February 12, 2016
Bavaria 36
When Len Baronit of Yacht Sales West in Vancouver went to Europe to source a new sailboat to import, Bavaria Yachtbau wasn’t even on his list. After looking at a number of builders, Len went to see Bavaria. Being familiar with J& J Designs of Slovenia, Len was interested in how the German boat builder would stack up against some the better known competition. When he got back to his hotel, Len compared the specs of the Bavaria to the other boats on his shopping list; the Bavaria came up as a great value. Added to the attention to detail and quality construction, Len decided to go with the Bavaria and started importing the boat in 1997. He has just brought in the lOOth boat. Bavaria Yachtbau builds a cruising line from 32 to 49 feet and a new racing line available this spring – starting with the Match 38. In fact, few realize that it was a Bavaria 46 that Ashley Judd sailed in the movie Double Jeopardy which was shot in Vancouver. But I digress.
February 12, 2016
Atlantis 55
The Italian yacht builders Azimut and Bennetti are a very large organization, well known for their Italian styling and modern designs. The Atlantis line is a “brand belonging to the Azimut and Benetti” organization…
February 11, 2016
Kelt 7.6
The Kelt 7.6 is a very French boat (reborn as a North American performance cruiser. Its Canadian builders surveyed the market, identified a need, and then developed the boat to fill it. Introducing the Svelte Kelt. On the French boating scene, the Kelt 7.6 has the reputation of an inexpensive but rugged boat-cheap and serviceable…
February 11, 2016
Mainship 34 Trawler
The term “fast trawler” might at first seem to come from the same family is the term “jumbo shrimp” but there really is a good reason for a fast trawler. Recently, there has been a groundswell of interest in trawler boats because they deliver a unique combination of seaworthiness, comfort and space in a fuel-efficient package. They also suit the demographics of the North American population with an increasing number of people reaching retirement at earlier ages. Trawlers are often referred to as blue water cruising boats because they’re well-suited to handling rough water and offshore conditions. Taking a Mainship 34 Trawler down the Intercoastal Waterway to the Carolinas, Florida or even out to the Caribbean is a very realistic goal, even for those new to cruising. Fast trawlers are designed with more support in the aft hull sections and given sufficient power, can move from displacement speeds of 8 or 10 mph to full planing at over 20 mph.
February 10, 2016
Goman 20
Best of both in a 20 footer. Sailing that narrow line between day-racer and full sized cruiser, Goman’s 20 succeeds. Since the time I saw the drawings in early June of last year, I had looked forward to sailing the Goman 20. Almost five months later, on a pleasant Indian summer day in October, I got my chance. Would it be, I wondered, one of those good ideas on paper that can never quite be realized as a boat – the sort of thing that looks like an affordable, if modest, compromise on the boat show floor and turns out to be an impractical proposition on the water? At 20 feet, with a cabin and a full keel, the Goman is in that dangerous area between daysailer and yacht where the unyielding demands of human scale can defeat the best practical and stylistic intentions of a designer.
February 10, 2016
Century Cortez 270
Sleek and fast, this family cruiser has roots in narrow V hulls of ocean racers, but it handles better. Cliff Cruickshank has been boating out of Dawson’s Marina in Keswick, Ontario, for most of his life. In ranging from a Greavette dispro (disappearing propeller) to a 36 foot Pacemaker. Now he owns a 27 foot Century Cortez and he’s delighted. Over the years boating has changed for the Cruickshank family, as it has for many others. Children grow up and begin lives of their own. No matter how much they like boating, they often prefer time on their own in the city to spending a weekend under the watchful eyes of parents at a marina. When Cliff found himself in that position, he decided to try life without a boat. That was the winter of 1979. But one night, as the snow fell and his thoughts turned to the warmth of summer, boating withdrawal symptoms hit. Not surprisingly, Doug Dawson was able to alleviate the problem with a call to Bruce Brown of BMB Distributors, the Century distributor. Brown was able to promise a new Cortez 270 for Cruickshank to launch when the ice went out that spring.
February 10, 2016
Greavette Montique
Craftsmanship and luxury are hiding out in Muskoka. It’s a fibreglass I/O but it smells like varnish. I have often wondered if boats used to be somehow more friendly or more fun, or had more character. I won’t say they were better, but after driving the Greavette Montique, I’m tempted to say they were. It all started in Gravenhurst, where in the 1920’s, the Ditchburn boatworks and later the Minett works were situated. The lakes were small with no really large open areas, but with over 1,500 miles of shoreline, there was a lot of ground to cover in getting from place to place. The roads were bad or worse and extensive travel by boat was clearly the best way to go.
December 21, 2015
Azimut 55 S Express
The Azimut 55 S offers the discriminating buyer a unique combination of Italian style and design innovation. The express cruiser style in this boat is refined in a number of interesting and unique ways…
December 21, 2015
Jeanneau 54
This elegant new cruiser shows where the future of production yacht design is headed. In fact, it’s already there. Some boats just “feel” right, and we had a very good “feeling” about the strikingly new Jeanneau 54 before we even stepped aboard. But we were not surprised. Recent designs this French-based builder have launched—especially the superyacht sexy Jeanneau 64—have raised the bar on what a production boat builder is capable of. So the only real question was: could this 54-footer live up to the high standards of style, space, and performance set by its attention-grabbing big sister? We had our answer even before we left the dock.
December 21, 2015
Cruisers Yachts 60 Cantius
We had the pleasure of traveling to Wisconsin to attend the Cruisers Yachts dealer meeting this past summer where the company launched their new flagship, the Cruisers Yachts 60 Cantius. The dealer reaction was overwhelmingly positive to this new addition to the Cantius line that Cruisers Yachts began several years ago. There are now 41, 45, 48 and 60 foot models in this elite line which is named after K.C. Stock’s father, Cantius. This brings up two important points; the design philosophy of the Cantius line is to redefine the express cruiser style to deliver gracious living on one level, improving the social aspects of the boat and making it feel more spacious. Mission accomplished there. The other thing is that this company is owned by K.C. Stock who, with his were on hand to personally work with their dealers at the meeting.
November 26, 2015
Viking 28
the object of any boat association is to foster and encourage its class as a club racer, and/or a one design racer and/or an affordable, family cruiser. The Viking 28 association was saved from extinction in1989 by Dave Smith of Crown Royal and four other owners who each chipped in to help and donate $20. Each year since then ,it has grown a little, hosted a formal AGM or two and held a few regattas. All owners, crew or interested would-bes are very welcome. The Viking 28 is a great racer/cruiser as long as the lack of standing headroom is not an issue.
November 25, 2015
Westcoast 46
When in Rome – do as the Romans do, so when in BC we did as many lucky Western Canadians have done, and got aboard a Westcoast 46. It was worth the trip. The Westcoast 46 is built by Westcoast Custom Yachts Limited which is headed up by the now legendary Forbes Cooper. The 46 is based on an impressively seaworthy and efficient hull design by Ed Monk Jr. The original hull design was actually marketed as the 43 foot Tolleycraft but has now been significantly modified and in fact, one of the most interesting aspects of these boats is that they really are built on a custom basis, one at a time to the owner’s own specifications. The first choice you need to make is whether to order the 46-foot Express, 46 Sedan or the 46 Cockpit Motoryacht, which was the model we tested. Your next choice is to decide between single or twin-engine installation. The test boat was equipped with twin Cummins 270 diesels.
November 25, 2015
Wilker 20
Fast, dry cuddy cabin. High freeboard, easy planning and lots of power keep the Canadian built Wilker up front in Lake Ontario charter fleet. Low price makes it an easy choice. If Wilker Boats rings a bell you’ve probably been around powerboats for a few years. The 28-footers that Floyd Wilker used to build in his shop in London, Ontario were highly regarded but not very numerous. After 23 years Floyd retired and Tom Crowford took over with, if possible, even greater enthusiasm. Tom still gets inquiries about wooden cabin cruisers, but these days all Wilker boats are fibreglass. Unlike many of his competitors, however, Tom builds only hand laid moldings with mat and roving – no chopper guns. It costs more but the boats are generally better for the extra time and energy.
November 19, 2015
Neptunus 625 MotorYacht
I am actually laughing at myself as I sit down to write this review of the Neptunus 625 MotorYacht because what I want to tell you first, is how much I like this boat! Are you surprised? You are allowed to laugh at me. For the “as tested” price of approximately US$2.6 million, you get a handsome three stateroom MotorYacht with separate crew quarters, comfortable cockpit, sliding glass doors into a main saloon that includes home size seating, a dining area that seats six and a galley that deserves to be called a kitchen. And, let’s not forget the flying bridge! Of course I like this boat! But there is something more. It’s a feeling I got when I was onboard. Yes, it’s a magnificent big boat with every imaginable feature and yet it seems warmly welcoming, even friendly.
August 31, 2015
Props to Power Catamarans
Canadian Yachting magazine has always taken the lead in promoting the charter experience, exploring the Caribbean as well as more distant world destinations. Many of us across Canada start getting ‘twitchy’ in late August thinking about shrink-wrapping our boats and the long stretch of winter that lies ahead…
August 31, 2015
Dufour 500 Grand Large
Dufour in partnership with Felci Yacht Design wants nothing less than to optimize the sailing experience through design, performance and comfort. The Dufour 500 Grand Large provides space and amenities with style, efficiency and performance. This yacht is an embodiment of that objective. Contemporary, sleek design is combined with innovative features using modern construction techniques, materials and components. The 500GL has a low profile and wide side decks. The plumb bow and full beam, carried well aft with a visible hard chine, are design features found on current racing profiles. The expansive drop transom is a feature shared with many modern cruisers along with twin wheels and a foldout sunbed in the cockpit. It’s the design innovations in the interior that sets the Dufour 500 Grand Large apart.
May 15, 2015
Azimut Magellano 43
Italy’s Azimut Yachts was founded in 1969 but the company’s line of vessels is something of a novelty to Canadian boaters, with only two authorized dealers here and a handful of boats on the water so far. The introduction of the Magellano 43, however, may see that change. The 43 is the smallest of the Magellano line — the Magellano 76 and 50 were introduced a few years ago, and the 66 is launching this year. The 43 hits a sweet spot in the marketplace, being large enough to offer plenty of room on board for entertaining and family cruising, yet small enough to allow easy handling by a couple.
April 21, 2015
Beneteau Gran Turismo 35
For the Canadian Yachting readers who are not yet familiar with Beneteau’s broad range of power boat models, the Gran Turismo 35 may come as a bit of a surprise. Our test boat is a head-on competitor to the North American built express cruisers and the latest day boats that are coming on the market.
March 16, 2015
Neptunus 63 – A Sneak Peak
These pictures are a sneak preview of the new Neptunus 63, which will launch in September and be highlighted in Canadian Yachting’s January/February 2016 Boat Show Issue.
March 16, 2015
Bavaria Cruiser 37
Bavaria Yachts pride themselves in their German traditions of craftsmanship, efficiency, and excellence in quality, engineering and performance. Like many German manufacturers they strive to continuously improve. Efficiency and precision are enhanced at Bavaria through the use robotic automation in the manufacturing process. The company was a pioneer in using assembly line techniques in yacht production. In conjunction with Farr Yacht Design, the Bavaria design team create laminate and reinforcement plans for each design based on individual yacht load profiles. The result is a structural bulkhead which gets fitted into the hull to very precise tolerances. You can see pieces of this structure in storage compartments.
March 6, 2015
Hanse 575
As a semi-recent transplant to the Pacific Northwest from New England’s historic waters, I was thrilled to learn that the boating season here in Seattle is much longer than it is back East, provided, of course, that your boat is up to the task. While our summer months here at 48 degrees north are characterized by massive high-pressure systems that park-up over the Olympic Peninsula and Vancouver Island, delivering bluebird days that are void of any real breeze, our fall, winter and spring months offer plenty of pressure, usually combined with some lively seas, especially when the wind angle disagrees with the tide. This combination of distinctive seasonal weather, paired with the Pacific Northwest’s (in)famous rain and grey, rewards cruising boats that offer some on-deck protection from the elements, as well as a comfortable saloon and galley for après sailing, once the sails have been furled and the cabin heater has been switched on.
March 6, 2015
Marlow-Hunter 37
It is early September, a gray day with the impending threat of rain. It’s a great day. The wind is blowing 12 knots offshore with some gusts and shifts. The near shore chop is only a couple of feet. I also have the good fortune to be test sailing a brand new Marlow-Hunter 37. This boat has just been commissioned and put in the water. What a beautiful boat it is. A spacious inviting cockpit with teak seats and sole welcome you on onboard. The 4 foot folding transom / swim platform, and two stern pulpit teak seats enlarge the area even more. The transom up provides helm seating. An integrated telescopic boarding ladder can be deployed with the platform up or down.
March 6, 2015
Back Cove 34
There seems to be more and more talk these days about the “bucket list” and amongst people who are keen on boating, making that cruise to the Caribbean is a big one…
March 6, 2015
Monte Carlo 4
While the name Monte Carlo is a new marque in the Canadian marine industry, this newcomer comes with a rich history. It’s been developed by the Beneteau Group, one of the world’s leading boat builders for the past 130 years. Big fast day boats have been hot news recently, but there is absolutely a market for a flying bridge boat, especially one that offers spacious live aboard accommodations and a rich list of amenities. The Monte Carlo line are high style yachts developed for the luxury market.
March 5, 2015
Cruisers Yachts 328 SS
I have had the pleasure of going through the Cruiser’s Yachts design department in Oconto, Wisconsin on more than one occasion as I travelled there to review newly released designs. They are creative bunch! The company seems to really have its finger on the pulse of the changing boating tastes and yet their 328 SS model really took me by surprise. Cruisers Yachts calls this a Sport Series yacht. You might also call it a day boat with overnight accommodations, but it seems that many buyers are calling it their get away machine. Testimony to the originality of the design, after the debut of the 328 SS at Fort Lauderdale in late 2013, the American boating press gave the 328 Sport Series their coveted Boat of the Year award for 2013. Editors named the 328 SS “Boat of the Year” after reviewing performance data and commentary from the magazine’s Tech Team.
March 5, 2015
Jeanneau 64
The new Jeanneau 64, flagship of the Jeanneau yacht line takes things to yet another level. This is truly a yacht with a size and sail plan that would seem intimidating at first but the design innovation here is the electric furling main with self-tailing jib and an electric winch for the main…
March 5, 2015
Chris-Craft Catalina 34
The latest designs stress versatility and the brand new Chris-Craft Catalina 34 is another example of the evolution of the centre console fishing boat to become an elegant entertaining vehicle. Yes, it’s a capable fish-raiser and with the latest big Yamaha outboards, it’s super fast as well as efficient and quiet. For ease of entry at dockside, the Chris-Craft Catalina 34 has a door built into the side of the hull but it’s more than a way to board…it’s a dive door with a drop down boarding ladder – just one of many features on this new boat.
March 5, 2015
Boston Whaler Outrage 420
Somewhere beyond the sport utility vessel is the Swiss Army Knife vessel and we think it just might be the Boston Whaler 420 Outrage. ‘Gotta like the lines on this – it’s clearly much more than a fishing boat. The 420 Outrage is designed for onboard entertaining, with an expansive bow area designed with clever backrest configurations that provide 360-degree seating around the large, removable bow table. An available sunshade easily deploys over the area, providing welcome protection from the sun even when anchored far from shore. Another sunshade extends aft beyond the hardtop to shelter passengers in the cockpit. The helm area of the 420 is spectacular in its ability to accommodate up to six passengers while underway, all facing forward, standing or sitting. The quad Mercury Verado outboard engines deliver breath-taking speed as well as quiet trolling…remarkable! An actuated captain’s seat and dual forward-or-backward facing companion seating is accompanied by an entire second row: a conversion bench that flips to face forward, or aft for when the main action is in the rear cockpit. What action? Fishing of course!
March 5, 2015
Lagoon 450
Talking about design changes, we think that the day of the catamaran has really arrived. For its size and cost a catamaran design can provide remarkable accommodations and a stunning example of this is the new Lagoon 450. Lagoon is part of the Beneteau Group, probably the world’s biggest builder of cruising catamarans. Designed by VPLP (Van Petegham Lauriot, Prevost Signature) naval architects. Catamaran designs can offer an expanse of flat decking and living areas both on deck and below, that monohull boats cannot match in the same length.
March 5, 2015
Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600
Another new design trend is expressed in the Jeanneau Sun fast 3600 designed by Daniel Andrieu. The Sun Fast 3600 benefits from the latest advances in vacuum-bagged resin infusion to ensure exceptional strength and rigidity while drastically reducing weight. The lightweight, powerful hull with its hard chine, twin rudders and lead keel contributes to this new Sun Fast’s speed, balance and stability on all tacks. Perfectly adapted to solo, doublehanded, and crewed regattas, the Sun Fast 3600 is designed to compete in both inshore and offshore races.??Available with twin, composite tillers or wheel steering and choices in mainsheet management, the deck layout ensures easy handling through well thought-out ergonomics and optimized sailing functions.
March 5, 2015
Four Winns Horizon 440
This is the largest bowrider on the market. Period. It’s so new that the Four Winns people didn’t even have running shot photography for this issue of Canadian Yachting but we wanted to share this boat with you right away. All 44 feet are designed for comfortable living and generous entertaining. Among the many amenities is the hydraulic table in the bow area. At the touch of a button, this dining table lowers to convert to a spacious sun tanning area. You can order a Four Winns Horizon 440 with a cabin that looks like this – very elegant and with amenities that can include a large head with enclosed shower. Other features are an available 40” TV, cockpit grill, refrigerator and ice maker and a retractable hardtop for access to the forward bow area.
March 5, 2015
Beneteau Oceanis 35
Another interesting aspect of today’s changing lifestyles is the desire to be able to have what you want, not necessarily what a designer thinks you ought to have. To best tailor their latest design to the individual buyer, Beneteau has just introduced their Oceanis 35 model which is available in three different configurations; Day Sailor, Weekender or Cruiser. Buyers can choose the layout that best suits them. Almost everything is an option and they can modify the number of cabins, their partition or openness, the galley space and even details like the inclusion of a separate shower or helm seat.
March 5, 2015
Chris-Craft Launch 36
Just as the world has turned away from sedans and embraced sport-utility vehicles in the automotive world, changing tastes and lifestyles have driven the design of the new Chris-Craft Launch 36 to deliver far more versatility. The Launch 36 still has considerable cabin space to accommodate cruising, but the emphasis is on above-decks features to support a broad range of family activities. One reflection of this is the galley-up design. The galley unit is positioned behind the helm seats, facing the big cockpit area, ready to serve a hungry and thirsty gang of guests.
February 26, 2015
Delphia 31
After a week of overcast skies and no wind, I was pleasantly surprised and relieved to see the clouds lift, the sun come out, and the breeze come up for a beautiful sail off the shores of northern Lake Ontario on the functional, solid, and very reliable Delphia 31, showcased at North Lakes Yachting, Inc. in Mississauga, Ontario. Owner and president, Slavek Kroliklewicz joined me, along with photographer, Penny McLaren for stunning sail in lovely 8-10 knot breeze. Slavek is passionate about these boats because of their exquisite workmanship and attention to every detail, down to the stainless steel rather than plastic holding tanks, and use of finished marine plywood in their craftsmanship. Two brothers, Piotr and Wojciech Kot launched their idea of building a boat in their garage.
February 26, 2015
Neptunus 55 Express
It was a particular pleasure to visit the home of Neptunus Yachts in St. Catherines, Ontario to review their new Neptunus 55 Express because for many years, this builder served a high-end clientele who generally kept their yachts down south. Seeing a Canadian-built Neptunus in Canada was at least a bit uncommon. Also, their yachts have been mainly in the larger sizes – up to 80 feet and there have been limited facilities in the Great Lakes for such a big private vessel. Today, the Great Lakes Canadian market for larger boats is strong and the facilities are being built for the growing number of owners with yachts over 50 feet. Addressing this market, Neptunus introduced their 55 Express in the summer of 2014.
February 18, 2015
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349
I felt like I’d gone back in time to the War of 1812 when I arrived in the lovely village of Sacket’s Harbor, NY to review the new Jeanneau 349 with Navy Point Yacht Sales President, Steve McPherson. Unlike that fateful time when the British “sneak attack” on the Americans was bamboozled by the lack of wind, we had a beautiful sunny day with a nice southwest breeze. Winning the 2014 Customer Choice award for the Best Monohull over 30’ at the Miami Boat Show (determined by the attendees) has certainly helped to set the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349 up for success! With over 70 boats already sold and two in production every day, Jeanneau certainly thinks so too. This modern, high performance hull with its large, light interior, easy handling, and attractive price makes it a winner in my books too for this entry-level family cruiser.
February 18, 2015
Cruisers Yachts 390 Express Coupe
We had the pleasure of being invited to the Cruisers Yachts Dealer meeting in Sturgeon Bay last July where we were introduced to their new 390 Express Coupe. We were privy to the specs on the boat prior to the meeting, but on seeing this boat in the water in real time, I was awestruck. We are excited to be among the very first to bring you news about Cruisers Yachts’ new 390 Express Coupe, a boat that exudes innovation, style, comfort, and – as I discovered – delivers outstanding performance as well. Having been around boats all my life, I tried to compare their new 390 to any similar model from a competitor, but none came to mind. The Cruisers design team has hit another home run. When you board, you will be amazed at the room and ease of maneuvering – from the swim platform until you are standing on the forepeak.
July 11, 2014
CATALINA C275 SPORT
Bernie Luttmer of Swan’s Yacht Sales, has finally had his brainchild come to life, and he tells me that he was just about ready to retire when the boat of his dreams came into production – the Catalina C275 Sport designed by Gerry Douglas! He wanted to promote a family friendly, affordable boat that was simple and easy for two people or a family to sail, race, or cruise for the weekend. With an 8’5” beam and displacement of 5,000 pounds, this fractional rig boat is fully trailerable and easy to store.
June 12, 2014
Coastal Craft 65 Concord
The BC builder takes a big step forward with its largest yacht to date: stylish, fast and super-smart. BC’s Coastal Craft has established a solid reputation for pushing the envelope in aluminum yacht construction and utilizing new technologies to make its boats “smarter” and more livable. But the new 65 Concord represents a significant step up and out even for this innovative builder.