Beneteau Swift Trawler 50 IPS

By John Armstrong

I had the pleasure of running and reviewing the Swift 50 when I was in Annapolis last October; the boat was supplied by Beneteau America and was moored at Annapolis Yacht Sales.

The French-built Swift 50 encompasses a traditional trawler look but with her twin 435 hp Volvo Penta IPS 600’s performs like a sedan bridge or a sport cruiser, topping out at 24.8 knots in calm seas. With the dynamic stability there was very little roll in all the conditions we encountered. The boat has vertical pilothouse windows that gives you a panoramic view from the helm. There is a joystick docking control at the lower helm as well as on the flybridge helm plus an an optional third joystick in the aft cockpit.

The Swift 50 has well thought out accommodations which make it a very comfortable boat for onboard  living. I will be writing a full review on this outstanding boat in a future issue, so once again stay tuned!

Length Overall: 49’2″ / 14.99 m

Hull Length: 43’9″ / 13.33 m

Beam: 15’3″ / 4.65 m

Light displacement: 35,264 lbs / 16,000 kg

Fuel Capacity: 2 x 317 gals / 2 x 1,200 L

Water Capacity: 2 x 106 gals / 2 x 400 L

Max Engine Power (hp) : 2 x 435 HP Volvo Penta

IPS 600

Price: US $900,000

Photo Captions:

1) The innovative design of the bottom is specially conceived for the IPS dirve system and enables a range of over 100 miles at crusing speed and a fuel consumption of less than 30 litres per hour.

2) You’re aboard an authentic traler, where every detail is designed to respond to a primary function: sailing long distances, in full safety and the utmost comfort.


Nimbus 365 Coupe – A real long-stay cruising boat for exploring

By Andy Adams

There is no shortage of fun and exciting new boat designs hitting the market, but for the last few years these have been mainly outboard-powered day boats. Some are day cruisers; some are centre console fishing boats or designed for tow sports. A new live-aboard cabin boat has become a rare item these days.

So when I heard that Pride Marine in Orillia, Ontario, had a Nimbus 365 Coupe in the water, I jumped at the chance to get out on it.

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Destinations

Tahiti—Updates from Paradise

By Zuzana Prochaska

I’ve been to Tahiti seven times—six on charter and once as crew for a couple of yachties. Over the 25 years that I’ve been visiting, it’s changed dramatically. Yet, inexplicably, it has also stayed the same.

Lounging on the flybridge of our Sunsail 454, I had time to think about this dichotomy as I toasted the nighttime skies of Bora Bora and specifically the Southern Cross, a constellation that never fails to hypnotize. As the Crosby, Stills & Nash (1982) tune reminds us:

…you understand now why you came this way.

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