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• Yachting World
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43 of the best bluewater sailboat designs of all time

• January 5, 2022

How do you choose the right yacht for you? We highlight the very best bluewater sailboat designs for every type of cruising

Which yacht is the best for bluewater boating? This question generates even more debate among sailors than questions about what’s the coolest yacht , or the best for racing. Whereas racing designs are measured against each other, cruising sailors get very limited opportunities to experience different yachts in real oceangoing conditions, so what is the best bluewater sailboat?

Here, we bring you our top choices from decades of designs and launches. Over the years, the Yachting World team has sailed these boats, tested them or judged them for European Yacht of the Year awards, and we have sifted through the many to curate a selection that we believe should be on your wishlist.

Making the right choice may come down to how you foresee your yacht being used after it has crossed an ocean or completed a passage: will you be living at anchor or cruising along the coast? If so, your guiding requirements will be space, cabin size, ease of launching a tender and anchoring closer to shore, and whether it can comfortably accommodate non-expert-sailor guests.

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All of these considerations have generated the inexorable rise of the bluewater catamaran – monohulls can’t easily compete on these points. We have a full separate feature on the best bluewater multihulls of all time and here we mostly focus on monohulls. The only exceptions to that rule are two multihulls which made it into our best bluewater sailboats of 2022 list.

As so much of making the right choice is selecting the right boat for the venture in mind, we have separated out our edit into categories: best for comfort; for families; for performance; and for expedition or high latitudes sailing .

Best bluewater sailboats of 2022

The new flagship Allures 51.9, for example, is a no-nonsense adventure cruising design built and finished to a high standard. It retains Allures’ niche of using aluminium hulls with glassfibre decks and superstructures, which, the yard maintains, gives the optimum combination of least maintenance and less weight higher up. Priorities for this design were a full beam aft cabin and a spacious, long cockpit. Both are excellent, with the latter, at 6m long, offering formidable social, sailing and aft deck zones.

It likes some breeze to come to life on the wheel, but I appreciate that it’s designed to take up to five tonnes payload. And I like the ease with which you can change gears using the furling headsails and the positioning of the powerful Andersen winches inboard. The arch is standard and comes with a textile sprayhood or hard bimini.

Below decks you’ll find abundant headroom and natural light, a deep U-shape galley and cavernous stowage. For those who like the layout of the Amel 50 but would prefer aluminium or shoal draught, look no further.

Allures 51.9 price: €766,000

The Ovni 370 is another cunning new aluminum centreboard offering, a true deck saloon cruiser for two. The designers say the biggest challenge was to create a Category A ocean going yacht at this size with a lifting keel, hence the hull had to be very stable.

Enjoyable to helm, it has a practical, deep cockpit behind a large sprayhood, which can link to the bimini on the arch. Many of its most appealing features lie in the bright, light, contemporary, clever, voluminous interior, which has good stowage and tankage allocation. There’s also a practical navstation, a large workroom and a vast separate shower. I particularly like the convertible saloom, which can double as a large secure daybed or pilot berth.

Potentially the least expensive Category A lift keel boat available, the Ovni will get you dreaming of remote places again.

Ovni 370 price: €282,080

There’s no shortage of spirit in the Windelo 50. We gave this a sustainability award after it’s founders spent two years researching environmentally-friendly composite materials, developing an eco-composite of basalt fibre and recycled PET foam so it could build boats that halve the environmental impact of standard glassfibre yachts.

The Windelo 50 is an intriguing package – from the styling, modular interior and novel layout to the solar field on the roof and the standard electric propulsion, it is completely fresh.

Windelo 50 price: €795,000

Best bluewater sailboat of 2022 – Outremer 55

I would argue that this is the most successful new production yacht on the market. Well over 50 have already sold (an equipped model typically costs €1.6m) – and I can understand why. After all, were money no object, I had this design earmarked as the new yacht I would most likely choose for a world trip.

Indeed 55 number one Sanya, was fully equipped for a family’s world cruise, and left during our stay for the Grand Large Odyssey tour. Whereas we sailed Magic Kili, which was tricked up with performance options, including foam-cored deckheads and supports, carbon crossbeam and bulkheads, and synthetic rigging.

At rest, these are enticing space ships. Taking one out to sea is another matter though. These are speed machines with the size, scale and loads to be rightly weary of. Last month Nikki Henderson wrote a feature for us about how to manage a new breed of performance cruising cats just like this and how she coaches new owners. I could not think of wiser money spent for those who do not have ample multihull sailing experience.

Under sail, the most fun was obviously reserved for the reaching leg under asymmetric, where we clocked between 11-16 knots in 15-16 knots wind. But it was the stability and of those sustained low teen speeds which really hit home  – passagemaking where you really cover miles.

Key features include the swing helms, which give you views from outboard, over the coachroof or from a protected position in the cockpit through the coachroof windows, and the vast island in the galley, which is key to an open plan main living area. It helps provide cavernous stowage and acts as the heart of the entertaining space as it would in a modern home. As Danish judge Morten Brandt-Rasmussen comments: “Apart from being the TGV of ocean passages the boat offers the most spacious, open and best integration of the cockpit and salon areas in the market.”

Outremer has done a top job in packing in the creature comforts, stowage space and payload capacity, while keeping it light enough to eat miles. Although a lot to absorb and handle, the 55 offers a formidable blend of speed and luxury cruising.

Outremer 55 price: €1.35m

Best bluewater sailboats for comfort

This is the successor to the legendary Super Maramu, a ketch design that for several decades defined easy downwind handling and fostered a cult following for the French yard. Nearly a decade old, the Amel 55 is the bridge between those world-girdling stalwarts and Amel’s more recent and totally re-imagined sloop designs, the Amel 50 and 60.

The 55 boasts all the serious features Amel aficionados loved and valued: a skeg-hung rudder, solidly built hull, watertight bulkheads, solid guardrails and rampart bulwarks. And, most noticeable, the solid doghouse in which the helmsman sits in perfect shelter at the wheel.

This is a design to live on comfortably for long periods and the list of standard features just goes on and on: passarelle; proper sea berths with lee cloths; electric furling main and genoa; and a multitude of practical items that go right down to a dishwasher and crockery.

There’s no getting around the fact these designs do look rather dated now, and through the development of easier sail handling systems the ketch rig has fallen out of fashion, but the Amel is nothing short of a phenomenon, and if you’ve never even peeked on board one, you really have missed a treat.

Photo: Sander van der Borch

Contest 50CS

A centre cockpit cruiser with true longevity, the Contest 50CS was launched by Conyplex back in 2003 and is still being built by the family-owned Dutch company, now in updated and restyled form.

With a fully balanced rudder, large wheel and modern underwater sections, the Contest 50CS is a surprisingly good performer for a boat that has a dry weight of 17.5 tonnes. Many were fitted with in-mast furling, which clearly curtails that performance, but even without, this boat is set up for a small crew.

Electric winches and mainsheet traveller are all easy to reach from the helm. On our test of the Contest 50CS, we saw for ourselves how two people can gybe downwind under spinnaker without undue drama. Upwind, a 105% genoa is so easy to tack it flatters even the weediest crewmember.

Down below, the finish level of the joinery work is up there among the best and the interior is full of clever touches, again updated and modernised since the early models. Never the cheapest bluewater sailing yacht around, the Contest 50CS has remained in demand as a brokerage buy. She is a reassuringly sure-footed, easily handled, very well built yacht that for all those reasons has stood the test of time.

This is a yacht that would be well capable of helping you extend your cruising grounds, almost without realising it.

Read more about the Contest 50CS and the new Contest 49CS

Photo: Rick Tomlinson

Hallberg-Rassy 48 Mk II

For many, the Swedish Hallberg-Rassy yard makes the quintessential bluewater cruiser for couples. With their distinctive blue cove line, these designs are famous for their seakindly behaviour, solid-as-a-rock build and beautifully finished, traditional interiors.

To some eyes, Hallberg-Rassys aren’t quite cool enough, but it’s been company owner Magnus Rassy’s confidence in the formula and belief in incremental ‘step-by-step’ evolution that has been such an exceptional guarantor of reliable quality, reputation and resale value.

The centre cockpit Hallberg-Rassy 48 epitomises the concept of comfort at sea and, like all the Frers-designed Hallberg-Rassys since the 1990s, is surprisingly fleet upwind as well as steady downwind. The 48 is perfectly able to be handled by a couple (as we found a few years back in the Pacific), and could with no great effort crack out 200-mile days.

The Hallberg-Rassy 48 was launched nearly a decade ago, but the Mk II from 2014 is our pick, updated with a more modern profile, larger windows and hull portlights that flood the saloon and aft cabin with light. With a large chart table, secure linear galley, heaps of stowage and space for bluewater extras such as machinery and gear, this yacht pretty much ticks all the boxes.

Discovery 55

First launched in 2000, the Discovery 55 has stood the test of time. Designed by Ron Holland, it hit a sweet spot in size that appealed to couples and families with world girdling plans.

Elegantly styled and well balanced, the 55 is also a practical design, with a deep and secure cockpit, comfortable seating, a self-tacking jib, dedicated stowage for the liferaft , a decent sugar scoop transom that’s useful for swimming or dinghy access, and very comfortable accommodation below. In short, it is a design that has been well thought out by those who’ve been there, got the bruises, stubbed their toes and vowed to change things in the future if they ever got the chance.

Throughout the accommodation there are plenty of examples of good detailing, from the proliferation of handholds and grabrails, to deep sinks in the galley offering immediate stowage when under way and the stand up/sit down showers. Stowage is good, too, with plenty of sensibly sized lockers in easily accessible positions.

The Discovery 55 has practical ideas and nifty details aplenty. She’s not, and never was, a breakthrough in modern luxury cruising but she is pretty, comfortable to sail and live on, and well mannered.

Photo: Latitudes Picture Library

You can’t get much more Cornish than a Rustler. The hulls of this Stephen Jones design are hand-moulded and fitted out in Falmouth – and few are more ruggedly built than this traditional, up-for-anything offshore cruiser.

She boasts an encapsulated lead keel, eliminating keel bolts and creating a sump for generous fuel and water tankage, while a chunky skeg protects the rudder. She is designed for good directional stability and load carrying ability. These are all features that lend this yacht confidence as it shoulders aside the rough stuff.

Most of those built have had a cutter rig, a flexible arrangement that makes sense for long passages in all sea and weather conditions. Down below, the galley and saloon berths are comfortable and sensible for living in port and at sea, with joinery that Rustler’s builders are rightly proud of.

As modern yachts have got wider, higher and fatter, the Rustler 42 is an exception. This is an exceptionally well-mannered seagoing yacht in the traditional vein, with elegant lines and pleasing overhangs, yet also surprisingly powerful. And although now over 20 years old, timeless looks and qualities mean this design makes her look ever more like a perennial, a modern classic.

The definitive crossover size, the point at which a yacht can be handled by a couple but is just large enough to have a professional skipper and be chartered, sits at around the 60ft mark. At 58ft 8in, the Oyster 575 fitted perfectly into this growing market when launched in 2010. It went on to be one of the most popular models from the yard, and is only now being superseded by the newer Rob Humphreys-designed Oyster 565 (just launched this spring).

Built in various configurations with either a deep keel, shoal draught keel or centreboard with twin rudders, owners could trade off better performance against easy access to shallower coves and anchorages. The deep-bodied hull, also by Rob Humphreys, is known for its easy motion at sea.

Some of the Oyster 575’s best features include its hallmark coachroof windows style and centre cockpit – almost everyone will know at first glance this is an Oyster – and superb interior finish. If she has a flaw, it is arguably the high cockpit, but the flip side is the galley headroom and passageway berth to the large aft stateroom.

This design also has a host of practical features for long-distance cruising, such as high guardrails, dedicated liferaft stowage, a vast lazarette for swallowing sails, tender, fenders etc, and a penthouse engine room.

Privilege Serie 5

A true luxury catamaran which, fully fitted out, will top €1m, this deserves to be seen alongside the likes of the Oyster 575, Gunfleet 58 and Hallberg-Rassy 55. It boasts a large cockpit and living area, and a light and spacious saloon with an emphasis on indoor-outdoor living, masses of refrigeration and a big galley.

Standout features are finish quality and solid build in a yacht designed to take a high payload, a secure walkaround deck and all-round views from the helm station. The new Privilege 510 that will replace this launches in February 2020.

Gunfleet 43

It was with this Tony Castro design that Richard Matthews, founder of Oyster Yachts, launched a brand new rival brand in 2012, the smallest of a range stretching to the flagship Gunfleet 74. The combination of short overhangs and centre cockpit at this size do make the Gunfleet 43 look modern if a little boxy, but time and subsequent design trends have been kind to her lines, and the build quality is excellent. The saloon, galley and aft cabin space is exceptional on a yacht of this size.

Photo: David Harding

Conceived as a belt-and-braces cruiser, the Kraken 50 launched last year. Its unique points lie underwater in the guise of a full skeg-hung rudder and so-called ‘Zero Keel’, an encapsulated long keel with lead ballast.

Kraken Yachts is the brainchild of British businessman and highly experienced cruiser Dick Beaumont, who is adamant that safety should be foremost in cruising yacht design and build. “There is no such thing as ‘one yacht for all purposes’… You cannot have the best of all worlds, whatever the salesman tells you,” he says.

Read our full review of the Kraken 50 .

Wauquiez Centurion 57

Few yachts can claim to be both an exciting Med-style design and a serious and practical northern European offshore cruiser, but the Wauquiez Centurion 57 tries to blend both. She slightly misses if you judge solely by either criterion, but is pretty and practical enough to suit her purpose.

A very pleasant, well-considered yacht, she is impressively built and finished with a warm and comfortable interior. More versatile than radical, she could be used for sailing across the Atlantic in comfort and raced with equal enjoyment at Antigua Sailing Week .

A modern classic if ever there was one. A medium to heavy displacement yacht, stiff and easily capable of standing up to her canvas. Pretty, traditional lines and layout below.

Photo: Voyage of Swell

Well-proven US legacy design dating back to the mid-1960s that once conquered the Transpac Race . Still admired as pretty, with slight spoon bow and overhanging transom.

Capable medium displacement cruiser, ideal size and good accommodation for couples or family cruising, and much less costly than similar luxury brands.

Photo: Peter Szamer

Swedish-built aft cockpit cruiser, smaller than many here, but a well-built and finished, super-durable pocket ocean cruiser.

Tartan 3700

Designed as a performance cruiser there are nimbler alternatives now, but this is still an extremely pretty yacht.

Broker ’ s choice

Discovery 55 Brizo

This yacht has already circumnavigated the globe and is ‘prepared for her next adventure,’ says broker Berthon. Price: £535,000 + VAT

Oyster 575 Ayesha

‘Stunning, and perfectly equipped for bluewater cruising,’ says broker Ancasta International. Price: £845,000 (tax not paid)

Oyster 575 Pearls of Nautilus

Nearly new and with a high spec, this Oyster Brokerage yacht features American white oak joinery and white leather upholstery and has a shoal draught keel. Price: $1.49m

Best bluewater yachts for performance

The Frers-designed Swan 54 may not be the newest hull shape but heralded Swan’s latest generation of displacement bluewater cruisers when launched four years ago. With raked stem, deep V hull form, lower freeboard and slight curve to the topsides she has a more timeless aesthetic than many modern slab-sided high volume yachts, and with that a seakindly motion in waves. If you plan to cover many miles to weather, this is probably the yacht you want to be on.

Photo: Carlo Borlenghi

Besides Swan’s superlative build quality, the 54 brings many true bluewater features, including a dedicated sail locker. There’s also a cockpit locker that functions as a utility cabin, with potential to hold your generator and washing machine, or be a workshop space.

The sloping transom opens out to reveal a 2.5m bathing platform, and although the cabins are not huge there is copious stowage space. Down below the top-notch oak joinery is well thought through with deep fiddles, and there is a substantial nav station. But the Swan 54 wins for handling above all, with well laid-out sail controls that can be easily managed between a couple, while offering real sailing enjoyment to the helmsman.

Photo: Graham Snook

The Performance Cruiser winner at the 2019 European Yacht of the Year awards, the Arcona 435 is all about the sailing experience. She has genuine potential as a cruiser-racer, but her strengths are as an enjoyable cruiser rather than a full-blown liveaboard bluewater boat.

Build quality is excellent, there is the option of a carbon hull and deck, and elegant lines and a plumb bow give the Arcona 435 good looks as well as excellent performance in light airs. Besides slick sail handling systems, there are well thought-out features for cruising, such as ample built-in rope bins and an optional semi-closed stern with stowage and swim platform.

Outremer 51

If you want the space and stability of a cat but still prioritise sailing performance, Outremer has built a reputation on building catamarans with true bluewater characteristics that have cruised the planet for the past 30 years.

Lighter and slimmer-hulled than most cruising cats, the Outremer 51 is all about sailing at faster speeds, more easily. The lower volume hulls and higher bridgedeck make for a better motion in waves, while owners report that being able to maintain a decent pace even under reduced canvas makes for stress-free passages. Deep daggerboards also give good upwind performance.

With bucket seats and tiller steering options, the Outremer 51 rewards sailors who want to spend time steering, while they’re famously well set up for handling with one person on deck. The compromise comes with the interior space – even with a relatively minimalist style, there is less cabin space and stowage volume than on the bulkier cats, but the Outremer 51 still packs in plenty of practical features.

The Xc45 was the first cruising yacht X-Yachts ever built, and designed to give the same X-Yachts sailing experience for sailors who’d spent years racing 30/40-footer X- and IMX designs, but in a cruising package.

Launched over 10 years ago, the Xc45 has been revisited a few times to increase the stowage and modernise some of the styling, but the key features remain the same, including substantial tanks set low for a low centre of gravity, and X-Yachts’ trademark steel keel grid structure. She has fairly traditional styling and layout, matched with solid build quality.

A soft bilge and V-shaped hull gives a kindly motion in waves, and the cockpit is secure, if narrow by modern standards.

A three or four cabin catamaran that’s fleet of foot with high bridgedeck clearance for comfortable motion at sea. With tall daggerboards and carbon construction in some high load areas, Catana cats are light and quick to accelerate.

Sweden Yachts 45

An established bluewater design that also features in plenty of offshore races. Some examples are specced with carbon rig and retractable bowsprits. All have a self-tacking jib for ease. Expect sweeping areas of teak above decks and a traditionally wooded interior with hanging wet locker.

A vintage performer, first launched in 1981, the 51 was the first Frers-designed Swan and marked a new era of iconic cruiser-racers. Some 36 of the Swan 51 were built, many still actively racing and cruising nearly 40 years on. Classic lines and a split cockpit make this a boat for helming, not sunbathing.

Photo: Julien Girardot / EYOTY

The JPK 45 comes from a French racing stable, combining race-winning design heritage with cruising amenities. What you see is what you get – there are no superfluous headliners or floorboards, but there are plenty of ocean sailing details, like inboard winches for safe trimming. The JPK 45 also has a brilliantly designed cockpit with an optional doghouse creating all-weather shelter, twin wheels and superb clutch and rope bin arrangement.

Photo: Andreas Lindlahr

For sailors who don’t mind exchanging a few creature comforts for downwind planing performance, the Pogo 50 offers double-digit surfing speeds for exhilarating tradewind sailing. There’s an open transom, tiller steering and no backstay or runners. The Pogo 50 also has a swing keel, to nose into shallow anchorages.

Seawind 1600

Seawinds are relatively unknown in Europe, but these bluewater cats are very popular in Australia. As would be expected from a Reichel-Pugh design, this 52-footer combines striking good looks and high performance, with fine entry bows and comparatively low freeboard. Rudders are foam cored lifting designs in cassettes, which offer straightforward access in case of repairs, while daggerboards are housed under the deck.

Best bluewater sailboats for families

It’s unsurprising that, for many families, it’s a catamaran that meets their requirements best of increased space – both living space and separate cabins for privacy-seeking teenagers, additional crew or visiting family – as well as stable and predictable handling.

Photo: Nicholas Claris

Undoubtedly one of the biggest success stories has been the Lagoon 450, which, together with boats like the Fountaine Pajot 44, helped drive up the popularity of catamaran cruising by making it affordable and accessible. They have sold in huge numbers – over 1,000 Lagoon 450s have been built since its launch in 2010.

The VPLP-designed 450 was originally launched with a flybridge with a near central helming position and upper level lounging areas (450F). The later ‘sport top’ option (450S) offered a starboard helm station and lower boom (and hence lower centre of gravity for reduced pitching). The 450S also gained a hull chine to create additional volume above the waterline. The Lagoon features forward lounging and aft cockpit areas for additional outdoor living space.

Besides being a big hit among charter operators, Lagoons have proven themselves over thousands of bluewater miles – there were seven Lagoon 450s in last year’s ARC alone. In what remains a competitive sector of the market, Lagoon has recently launched a new 46, with a larger self-tacking jib and mast moved aft, and more lounging areas.

Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget

Fountaine Pajot Helia 44

The FP Helia 44 is lighter, lower volume, and has a lower freeboard than the Lagoon, weighing in at 10.8 tonnes unloaded (compared to 15 for the 450). The helm station is on a mezzanine level two steps up from the bridgedeck, with a bench seat behind. A later ‘Evolution’ version was designed for liveaboard cruisers, featuring beefed up dinghy davits and an improved saloon space.

Available in three or four cabin layouts, the Helia 44 was also popular with charter owners as well as families. The new 45 promises additional volume, and an optional hydraulically lowered ‘beach club’ swim platform.

Photo: Arnaud De Buyzer / graphikup.com

The French RM 1370 might be less well known than the big brand names, but offers something a little bit different for anyone who wants a relatively voluminous cruising yacht. Designed by Marc Lombard, and beautifully built from plywood/epoxy, the RM is stiff and responsive, and sails superbly.

The RM yachts have a more individual look – in part down to the painted finish, which encourages many owners to personalise their yachts, but also thanks to their distinctive lines with reverse sheer and dreadnought bow. The cockpit is well laid out with the primary winches inboard for a secure trimming position. The interior is light, airy and modern, although the open transom won’t appeal to everyone.

For those wanting a monohull, the Hanse 575 hits a similar sweet spot to the popular multis, maximising accommodation for a realistic price, yet with responsive performance.

The Hanse offers a vast amount of living space thanks to the ‘loft design’ concept of having all the living areas on a single level, which gives a real feeling of spaciousness with no raised saloon or steps to accommodation. The trade-off for such lofty head height is a substantial freeboard – it towers above the pontoon, while, below, a stepladder is provided to reach some hatches.

Galley options include drawer fridge-freezers, microwave and coffee machine, and the full size nav station can double up as an office or study space.

But while the Hanse 575 is a seriously large boat, its popularity is also down to the fact that it is genuinely able to be handled by a couple. It was innovative in its deck layout: with a self-tacking jib and mainsheet winches immediately to hand next to the helm, one person could both steer and trim.

Direct steering gives a feeling of control and some tangible sailing fun, while the waterline length makes for rapid passage times. In 2016 the German yard launched the newer Hanse 588 model, having already sold 175 of the 575s in just four years.

Photo: Bertel Kolthof

Jeanneau 54

Jeanneau leads the way among production builders for versatile all-rounder yachts that balance sail performance and handling, ergonomics, liveaboard functionality and good looks. The Jeanneau 54 , part of the range designed by Philippe Briand with interior by Andrew Winch, melds the best of the larger and smaller models and is available in a vast array of layout options from two cabins/two heads right up to five cabins and three heads.

We’ve tested the Jeanneau 54 in a gale and very light winds, and it acquitted itself handsomely in both extremes. The primary and mainsheet winches are to hand next to the wheel, and the cockpit is spacious, protected and child-friendly. An electric folding swim and sun deck makes for quick fun in the water.

Nautitech Open 46

This was the first Nautitech catamaran to be built under the ownership of Bavaria, designed with an open-plan bridgedeck and cockpit for free-flowing living space. But with good pace for eating up bluewater miles, and aft twin helms rather than a flybridge, the Nautitech Open 46 also appeals to monohull sailors who prefer a more direct sailing experience.

Made by Robertson and Caine, who produce catamarans under a dual identity as both Leopard and the Sunsail/Moorings charter cats, the Leopard 45 is set to be another big seller. Reflecting its charter DNA, the Leopard 45 is voluminous, with stepped hulls for reduced waterline, and a separate forward cockpit.

Built in South Africa, they are robustly tested off the Cape and constructed ruggedly enough to handle heavy weather sailing as well as the demands of chartering.

Photo: Olivier Blanchet

If space is king then three hulls might be even better than two. The Neel 51 is rare as a cruising trimaran with enough space for proper liveaboard sailing. The galley and saloon are in the large central hull, together with an owner’s cabin on one level for a unique sensation of living above the water. Guest or family cabins lie in the outer hulls for privacy and there is a cavernous full height engine room under the cabin sole.

Performance is notably higher than an equivalent cruising cat, particularly in light winds, with a single rudder giving a truly direct feel in the helm, although manoeuvring a 50ft trimaran may daunt many sailors.

Beneteau Oceanis 46.1

A brilliant new model from Beneteau, this Finot Conq design has a modern stepped hull, which offers exhilarating and confidence-inspiring handling in big breezes, and slippery performance in lighter winds.

The Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 was the standout performer at this year’s European Yacht of the Year awards, and, in replacing the popular Oceanis 45, looks set to be another bestseller. Interior space is well used with a double island berth in the forepeak. An additional inboard unit creates a secure galley area, but tank capacity is moderate for long periods aboard.

Beneteau Oceanis 473

A popular model that offers beam and height in a functional layout, although, as with many boats of this age (she was launched in 2002), the mainsheet is not within reach of the helmsman.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49

The Philippe Briand-designed Sun Odyssey range has a solid reputation as family production cruisers. Like the 473, the Sun Odyssey 49 was popular for charter so there are plenty of four-cabin models on the market.

Nautitech 441

The hull design dates back to 1995, but was relaunched in 2012. Though the saloon interior has dated, the 441 has solid practical features, such as a rainwater run-off collection gutter around the coachroof.

Atlantic 42

Chris White-designed cats feature a pilothouse and forward waist-high working cockpit with helm position, as well as an inside wheel at the nav station. The Atlantic 42 offers limited accommodation by modern cat standards but a very different sailing experience.

Best bluewater sailing yachts for expeditions

Bestevaer 56.

All of the yachts in our ‘expedition’ category are aluminium-hulled designs suitable for high latitude sailing, and all are exceptional yachts. But the Bestevaer 56 is a spectacular amount of boat to take on a true adventure. Each Bestevaer is a near-custom build with plenty of bespoke options for owners to customise the layout and where they fall on the scale of rugged off-grid adventurer to 4×4-style luxury fit out.

The Bestevaer range began when renowned naval architect Gerard Dijkstra chose to design his own personal yacht for liveaboard adventure cruising, a 53-footer. The concept drew plenty of interest from bluewater sailors wanting to make longer expeditions and Bestevaers are now available in a range of sizes, with the 56-footer proving a popular mid-range length.

The well-known Bestevaer 56 Tranquilo  (pictured above) has a deep, secure cockpit, voluminous tanks (700lt water and over 1,100lt fuel) and a lifting keel plus water ballast, with classically styled teak clad decks and pilot house. Other owners have opted for functional bare aluminium hull and deck, some choose a doghouse and others a pilothouse.

Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

The Boreal 52 also offers Land Rover-esque practicality, with utilitarian bare aluminium hulls and a distinctive double-level doghouse/coachroof arrangement for added protection in all weathers. The cockpit is clean and uncluttered, thanks to the mainsheet position on top of the doghouse, although for visibility in close manoeuvring the helmsman will want to step up onto the aft deck.

Twin daggerboards, a lifting centreboard and long skeg on which she can settle make this a true go-anywhere expedition yacht. The metres of chain required for adventurous anchoring is stowed in a special locker by the mast to keep the weight central. Down below has been thought through with equally practical touches, including plenty of bracing points and lighting that switches on to red light first to protect your night vision.

Photo: Morris Adant / Garcia Yachts

Garcia Exploration 45

The Garcia Exploration 45 comes with real experience behind her – she was created in association with Jimmy Cornell, based on his many hundreds of thousands of miles of bluewater cruising, to go anywhere from high latitudes to the tropics.

Arguably less of a looker than the Bestevaer, the Garcia Exploration 45 features a rounded aluminium hull, centreboard with deep skeg and twin daggerboards. The considerable anchor chain weight has again been brought aft, this time via a special conduit to a watertight locker in front of the centreboard.

This is a yacht designed to be lived on for extended periods with ample storage, and panoramic portlights to give a near 360° view of whichever extraordinary landscape you are exploring. Safety features include a watertight companionway door to keep extreme weather out and through-hull fittings placed above the waterline. When former Vendée Globe skipper Pete Goss went cruising , this was the boat he chose to do it in.

Photo: svnaima.com

A truly well-proven expedition design, some 1,500 Ovnis have been built and many sailed to some of the most far-flung corners of the world. (Jimmy Cornell sailed his Aventura some 30,000 miles, including two Drake Passage crossings, one in 50 knots of wind).

Futuna Exploration 54

Another aluminium design with a swinging centreboard and a solid enclosed pilothouse with protected cockpit area. There’s a chunky bowsprit and substantial transom arch to house all manner of electronics and power generation.

Previous boats have been spec’d for North West Passage crossings with additional heating and engine power, although there’s a carbon rig option for those that want a touch of the black stuff. The tanks are capacious, with 1,000lt capability for both fresh water and fuel.

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• Aluminum Hull Sailboats

Aluminum Hull Sailboats Boats for sale

1975 Dufour 31

Westbrook, Connecticut

Make Dufour

Category Cruiser Sailboats

Posted Over 1 Month

This boat is an absolute gem – excellent condition, beautifully appointed, comprehensive restoration in 2010 includes Awlgrip repaint (hull & topsides), upgraded Raymarine navigation system (autopilot, radar, GPS, chart plotter). Located in Westbrook Connecticut. Very well-maintained and clean through-out with lots of custom features and amenities. Sloop rig, Fiberglass construction, Bulb keel, Wheel steering - 28 Hp Volvo 2003 Inboard Diesel engine (new in 1993). ACCOMODATIONS: V-berth forward w/stowage, port-side single w/stowage, q-berth port, double berth stbd., enclosed head with hanging locker, chart table to port, galley to stbd., 2-burner propane stove, Adler-Barbour refrigeration, gimbaled stainless steel sink and stovetop, two hatches. CONSTRUCTION: Red fiberglass hull and fiberglass deck (Awlgrip in 2010), wheel steering, lifelines/gates, bow pulpit, swim ladder, bulb keel, skeg-hung rudder. COCKPIT: Pedestal-mounted wheel steering (leather-covered wheel) with binnacle table w/grab-rail. RIGGING: Aluminum mast and boom w/ internal running rigging and jiffy reefing, stainless steel standing rigging, roller furling headsail, boom vang, topping lift, flag halyard, hydraulic backstay adjuster. Numerous upgrades too many to list. Detailed spec sheet provided on request. For details of equipment listing for electronics, cabin & galley, electrical & power, sails, rigging, safety equipment, etc. please call or email me directly using the contact info below.

14' Viking (Sail Fish) Boat ,Fiberglass Hull, Aluminum/Nylon Sail

Boston, Massachusetts

Make Viking

Category Daysailer Sailboats

Length 14.0

FOR PICK UP ONLY. LOCATED IN BOSTON, MA. No Holes. One Owner. Comes with all working parts. See pictures for further details.

1999 C&C 121 Blue Hull

Solomons, Maryland

Make C&C

Model 121 Blue Hull

Category Sailboats

1999 C&C 121 Blue Hull The 121 was the flagship of the C&C Express Series and possesses that elusive combination of uncompromising performance and big, luxurious accommodations. Designer Tim Jacket should be commended. The 121 delivers—this is a legitimate racer-cruiser. The hull is laminated with E-glass and Kevlar. Vinylester resin is used to prevent osmotic blisters. The hull and deck are joined on an inward-facing flange that has an aluminum bar molded into it. The deck is set on the flange in a bed of 3M 5200 and then fasteners are drilled and tapped into the aluminum. C&C’s trademark toerail is incorporated in the joint, and the aluminum bar acts as a full-length backing plate. A structural grid and hull pan are bonded to the hull, and the bulkheads and internal furnishings are bonded with adhesives developed for the aerospace industry. A fiberglass integral web, spreading the rigging loads over a large area, supports the chainplate pods. Deck fittings are backed with 1/4-inch aluminum, which is tapped to allow fasteners to be set and removed for periodic servicing. The 5,500-pound, high-lift keel is bolted to the hull. She has  5-foot shoal-draft making her a perfect Bay Yacht. The 121’s cockpit is designed for efficient sailing. The Edson rack-and-pinion steering system is exceptional. The steering is tight and there is plenty of feel. The primary winches are set well aft and easily reached from the helm, a tip-off that the boat is not just designed to be sailed with a large crew. Every control line is led aft from the base of the mast under the deck to the cockpit. As noted earlier, these keep the cabintop clean.

2013 MACGREGOR 26M SAILBOAT BLACK HULL

Springfield, Virginia

Make Macgregor

Length 26.0

I bought this boat brand new in 2013 and with full factory equipments that factory had to offer at the time. My wife does not like it so I ended up buying another 24' jet boat and I have to sell this one. It is currently at my slip at Washington Sailing Marina. I only sailed for one hour with my instructor and used the motor approximately less than 3 hours to run around a little bit and that was it. I spent most my time on my 24' jet boat. I enjoyed the time with this sailboat mostly on installing electronic equipments, stereo system, bow thruster. That's right, I installed Sideshift bow thruster to help make it much more maneuverable and easier to moving in and out of slip under any condition. Sideshift is the only best company making add-on bow thruster, a very high quality thruster. You can visit them at www.sideshift.com. Black hull is rare and it is awesome to look at. In fact, I have many good comments from bystanders. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this boat. You can have a peace of mind and never have to wonder if anything is wrong with it; just like buying a used car and wonder if it has ever been in an accident. I also have this boat listed locally, so I preserve the right to end this listing early if someone bought it. If you are in the market for an excellent used Macgregor sailboat, then this is it. My lost if your gain. Please make an offer only you are serious about it then we can arrange a sea-trial; otherwise, lets not waste each other time. My contact is [email protected] . Here the list of items on this boat, I might miss a few thing. sideshift bow thruster SS230 serie. Visit www.sideshift.com for more details on this awesome bow thruster. Extremely useful in maneuvering tight spot and under severe whether condition. A must for any 26’ boat. Aluminum trailer with deluxe trailer upgrade: include brake actuator, disc brakes, galvanized torsion bar axle, aluminum brake caliper housings, and since plated brake discs.Black Hull gelcoat with white stripes and underbodyEvinrude E-tec outboard 60 hp engine white color, this engine also have built-in diagnosis system to check itself every time you start the engine. Top speed about 20 mph, 7000 rpm, winterize this engine take about one minutes, it basically winterize itself. Outboard linkage: links the engine and rudder so the steering wheel will move both the outboard engine and rudder at the same time.Transom ladderGarmin 547xs chartplotter/fishfinder combo with transom mount transducerNMEA 2000 network cable added so that the garmin 547xs can read and display the engine critical data.Genoa sail with CDI furling systemBoom vangMain sail furling system to raise the main sail up and down with ease, very nice feature.Mast raising systemSony marine amplifier and Kicker subwoofermarine CD/MP3 head unit 2 sony marines 6 1/2” speakers2 clarion marine 6 1/2” speakersAlcohol and electric stovecockpit filler cushionscockpit black bimini to match with black hull2 stainless steel cockpit cup holder1 LED cockpit light to light up the cockpit at night6 LED courtesy lights inside cabin120 V power inverter. cabin fananchorsolar power exhaust fan to suck out moisture 200 Walt solar power panel to recharge battery while sailing out there.Total of 4 deep cycle batteries bank on board2 gas tank for a total of 17 gallons.

Rebel 16 Mark II Sailboat with Aluminum Trailer

Angola, Indiana

Length 16.6'

Stable fiberglass sailing boat carries six people (or 1170 pounds). Includes trailer, full rigging, and TWO suits of sails. One suit of sails is in like new condition, the other set is in very good condition. Serial number 1929 (built in late sixties to early seventies I believe). The centerboard swings up into the cockpit, so you can change the depth to dock in shallow water. The rudder also swivels up if it hits an obstruction. The trolling motor in the photos is not included. There is, however a permanent motor mount on the stern. The boat will take up to a 5hp motor, but my 30lb. thrust trolling motor drives it around just fine. The boat is located on West Otter Lake, Angola, IN. Buyer with the selling price in cash or Pay Pal payment can drive it away. (Trailer takes an 1 7/8" ball hitch.) The following article from Sailing Magazine gives a great description of Rebel sailboats. You can access the original on SailingMagazine.net. Rebel 16 2008 January 8 By Staff This nimble and tough classic is perfect for a daysail or a day of racing This year the boat that holds claim to being America's first production fiberglass one-design will celebrate its 60th birthday. That the boat is still in production makes this milestone that much more remarkable. In 1948, fresh out of the Navy, Ray Greene began building a 16-foot family daysailer out of his Toledo, Ohio, shop using a revolutionary new material called fiberglass. The design of the boat was based on lines drawn by a local high school drawing instructor by the name of Alvin Younquist. With its wide, 6-foot, 7-inch beam and 110-pound steel centerboard the stable little boat known as the Rebel soon became a hit on the Midwest's inland lakes. And while Greene said he never intended to create a racer, thanks to the boat's performance-courtesy of a large 120-square-foot main and 46-square-foot jib on a fractional rig-it wasn't long before a competitive structure was built around the boat. By 1952 a class association had been firmly established and by 1963 the class boasted 138 active members. Not bad. Fleets started popping up across the Midwest, south into Kentucky and all the way down to Texas. Meanwhile, class members could be found sailing the inland lakes of the Eastern Seaboard from New York to Florida. After 25 years of building the Rebel, with more than 3,000 hulls produced, Greene was ready to call it quits and sold the works to a group of Chicago investors. Production of the Rebel continued at a steady pace during the 1970s, and was done under a number of names: Melling Tool Co., Rebel Industries and finally Spindrift One Designs. After Spindrift folded, the Rebel moved to Michigan in 1988 when Nickels Boat Works of Fenton took over with the production of the Mark V model. Nickels continues to build the Rebel, offering buyers a choice of a daysailer version for $9,860 or the optimum racing version for $11,872 less sails and trailer. A stainless steel centerboard now comes standard with the Rebel. Nickels also continues to be a great source for parts and accessories, as well as information, on the Rebel. One tough Rebel While there have been reports of problems with the foam flotation on older boats becoming waterlogged, that has been less of a problem on boats from the 1970s and later. Other than that, a buyer of a used Rebel should find few issues with the condition of this durable little boat. Indeed, boats 25 years and older will still top regatta leaderboards. "They're well made, very rugged boats that will last forever," said Al Vorel, National Rebel Association Commodore, who has been racing the same boat, No. 3914, for almost 20 years. "You don't have to run out every 5 to 10 years to buy a new boat." This is one of the reasons for the longevity of the class. Boats tend to stay in the family, passed down from parent to child, with the younger generations wanting to keep the racing going. "My mother races, and my daughter sometimes races, so there are times we'll have three generations on the course," Vorel said. This also, of course, keeps a lot of boats off the market, and finding a used Rebel can be a bit of a challenge. But thanks to the Internet, it's possible to locate a few sellers. Prices can vary from just under $1,000 for an older boat in need of some work to $3,000 or more for a later model. Buyers can typically expect to pay in the neighborhood of $1,500 for a pre-Nickels-era boat in good shape. We were fortunate enough to find a late 1970s Rebel listed for sale on www.craigslist.org. Better yet, the seller was within trailering distance. The offer on the boat was $1,400, so we drove out to take a look. The boat was well cared for, kept under a roof winters, and showed no structural damage. Other than some algae stains and scuff marks the finish looked good, and all the gear was there, including the main and jib, which the owner said he bought new about seven years ago. We did see some possible issues, including a rusty, pitted centerboard and a wooden rudder that looked to have some rotting. So we offered to pay the full $1,400 if the owner threw in the trailer, which he originally wanted an extra $200 for. The deal was closed and we drove off with the Rebel in tow. Rebel with a cause With the boat parked in our yard the first item of business we wanted to take care of was the rusty centerboard. Nickels offers a stainless steel replacement board, and we could picture how sweet the boat would look with a shiny new stainless fin. Unfortunately, these centerboards run close to $1,000; more than two-thirds the cost of the entire boat. So such an extravagant purchase didn't make much sense. Instead we set about rehabilitating the old board. We removed, with a bit of difficulty, the 110-pound board and set in on sawhorses. The first step was to remove the old paint using paint stripper, then power sanding. We then slathered on some Duro Naval Jelly to remove the rust, wiping down everything with paper towels then finishing up with a clean, acetone-soaked rag. Next, we filled in the pits and hollows with West Marine Surfacing Putty, and sanded everything smooth. We made certain the blade was fair by running a straight edge along the board. We also further faired the rounded leading edge of the board to within the class rule limits, which prohibit tapering less than 1/16th of an inch and more than one inch in from the leading edge. We then primed the board with several coats of Interlux Primocon primer, which when dried we wet sanded with 400-grit paper, and finished with a couple coats of Interlux VC-17m Extra bottom paint. With the centerboard done, we then turned to the rudder. An ice pick determined the wood was beginning to rot near the lower trailing edge. We probably could have rehabilitated the rudder as well, but since we had saved some money by not replacing the centerboard we decided to spring for a new rudder. We opted for a fiberglass blade, supplied by Nickels for $375. This cost covered just the blade, as the original aluminum rudder cheeks and hardware were still in good shape. While we were on the phone with Nickels, we decided to order all new running rigging to replace the weathered lines the boat came with. This included lines for the cunningham, boom vang, centerboard system, as well as sheets and halyards for both main and jib. The total for 112 feet of ¼-inch line and 105 feet of 5/16-inch line came to $100. Next we took a closer look at the standing rigging. The spars showed no defects, and with a bit of metal polish and elbow grease the rotating mast, boom and aluminum whisker pole looked good as new. The 1-by-9 stainless steel shrouds and forestay also showed no visible defects. We did, however, find the diamond stays on the mast to be tuned rather tight. According to the North Sail's One-Design tuning guide for the Rebel, an overly tight diamond can limit fore and aft mast bend, and can even cause negative pre-bend, where the mast bends forward at the tip. Since we want to have a competitive boat, we loosened the diamond tension and will readjust after doing some sea trials. As we said, we ultimately wanted to race our Rebel and didn't want a slow boat. So obviously the 7-year-old suit of sails had to go. This would be our biggest expense, and a new suit of sails would alone exceed the original cost of the boat. A new main and standard jib (a light air jib is also available) from North Sails set us back $1,615, which included $20 for class royalties but not shipping. Certainly this was a blow to our budget, but we rationalized it by thinking about the fun we would be having with some close racing come summer. Our last order of business was getting our bottom clean and smooth. We first scrubbed the hull down with a detergent then wet sanded everything below the rails to a slick surface with 1,200-grit paper. After a rinse and wipe down with the hose and clean towels we were satisfied we had a slick bottom. We finished off by treating all our hardware and moving bits to a little McLube Sailkote spray. We now have what we feel will be a contender on the course for our racing crew of two. Yet, with the roomy Rebel cockpit that can seat six, we're also looking forward to some lazy summer daysailing when friends and family show up. Either way, we'll certainly get our money's worth from this tough but nimble little classic. LOA 16' 1.5" LWL 15' 10" Beam 6' 7.5" Draft 3' 4" Weight 700 lbs, Sail area 166 sq. ft.

1985 Bluewater Ingrid

Muskegon, Michigan

Make Bluewater

Model Ingrid

1985 Bluewater Ingrid The Ingrid 38 from the pen of William Atkin is a heavy displacement blue water cutter derived from Colin Archer's famous double ender designed North Sea pilot boats, which in turn were inspired by Viking boats renowned for their heavy weather characteristics. Perhaps Atkin sums it up best by saying it's "the kind of boat that behaves herself in rough water and can be depended upon to sail herself". (To that part we do hear frequent mentions of the superb one-finger-on-tiller tracking and a comfortable ride.) With her old world style, Josette's a good looking boat with a sheer line reminiscent of Crealock's famous Westsail 32. Her seaworthiness is there to see in her full keel, heavy displacement and overbuilt construction. Her hull is heavily hand laid in fiberglass. There's robust outboard chain plates and an outboard rudder protected by extra fiberglass and a large bronze shoe casting should she scrub the bottom. Atkin's main rework on the Ingrid 38 from Archer's original design was finer entry on the bow which 'cushions' her landing off the waves and even may increase speed slightly. Below the waterline she has a long full keel with deep v-sections forward keeping her stable in the rough. The ballast is encapsulated and is distributed from bow to stern, to keep the weight as low as possible. Rounding this off, there's plenty of flotation designed in her ends, fore and aft which helps keep her dry. The trade off of heavy displacement and ultimate stability is usually in speed so the Ingrid 38 is not considered fast. By the numbers, her hull speed works out at 7.2 knots but she'll more often manage a consistent 6 knots while cruising. Surprisingly she's known to sail pretty well in light airs, as owners report she'll do half the wind speed in up to 8 knots of wind. However, she's a boat that comes into her own in heavier seas. The cutter rig gives plenty of options on all points of sail and she's an easy boat to single-hand. Josette is her original name and she has spent most all of her life in fresh water. She only spent one year in salt water in 1985, her original launch year. This is a one-owner vessel. The hull was built in 1974 by Bluewater Yachts in Washington state and it is reported that these are the same builders that build the Nordic Tugs. The interior cabin sides (ceiling) were finished in planking by the original owner. The hull is foam insulated to keep you cool when it is hot outside and warm when it is cold outside. The galley area is a great work space for any type of cooking. The mast is anodized aluminum construction by MetalMast Marine, with internal halyards. The hull is solid fiberglass construction and does have some gel coat surface blisters above the waterline, but they do not appear to be structural. She recently had the following engine work accomplished: new head gasket, two new exhaust valves, injector service,

1987 Don Brooke Worldcruiser

Miami, Florida

Make Don Brooke

Model Worldcruiser

1987 Don Brooke Worldcruiser Huge Price Reduction!VICTORIA ESTEFANIA is a husky Don Brooke design built in the USA by ISM. She has a full keel steel hull, and aluminum superstructure, and was built to Lloyd’s 100A1+ class with three watertight compartments.Layout has inside and outside helm stations, four staterooms, and three heads/showers.Power is an economical single 325 HP Cummins diesel with 30HP hydraulic bow thruster. The full keel protects the prop and rudder. Electrical system has 3 generators, large battery banks, several inverters, and a world power converter. The ketch rig has Navtec rod rigging and all hydraulic furling and winches.Extensive $400,000 refit fall 2011 included all new paint, new batteries and cabling, rebuilding engine, transmission, and 2 generators, one new generator, and much other mechanical work. 2016 Update:"V.E." is still kept in good order-last year she had a lot of paintworkNew propellor shaft and bearings-steering gear serviced with a new rudder stockBlack tank pressure washed out and a new pump fittedNew main life-raftNew onboard computers and multi function printerCrane servicedSailing dinghy servicedMain tender rewired and new VHF radioFitted-bottom had some refairing done-and 3 coats of antifouling-prop anode changed.

1985 Bluewater Ingrid The Ingrid 38 from the pen of William Atkin is a heavy displacement blue water cutter derived from Colin Archer's famous double ender designed North Sea pilot boats, which in turn were inspired by Viking boats renowned for their heavy weather characteristics. Perhaps Atkin sums it up best by saying it's "the kind of boat that behaves herself in rough water and can be depended upon to sail herself". (To that part we do hear frequent mentions of the superb one-finger-on-tiller tracking and a comfortable ride.) With her old world style, Josette's a good looking boat with a sheer line reminiscent of Crealock's famous Westsail 32. Her seaworthiness is there to see in her full keel, heavy displacement and overbuilt construction. Her hull is heavily hand laid in fiberglass. There's robust outboard chain plates and an outboard rudder protected by extra fiberglass and a large bronze shoe casting should she scrub the bottom. Atkin's main rework on the Ingrid 38 from Archer's original design was finer entry on the bow which "cushions" her landing off the waves and even may increase speed slightly. Below the waterline she has a long full keel with deep v-sections forward keeping her stable in the rough. The ballast is encapsulated and is distributed from bow to stern, to keep the weight as low as possible. Rounding this off, there's plenty of flotation designed in her ends, fore and aft which helps keep her dry. The trade off of heavy displacement and ultimate stability is usually in speed so the Ingrid 38 is not considered fast. By the numbers, her hull speed works out at 7.2 knots but she'll more often manage a consistent 6 knots while cruising. Surprisingly she's known to sail pretty well in light airs, as owners report she'll do half the wind speed in up to 8 knots of wind. However, she's a boat that comes into her own in heavier seas. The cutter rig gives plenty of options on all points of sail and she's an easy boat to single-hand. Josette is her original name and she has spent most of her life in fresh water. She only spent one year in salt water in 1985, her original launch year. This is a one-owner vessel. The deck and hull was built in 1974 by Bluewater Yachts in Washington state and it is reported that these are the same builders that build the Nordic Tugs. The interior cabin sides (ceiling) were finished in planking by the original owner. The hull is foam insulated to keep you cool when it is hot outside and warm when it is cold outside. The galley area is a great work space for any type of cooking. The mast is anodized aluminum construction by MetalMast Marine, with internal halyards. The hull is solid fiberglass construction and does have some gel coat surface blisters above the waterline, but they do not appear to be structural. She recently had the following engine work accomplished: New head gasket, two new exhaust valves, injector service, new

2008 Catalina Sabot

Lake Ozark, Missouri

Make Catalina

Model Sabot

2008 Catalina Sabot The U.S. Sabot by Catalina continues the tradition of the thousands of Sabots sailing today as the perfect first boat for the beginning sailor due to its simplicity and saftey. Equipped with the racing package, the Sabot offers all the sail controls of a larger boat, so learning sailors can develop the full range of sail trimming skills. TheSabot is built to withstand the tough use of a learning sailor. The full flotation hull is made of innner and outer hand-laid fiberglass parts for durability. The mast is tapered fiberglass and the boom is anodized aluminum.

1980 Naval de Kerlevin Schooner

Marina, California

Make Naval De Kerlevin

Model Schooner

1980 Naval de Kerlevin Schooner Just completed circumnavigation since 2005 to Present with continual upgrades.Built Chantier Naval de Kerlevin Yard, Concarneau, Southern Brittany, FranceSolid fiberglass HullSimi Full Keel with Stainless Steel CenterboardNew Teak decks epoxy on 2012Westerbeke 7.6kw Generator 2006Phasor 3.5kw Generator 2005WatermakerWasher Dryer2690 Hours on Rebuilt Perkins 6-364 180hp Turbo DieselAluminum Masts Replaced 1997 Richmond, CARod Rigging replaced 2012Rudder Bearings replaced 2014Painted Topsides w LP Paint 2010Great Mid Cockpit with custom tableAft Helm CockpitEasily sailed Schooner RigReady to make the next journey or ideal charter vessel.Review Full Specifications

2002 Dehler 34

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Make Dehler

2002 Dehler 34 DEHLER 34 sailing Yacht , year of construction 2002, Hull construction material P. R. F. V , length A O 11.21m , max width 3.20 m , draft 1.88 m,  4.5 tons ,  1 wheel ,  passengers maximum crew no. 6,  Sail area 56,6 sq m   Sail wardrobe: n°1 genoa  n°1 genoa Northsail n°1 main in Kevlar e fughe carbonio Zauli n°1 spinnaker Zauli 105 sq m n°2 cruising main (elvstrom) n°1 gennaker north new sail area 99,7 sq m   Engine: n° 1 Saildrive a Desiel Yanmar 2GH20FC , 2 cylinder , capacity 636cc , max power 13,4 Kw , battery n°2 SAFA 12 volt 75 Ah (one engine and on service) Fire extinguishers one automatic   Safety equipment  Bilge pump manual with handle in cockpit, Automatic electric bilge pump, Hourse shoe life bouy with light, Liferaft Arimar,Life Jackets, Set of Flairs,Radar riflector+First Aid box, Binoculars   Instuments on Board:  Magnetic compass  , Log and Eco Raymarine ST60 Tridata , Wind inst. Raymarine ST 60 CH wind , stazione del vento Raymarine ST60 wind,gps with Map Vision 07,VHF Rauff & Sorensen Shipmate RS 8400   On Board Inventory:   Anchor winch and bow roller for Bruce Kg with Chain , Genoa foil Furlex , winches n°2 Lewmar 44 - n° 2 Lewmar 30 , Aluminum spinnaker pole, Carbon bow sprit ,  Bimini , Hot and cold cockpit shower , Stainless Steel bathing platform ,Battery charger Mastervolt , boiler new Quick under guarantee pressurised water, Gas Cooker with 3 burners and oven in S.S  , Fridge top loading.   Sail Geometry :  sloop 7/8;  2 s[redders on the mast, . 2winches self-tailing 2 speeda on coach roof and a set of jammers for the sheets and halyards going aft,2 genoa winches, self tailing and two speed. 2 winches for the Genniker . The engine has 20 hp powering a Sail-drive driving a two bladed prop.  Fuel tank is a galvanised unit with a capacity of 50l .   The water tank has a capacitye of 150 l. Internal Layout: Two cabin with hanging lockers and ventilation. The dinette has a C  configured seating ,un tavolo centrale con ante ribaltabili di legno di Mogano e due gambi d'acciaio, un divano ,la cucina a cielo aperto con doppio lavello di acciaio inox e rubinetto miscelatore,piano da carteggio con sedile. The heads has a manuale Jabsco toilet, sink and shower hot and cold. The hull is very sound with no sighn of blistering or dampness, and it is certain that there is no osmotic areas. The boat has been surveyed for insurance purposes and certified to have a value of 75.000 euro , The asking price iof Euro 49,000 is only slightly negotiable as the boat is like new. All certification has been updated and all tes

1974 Standfast - PJ Standfast 36

Make Standfast - PJ

Model Standfast 36

1974 Standfast - PJ Standfast 36 New Listing of a very reputable boat designed by Frans Maas, a successful Dutch Naval Architect that gained fame in the 60's and 70's, designing sailboats under the RORC rule and IOR. To add to the pedigree, this boat was exclusively marketed  by Palmer Johnson.  This is a fiberglass, not aluminum sailing yacht. This boat has been owned by a local sailor and his wife and they have enjoyed cruising the southern New England waters for many years.   The boat is well maintained.    It has fiberglass decks, a fin keel and a skeg for rudder support.  Mast height above the water is 54'.  Hull is dark blue.  Boat is stored outdoors with a shrink wrap for the winter. These boats were built as Standfast Yachts.  Sold in the US also as Palmer Johnson 36's.        I - 48.9' (14.9m)    J - 15.4' (4.69m)    P - 43'  (13.11m)    E - 12'  (3.66m)            Sail Area/Disp:  15.30    Bal./Disp:  40.69%     Disp/Len.:  314.84 The Standfast 36 is a strong, offshore capable boat that was designed ahead of its time.   Still carrying more modern, graceful lines with a reverse transom.  Boat has a comfortable interior, newer, easily accessed Yanmar 27Hp diesel, sheltered cockpit, full galley, dinghy, outboard, liferaft and plenty of extra gear.     This blue-water capable boat is ready for another season, as soon as spring breaks.

1979 Endeavour 32' Sloop

Kemah, Texas

Make Endeavour

Model 32' Sloop

1979 Endeavour 32' Sloop PRICE REDUCED $7,000! SELLER SAYS SELL NOW! The Endeavor 32 is known for her comfort and versatility and configured with a fixed shoal keel and 4'2" draft, extensive interior storage and access, fully equipped galley, integral companion way stairs, and a teak cabin sole. The hull is molded as a single unit of a combination of polyester resin and fiberglass woven roving and multidirectional chopped strand fiber (MCSF). The keel is molded integrally with the hull and all ballast is contained inside. The deck and cockpit, like the hull, are molded as a single unit of a combination of polyester resin and fiberglass woven roving and MCSF. Plywood coring is incorporated between layers of fiberglass in the cabin top, deck, seat, and cockpit sole areas to give additional stiffness.  There is an anchor well at the bow with anchor rode into the vberth locker, teak grab rails on the cabin top and a large aft cockpit with good back rests and storage lockers. The companionway goes down to seat height, about 12" above the cockpit sole, and has three drop boards. The rudder is molded as a single piece of solid high density foam with a protective skin of fiberglass and gelcoat finish. The rudder post, molded integrally with the rudder, is solid stainless steel, welded to a steel blade in the interior of the rudder. Where the rudder post passes through the hull, water tightness is ensured by means of a stuffing box. The steering system operates with stainless steel cables rotating a quadrant bolted and keyed to the rudder post. All spars (mast, boom, and spreaders) are extruded aluminum alloy, with protective coating. The main mast is stepped on deck with a supporting post immediately under the mast inside the cabin. The standing rigging is made of stainless steel wire. The forestay attaches to the stem head fitting at the bow, fabricated of welded stainless steel back plates through bolted to the hull. All other stays and shrouds are attached to chainplates at the edge of the deck and are through bolted to the hull. Additional fiberglass reinforcement is molded into the hull in all chain plate areas. All halyards are run externally to #32 Lewmar winches mounted on the mast. Sheets are led to #40 Lewmar self tailing winches in the cockpit. Sheet lead blocks clip to the toerail. The main sheet traveler is mounted on the companionway 'bridge deck'. The interior of the Endeavour 32 is a molded fiberglass unit with bulkheads and cabinetry fastened to it with screws, bolts, and adhesives. The entire unit is preassembled outside the boat and is bonded in place with woven roving and mat, that when completed, forms a single unit structure having great strength and rigidity. The interior is finished with varnished teak with soft white overheads. The

1962 Sparkman & Stephens 55

Make Sparkman & Stephens

1962 Sparkman & Stephens 55 PALMER JOHNSON 55 sailboat project 55 ft Palmer & Johnson, isanti or ashanti Sparkman & Stephens design aluminum magnesium construction no rust. strong hull. What WORKS on the boat:1) original engine and transmission both work very well.2) windlass works very well, fairly new hydraulics added.3) hull is in great condition and VERY strong. Does not need work. What NEEDS TO BE FIXED/ CHANGED1) electricity on board2) plumbing 3) needs sails4) wood floors need to be changed5) overall just cosmetic work needs to be done FINANCING AVAILABLE!!

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My Cruiser Life Magazine

Aluminum Sailboat – The Ultimate Expedition Yacht?

Love them or hate them, aluminum sailboats are an excellent option for serious blue water cruising. They’re robust and sturdy and can come out of a scrap saying, “But you should see the other guy!”

Table of Contents

Advantages of aluminum sailboats, aluminum hull sailboat disadvantages, alubat ovni, garcia yachts, van de stadt, is an aluminum blue water sailboat right for you, faqs (frequently asked questions), why an aluminum sailboat.

In one particular niche of the sailboat industry, aluminum is all the rage. They certainly aren’t every man’s boat. Aluminum sailboats are reserved for high-end expedition-level long-distance cruising.

These boats are literally made to go anywhere and do anything. They’re practically indestructible, and they perform well. They can do things that make fiberglass boat owners fear for their gelcoat finish . Beach themselves on rocky shorelines? No problem. High latitude sailing while dodging icebergs? Sounds like part of a perfect cruise for an aluminum sailboat.

While browsing some of the aluminum sailboat manufacturers listed below, you’ll notice that many of these vessels look alike. They’re built for a similar purpose, after all. They are not charter boats going to the Caribbean—they are expedition yachts serving live aboard cruising couples.

These boats probably benefit from their limited market share. Their extra cost means that the makers don’t spend time marketing their boats to other buyers. The result is a sailing yacht that’s hyper-targeted to the task at hand—long-distance and long-term cruising.

Nearly all of these boats fall between 30 and 60 feet long, and nearly all of them are appointed for blue water cruising for a couple. In addition, more and more makers are branching into the multihull market, with several new aluminum catamarans coming out soon.

Once you start researching these boats and understanding the mission they’re designed for, their utility and robustness are apparent. For an owner who wants a worry-free vessel that can take on any challenge, it’s hard to beat an aluminum sailboat.

Here’s a list of just a few advantages of aluminum sailboats.

• Lighter than other sailboat materials
• Strong and difficult to damage, won’t crack
• Lifetime hull warranty possible
• Doesn’t need painting or top-coating
• Impervious to water—no blisters
• Doesn’t rust like steel
• More space down below
• Many are designed to dry out or sit on the bottom

Lightweight Material

Aluminum is used in many applications. Most aircraft are made of aluminum, so it is obviously lightweight and strong. It’s easy to machine into complex shapes and curves, and modern welding techniques mean it can be put together into a completely smooth surface.

Compared to other boat-building options, it is much stronger and thinner than fiberglass. It is lighter than wood, too. Compared to other metals, it is lighter than steel and does not rust.

The number one advantage of a metal boat is that it is strong. If your boat is made of metal, you don’t worry about scraping a dock or even bumping a rock. Gelcoat scratches and chips are a thing of the past. 

Metal boats are difficult to damage and won’t crack during an impact. In the worst case, it’s most likely that it will dent. Therefore, a hull breach is extremely unlikely. 

Compare this to the ubiquitous fiberglass boat, and the difference is stunning. Fiberglass is, by comparison, fragile. An impact with a sea buoy or a dock piling can easily cause cracking and severe damage to a GRP hull. These things are just in a day’s work for an aluminum hull.

Lifetime Hull Warranty Possible

The best aluminum sailboat makers can offer lifetime hull warranties. They put the time and effort into making their boats last a lifetime, and they will stand by that commitment.

No Painting

Love it or hate it, aluminum boats fare best without paint. Over time, the paint will bubble and chip away, so adding paint adds maintenance. As a result, most owners leave their aluminum hulls bare.

Impervious to Water

The fear of every fiberglass boat owner is the dreaded osmotic blister. These blisters form on the bottom of the boat and occur when water seeps into the fiberglass laminates. Of course, it’s not the end of the world, and they can be repaired and are preventable. But aluminum boats have no blisters—the metal is entirely impervious to water.

Doesn’t Rust

The other common option for vessels is steel. But unlike steel, these boats don’t rust. This is why they don’t have to be painted.

More Space Down Below

Compared to similar-sized fiberglass yachts, a boat will have more space down below. Since the hulls and bulkheads are thinner, they leave more space for storage and furniture. It might sound like a minor thing, but on a 30 or 35-foot sailing yacht, a few extra inches on each side of the cabin makes a huge difference.

Shallow Draft and Safe to Dry Out

Many of these designs are made to go absolutely anywhere. As such, shallow draft is a desirable feature—and one not often found on ocean-going blue water sailboats . Quite a few of these boats, particularly the French aluminum sailboats, have swing keel designs for getting in and out of skinny water.

For these boats, another great feature is the ability to dry out on their keel and remain upright. For areas with big tidal swings, this means access to harbors that dry on the outgoing tide. It also means easy access to haul-out facilities for repairs—just find a comfortable sandbar and do what you have to do.

Related: Best Trailerable Sailboats

If aluminum is so grand, why aren’t all sailboats made of it? Unfortunately, for as many pluses as these boats have, there are negatives as well. All boats are a compromise, so for all the benefits, you will have to give something up while you drive your boat around the boating world .

Here’s a list of a few disadvantages to owning an aluminum sailboat.

• More expensive to make and purchase
• Extreme care must be taken to avoid dissimilar metals penny in the bilge etc
• Subject to corrosion
• Harder to add deck fittings
• Repairs require specialized welding techniques expensive
• More difficult to apply anti-fouling paints
• Thinner hulls mean noisier rides and harder to heat and cool insulation is key
• Problems with weak welds
• Rare finds on the used market
• Custom one-off builds have the unpredictable build quality and resale value

More Expensive

Everything about an aluminum sailboat is more expensive. For the manufacturer, materials, labor, and construction time increase costs which they pay particular attention to. These are passed on to the buyer, so aluminum sailboats are nearly always more expensive than a comparable fiberglass yacht.

Dissimilar Metal Corrosion

Aluminum is more or less indestructible, with a few exceptions. What you get in protection from the elements and sturdiness at sea you pay for in routine maintenance and upgrades.

Aluminum quickly corrodes when it comes in contact with other metals. If you look at the aluminum mast of the typical sailboat, you’ll find corrosion around practically every stainless fastener. You must take extreme care to avoid dissimilar metals in a metal boat, where every attachment point and accessory presents the possibility of dissimilar metal corrosion.

Stories abound of people who have dropped pennies or batteries in the bilge only to find a hole corroded through the boat. To some extent, these problems are hyped up a little bit too much, but there is no denying that the danger is real.

Subject to Corrosion

While on the subject of corrosion, dissimilar metals are only one possible cause. Aluminum yachts must also be extremely careful of galvanic and electrolytic corrosion. So, in addition, you must take care that the boat’s electrical system does not introduce any stray DC currents. The same may be said of marinas and shore power connections, which can also introduce problems.

Harder to Add Deck Fittings

The risk of corrosion and damage to the aluminum hull and superstructure means that accessories or deck hardware are more difficult to add on. Generally speaking, drilling holes and bolting on new doodads is a straightforward task on a fiberglass boat. In the end, what matters is that it is sealed well enough not to allow water into the deck coring or the hull itself.

With these boats, things are a bit trickier. Owners are understandably more hesitant to go drilling holes in their expensive boats because holes are much harder to repair. Furthermore, unless all new hardware is made from aluminum, care must be taken to keep the two metals from touching. This might mean painting the metals or adding an extra layer of an insulator.

Difficult Repairs

Repairs to an aluminum boat require specialized welding techniques. It’s already boating, so the word specialized should be a warning—this isn’t going to be cheap. While you can pull into any port town in the world and find someone with fiberglass repair skills, a skilled aluminum welder might be a tougher ask. The good news is that it will need far fewer repairs throughout its lifetime.

Anti-Fouling Paint Problems

While regular boats can slap on any anti-foul that their local marine store or chandlery sells, aluminum boat owners need to be extra cautious. Like deck fittings and stray objects in the bilge can cause problems, so can the wrong paint. 

The active anti-fouling ingredient in most bottom paints is cuprous oxide. Copper reacts with aluminum and causes corrosion. So you cannot apply regular bottom paint directly to an aluminum hull. 

There are special paints that are safe for aluminum, however. It is generally believed that these formulas are at least somewhat less effective, which means you might have to reapply them more often or invest in bottom cleanings more often.

Thinner Hull Skin

For the same strength, aluminum is much thinner than other boat-building materials. It also conducts sound well. That means you will hear wave noise and hull slap more down below.

It also means that the boats will be harder to insulate against very hot or frigid weather. Newer boats make up for this with a perfect layer of insulation all around the hull, which should fix these problems. They’re still, like all boats, subject to condensation in the winter months.

Aluminum Boat Build Quality Problems

There aren’t many aluminum yachts on the market, which means that you are more likely to come across custom, one-off boats as a buyer. These may be works of art, but you’d have to research the shipyard that built it very carefully to determine if they have experience with aluminum yachts. These one-off boats often have unpredictable build qualities and a lower resale value.

For the most part, the production boats, even if they are custom or semi-custom models, have fewer problems. But issues with weak welds do pop up from time to time.

Finally, if you’re in the market for a used aluminum sailboat, you will likely need to search for a while. There aren’t many companies making them, and only a handful are built and sold each year. They are out there, but you’re going to have a very short list of options.

For example, a quick look at Yachtworld shows that for used sailboats between 30 and 50 feet long, there are currently listed the following.

• 5,665 Fiberglass or composite boats
• 87 Aluminum
• 9 Ferro cement

Best Aluminum Sailboat Makers

The original aluminum blue water sailboat was made famous by cruising legend Jimmy Cornell. Cornell did a five-year circumnavigation on Aventura III, an Ovni 43 .

Ovnis are centerboard yachts with shallow drafts. They have distinctive double hard chines on the hull and a go-anywhere look that feels as much at home anchored in a French Polynesian lagoon as it does tie to an iceberg in Patagonia.

Ovnis are built by Alubat, a French builder of several types of aluminum boats. They are currently marketing their new aluminum catamaran Ovnicat 48 , which will turn a few heads.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hobo Sailing Boat (@hobo_sailingboat)

Garcia makes expedition yachts between 45 and 60 feet. Their Exploration range of monohulls features raised salons and sleek lines that make them look like production fiberglass boats. Their boats feature centerboards and can be dried out thanks to their protected running gear and double rudders.

Garcia also makes a catamaran, the Explorcat 52 , and one-off designs for custom clients. Garcia yachts are built in France.

Kanter is a Canadian builder of top-quality aluminum yachts, both power, sail, and commercial vessels. Their pilothouse sailboats, available in sizes from 47 to 80, are as sleek as any fiberglass boat and built to go anywhere. Several designs come from the table of yacht designer Chuck Paine. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Grabau International (@grabauyachts)

Futuna, also built in France, makes expedition monohulls between 50 and 70 feet long. Their boats tend to look more like ocean racers, with a focus on performance.

Boreal yachts are unmistakable with their half-dome-shaped dodgers. The Boreal 44 has won numerous “sailboat of the year” awards. Boreal yachts have centerboards and can be dried out.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anne G Dørum (@feelgoodbyanne)

Meta has a storied past. They built Bernard Moitessier’s Joshua , the boat made famous in the book The Long Way . Today they build semi-custom and custom aluminum blue water and expedition boats in both power and sail.

Another popular French builder of aluminum yachts is Allures yachting. Their boats are between 40 and 50 feet in length and feature a similar centerboard design as the Ovni, Boreal, and some Garcias.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Williams&SmithellsYachtBrokers (@williamssmithellsyachtbrokers)

Van de Stadt is not a boat brand but rather a famous Dutch yacht designer. Many of his plans were built in steel or aluminum, so it’s not uncommon to see Van de Stadts listed for sale.

Another famous designer of aluminum sailboats was German Kurt Reinke. Many of his boats are smaller and feature twin or bilge lifting keels.

If you’re in the market for an expedition yacht, looking at a circumnavigation, or are interested in sailing in high latitudes, an aluminum blue water sailboat is worth a look. Of course, like any yacht, they have their pluses and minus. But the peace of mind you’ll get from driving a nearly indestructible go-anywhere vessel is hard to beat.

How long do aluminum sailboats last?

If properly cared for, an aluminum sailboat has no particular lifespan. Several manufacturers offer lifetime warranties on their hulls. If the hull is well built and protected from corrosion, there is no reason that it couldn’t last forever.

What is the best material for a sailboat?

Most sailboats in the world today are built with fiberglass. It is inexpensive, easy to build with, and easy to repair. In addition, it is strong in its weight ratio and resistant to corrosion and deterioration. But unfortunately, it does not survive impacts well, and it is easily scratched or cracked by docks or rocks. Aluminum sailboats are considered much more robust. A well-built aluminum sailboat does not need to worry about getting scratched or damaged during regular use. Many sailors looking for expedition yachts consider aluminum the best material for these sailboats. Of course, each material has advantages and disadvantages.

What is the best hull material for a sailboat?

Most boats are built with fiberglass because it is generally considered the best overall value. When used to make the hull of a sailboat, it produces a rigid structure and is easy and less expensive to manufacture. However, it is protected by a delicate gelcoat layer, which will deteriorate over time. More expensive yachts favor metal construction for longevity. The best material for sailboats is aluminum, which can last forever if taken care of. It is much less likely to sustain damage like scratches or cracks than fiberglass.

Do aluminum boats last forever?

It is theoretically possible for an aluminum boat to last forever, as long as it is well cared for. Aluminum boats are sensitive to corrosion issues. But with regular maintenance, these boats can easily outlive their crews.

Matt has been boating around Florida for over 25 years in everything from small powerboats to large cruising catamarans. He currently lives aboard a 38-foot Cabo Rico sailboat with his wife Lucy and adventure dog Chelsea. Together, they cruise between winters in The Bahamas and summers in the Chesapeake Bay.

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VESSEL REVIEW | Sinichka – Electric commuter boats designed for Russia’s Moskva River

A series of three new electric monohull commuter ferries have already begun operational sailings on the Moskva River in the Russian capital Moscow.

Built by Russian shipyard Emperium, sister vessels Sinichka , Filka , and Presnya – all named after rivers in Moscow – are being operated by the Moscow Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development (Moscow Deptrans). They are the first units of a planned fleet of 20 vessels that will serve the capital city and other nearby communities. The new ferry system will be the water transport system to be operated on the Moskva River in 16 years.

Each vessel has a welded aluminium hull, an LOA of 21 metres, a beam of 6.2 metres, a draught of only 1.4 metres, a displacement of 40 tonnes, and capacity for 80 passengers plus two crewmembers. Seating is available for 42 passengers on each ferry, and the main cabins are also fitted with USB charging ports, wifi connectivity, tables, toilets, and space for bicycles and scooters. The cabin layout can be rearranged to allow the operator to adjust the distances between the seats and to install armrests of varying widths.

An open upper deck is also accessible to passengers and is the only area on each ferry where smoking is allowed.

The ferries are all of modular construction with each ferry’s wheelhouse, main cabin, and other structural elements being built as complete, separate components. This enables the ferries to be easily dismantled for transport to anywhere in Russia by rail and then quickly re-assembled within seven days.

The ferries are also ice-capable. Recently completed operational trials on the Moskva showed that the vessels can also easily navigate under mild winter conditions with broken surface ice, though year-round operations are planned for the entire fleet.

The ferries are each fitted with 500kWh lithium iron phosphate battery packs that supply power to two 134kW motors. This configuration can deliver a maximum speed of 11.8 knots, a cruising speed of just under 10 knots, and a range of 150 kilometres.

Emperium said the transfer of rotation of electric motors to the propeller is carried out by direct drive. As a propulsion installation, a pulling rotary propeller-steering column with double screws is used. The installation of double pulling screws, with similar power, allows an operator to increase the efficiency of the propulsion system to deliver a slightly higher speed or to reduce energy consumption. This arrangement also provides the ferries with enhanced manoeuvrability necessary for navigating in close quarters.

The batteries themselves have projected service lives of 10 to 12 years and are fitted with safety features such as built-in fire extinguishers and gas vents. Quick-disconnect features allow the batteries to be easily removed for replacement or maintenance.

Some of our readers have expressed disquiet at our publication of reviews and articles describing new vessels from Russia. We at Baird Maritime can understand and sympathise with those views. However, despite the behaviour of the country’s leaders, we believe that the maritime world needs to learn of the latest developments in vessel design and construction there.

Click here to read other news stories, features, opinion articles, and vessel reviews as part of this month’s Passenger Vessel Week.

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Tags: Emperium Filka Moscow Moscow Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development Moskva River Presnya Russia Sinichka WBW newbuild

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