Sunseeker’s latest Ocean model designations are based on gross tonnage. Whether we call these yachts enclosed flys or mini tridecks, they offer a lot more volume than conventional designs of the same length. In fact, the second of these models, the Ocean 156, has a length overall of 82 feet, 6 inches, but is substantially bigger in gross tonnage than Sunseeker’s 95 Yacht or 100 Yacht.

The advantage with this approach is the amount of space on the main deck. The helm on the Ocean 156 is on the enclosed upper deck, along with a good-size sky lounge, which means the main salon is all about the guests. It has not only a pair of conventional doors leading aft to the cockpit, but also a similar setup forward, allowing passage to a foredeck terrace with a pair of sofas. Yes, there’s an air seal on those front doors to keep them watertight, and guests get a walk-through experience from bow to stern with 360-degree views through the glazing.

Even the staircases up and down are enclosed in glass. Guests can also walk completely around the main deck outside without having to negotiate steps. Side-deck doors amidships help with guest and crew flow, and the bulwarks amidships have long glass panels for allowing natural light to shine through.

The standard main-deck layout has lounge and dining areas with an open bar and galley to starboard. Some owners may prefer the galley aft or want a main-deck owner’s space. The latter option would increase the yacht’s four staterooms to five but hinder that wondrous walk-through design. Sunseeker says that of the 156s sold to date, 40 percent have amidships galleys, 40 percent have galleys aft, and just one has a main-deck owner’s stateroom.

Interior color schemes are contemporary, with light and dark options from the UK studio Design Unlimited in association with Sunseeker’s in-house creative team.

The Ocean 156’s semi-displacement hull is fulsome. The maximum beam extends slightly farther forward than the beam on the 4-foot-longer Sunseeker 88 Yacht, and the beam itself on the Ocean 156 adds 3 inches. That may not sound like a lot, but I could feel the generosity of space as I moved around the new model.

Belowdecks, the four guest staterooms are en suite. Three have double berths, and one has twins. The grander double spans the full beam amidships. In the absence of a main-deck owner’s stateroom, it would be the obvious choice, with rectangular picture windows, a forward-facing super-king berth, a sofa, a vanity/desk and a dressing room. Another double-berth stateroom is in the bow with great headroom. Quarters for two crew are near the engine room.

Power-wise, the Ocean 156 is available with twin 1,300 hp MAN V-8 or twin 1,650 hp V-12 diesels. Of the first 15 boats sold to dealers, just one, bound for Hong Kong, had the standard engines with a top reported speed of 20 to 21 knots. The hull that I got aboard had the bigger blocks, delivering 25 knots at half-load, with a likely range of 950 nautical miles at 10 knots or 350 nm at 20 knots.

My experience at the upper-deck helm included superb visibility with a real connection to the outside world via a sunroof, a drop-down window to starboard and a sliding door to port. There’s a gyrostabilizer option, but this Ocean 156 had Interceptor trim tabs and electric Humphree All Speed fin stabilizers set farther aft than usual. They reduced pitch and heel through surprisingly quick turns while keeping the bow up.

This yacht is quiet too, with V-boxes that allow the engines to be located well aft. I registered just 57 decibels at 19 knots, and only 59 decibels at full chat at the helm—figures lower than the level of normal conversation. And at speeds below 12 knots, I got even lower readings.

For exploring ashore, the yacht’s hydraulic swim platform is large enough for a 14-foot jet tender along with a personal watercraft.

To me, though, it was the interior on the Ocean 156 that made a real statement. I imagine we will soon see other builders copy this design approach. That’s how good it felt to be aboard.  

Feeling is Believing

Calling a yacht “light and airy” is a cliché, but light and air are hugely important on board, and the Sunseeker Ocean 156 has a startling amount of both. In my 35 years as a yachting journalist, I have never been aboard any three-deck yacht with an enclosed main deck that had more light, more access to air or better views.

In Motion

Power-wise, the Ocean 156 is available with twin 1,300 hp MAN V-8 or twin 1,650 hp V-12 diesels.

Choices, Choices

The Ocean 156 that I got aboard had twin 17.5-kilowatt Cummins-Onan generators. The standard setup has one 29 kW genset. A bow thruster is also standard, with a stern-thruster option. Owners can also have a second pilot seat, as well as display upgrades such as two 22-inch Garmin touchscreens instead of the standard 16-inch units.  

Inside Matters

There was a light, contemporary interior with a white-gray oak sole and midtone walnut veneers on the Ocean 156 I got aboard, which was bound for the Mediterranean. Other schemes include dark walnut, light oak, smoked eucalyptus and flame mahogany. Sunseeker says half the orders so far have been with light schemes.

Take the next step: sunseeker.com

The post Sunseeker Ocean 156 Reviewed appeared first on Yachting.

Fish tales are the best tales. We’re told that some of them are occasionally even true. But whether it’s a story about the catch of a lifetime or the one that got away, it all starts with getting out there.

It doesn’t matter if you’re the hardest of the hardcore tournament fishermen heading out in any weather to find your quarry because that’s the day you have to fish, or if you’re a fair-weather angler who goes when it’s light and variable. The thrill of feeling a fish pulling on the other end of the line is the same.

A solid center-console is one of the best ways to get out there. From speed to style to pure fishability, the following six vessels are ready to take you to where your next fish tale starts.

Aquila 47 Molokai

Run Far, Run Fast

The Aquila 47 Molokai’s power options range from standard twin 600 hp Mercury Verados up to quad 400 hp Mercury outboards. When Yachting ran the 47 Molokai, we saw a top speed of 60-plus knots with the quads. At 47 knots, range is 600 nautical miles.

Rigged to Fish

For live-bait aficionados, there are two 42.5-gallon transom livewells. There’s also a 53-inch-wide casting platform, two 50-gallon aft-deck fish boxes, 510 gallons of total fish-box space amidships, and two 74-gallon coffin boxes forward. Whether it’s bigeyes or baitfish, there’s room for everything and then some. There’s also a cockpit bait-prep station and no less than 34 rod holders spread out among the gunwales, transom and hardtop. Just add outriggers.

Notable Features

The Aquila 47 Molokai has a double-stepped hull form that slices a seaway while its increased center tunnel clearance reduces sneezing. Construction is a vinylester-resin-infused hull and deck, as well as carbon-fiber primary bulkheads forward and aft.

Axopar 29 CCX

New Horizons

Finnish boatbuilder Axopar created the adventure-boating concept, and its Axopar 29 CCX expands the company’s boundary-breaking design with this fishing-focused craft.

Have It Your Way

Axopar offers numerous options to fine-tune the 29 CCX’s angling experience. Some of the amenities include a 33-gallon livewell abaft the helm seats, an 18.5-gallon livewell to port, a 19-gallon macerated fish box forward, a tackle station, a foldable aft leaning post with six rod holders, and four in-gunwale rod holders. Up to 16 rod holders can be added, and the builder can prep the boat for a trolling motor.

Built for Seas and Speed

The Axopar 29 CCX’s twin-stepped hull has a knifelike entry with a 20-degree transom deadrise. The lean-forward hardtop and three-sided glass enclosure provide protection from the elements. Raised bulwarks ensure safe transit around the boat in the chop. Power options are a single 350 to 400 hp Mercury Verado V-10 or twin 200 hp Mercury V-6 outboards. Top speed is reportedly 50 knots.

Contender 29Bay

Inside or Outside

Don’t let the name 29Bay fool you. This Contender Bay series flagship—there’s also a 23- and a 26-footer—is equally at home running off to cobalt waters in search of pelagics or stalking the shallows, thanks to its 16-inch draft.

Fishin’ Is the Mission

Wherever the day’s piscatorial pursuits lead, the Contender 29Bay has an armada of standard and optional angling gear to be ready for whatever is around. Standard equipment includes two 30-gallon in-sole fish boxes aft, two 26-gallon transom livewells, an 85-gallon fish box forward, casting platforms fore and aft, and an aluminum leaning post with four rod holders. Some options include a hardtop or soft top with rod holders, electric reel outlets, an upgraded leaning post with an extra livewell, Power-Poles, a trolling motor and outriggers.

Range to Roam

The 29Bay accommodates up to 700 hp. With a 185-gallon fuel capacity, the builder says, maximum range is 400 nautical miles. A standard Seakeeper Ride system ensures those are smooth miles.

Grady-White Canyon 386

It Starts With the Ride

The Grady-White Canyon 386 has the North Carolina boatbuilder’s SeaV2 hull form, with a wave-slicing entry that transitions to an ever-changing variable-deadrise form to ensure a softer ride in the chop. Deadrise at the transom is 20 degrees. The hull and deck are built with hand-laid fiberglass.

Triple Threat

Power options for the Canyon 386 include triple 350 hp or 450 hp Yamaha outboards. With the larger motors, this center-console has a top-end speed of 52.5 knots at 6,000 rpm. At 4,000 rpm, cruise speed is 33.8 knots with a 45.4 gph fuel burn. Fuel capacity is 410 gallons. The most efficient cruise speed is 26 knots, and fuel burn is 30.3 gph.

Get Catching

Designed from the get-go as a hardcore fishing boat, the Canyon 386 includes two 35-gallon livewells, two 149-quart in-sole fish boxes, a 291-quart fish box aft with a chill plate, 10 rod holders, four underwater LEDs, and a lean bar with a rigging station, sink and six rod holders. Options include 18-foot Gemlux outriggers and four hull colors.

Scout Boats 377 LXF

Style Meets Substance

The Scout Boats 377 LXF’s broad bow flare and sweeping sheerline catch the eye, but there’s a lot more beneath this center-console’s surface. Directly speaking, there’s a twin-stepped hull form that creates an efficient running surface with a 19.5-degree transom deadrise. There’s also a lithium-ion battery system to power all hotel loads silently, eliminating the need for a generator. Construction is equally modern with carbon-fiber-infused epoxy, creating a strong and relatively lightweight structure. Dry weight is 14,120 pounds.

Ready to Fish

The 377 LXF has a 30-gallon livewell, two in-sole fish boxes aft, and 12 flush-mounted gunwale rod holders. Eighteen- or 20-foot Taco outriggers are available to round out the offshore angling arsenal.

Ready, Set, Run

Owners can choose twin 600 hp Mercury Verados or triple 400 hp Mercurys. With the twins, top speed is about 59 knots with a 38.6-knot cruise speed. With the triples, top hop is about the same and best cruise is around 34.5 knots.

Tiara Yachts 48 LS

Dial It In

Tiara Yachts adopted a cockpit-module concept with its 48 LS, enabling owners to outfit their boat however they live their life on the water. With regard to fishing, owners can select the Adventure Module, which provides a 30-gallon livewell, a cutting board, four rod holders, stowage boxes, tool holders and more. Other angling options include 2o-foot Taco carbon-fiber outriggers and a hardtop rocket launcher with seven rod holders.

Get Up and Go

The Tiara 48 LS has triple 600 hp Mercury Verados. According to the builder, top speed is 50.8 knots. It’s a virtual tie for most efficient cruise speed at 33.3 and 38.3 knots, which results in 0.51 and 0.49 nautical mile per gallon, respectively. Maximum range at these speeds are 302 nm and 293 nm, respectively.

Finer Things

Belowdecks, there’s a queen berth forward and an amidships stateroom with twins. A 9 kW Kohler diesel genset powers the 48 LS away from the dock. The foredeck lounge is the place to relax after a day of catching dinner with the family.

The post Top Fishing Tenders For 2025 appeared first on Yachting.

Australian boatbuilder Maritimo is well-known for crafting rugged, long-range vessels. Its boats are built to tackle the demanding waters of the land Down Under, where sheltered harbors are few and the seas can be unforgiving.

It’s a hard-won reputation earned over more than 22 years. Maritimo’s latest release—the M600 Offshore Flybridge Motor Yacht—made its US debut at this year’s Palm Beach International Boat Show. Fans of the brand lined the docks for a firsthand look, and they were not disappointed.

Like every Maritimo, the M600 is engineered for adventure, emphasizing a robust design and extended cruising capabilities. True to the builder’s “keep it simple” philosophy, the yacht is powered by twin 800 hp Volvo Penta D13 engines with straight shafts positioned at an efficient 8-degree angle, minimizing draft to less than 5 feet and increasing options to explore remote anchorages. Performance-minded owners can opt for upgraded 1,000 hp D13s.

The M600 is also designed for extended cruising, with 1,200 gallons of fuel distributed across three tanks—a 607-gallon centerline tank and two wing tanks—strategically placed to lower the vessel’s center of gravity and further enhance stability. In another nod to simplicity, refueling all three takes place from a single fill point located on each side of the vessel.

Abaft the climate-controlled enclosed bridge, the flybridge deck provides more than 118 square feet of protected outdoor space, with an aft station and a retractable rear awning. Optional clear inserts can convert this area into a hybrid indoor-outdoor space. It’s equipped with a sink, grill and top-loading refrigeration, along with seating for family and friends to chat with the cook until lunch is ready.

The M600’s three-stateroom, two-head layout maximizes the interior space within the 17-foot-​2-inch beam. Forward is an offset queen stateroom with an adjoining en suite. The offset berth arrangement provides greater practicality for guests to walk around the berth without navigating steps. To starboard, a twin-berth stateroom offers flexibility, with the option for the inner bed to slide outboard, forming a double. Amidships, the full-beam, king-berth master stateroom showcases the brand’s signature panoramic hullside windows.

“We’re thrilled to introduce the M600 to the North American market,” says Keith Teynor, Maritimo’s managing partner for the Americas. “It embodies everything that makes a Maritimo special: exceptional accommodations, fit-and-​​finish, volume and seakeeping ability. For many owners, it marks the beginning of an incredible journey, and we’re committed to supporting them every step of the way.”

For those who are drawn to adventures that lay far beyond the conventional cruising grounds, the Maritimo M600 Offshore Flybridge Motor Yacht is well worth a closer look.

Take the next step: maritimoamericas.com

The post Introducing the Maritimo M600 appeared first on Yachting.

The first thing that catches my eye as I walk into the Zin Boats production facility in Seattle is the Z11, a 36-foot all-electric tender the company built for Feadship’s Project 821. The Z11’s carbon-fiber lines are distinctive, and its trim looks sophisticated. Piotr Zin, the company’s founder and CEO, opens a hatch in the cockpit sole to reveal a machined-aluminum case with labeled orange cables extending from its port and starboard flanks.

“That’s the Magic Box,” Zin says, smiling.

Zin Boats—which builds high-end tenders and vessels—aims to sell its electric-drive technologies to third parties to help the boating world transition from internal-combustion engines to electric propulsion. Many of these technologies are showcased aboard the Z11, which Zin says is the world’s fastest electric tender with the world’s leading range.

According to the builder, the boat exceeds 52 knots and has a range exceeding 100 nautical miles under normal operating conditions.

To power the Z11, Zin Boats worked with Xerotech, an Irish company that builds lithium-ion batteries considered so safe, they are being used aboard the International Space Station. “There’s no cell-to-cell heat propagation,” Zin says.

Additionally, Zin created a multilayer safety approach, including a material that lines the Z11’s steel battery case, liquid cooling, and software that monitors and manages the batteries.

Controlling DC power is another critical aspect of any electric vehicle, and Zin says this is where the Magic Box shines. While electric vehicles typically have multiple control boxes that govern and distribute power, Zin Boats created a single box that sits between the battery and the motors, and tackles everything from power control to charging.

It will push anything from 48 volts to 1,000 volts, Zin says. Currently, the highest power that can run through it is 1,000 kilowatts, or 1 megawatt.

While 1 megawatt is a lot of juice, the key is safety. Zin says the Magic Box talks to every high-voltage component before it allows high-voltage power to flow from the batteries. “There’s a very sophisticated communication and handshake between all of the parts and pieces inside the boat that basically confirms that the boat is safe and ready to go,” Zin says.

This same safety focus also applies to charging the batteries.

“The Magic Box has multiple high-voltage inputs and outputs,” Zin says. “On the one end, it talks to and takes energy from the battery. On the other end, it talks to and takes energy from a DC-to-DC charger. The Magic Box also has the capability of talking to the AC-to-DC chargers and controlling those.”

The Z11’s Magic Box has about 40 temperature sensors, controls cooling, and has a centralized vehicle control unit that allows the Magic Box to communicate with upstream and downstream systems, ranging from chargers to joystick steering.

Zin Boats markets two versions of the Magic Box: a 400-volt system and an 800-volt system. These work with single and dual motors, respectively. The 400-volt system liquid-cools its batteries, while the 800-volt system liquid-cools its Magic Box and batteries.

“It’s the heart behind this whole thing,” Zin says of the Magic Box. “Our engineers designed and developed the circuit board that is inside it.”

While it’s easy to think that the Feadship owner who ordered the Z11 funded the development of these technologies, Zin says the order simply sped up the development. “We would have done this regardless,” Zin says, noting that the company began creating these technologies years before the Z11 project.

Zin describes the tech as a universal propulsion system, which he equated to a 1950s-style outboard engine and fuel canister. The propulsion system is intended to be plug-and-play.

Zin Boats already has agreements in place with well-known third-party builders. Zin says: “We want to keep pushing the electrification, not just on our boats, but on everybody else’s boats.”

Under the Keel

The Z11’s hull, by designer Patrick Banfield, is also innovative. Rather than having long strakes, the Z11’s hull form is shaped more like a high-performance sailboat. Piotr Zin, the founder and CEO of Zin Boats, says this design reduces wetted surface area and drag, increasing the boat’s range.

The UI Factor

Zin Boats worked with Raymarine, in part to provide the Magic Box’s user interface. The interface resides on a Raymarine module, which can plug-and-play with any Raymarine display.

What’s Next?

Zin Boats plans to build more models that use the company’s technologies, and it plans to sell those technologies to other manufacturers in the marine market and possibly others as well.

Take the next step: zinboats.com

The post Zin Boats Z11 Electric Tender appeared first on Yachting.

Having spent hundreds of hours as a tournament angler aboard various Viking sport-fishermen over the years, with much of that time in the cockpit of the original Viking 74, I looked forward to checking out the updated version prior to its debut at this year’s Miami International Boat Show.

For more than 60 years, Viking Yacht Company has been a leader in the semi-custom sport-fish market, thanks to virtually nonstop development of new boats and the constant evolution of existing models. Case in point: the Viking 74 Convertible.

The first-generation 74, built from 2004 through 2008, was a highly sought-after model for its onboard comfort, long-range capability and excellent fishability. That model also had a top speed of 37 knots with twin 2,000 hp MTUs, making it among the fastest sport-fishers on the water. Speed jumped to 40 knots when 2,400 hp engines became available.

The new second-gen 74-footer has the advantage of even more horsepower—2,600 hp MTUs—plus a variety of hull design improvements. It’s also available with the Advanced Viking Propulsion System, which utilizes struts and rudders with modified shapes to minimize hydrodynamic resistance and improve performance.

Looking for more luxury fishing yachts? Here are 13 you need to check out:
Top 13 Luxury Sport Fishing Yachts You Need to See

Computational fluid dynamics helped the Viking design team refine a number of elements on the new boat, including the longitudinal center of gravity, hull resistance and trim angle. Viking’s team also modified the running surface, with strakes and chines that are particularly aggressive for increased lift and spray deflection. The boat’s length-to-beam ratio was dialed in for improved ride quality.

The hull—as well as fuel, water and waste tanks, and all structural bulkheads—is constructed with resin infusion. A variety of core materials are used, with specific densities depending on their location. Carbon fiber helps to make sure the boat is strong and fast.

I had the opportunity to check out the Viking 74 in southern Florida, and I came away thoroughly impressed with the new design.

The first thing I noticed was performance. Every angler knows that if you can be the first one to reach the fish in the morning, or have the ability to move in a hurry when a hot bite turns on over the horizon, you have a distinct advantage, especially on the big-money tournament circuit. The Viking 74C that I got aboard had an optimal fast cruising speed of 37.6 knots at 2,100 rpm with the optional twin 2,635 hp MTU 16V 2000 M96L engines. This speed yielded a range of 352 nautical miles with a standard fuel load of 2,030 gallons and a 5 percent safety reserve.

Backing off the throttles a bit to 1,700 rpm and 28 knots let the range climb to 406 nautical miles. Still not enough? The optional 600 gallons of additional fuel capacity will let this yacht run even farther.

We saw calm seas and light winds off Palm Beach, Florida, so we were able to wring out the big Viking’s top end. At 2,456 rpm, the boat hit 45 knots with ease. It also carved turns with aplomb and backed down rapidly in any direction, at a clip much faster than most anglers can wind the reel.

In fact, the 74 will be part of the builder’s factory demonstrator fishing team for this summer and beyond, so expect to see it at tournaments along the East Coast and in Bermuda.

Back at the dock for a full walk-through, my first impression of the teak-topped cockpit was its size: 216 square feet of fish-fighting room for a team of anglers to spread out. Two full-length in-deck fish boxes are to port and starboard, with a centerline hatch for easy access to the optional Seakeeper gyrostabilizer. The transom has a fish box that can also be used as a livewell to keep a full day’s supply of bait ready to go. The unlimited-class Release Marine fighting chair can be swapped out for a multirod rocket launcher when the day calls for lighter tackle.

Moving into the salon, I liked the North American walnut used for the woodwork throughout. It is enhanced by dimmable strip lighting recessed in the overhead. The woodwork can be finished in gloss or satin. (I prefer the latter, since it tends to hide fingerprints better.)

With 80 inches of headroom throughout the boat, it feels spacious, open and inviting. A day head is immediately to port after entering from the cockpit. The galley is offered in two configurations: the standard U-shaped layout with a wraparound lounge, and an open version with an island counter and lounge on the starboard side.

The 74’s standard accommodation plan consists of four staterooms, each with an en suite head and a separate shower. The layout also has a dedicated rod-and-tackle room, with stowage for fishing gear and a workbench for maintaining everything in good working order.

For those who enjoy chasing billfish, tuna and other pelagic species in the deep blue waters of the world, there are a select few semi-custom boatbuilders that produce vessels with the right combination of performance, accommodations, luxury and eye-catching style. This iteration of the 74C once again puts Viking Yachts at the top of that list.  

The Legacy

Viking Yacht Company has been building luxury performance sport-fishing and cruising yachts for more than six decades. Founded by brothers Bob and Bill Healey in 1964 when they bought Peterson Viking—at the time, a builder of 37-foot wooden sport-fishing boats—Viking has grown to become a world leader in semi-custom fiberglass yacht production. The yard has delivered more than 5,500 vessels. The current fleet includes more than a dozen models from 38 to 90 feet.

Vertical Integration

More than 90 percent of every Viking is built in-house by the yard’s workforce at its 880,000-square-foot facility in New Gretna, New Jersey. Viking subsidiaries Atlantic Marine Electronics, Palm Beach Towers and Viking Yacht Service Center in Riviera Beach, Florida, work with the builder to outfit vessels with optional electronics, tops, towers and accessories, making the boats virtually turnkey for buyers who can add bait and go fishing.

Take the next step: vikingyachts.com

The post Viking Yachts 74 Convertible Reviewed appeared first on Yachting.

Growing up, I learned that there were times when it was best to give my dad maximum leeway. One example was anything involving the boat’s systems or electronics. While my dad has a Ph.D. in physics, electronics and systems were clunkier animals decades ago. Accessing information or troubleshooting often involved poorly written manuals.

Today, we have NMEA 2000 networking capabilities and Maretron’s WSV100 MConnect HTML 5 web server. They make it much easier to control onboard systems and devices, and to diagnose issues by tapping glass.

The past decade has seen numerous monitor, track and control systems introduced to the marine-electronics market. Maretron’s MConnect ($600) has one foot in this world: It provides the M and C, but it’s not “just” a troubleshooting tool. Instead, MConnect uses smart networking and clever software to give owners and captains access to more than 400 NMEA 2000 data points. The setup allows them to see—and sometimes control—what’s happening aboard their vessel via customizable graphical user interfaces. These interfaces can be accessed via compatible multifunction displays or any browser-enabled device, so long as the MConnect can share its data locally or with the internet.

In terms of hardware, MConnect’s black box is built out of ABS plastic with an aluminum backside that acts as a heat sink and has an IP67 water-ingress rating. Its overall dimensions measure 2.68-by-6-by-4.04 inches, which includes four screw-mount holes.

Connectivity-wise, each MConnect has two NMEA 2000 Micro-C ports, a serial port (users can switch between RS-485 and RS-232 protocols), a USB 3.0 port, an RJ45 Ethernet port and a power-cable port (9-30 volts). The power, Ethernet and both N2K connections each have dedicated LEDs that give at-a-glance status reports.

Additionally, MConnect systems have built-in Wi-Fi (2.4 gigahertz and 5 GHz) and Bluetooth (5.0 and BLE) capabilities, as well as HTML 5 web browsers.

MConnect’s N2K ports are designed to communicate with two discrete N2K networks. This allows users to connect a navigational network to one N2K port while connecting a vessel-monitoring network to the other. MConnect doesn’t bridge data between the two networks, but it does let users see data from different networks displayed on the same page.

Users have several options for networking, sharing and displaying MConnect-created user interfaces. For yachts that navigate using PCs, owners can connect a wireless router, such as Maretron’s E2500, to the MConnect’s Ethernet port and then access data wirelessly. (MConnect has built-in Wi-Fi that’s expected to be activated in a future software update.)

For yachts that navigate with a compatible multifunction display, owners can connect a nav display to MConnect via an Ethernet cable.

Or, for yacht owners who want to access MConnect data through an MFD and wireless devices, MConnect can be networked to the MFD via Ethernet, and a USB-to-Ethernet adapter can be plugged into the USB port and then networked with a wireless router. This option also opens the door to connecting MConnect with a yacht’s satellite-communications system.

Finally, users can network an MFD to MConnect via Ethernet and use the USB port to connect a 4G dongle, which supplies connectivity to the MConnect. This option—as well as networking schemes that involve the vessel’s satcom system—allows users to access MConnect data from anywhere using a wireless device and Maretron’s Telemetric Cloud Service.

MConnect users also can add a free Tailscale virtual private network to the system to ensure that onboard data remains secure.

“The majority of users will access the data locally via a compatible MFD, but we are seeing more and more remotely operated vessels looking at the MConnect as their solution for remote operation,” says Jim Catterall, Maretron business development manager.

Once MConnect is installed and networked, the web server takes NMEA PGNs (parameter group number, a code that identifies specific network data) and converts them into colorful and high-definition graphical user interfaces that are easy to customize and understand. These interfaces can be displayed on compatible and networked MFDs, as well as on any device with a browser. As many as four users can simultaneously access MConnect data; remote users need to install the Tailscale VPN onto their devices to access these graphical user interfaces.

Each MConnect has 87 screen components, which are like reusable building blocks—for example, buttons—that can be used to build a graphical user interface. Components include 72 out-of-the-box options and 15 user-defined options that let users add their own custom graphics. Users can, for example, build a page that displays engine data such as temperature, rpm and fuel-tank levels, with green, yellow and red zones on the gauges to best match a vessel’s characteristics. The overall idea is not just to customize how data can be viewed, but also to have at-a-glance views for whatever the yacht owner believes is most important to keep an eye on.

MConnect also can be integrated with a yacht’s N2K digital-switching systems, allowing users to create actionable scenarios. For example, users can create an underway mode, where MConnect monitors the engine-room temperature and automatically turns on the circuit breakers that control the engine-room fans.

Alternatively, users can leverage a digital-switching system to gain manual control over onboard systems. For example, in the description of the custom-built engine-data interface, they could add a virtual switch that allows them to control their engine-room fans manually.

Given that MConnect web servers can simultaneously access two independent N2K networks and 400-plus different N2K PGNs, it’s fair to say these systems have a wide sweet spot in terms of appropriate waterline. “The MConnect is designed to work on an MFD through HTML, so really, it’s suitable for all leisure yachts small and large,” Catterall says.

While there’s a lot of daylight between the size of a center-console and the span of a superyacht, it’s likely that the biggest common denominator among prospective MConnect users will be a desire to access vessel data in a user-friendly and graphically engaging way.

Overall, for yachtsmen who want real-time N2K data but don’t speak PGN, MConnect is ready to turn cumbersome codes into information-rich and engaging displays.

My regret after learning about everything this modern technology can do? That this kind of network whispering didn’t exist decades ago, when it would have meant a lot more sailing and far fewer headaches for my long-suffering dad.

Password Protected

MConnect users can set a password to protect custom configurations. However, if this password is lost or forgotten, users must send their MConnect to Maretron to be reimaged. This costs time, and the reimaging process erases everything. So, passwords must be stored safely.

The post Maretron MConnect appeared first on Yachting.

Boat-show attendees often stop our staff on the docks and ask, “What’s the best boat to get?” And the answer we give is always the same: It’s the one that gets you on the water.

That said, there are six boatbuilders that have brand-new designs, and they are ready to help clients find the boat that gets them on the water next.

Your passion might be long-range summer cruising with the family to exotic ports of call. It might be ripping off to the local sandbar at light speed for a day trip on a Sunday afternoon. Either way, there’s a boat for the mission at hand.

And when it comes to features such as foldout decks, beach clubs, glass-walled spas, inboards, outboards, custom furnishings and foredeck lounges, they’re all available and a whole lot more.

Pardo Endurance 72

The Pardo Endurance 72 has a warped hull form that’s designed to work with Volvo Penta IPS propulsion. There are two engine options: IPS1050 or IPS1350 diesels. With the l350s, the builder reports a maximum cruising range of 900 nautical miles at 12 knots, making the Endurance 72 a fit for those who have a desire to visit far-flung waypoints. Belowdecks, there are four staterooms, including a full-beam owner’s space aft and a VIP amidships with an athwartships berth. Two twin-berth guest staterooms are forward. The yacht’s modern interior has satin-finish gray walnut, which is found in the soles, ceiling panels and more.

Grand Banks 62

The Grand Banks 62’s sweeping sheerline creates an ageless profile, while beneath the yacht’s stately visage is a thoroughly modern motoryacht. Powered with 900 hp straight-shaft Volvo Penta D13 diesels, the 62-footer has 30-knot speed with a 27-knot fast-cruise speed. The yacht—running on the Malaysian builder’s V-Warp hull design—has a reported 2,000-nautical-mile range at 10 knots. Other engine options include 1,000 hp D13s and IPS1200s. The yacht is constructed with resin-infused E-glass as well as carbon fiber in the superstructure, decks and bulkheads. The Grand Banks 62 also comes in a sky-lounge version.

Tankoa Diamond Binta

Diamond Binta’s owner is a previous Tankoa client, having built the 164-foot Binta d’Or, but it was time to go bigger and create a yacht with longer range. Enter this 190-footer. Tankoa partnered with Francesco Paszkowski Design to create the yacht, with Margherita Casprini on the interiors. Notable design elements include a beach club with a glass-walled “treatment room” that allows light into the space when the yacht’s side decks are lowered and the transom is open, as well as a guest companionway belowdecks with panoramic views. This corridor also passes an open engine room for a view of the yacht’s various systems.

Marlow 65 Avalon

There’s a certain sophistication in symmetry when looking at the lines of the Marlow 65 Avalon—the way the sheerline creates a stout yet sinewy appearance. The motoryacht’s superstructure, generous with its glazing, visually lowers the profile to create a runner’s look. Viewing the yacht bow-on, the vessel appears broad-shouldered in a ready stance to take on the sea. This three-stateroom yacht can cruise at 8 knots or shoot along at 25-plus knots when time is of the essence. Inside, the salon has an open floor plan. There is also an atrium lounge aft, creating a climate-controlled indoor-outdoor space for relaxing with friends.

Hinckley 41

The Hinckley 41 is an entertainment platform from end to end. The cockpit, which can be protected with a SureShade awning, has a C-shaped settee to port and an aft-facing seat to starboard, both with stowage underneath. There is also an L-shaped settee to port with the helm to starboard under the hardtop. The foredeck lounge has a U-shaped settee for even more guests to stretch out. Power options for the Hinckley 41 include triple 350 hp or triple 400 hp Mercury V-10 Verados. With the smaller outboards, the yacht builder reports about a 46-knot top hop. The larger outboards reportedly offer a 52-knot top-end speed.

The post Five New Yachts for 2025 and Beyond appeared first on Yachting.

Odds are good you’ve made a special nonslip shoe when country-music crooners are just as eager to buy it as Florida Keys fishermen.

That’s what is happening with the Rogue Wave line from Huk—which is pronounced hook, if you want to sound like the cool kids out there. The South Carolina-based company launched its Rogue Wave line in 2020, and its 6-inch boot remains popular today. Huk just added a lower-profile men’s shoe and a women’s clog, in response to customers from warmer cruising grounds in Florida and the Bahamas, with the company’s Grip-X Slice outsole for traction on fiberglass boats.

Skippers, though, aren’t the only ones who’ve found this footwear. Scott Smith, Huk’s vice president of marketing, says a country-music artist recently spoke on a podcast about doing a sound check in the rain, and he said, “Buddy, these boots ain’t slippin’.” Now the country-music crowd is clamoring to buy them too, as are guys in the pressure-washing business, who are ordering them by the case. “It provides the grip,” Smith says. “It provides the protection they need to do their job.”

The traction in that Grip-X Slice outsole comes from a grid pattern. “Each little pod is a 360-degree traction control,” Smith says. “No matter whether you’re going forward, sideways or backwards, it will rotate with you and really lock you into that fiberglass hull.”

On the men’s shoe, there’s also an 8 mm neoprene kick plate. It flexes down to slide a foot in, then pulls up.

“We talked to a bunch of guys we work with, and one of them was telling me how nice it is to just slip into it when he gets into the truck and heads down to the dock,” Smith says. “Then when he gets to the boat, he pulls it up for stability.”

The whole Rogue Wave line, Smith adds, is meant to handle all kinds of action around the water: “We use a really pliable proprietary rubber. That’s one of the things that makes our boot different. It moves better as you move, without giving up durability.”  

Take the next step: huk.com

The post Rogue Wave Footwear from Huk appeared first on Yachting.

The Pirelli 50 Mansory Special Edition is a caffeinated, 60-knot version of Pirelli’s flagship speedboat created in partnership with Mansory, the German automobile-tuning company. The result is a luxe two-stateroom RIB with a deep-V hull form and three custom-painted 600 hp Mercury Verado V-12 outboards. The RIB has other custom appointments too, including a rooftop spoiler, two integrated Hella roof lights and upholstery.

Whom It’s For: Superyacht owners seeking a decked-out version of Pirelli’s top-of-the-line RIB.

Picture This: You and your crew are competing at the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta off the Italian hotspot of Porto Cervo. Your kids want to watch the action on the often-windy waters of La Maddalena archipelago, so you get the keys to your Pirelli 50 Mansory Special Edition, which has zero trouble keeping pace.   

Take the next step: pirellispeedboats.com

The post Introducing the Pirelli 50 Mansory appeared first on Yachting.