Nimbus’ C11 is like many boats in that she’s a 40’7” (12.36 m) boat with a primary mission of being a commuter that can ferry a captain and eight passengers in protected confines with excellent views of the outdoors, including overhead. The Swedish manufacturer also designed her to be a versatile day boat with convertible lounges and outdoor gathering areas fore and aft. Belowdecks, she can even sleep four and has a full galley plus a private head with a standup shower. More...
Formula was one of the first manufacturers to build a bowrider longer than 30’ (9.14 m) with the 310 Bowrider. In 2021, the company evolved the genre by offering the boat with twin outboards as well as sterndrives and making available a fiberglass hardtop. The hardtop is expensive – $40k – but we strongly recommend it because of the tremendous added utility it provides. Like the company’s larger offerings, the hardtop has an opening sunroof and it can be equipped with a SureShade retractable awning for protection to the swim platform. More...
The 2020 Prestige 630 Fly, PaMzy, is a low-hour (200) flying bridge yacht that has an extended warranty on the Volvo Penta IPS950s until 2025. She has a Seakeeper gyroscopic stabilizer and triple Raymarine Axiom 16L displays at the main helm with two at the upper station. A third joystick in the cockpit helps facilitate docking. For extended cruises, she has an upgraded 99,000-BTU tropical air conditioning system and a 600-gallon-per-day (2,271.24 L) watermaker. More...
The Grand Banks 60 rides on a semi-displacement bottom that underwent thorough tank testing in Australia. She has a low center of gravity and a 19’2” (5.85 m) beam further helps enhance her stability. She’s laminated with weight savings and strength in mind with resin-infused E-glass and Gurit closed-cell foam coring. A couple that wants to make long passages without additional crew would do well to take a long hard look, or better yet, put down a deposit because the waiting list is long. More...
A screenshot from Marine Tracking shows the exact location of Roman Abramovich’s 531’ (162 m) at 4:15 pm yesterday anchored off St. Martin.
One of the downsides of owning the second largest superyacht in the world is that she’s hard to hide. So, why not just leave the AIS on? After we suggested yesterday that Russian oligarchs would be turning off their AIS transponders, a trusty reader in Greenwich, CT, called to say that he had found her anchored off the coast of St. Martin. But, owner Roman Abramovich has yet to make the sanction list, so it’s paradise as usual.
Ukrainian Sailor Tries to Sink Oligarch’s Superyacht
A Ukrainian mechanic who had worked on an oligarch’s superyacht for 10 years took matters into his own hands.
Taras Ostapchuk, 55, took umbrage at Russia’s attack on his homeland, opened through-hull valves in the engine room and forward cabin to scuttle his boss’s megayacht in Mallorca two days ago. Owner Alexander Mikheev was well known for making and exporting missiles and other armaments. But what happened to the aggrieved crewman? More...
A building turned to rubble in the city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine yesterday as Russia began targeting civilian housing and government buildings.
Yesterday we reported that three RIB makers located in or near Kharkiv were not answering their telephones. Kharkiv is close to the Russian border and was the first large Ukrainian city to be attacked. Happily, our friends at IBI (International Boating Industry) are reporting that they have received word from distributors and importers that the staffs of all three companies – BRIG, GRAND and GALA – are safe, but production has stopped. When we talked to the BRIG spokesman at FLIBS in late October, he said the company was back-ordered for a year.
We invite all BoatTEST members to visit the BRIG, GRAND and GALA RIB websites. We think you will be impressed with what you discover there. Pre-war, all three of the companies were searching for more dealers, so now would be a good time to show support.
Despite the importance of modern options such as EPIRBs, PLBs and Digital Selective Calling (DSC), old-school visual distress signals remain both relevant and are the only type of distress signals boaters are required by law to have onboard. Here’s a look at the types of approved visual distress signals available, along with the pros and cons associated with each. More...
ePropulsion, a Chinese marine electric propulsion systems and services company, has announced record sales revenue growth in 2021 and forecasts a strong outlook for 2022. The company says it sold more than 15,000 units worldwide and estimates even more growth in 2022 as more boat owners and boat manufacturers look to get involved in more sustainable, greener, propulsion systems. More...
Having trouble getting a test drive in a 30-something dual-console? Dealer backorders have almost made them a thing of the past. But why pay $240,000 or more for a boat you haven’t even experienced? If you are thinking about buying a Robalo R317, or any other dual console brand in this size range, you could be doing yourself and your family a huge favor by taking a test drive on one of the best on the market. Use it as a benchmark. Sovereign Boat Club’s Robalo R317 is available in Bradenton, FL. It costs just $450 for a two-hour test drive to cover the captain, fuel, insurance, etc. By appointment only. Email here or text/call: 727-200-3474.
Photo Of The Day
"Sunrise at Port 32 Jacksonville at Ortega Landing, Ortega River, Jacksonville, FL."
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