more.

Submit your application

Before you submit your application, make sure you have ready:

• proof of identity ( see note below * if you’re under 16)
• eyesight test or report results (you may be tested at a service centre when you apply)
• information on any medical condition or physical disability that could affect your driving (see Your health )
• evidence of practical boating experience
• evidence of qualifications (if you did training and testing at an Authorised Training Provider )
• payment for the test fee (if you haven’t already sat your test)
• payment of the licence fee
• two passport-acceptable photos if you're applying for a PWC licence
• Application for a PWC licence form (PDF 105.29KB) if you're applying for a PWC licence
• Application for General Boat Driving Licence (available from a service centre or training provider).

*If you're under 16 you must have a parent or legal guardian present when you're applying. They'll also need to show their proof of identity .

To submit your documentation you can visit or book an appointment at a service centre , or post it to:

Service NSW Agency Business Centre PO Box 21​ Parkes NSW 2870

Know the rules of using your licence

Once we grant your licence, you can access it immediately via your Service NSW account and app . You can also use a temporary paper licence until your new card arrives in the post.

Make sure you carry your licence when you’re:

• driving the vessel at 10 knots (approximately 18.5 km/h) or more, or
• driving a personal watercraft (PWC).

See Offences for information on penalties for driving a vessel without a licence. As a vessel owner, you need to be able to identify who is driving your vessel at all times.

As a licence holder you need to:

• present your licence on request to an authorised officer, such as a Transport for NSW Boating Safety Officer or NSW Police Officer
• notify Transport for NSW of any changes to personal details or address
• stay up to date with the latest boating rules and advice.

If you only carry a digital licence make sure your device remains charged and accessible.

For more about rules you must follow when out on the water:

• download the Boating Handbook
• or see this website Safety and rules and Using waterways .

If you’re under age 16

If you’re age 12, 13, 14 or 15, there are some restrictions on your boat driving licence or PWC driving licence.

Licence holders under age 16 years must not drive a PWC or vessel:

• at a speed greater than 20 knots (approximately 37km/hour), or
• in any race, display, regatta, exhibition or similar operation, or
• between sunset and sunrise, or
• while the vessel is towing anyone.

If driving a vessel other than a PWC at a speed of 10 knots or more:

• you must have someone with a General Boat Driving or PWC licence who is 16 years of age or older present in the vessel
• you must not drive at these speeds between sunset and sunrise
• you must not tow anyone.

If driving a PWC at a speed of 10 knots or more:

• you must have someone with a PWC licence who is 16 years of age or older present on the PWC
• you must not drive at these speeds while towing anyone.

Exceptions may apply if you have an aquatic event licence or you are participating in an approved PWC Hire and Drive tour operation .

Related information

• Combined driver and boat licence

Trends 2020: Ten Top Power Cats

All of a sudden, it seems, power catamarans are taking center stage in the U.S. cruising community. You now see them almost everywhere, and more and more people are talking about them at boat shows, on blogs, and on the docks. It’s easy to see why.

Most obvious, is that power cats offer space – a lot of it. The salons resemble living rooms at home, with all the comforts of home. The decks are filled with lounging, dining, entertaining and private areas everywhere – on the foredeck, the aft deck, up on the flybridge, often even down in the beach club. With beams often equal to half the boat’s length, the cats have room for everything.

Then there’s the efficiency of the platform. The twin hulls, broadly spaced, are designed to run on top of the water, rather than through it, like displacement hulls. (I’ve driven a Maine 47 Power Cat in four- to five-foot seas in the Bahamas where the ride would not have been nearly as comfortable in a monohull.) And power cats are often more fuel efficient than same-size monohulls.

One thing I think people tend to overlook is that power cats offer more privacy (while also providing more social spaces). This is particularly true in the sleeping areas, where the owner and guest cabins can be separated into the two hulls. But even in the salon, or on the outer decks, the sheer amount of extra room means that most people can find their own private space if they want it.

The growing popularity of power cats follows that of sailing cats around the world. At first, power cats were popular in Europe (largely because of the French builders) and the Far East. But then they were introduced into large charter fleets, particularly The Moorings (Leopard) and MarineMax Vacations (Aquila). People tried them there, liked them, and brought their enthusiasm back home with them.

Here’s our look at ten top power cats that we’ve covered recently. (You also can keep up to date on power cats in our sister publication, Multihulls Today http://multihullstoday.com )

Aquila just announced that it’s building a new 54-foot cruiser for its large, worldwide catamaran fleet, and it is designed for maximum comfort inside and out. The full-beam master stateroom is forward, for example, with panoramic views from hull side windows; it takes advantage of the cat’s more than 25-foot beam to make it a special place underway or at an anchorage.

The 54 will debut later this year, and we’ll have more details later on as well. But what we know now is that the boat will have three-, four- or even five-cabin configurations, plus a possible skipper’s quarters and an optional galley-down layout. The galley-down takes the place of the fifth cabin, but it provides more room in the already massive salon, adding a formal dining area plus an extra seating lounge.

The salon has large tempered glass side windows for maximum natural light, and a deep, comfortable lounge. The aft cockpit has a separate dining area next to an indoor/outdoor bar. The large swim platform is made for easy access to water sports. It also supports a tender on solid mounting blocks. The flybridge can be open or complete enclosed and climate controlled.

To make life easy on board, the Aquila 54 has lots of counter space, a full-size refrigerator, a water-maker and a washer and dryer. Aquilas are built by Sino Eagle in China, and are sold to private buyers and also put into the MarineMax Vacations charter fleet. The Aquila fleet itself now has 32-, 36- and 44-foot models; a new 70 is scheduled for later this year.

Dave Bigge, the VP of Aquila International, says the list of standard features on the 54 “will impress anyone familiar with vessels of this size. Performance, another hallmark of the Aquila brand, will allow for high-speed travel and slower, more efficient, extended cruising ranges.”

Specs.: LOA: 54’2”; Beam: 25’2”; Draft: 4’6”; Disp.: 52,367 lbs.; Fuel: 581 gals.; Water: 238 gals.; Power: NA.   https://www.aquilaboats.com/models/power-catamaran/54

Just launched, the Aspen Power Catamarans 35-foot C108, powered by asymmetrical Yamaha outboards, hit a top speed of 25 knots and a fuel-efficient cruising speed of 19 knots, producing 2 mpg.

Larry Graf, Aspen’s founder and “chief adventurer,” designed the new Aspen so it could be trailered to new cruising grounds. It has a beam of 10 ’8” and a combined boat and trailer weight of 12,500 pounds, so it could be towed by a ¾ ton pickup.

Like all Aspens, the new C108 has the company’s patented non-symmetrical hulls and power to help with exceptional tracking, fuel efficiency and performance in heavy seas. The boat has a 200-hp Yamaha in the larger starboard hull, and a 115-hp Yamaha in the smaller port hull.

The new salon is larger than in previous Aspens, and has a five-person dinette, a 12-foot long galley, and wrap-around windows. Below, the new cat has room for a master with a king-sized bed, two smaller guest cabins, and a large head with shower.  http://aspenpowercatamarans.com

CAPE POWERCATS 35

Taking advantage of two trends, the increasing popularity of power catamarans and the explosive growth of outboard power, Cape Powercats is introducing its new 3500, and it comes in either a center console or a pilothouse version. And you can customize either one to fit your cruising lifestyle.

The good news is that the new Cape Powercats use the same hull as the one on the Buzzards Bay 34 power cat that received rave reviews when it was launched in 2010. When I was talking to JP Skov, a partner in Northstar Yacht Sales in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, who’s handling Cape Powercats, I realized that I actually had tested the Buzzards Bay back then, on a lousy afternoon, heading out from Falmouth on Cape Cod to cruise over to Martha’s Vineyard on three-to-four-foot lumpy seas.

I remembered at the time that the cat performed admirably, giving a relatively smooth ride without the pounding that I had expected. It turned easily and remained almost flat, and when we could find a stretch of decent water it produced an upper-30-knot top speed.

Chris White, of Chris White Designs in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, drew that boat for Russell Hunt’s Multihull Development Inc. White had been designing multihulls for about three decades, and he got this one right.

The Buzzards Bay, and now the Cape Powercat, also are designed for the way many people use their boats today. The cats provide comfortable, fast, enjoyable coastal cruising with a lot of space for their length. The 12’ 7” beam means there’s room for everyone, or everything, you want to take along for a day, weekend or even a week on the water; a cat simply offers much more volume for its size than a comparable monohull.

But the real appeal is in the ride. The Cape Powercat has slender displacement hulls with a fine entry and full after sections. The boats accelerate quickly, track easily and they don’t pound. The deck between the hulls on the Buzzards Bay didn’t slam or make any noise while cutting through the waves and spray; the boat has a tall tunnel and ramped underbody.

“The ride of a Chris White-designed power catamaran is one of the best and most sea-kindly I have ever experienced,” says Skov. The lines of the boat are clean, functional and appealing. Skov says that a carbon beam aft gives the strength to deliver a wide-open platform with the cockpit and the helm deck all on the same level. “This feature has allowed us to deliver a boat to a client that is wheelchair-bound,” he said. ‘It also allows us to offer customizable layouts depending on the client’s boating style.”

Specs.: LOA: 37’7”; Beam: 12’7”; Draft: 1’6”; Disp.: 10,000 lbs.; Fuel: 300 gals.; Water: 60 gals.; Power: 2×300-hp outboards. http://capepowercats.com

FOUNTAINE PAJOT 67

Fountaine Pajot just launched its Power 67 flagship, and the big French cat is now on its way to Greece; it’s off Gibraltar in the picture at top. The Power 67 is a long-range, blue-water cruiser with massive social and entertaining areas, and its lines show off Fountaine Pajot’s usual elegant and innovative design.

The flybridge is covered by a hardtop with a sunroof, and it extends aft to protect the cockpit and port and starboard to cover the side decks. The teak swim platform lowers for access to the water, while the cockpit has several sunbathing areas, a grill and a dining table. Glass doors open fully to the salon; it’s built for entertaining, and it’s filled with natural light from windows all around.

The cat’s 32-feet-plus beam provides enough space for comfortable living and entertaining  at sea or at the dock. There’s definitely room for a crowd. The Power 67 come in two versions: The Classic version, with the galley up on the port side of the salon with a large L-shaped lounge to starboard. In the Lounge version, the galley is down, but there’s a bar in the salon and another large L-shaped sofa on the port side.

With the galley down, the boat has the owner’s suite plus three double cabins in the twin hulls below; all the cabins have their own heads with showers. With the galley up, the accommodations include the owner’s suite plus four double cabins.

Fountaine Pajot calls the owner’s suite a private apartment, with good reason. The apartment has a sofa, a dressing room, a walk-in shower and twin vanities. It also has a private door leading to the massive foredeck, with several lounging areas and an optional Jacuzzi..

Standard power comes from twin 300-hp diesels; twin 435-hp diesels are optional. Range with the larger engines is 1,700 nm.

Specs.: LOA: 64’6”; Beam: 32’2”; Draft: 3’8”; Disp.: 31.5 tons; Fuel: 1,057 gals.; Water: 277 gals.; Power: 2×300-hp; option: 2×435-hp.  http://fountainepajot.com

I thought I’d take a quick tour of the new Horizon 65 Power Catamaran during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, where it was just launched. Then I realized there’s no such thing as a quick tour of this boat. It’s huge. It’s luxurious. It has beautiful woodwork – as in the curved railing on the stairs from the salon to the skylounge; it’s like a work of art. You don’t just glance at it and look away. You want to get up close and personal.

I forgot about the quick tour and settled in to enjoy this new cat, hull number one of Horizon’s 65 PC series, a boat that combines the best aspects of a high-end motoryacht with the stability, efficiency, performance – and space – of a large cruising catamaran. Horizon builds its boats per the owners’ specifications. The 65 comes with either four en suite staterooms (two with king berth, two with queens), or three en suite staterooms with crew’s quarters. The twin hulls provide enough space so that these are all large, comfortable and filled with light from hullside windows.

And this cat performs. Powered by standard twin 850-hp CAT diesels, it tops out at 26-plus knots, and has a cruising speed of 22 knots. Range at cruising speed is 500 nm.

Stuart Hegerstrom, the co-founder of The PowerCat Company, which distributes Horizon power cats, said the hull design is the result of long-term research and tank testing. “We are in the enviable position of being at the leading edge of the power catamaran revolution,” he said. The symmetrical, semi-displacement hull was designed by Lavranos Marine Design of New Zealand, and it has a sophisticated planing wedge that provides a stable, soft and level ride, even in rough conditions.

The first thing you notice when you climb on the new Horizon is the cockpit: It’s huge (the boat has a 24’ 6” beam) and it’s luxurious enough to be at home on a megayacht. There’s a curved settee across the transom, a high-gloss centered dining table, a wet bar and fridge, and enough space to hold a crowd. Indeed, at a media event there I counted 21 people in the cockpit, and there was room to spare.

Horizon customizes the interiors to fit the owner’s wishes. The wife of this boat’s owner (it’s his third Horizon) is a chef, so the galley, with counterspace that stretched on forever, is dominant in the salon. Up top, the skylounge (the boat also comes in a plain flybridge configuration) also is huge. Twin Stidd helm chairs are forward, then there’s another wet bar with stools to port, plus a day head aft; a large L-shaped settee is aft to starboard. The boat deck all the way aft is large enough for a  good-sized dinghy and any assortment of water toys.

The 65 is built for owner/operators, liveaboards or the charter trade. Richard Ford, the other co-founder of the Powercat Company, said “the PC 65 allows you to own a boat with larger engines, more fuel for longer-range cruising, and ticks the box of a well-appointed fourth cabin. For owners who choose to put their PC 65 into our charter program, it also offers comfortable crew accommodations.”

Horizon offers a management program for owners who want to put their boat in charter when they’re not using it. Part of the charter program is a try-before-you-buy offer, Ford said, where a potential customer can charter the boat for about 1 percent of its price before he makes a final decision. The base price of the new 65, Ford said, is about $3.9 million. The charter price for a week is $35,000. “We’ve sold so many yachts to people who charter before they buy,” he said. The Horizon power cat fleet ranges from 52 to 74 feet.

Specs: LOA: 65’1”; Beam: 24’6”; Draft: 5’3”; Disp.: 111,250 lbs.; Fuel: 1,500 gals.; Water: 300 gals.; Power: 2×850-hp CAT C12-9. http://horizoncatamarans.com

LAGOON SEVENTY 8

The flagship of the Lagoon motor yacht fleet, the new, luxurious, long-range Lagoon Seventy 8 will be introduced at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September and then shown in the U.S. later in the year. The company says the idea behind the massive 78-foot-long cruiser with a 36-foot beam is to compete in the top end of the world-wide motor yacht market.

The Seventy 8 will emphasize comfort, luxury and seaworthiness. The cat’s twin hulls provide stability and space, while the three-foot draft gives the boat access to shallow bays and coves around the world. We don’t have details yet, but the interior spaces will be large for living aboard and entertaining, while the lines and proportions have been drawn to give the boat a timeless elegance. The exterior was designed by Patrick Le Quement; the interiors by Nauta Design.

Part of the Beneteau Group, Lagoon has made more than 3,000 large sailing catamarans over the years, while recently entering the powerboat marketplace. Made in Bordeaux, France, the Lagoon Seventy 8 is a motor yacht version of Lagoon’s Seventy 7 sailboat.    http://themultihullgroup.com/lagoon-78-my

LAZZARA 70, 85

For all the obvious reasons, Lazzara has just changed the name of its new line of luxury catamarans from Corona to Lazzara Catamarans. It’s building the first two models, a 70 and an 85, in Turkey. And they’re both meant to be head-turning statements of space, light and design.

The 85 (pictured above) is simply a larger version of the 70, but its size emphasizes the enormous parts of the yacht that open for light and air and entertaining on both the lower accommodations deck and the upper salon deck, plus the open flybridge protected under a canopy hardtop.

The lower deck takes advantage of the cat’s 35-foot beam to create a master suite that stretches from one side to the other, and then features balconies that fold out for sunbathing or enjoying a private breakfast or evening cocktail on the water. Open them both and you can enjoy a sea breeze and probably one of the largest private suites on anything smaller than a superyacht. There are four other cabins on the same deck, each designed to be an elegant use of space and light; they don’t have the fold-out balconies, but they do have long strips of glazing to connect them to the views outside.

On the main deck, the salon has three walls of sliding glass that open to port, starboard and aft. There’s an indoor dining area and game table to port, an L-shaped bar and lounge area, and a central U-shaped sofa and counter seating forward.

The flybridge has another dining area, this one al fresco, plus a bar, sun lounges and a Jacuzzi tub. The foredeck is a massive, full-beam social area, with seating and sun lounges.

The Lazzara’s beach club is striking, even given the dramatic lines of the cat from any angle. Sweeping stairways are on both sides of the teak aft deck, embracing what usually would be called a swim platform, for easy access to swimming, watersports and entertaining. The beach club has shaded seating and large-screen TVs, and it’s big enough to hold a 26-foot tender.

Standard power on the Lazzara 85 comes from twin 550-hp Volvos; 1,000-hp Volvos are optional. Top speed with the standard engines is 21 knots; cruising speed is 15 knots.

Specs.: LOA: 85’0”; Beam: 35’0”; Draft: 4’6”; Disp.: 155,000 lbs.; Fuel: 2,500 gals.; Water: 750 gals.; Power: 2×550-hp Volvos. http://lazzaracatamarans.com

Walking through the salon of the Leopard 53, which just made its debut at the Miami show, I was not surprised by the amount of space inside the new power cat. I had expected that; after all, the boat has a beam of more than 25 feet. But I was surprised by the amount of light that beamed in.

There are panoramic windows all around, and the interior décor is all light in color and modern in design, so that it’s both inviting and soothing at the same time. It would be easy to feel at home on this new Leopard; it’s simply begging to head off on a long cruise.

The Leopard 53 PC replaces the Leopard 51, one of the most popular cruising cats ever made, with 135 sold. And the 53 is not only larger; it’s also more comfortable, more efficient, and more stable.

You can walk on via a large teak swim platform and then go up teak stairs on either side of the transom to the large aft deck, which is meant for relaxing and entertaining. An L-shaped settee and table are on the port side; a sun pad, big enough for two, is to starboard.

Large sliding glass doors open wide to the salon; the aft deck and the salon are on the same level, so the outside and inside spaces flow together. The galley is aft, and it’s split. A home-sized fridge and freezer and a sink are on the port side; the stove and microwave and a generous countertop are to starboard.

Moving forward, lounges are on each side, and the helm seat on the starboard side is wide enough to fit two people. A centered glass door opens to the foredeck; it has large sun lounges on each side.

Up top, the flybridge is protected by a hardtop. The upper helm is to starboard, and it can seat two people. A seat for three people is to port. A bit aft, also on the port side, is a large U-shaped settee and table. A large sun pad is farther aft.

The accommodations deck below comes in two versions. The Leopard 53, for sale to private owners, has three cabins. The Leopard 534, which is placed in charter by The Moorings, has four. In either one, the twin hulls of a cat provide a degree of privacy for the cabins that is not usually found in a monohull.

I walked through the three-cabin boat at the show. It has two cabins, both en suite heads, in the port hull. The owner’s cabin stretches along the starboard side, with the berth and living area aft, the head, with twin sinks, forward, and the separate shower in the bow.

The engine room and machinery spaces on the 53 are aft. Power comes from twin 370-hp Yanmars. They produce a top speed of 25 knots. Running at a cruising speed of 17 knots, the range is 463 nm. But what’s remarkable about this boat is that if you run on one engine, at 6.8 knots, the range climbs to a full 1,995 nm.

All told, the Leopard 53 is an impressive new boat. And that’s not just my opinion. I was on the boat the morning of the second day of the show, and Leopard had already sold three of them.

Specs.: LOA: 53’1”; Beam: 25’2”; Draft: 3’2”; Disp.: 41,070 lbs.; Fuel: 581 gals.; Water: 185 gals. Power: 2×370-hp Yanmar diesels. http://leopardcatamarans.com   http://moorings.com

NAUTITECH 47

In another example of the growth of power cats, Nautitech Catamarans will have the world premiere of its new 47 Power at the Miami International Boat Show. The new boat, from the French company that also makes sailing cats, is powered by twin 225-hp Volvo Penta diesels.

With its fine entry and clean lines, the Nautitech 47 has all the design elements of a contemporary European catamaran. Windows stretch all around the salon, letting in an enormous amount of natural light, while windows in the hull sides admit light to the four cabins below.

The large flybridge, with an upper helm, lounging area and wet bar, is protected by a hardtop, and the flybridge extends far enough aft to protect the deck below. A sun lounge is forward of the flybridge, offering great views of what’s ahead, while there’s another, much larger, sun lounge on the foredeck.

The Nautitech 47 is designed for safe and comfortable cruising. The side railings are high going forward, and the boat’s almost 25-foot beam offers stability in a seaway. The boat draws less than 4 feet, so it can cruise easily in the Bahamas or other areas with shallow water.

The boat can be ordered with three or four cabins, with three or four heads. The salon is designed with warm woodwork, and it houses a lower helm station.

The company says the twin hulls provide a perfect trim at any speed. With an upgrade to twin 300-hp Volvos, top speed is 22 knots; dial back to 8.5 knots, and the range is about 1,000 nm.

Nautitech has been building catamarans in Rochefort, France, on the Bay of Biscay, since 1994.

Specs.: LOA: 46’8”; Beam: 24’9”; Draft: 3’11”; Disp.: 33,075 lbs.; Fuel: 340 gals.; Water: 158 gals.; Power: 2×225-hp Volvo Penta. http://nautitechcatamarans.com

Sunreef Yachts, the luxury builder in Gdansk, Poland, is filling out its power catamaran fleet with the introduction of a new 70 footer. Its lineup already has 60-, 80- and 100-foot models, so the new 70 fills a gap.

Like the previous models, the 70 is elegant, comfortable and seaworthy. The new cat also takes full advantage of its more than 37-foot beam to create enormous spaces for entertaining and living on board. The foredeck, for example, runs full beam and includes a “terrace,” a protected lounging area with sofas, and then an open area all the way forward for various sun lounges.

The two hulls provide options for custom layouts below, starting with two large staterooms on each side, but with more possible staterooms aft and crew quarters in the bows. The galley also can be located aft on the lower deck, as opposed to its more standard location on the port side of the salon.

The 70 has Sunreef’s signature knife-like bows and wraparound windows in the main deck/salon. It also has large opening doors aft in the salon, so it blends seamlessly with the aft deck, which is protected by the overhang from the flybridge. The aft deck also has an al fresco dining space. Wide teak steps lead down to the innovative aft garage and a swim platform that can be raised or lowered hydraulically for the launching of a dinghy or jet ski.

Up top, the flybridge has enough space for a spa pool, a bar, a dining area, lounging area, and the upper helm with a three-person seat. The hardtop includes an opening sun roof.

Sunreef is offering multiple power options for the 70, ranging from twin 300-hp diesels to twin 850-hp diesels.

Specs.: LOA: 69’9”; Beam: 37’2”; Draft: NA; Disp.: NA; Fuel: 3,170 gals.; Water: 422 gals.; Power: 2×300-hp diesels up to 2×850-hp diesels.  http://sunreef-yachts.com

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Maserati Just Unveiled a New All-Electric Powerboat to Match the Folgore EV

The new tridente can churn out 600 horses and hit 40 knots at full tilt., rachel cormack.

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This new 131-foot superyacht concept brings high architecture to the high seas, isa unveils a trio of sleek new superyachts, wider yachts is debuting a 92-foot hybrid catamaran at the venice boat show—here’s a first look.

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Maserati is diving deeper into yachting.

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The Tridentel also exudes the nameplate’s unmistakable design DNA. The powerboat showcases sleek lines, a lightweight carbon-fiber hull, a striking rose-gold finish, and the Modanese marque’s signature trident logo on the bow. The craftspeople at Hodgdon Yachts , who have been building yachts and tenders in Maine for over 200 years, will spearhead construction to ensure each hull is finished to the highest standards.

Onboard, the cream-colored cockpit can seat up to eight passengers via two captain’s chairs and a U-shaped lounge. To the aft lies a large sun pad and a bathing area with a ladder to the ocean, while a helm station with a large touchscreen sits forward. The yacht also has a sun canopy that can provide shade at anchor. Below deck, the living quarters include one cabin with an en suite.

Maserati isn’t the only luxury automaker dipping a toe in the sustainable yachting sector, of course. Porsche , BMW , and Polestar are just some of the automotive heavyweights working on all-electric sportboats .

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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