A new Cruisers Yachts model offers insight into American boating lifestyles, since the builder seeks owner and dealer feedback to shape its launches. The Cruisers 57 Fly speaks to boaters’ desires to entertain and engage with the water—for instance, by taking transom platforms and folding hullsides to the next level.

Consider the portside deck, where the entire bulwark from the cockpit to the midcabin folds out. Cruisers wasn’t the first to introduce this feature, but the builder added a cool touch by placing a pair of stools next to a sliding window that opens to the galley. A wraparound settee with a dinette across the transom provides an entertainment hub for dining, lounging or water play, all accessible from the oversize swim platform, which submerges for swimming or launching a tender weighing up to 850 pounds. A transom lounge also folds out to create a beach club.

The concept of “water interaction” is more than just splashing around. The 57 Fly also has nearly 360 degrees of salon windows, allowing guests to relax in the interior’s air conditioning while still feeling connected to the surrounding environment. This theme carries through to the staterooms, all of which have oversize windows so guests can enjoy the water views while resting in bed.

The Cruisers 57 Fly could easily be called “party central,” with four dining areas spread across two levels, all supported by two spots to cook. On the main deck, there is a dinette aft and a formal dining area in the salon. The foredeck lounge is truly versatile, converting from sun pads facing either way to bench seating or a dinette with twin tables.

The flybridge is another highlight, with its galley and an optional Texan grill measuring 2 square feet. It has a flat plancha (perfect for veggies or omelets) and a traditional grate. The bridge also includes a wraparound dinette that seats 12, with a high-low table partially shaded by the hardtop.

The salon is built for alfresco living, with triple sliding doors and all-weather boating features, including a settee and a 55-inch pop-up TV. The galley has a convection microwave, two-burner Kenyon cooktop, and four fridge drawers for a total of 12.6 cubic feet of stowage. By eliminating a full-height fridge, the Cruisers design team gave the skipper unobstructed visibility aft.

Speaking of the skipper, the helm is a thoughtfully designed, ergonomic space with twin 16-inch Garmin multifunction displays, a Volvo Penta IPS joystick and a double-wide bolstered helm seat. Two footrests—one of which flips up for standing—and a window that opens for communication with the crew are practical, thoughtful features. My favorite thing at the helm was the sleek black dashboard that curves smoothly into a wide eyebrow, effectively shielding the monitors from glare through the windshield.

The 57 Fly has a three-stateroom, two-head layout. The owner’s stateroom spans the beam amidships with a walk-around queen berth, a four-drawer bureau, and a built-in table with two settees for playing games or enjoying morning croissants. An Isotherm wine locker and a washer-dryer combo are options. The en suite head has a full-size shower with a Lucite door and seat, a Euro-style sink and faucet, and another window with blinds for privacy.

The forepeak VIP stateroom has a queen berth and an equal-size en suite that doubles as a day head. The third stateroom, across the passage, has twin berths that convert into a double.

Although the 57 Fly is designed with owner-operators in mind, there’s air-conditioned crew quarters abaft the engine room. The cabin has a single berth, a head and space for handling lines. It could also serve as a private area for a teenager, be used for stowage or act as a work area.

Power for the Cruisers 57 Fly comes from a pair of Volvo Penta IPS950 pod drives, powered by 725 hp, six-cylinder common-rail D11 diesels with twin-entry turbos. This combination provides more than enough power to push the 57 Fly past the 30-knot mark, even in the choppy Gulf Stream conditions we experienced. At a cruising speed of 25 knots, the engines sip 63 gallons per hour, giving the 57 Fly a range of about 250 nautical miles. If you’re not in a hurry, cruising at 9 knots increases the range to approximately 700 nm.

On the water, the 57 Fly is a true pleasure. Whether running up-sea or cross-sea, the yacht handles with aplomb, thanks to the standard Seakeeper 9 gyrostabilizer and the hull design by Donald Blount and Associates. Returning to the marina after our offshore excursion, the joystick with pod drives made maneuvering into tight spaces a breeze, with no white-knuckle moments. Two fingers and a twist was all it took.

Let the phrase “water interaction” become part of your boating vocabulary by experiencing the Cruisers Yachts 57 Fly.

Chef’s Delight

The lower galley has acres of stowage and can be fitted with a dishwasher. A nice touch is the Plexiglas backsplash to keep any chef uh-ohs from spilling onto the dinette upholstery. The upper cooking area has a Texan grill, a fridge and an ice maker.

A Place for Everything

The foredeck is seamanlike, with a Quick vertical windlass and 200 feet of chain tucked out of sight, a washdown in the anchor locker, and a pair of clamshell lockers on the cabin top to absorb deck gear such as fenders and dock lines.

Pedigree Design

Award-winning Miami-based yacht designer Luiz De Basto engineered the dramatic windows on the 57 Fly, as well as masterminded the decor on the boat we got aboard. The ocean-sand oak draws on his background of more than 200 boats and superyachts over 30 years.

Take the next step: cruisersyachts.com

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Palm Beach Motor Yachts has unveiled the GT60 Jet Drive, a model that brings the brand’s signature craftsmanship and performance into the realm of jet propulsion. The boat is powered by twin 1,000-hp Volvo Penta D13 diesels paired with Hamilton HJ403 waterjets, offering quiet, responsive cruising at up to 35 knots and a shallow draft of just 2 feet, 9 inches.

This model emerged from a custom collaboration between Palm Beach CEO and chief designer Mark Richards and a longtime client. Designed to handle the lobstertrap-laden waters off Maine, the boat’s propulsion setup eliminates exposed running gear while also enhancing maneuverability. It’s the third boat the owner has commissioned from Richards.

“We’ve completed jet propulsion custom builds in the past,” says Richards, “but for this project, we integrated Hamilton into our V-Warp Technology platform without sacrificing efficiency, craftsmanship or ride quality.”

Palm Beach’s V-Warp Technology uses a lightweight, resin-infused, semi-displacement hull form which contributes to good fuel efficiency and ride quality across the brand’s Classic, GT, and GT RS lines. Importantly, the hull accommodates multiple propulsion types, from jet drives to IPS pods, without needing changes to the running surface.

The boat’s interior and exterior spaces were built for entertaining, with a layout customized to the owner’s lifestyle. As with all Palm Beach builds, the interior features handcrafted joinery and premium materials throughout.

This launch not only introduces a new propulsion option for the GT Series but also reinforces Palm Beach’s commitment to high-performance, client-led design. It joins a lineup that includes the GT50, GT60, and GT70, alongside jet-drive-equipped RS variants.

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While I’ve always had an affinity for go-fast monohulls, I’m also a catamaran convert. Cats offer a combination of roominess, stability and comfort that’s difficult for similarly sized monohulls to match. The latest foray from Aquila Power Catamarans—whose designs range from a 28-foot Molokai fishing boat to a 70-foot Luxury yacht—is a sleek 46-foot Coupe that pairs semi-foiling capability with a speedy, double-stepped hull form.

Foiling technology isn’t new. Italian inventor Enrico Forlanini designed and built the first powerboat utilizing a foil system in 1906, when he hit 36.9 knots with a 60 hp airscrew. But can a foil really make a big difference in the way a boat rides? In the case of the Aquila 46 Coupe, the answer is a resounding yes.

Aquila calls its technology the Hydro Glide Foil System. An underwater carbon-fiber wing is attached horizontally between the catamaran’s hull sponsons and extends a bit below them. A second, smaller foil is between the hulls at the stern. These combine to produce lift that reduces drag and improves fuel economy. They also help to cushion the ride.

In addition, the steps aerate the hulls, further increasing speed. The foils are attached with titanium bolts for strength, but are designed to break away without compromising hull integrity if there’s a collision with a submerged object.

Running the 46 Coupe from Miami to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, following the boat’s worldwide introduction at the Miami International Boat Show, we faced overcast conditions and a solid 15 knots of northeast breeze stacking a steep wind chop against the rolling swells of the north-flowing Gulf Stream. But it was ideal for the 46 Coupe to strut its stuff with a bit less than 500 gallons of fuel and a crew of six.

Powered by a pair of 600 hp Mercury Verado V-12s, the boat had virtually no change in the hull attitude from idling at rest to being at speed on plane. At around 17 knots, the 46 Coupe began to ride on the foil as the two-speed Verado transmissions shifted to high gear. Handling felt a bit tight at that point, but with the engines trimmed out to 20 percent, the boat loosened up and the speed increased to more than 22 knots without any additional throttle.

It felt akin to Aladdin’s magic carpet ride as we bounded across the tops of the frothy seas at 25 to 35 knots. When we had to cross larger ship wakes or maneuver sharply, a quick trim to tuck the engines back in tightened up the ride without the need for trim tabs or interceptors.

There were also no creaks or rattles, even as we hit a top speed just over 42 knots. At a cruising speed of 33 knots, the engines burned 54 gallons of fuel per hour, giving us a range of 338 nautical miles with a 10 percent fuel reserve. Aquila touts the foil system as providing an increased fuel efficiency of up to 40 percent at cruising speed.

Several things stood out at the wheel. A pair of 24-inch Raymarine multifunction displays were mounted in the 60-inch-wide helm, which was free of glare and appeared to be free-floating in its design. The comfortable, three-wide seating provided exceptional visibility through the oversize coupe windows and sharply raked forward windshield. The electrically actuated sunroof opened to nearly 55 square feet overhead, giving us the option to enjoy the sun and breeze, or crank up the air conditioning powered by a 10-kilowatt Fischer Panda generator. CZone digital switching controlled all the boat’s DC-powered components from the helm.

But the coolest feature had to be Aquila’s new multifunction wheel. Its digital display remains centered no matter which way the skipper turns the wheel, with paddle-style buttons on each side to control any onboard function related to the National Marine Electronics Association. Hull No. 1 was set up with the music control settings on the left and the ship’s horn on the right, saving the helmsman from having to fumble for switches on the dash.

Open-air entertaining options range from the bow’s lounge seating to the stern’s loungers and trio of bar stools near a Kenyon grill. With the hinged aft window flipped up and the salon door open, the interior blends with the exterior.

The 46 Coupe is primarily a dayboat, but it’s comfortable for an evening or long weekend aboard too. The VIP stateroom is to port with an aft-facing queen berth and dry stowage. The master stateroom is to starboard with a queen-plus situated athwartship. Both staterooms are en suite with separate showers and 82 inches of headroom throughout. The decor includes light- and dark-gray tones, and accents of stainless steel and carbon fiber.

The galley is to port on the main deck, with additional seating abaft the helm to starboard. A recessed table normally lives within the deck, but can raise electrically for dining or cocktail hour. The 46 Coupe also has several big-boat touches, such as access doors on both sides of the cockpit for boarding, and an option for a compact electric davit that can lift some PWC models onto the aft deck.

With its blend of performance, stability and foiling technology, and a solid balance of interior and exterior entertainment spaces, the Aquila 46 Coupe is well-positioned to be a boat at the head of its class.

CE-Certified

All recreational boats being sold or entering the European Union are required to have CE certification, with four primary categories: A (ocean), B (offshore), C (inshore) and D (sheltered waters). The Aquila 46 Coupe is CE-certified for 12 passengers offshore, 22 inshore and 32 in sheltered waters.

Inboard Option

A pair of 440 hp Volvo Penta D6 DPI sterndrive diesel engines are available as an option for the 46 Coupe. Aquila says performance is roughly equivalent to the standard V-12 Mercury Verado outboards, although the Volvos do offer extended cruising range. Great Loop, anyone?

Solid and Strong

Aquila uses resin-infused vinylester throughout the hull and deck as well as in bulkheads and reinforcing structures. There is no wood in any structural components or below the waterline. Watertight bulkheads are fore and aft. The foils are designed to shear away without compromising hull integrity in a collision or grounding, in a similar manner as the lower unit of an outboard engine.

Take the next step: aquilaboats.com

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To truly know how a boat will run, you have to look at the hull form. It’s evident from the Saxdor 400 GTC’s wetted surface that it can cleave the seas with its plumb bow. It can get up on top of the water via its three lifting strakes. It can run stable with its wide chines, and it can break free of the suction and run on a flatter surface with its two-stepped, resin-infused hull. Transom deadrise is 21 degrees, adding to its performance equation.

Equally notable are the Saxdor 400 GTC’s niceties. Flanking the twin Mercury 400 V-10 outboards is a walk-around platform with extensions, allowing for stern boarding and easier engine access for routine maintenance. A sunroof, glass transom panels, Zipwake interceptors, Simrad navigation package, modular battery setups for quiet operation, and stereo and lighting options add to the boat’s comfort and functionality.

The 400 GTC has go-fast looks, and it walks the walk too. Wide open, the 400 GTC powers up to nearly 44 knots. For a more leisurely jaunt with the family, dial it back to 4,200 rpm for about a 23-knot cruise speed.

Underway or at a waypoint, this boat has an array of seating and lounging options. The aft deck sun pad’s backrest folds flat. The enclosed cockpit has additional seats, including an L-shaped settee with a teak table and lounge to port. Just forward of the seating is the galley with a sink, fridge and stove. There is also a grill aft.

In transformer-like fashion, the boat also has pilothouse glass aft that flips up, side windows that lock forward, and a bow pass-through that opens up, creating a true center-console vibe.

The bow seating area has a C-shaped settee and backrests. Angular seating makes this area perfect for lounging and will be the go-to place for sundowners on the hook.

From hull to hardtop and bow to stern, the Saxdor 400 GTC offers performance, comfort, a robust build and a ready-to-run attitude. The hardest decision will be where to go first.  

Elbow Room

To maximize functionality and usable space, the 400 GTC has port and starboard fold-down, hullside platforms with glass inlays. These terraces offer walk-around access, add room for large parties, and make for intimate spots to sit by the water. 

Command Central

The helm to starboard accommodates a trio of 16-inch flush-mounted Simrad multifunction displays that are angled to reduce sun glare. Even with windows and doors closed, the 400 GTC has 360-degree visibility. Flush touch buttons are within easy reach too. Additional space on the console holds more electronics. A beefy grab rail is on the helm console, similar to those all around the vessel.

Take the next step: saxdoryachts.com

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Go far. Go fast. Go in style. The Uniesse Exuma HTC5p aims to change the outboard luxury cruiser game by letting owners do all three of those things at once. This 56-foot express cruiser with quad 600 hp Mercury Verado V-12s has details like impeccably welded stainless-steel hinges on the cockpit hull door and hand-stitched leather upholstery from Milanese leathersmiths. This is a tactile boat that invites guests to touch everything. There are bullnose-edged calacatta marble galley countertops, quarried in Tuscany since Roman times (and more exclusive than Carrara marble). There are mosaic-lined tile showers that subtly change sea tones. The anchor roller assembly is as rugged as what you’ll find on salvage tugs, but as beautiful as Tiffany jewelry. The leather-lined wheel lets owners feel the surge of those four V-12 outboards.

From outside, this yacht’s look is inspired by Italian race cars: swept-back hardtop with raked windscreen, swoopy side windows. This Uniesse is seemingly going 100 mph at anchor. Owners and guests step aboard through a cockpit side door or via the transom platform. Uniesse designed the HTC5p specifically for the Mercury motors, with all of the rigging hidden below the swim platform so everyone can walk from side to side safely. And the engines’ lower units tilt out of the water for corrosion protection without impinging on the transom space.

The cockpit has twin L-shaped settees with tables in the after corners for at-sea entertaining. A pair of consoles against the house conceal twin Elag ceramic grills, a sink, an ice maker and twin fridge drawers. A custom SureShade telescoping cockpit awning stretches to the stern for sun protection, and a clever Besenzoni passerelle under the cockpit door unfurls steps that lead down into the water for swimming, as well as up to dock level for easy boarding.

In the salon, there’s an average 6 feet, 5 inches of headroom, a wraparound windshield with no mullions, windows that extend from the overhead to the couch, and a sunroof with shades. This is clearly the primary entertaining area, with a U-shaped high-low dinette to port facing a pop-up TV that rises from the hand-stitched leather console.

The skipper and companion have ergonomic, adjustable seats with good side bolstering, set abaft a low, wide black dash that neither blocks the view nor reflects in the windshield. The HTC5p that I got aboard had a brace of 22-inch Garmin multifunction displays along with Yamaha system digital panels, and a Mercury joystick with Skyhook technology for holding station, a great feature when awaiting bridge openings.

The stairs next to the helm lead to a lower foyer, which serves as a galley with 24-inch-wide marble countertops, 6-foot-5-inch headroom and bright lacquered cabinetry. The Miele cooktop and convection oven are supported by a full-size fridge and a wine chiller.

Forward, the owner’s stateroom is a serene haven, with side windows and an overhead hatch for light above the 60-inch walk-around island berth. The private head has one of the mosaic-lined and book-matched marble showers, a glass vessel sink and an electric toilet.

Just abaft the galley to starboard is a guest stateroom, with twin berths that can be joined to form a double. The VIP is tucked aft to port, with 7-foot-6-inch headroom, an angled queen berth, and enough stowage for extended cruising. A day head is off the foyer and serves both guest staterooms, also with a mosaic-tiled shower and electric head.

The mold work on the Uniesse is impeccable, with the boat built to RINA Class A and US Coast Guard standards. One detail is particularly notable: The yacht’s fuel tanks are sealed from the rest of the boat. A separate hatch allows removal of the roto-molded tanks, which are held in place by custom Uniesse brackets. The compartment is fully ventilated overboard.

As for the boat’s model name, the small “p” after Exuma HTC5 should be a capitalized and underlined “P” for Performance. From the land of Ferrari and Lamborghini, this 44,000-pound Italian stallion simply hauls. Flat out at 6,400 rpm, this yacht hit 50.5 knots while I recorded just 72 decibels of sound. That’s quieter than Christmas morning at my house. Conversation in the salon was at normal levels (65 decibels), and the Mercury instruments said the V-12s were barely breathing hard.

I poked around belowdecks while the hammers were down and didn’t recognize the actual speed until I saw the long, white wake. The Exuma rises flat without vision-stealing bow rise, jumps onto plane at about 17 knots and never looks back. At a mile-eating 30 knots, the engines sip fuel at 80 gallons per hour, giving the HTC5p an easy 335-nautical-mile range. Even after a 45-knot hard turn, the Exuma rolled into a gentle bank that wouldn’t disturb even the most nervous guests.

This impressive import made me want to throw a linen jacket over my shoulder like an Italian film director, grab some friends and go have fun.  

Grade A

Registro Italiano Navale is a recognized independent standard that rates boats for safety, seaworthiness and construction. The RINA Class A rating means a yacht is self-sufficient and capable of extended voyages in winds over 40 knots and sea heights above 13 feet. 

Sizing Up

Uniesse has unveiled its next new model: the Raptor 112 Super Yacht. It’s a yacht with five staterooms, including an on-deck master with four en suite VIP staterooms belowdecks. There also are three crew cabins. Power will come from MTU, which the builder says should give the 230-gross-ton yacht a 25-knot top-end speed and a 21-knot cruise speed, with a range of 580 nautical miles at cruise. Uniesse says the Raptor 112 will also be built to class for unrestricted navigation.

Buttons to Boats

Dating back to 1940, Uniesse was once famous for making buttons. The Scaraburri family was a leading producer of wooden buttons in Europe. In 1987, the boat-loving brothers of the third generation decided to take their woodworking skills into boatbuilding. 

Power Play

Each of the four 600 hp Mercury Verado V-12s on this yacht has a steerable lower gear case (so the engine doesn’t move to turn) as well as service-friendly access to normal check and filler points atop the engine. The engines also tilt out of the water without moving the powerhead.

Take the next step: uniesse.com

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XO Boats in Finland has unveiled its first adventure vessel: the XO EXPLR 44.

This is a builder that markets its designs as “crossover boats from the rough north.” XO Boats’ aluminum deep-V hulls are touted as being at the forefront of sustainability, since the melting of pre-used aluminum to create new boats requires only 5 percent of the energy used to produce the same amount of new aluminum.

XO Boats offers three lines of vessels: DFNDR, DSCVR and EXPLR. The EXPLR line includes five models that start at 28 feet length overall. In fact, all of the builder’s other models are smaller than 30 feet long. The new XO EXPLR 44 is the flagship for the brand, marking a leap in size to just shy of 44 feet length overall.

With the XO EXPLR 44, the builder says it intends to bring premium materials and naval architecture to adventure yachting. This boat can be ordered with either double 600-horsepower engines or triple 450-horsepower motors, depending on how much giddyap the owner wants to achieve. Reported top speed is more than 50 knots.

Exterior styling on the XO EXPLR 44 is aggressive, giving off a vibe similar to military-inspired expedition yachts that are capable of cruising the polar regions. The angular shapes should look formidable entering just about any harbor.

“As we have discussed with our customers and listened to their feedback, we saw that there was demand for a yacht-sized craft from XO,” Erkki Talvela, CEO of XO Boats, stated in a press release. “With this launch, we aim to meet the needs of more demanding and quality-conscious boaters who also appreciate the elegance of EXPLR 44.”

The boat has two staterooms that are equal in size, so nobody feels like they’re stuck sleeping in a kiddie cabin. The aft stateroom can be ordered with twin berths or a double, depending on the type of cruising the owner intends to do. There’s also a bunk in the pilothouse, meaning a total of six people can sleep on board.

For cruising in colder or warmer climates, the EXPLR 44 has heating and air conditioning. The roof has space for solar panels, if owners want to generate power off-grid, and there are roof racks for bicycles and other sports gear.

Is there companion seating at the helm of the EXPLR 44? Yes, there is. A skipper’s seat and a mate’s seat are side by side with full view of the helm displays.

Take the next step: learn more at www.xoboats.com

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Christian Grande has been busy of late. The designer’s fingerprints were all over the stylish Invictus TT420 Vogue White Edition that made its debut at the recent Cannes Yachting Festival—the same boat show where the SACS Tecnorib Rebel 50 G that Grande designed also made its premiere.

SACS Tecnorib is the official licensee of Pirelli inflatable boats (Pirelli Design is involved with everything from boats and watches to high-end audio systems and luggage). SACS Tecnorib offers two lines: the Strider, whose models can be open or have a hardtop, and Rebel, which the builder calls a blend of classic RIBs and open boats. The Rebel line includes 40-, 47- and 55-footers in addition to the new Rebel 50 G.

The “G” in the moniker Rebel 50 G stands for nothing more than the letter “G.” The idea is that it’s a “closed, collected and powerful shape with soft curves,” which the builder compares to having a closed space on board that’s in “total continuity with the external environment.” The boat has a window that Grande says “seems deliberately suspended to suggest an enthralling sensation of floating,” with the closed space distinguishing this model from other Rebel designs.

In addition to the two side windows that come standard, owners can add a sliding rear window that separates the interior and exterior. When it’s open, the boat feels like an open boat; with it closed, everyone on board is protected from bad weather.

Creature comforts include a TV abaft the helm, a fridge and ice maker, and an L-shaped sofa with a high-low table that can be used for dining if chairs are added. More shade is possible with an extendable electric-roller blind, or owners can insert carbon poles around the beach area to create a space that’s sheltered from the sun. A roof is optional.

Forward, the bow has a corner chaise that the builder describes as “romantic” for sunset views. Grande says: “This area is intended to be an invitation to see motoring as a relaxed flight over water.”

The stern platform can handle an 8-foot tender, with the aft space available in four layouts. The one called Garage Sunpad has a long sofa for relaxation. The Forward Lounge version comes with a C-shaped sofa and extendable table for dining or for conversion as a sun bed. Stern Lounge has opposing sofas that can join together with a table for dining. Free Standing has three armchairs and two small tables for informal conversation.

Interiors are finished with Ceppo di Gre marble, which has a gray-blue hue that the builder says creates an ambience of “unostentatious elegance.”

Let’s talk power: Hull No. 1 of the SACS Tecnorib Rebel 50 G has a pair of 950-horsepower Volvo Penta IPS power plants with a reported top speed of 36 knots, and a cruising speed of 28 knots.

Take the next step: go to sacsrebel.com

The post One Luxurious Dayboat appeared first on Yachting.

I was more excited than usual as our crew cruised away from Sunseeker’s site at West Quay Road. I have done this run many times, and it’s invariably a joy, but this time, I was aboard the builder’s Superhawk 55. It’s the first open cruiser the British yard has built in ages, and it’s a return to what made Sunseeker world-famous.

Beyond being home to Sunseeker, Poole Harbour’s claim to fame is being Europe’s largest natural harbor. That morning, it felt like it. We chugged out through the navigation channel traffic, past the majestic Brownsea Castle, and past the sloping lawns and exclusive terraces of Sandbanks, some of the most expensive real estate in England. Finally, we reached the Poole Bar Buoy and open water.

Throttles opened. Worth the wait? Absolutely yes.

The twin 725 hp Volvo Penta IPS950-D11 diesels max out at 2,550 rpm, which, during my runs at about half-load in a gentle breeze and very little swell, gave us a top-end speed of 37 to 38 knots. Sunseeker says the hull form is completely new. It strikes a great balance between planing efficiency and a rewarding driving experience. The Superhawk 55 easily sliced the wave crests we generated, and the yacht heeled satisfyingly into the turns, especially with the wheel hard over. Having the driving position on centerline is a definite bonus.

Allowing for a 10 percent reserve, expect a range of 200 to 225 nautical miles. According to my numbers, this yacht will run all day at 2,000 rpm and around 25 knots.

And the Superhawk 55 will look great doing it, outside and inside. Despite its considerable volume, this yacht still looks long and low, from the swim platform to the bow, probably helped by what appears to be one continuous hullside window to break up the freeboard. Note too how the superstructure sits within the hull rather than on top of it.

The cockpit occupies the full 16-foot-2-inch beam aft. Side decks are accessed via a pair of pantograph doors that flank the helm. Those side decks run forward from just abaft amidships, and they include three shallow steps to reach the foredeck terrace. The 54-square-foot windscreen is an impressive single pane with double curvature. The standard open layout includes just the arch mast, but as of this writing, all but one owner has chosen the hardtop option.

The cockpit layout is intended to be versatile, making the Superhawk 55 a weekender or a party boat. The essentials include a sofa-sun pad and a table with leaves aft. There’s a wet bar abaft the triple-seat raised bridge. A pair of L-shaped sofas can slide back and forth, or in and out, on rails. That means they can be pushed to the sides when more room is needed, or closer together for meals at the table.

Another dining spot is belowdecks. The lower deck has an amidships salon with a galley to port and a dinette-sofa to starboard. There are doors to the two en suite staterooms, one each fore and aft. The headroom in the main salon enhances the perception of luxury. While the headroom is better in the forward stateroom than in the aft one, both staterooms are broadly the same in terms of space and views.

As for decor, Sunseeker offers five veneers and a dozen lacquers. The Superhawk 55 I got aboard had what felt like a darker vibe: piano black and stained oak.

No matter the interior styling, this is a relatively quiet boat. While running the yacht flat out, I recorded 73 to 75 decibels at the helm, in the salon with the cockpit hatch open, and in the aft stateroom. Sixty-five decibels, which I recorded in the forward stateroom, is the level of normal conversation.

For heading ashore, a garage is aft, big enough to hold a 9-foot-2-inch Williams MiniJet 280 tender. A drawer above the garage could hold underwater scooters or fenders.

The first Sunseeker Superhawk 55 was unveiled at Boot Düsseldorf in January, and Sunseeker expects to deliver 25 to 30 of these performance boats this year alone. Apparently, I’m far from the only yachting enthusiast who has long been waiting for this model.  

Hawk History

Sunseeker’s first real “hawk” was the Tomahawk 37. Then, in no particular order, came the Thunderhawk 43, Hawk 27, Mohawk 29, Hawk 31 and Tomahawk 41. Over the years, there also were several Superhawks, namely the 34 (famous for the River Thames chase sequences in the James Bond film “The World Is Not Enough”), the 40, the 43, the 48 and the 50 that had surface drives and topped out around 50 knots. There’s also the current 60-plus-knot Hawk 38, which is a dayboat with a center console and outboards. Most of the older Hawks topped out at 40 to 46 knots.

That’s Not Teak

Sunseeker has virtually stopped using wooden decking. This Superhawk 55 had a light surface made of Sikafloor Marine-595 Antarctica throughout the main deck. The mock white caulking creates striking patterns.

Flag Salute

The Superhawk 55 has Union Jack homages in its transom gates, in the LED framing in the skylight between the salon and windscreen, in the salon’s headliner and in the stitching on the back of the pilot seats. A similar tribute is in the taillights on newer British-built Mini Coopers.

Take the next step: sunseeker.com

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The Arksen 28 is an all-weather day boat that’s built to dispatch choppy seas while maintaining a dry, comfortable ride for everyone seated inside its enclosed pilothouse. The boat is built from aluminum and carries a deep-V undercarriage, chines and strakes. Topside bumpers, along with the enclosed helm and salon, encourage year-round escapades in most weather.

Whom It’s For: Adventure-minded boaters seeking the safety, strength and performance of an enclosed-pilothouse vessel, an aluminum hull and 450 horsepower.

Picture This: It’s late summer in Castine, Maine, and you and your kids—plus some of their friends—take a spin past the islands surrounding the nearby Deer Isle Thorofare, with a scoop stop at the Stonington Ice Cream Co. on the way home. The Arksen 28 has no trouble pressing its 25-knot cruising speed (with forays into the 40-knot realm) while ferrying eight guests, and its hull shape makes short work of East Penobscot Bay’s whitecapped waters. Better still, the helm’s 360-degree sightlines simplify the art of dodging the waterway’s lobster-pot armada.   

Take the next step: arksen.com

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The Candela C-8 Center Console is an electric, carbon-fiber yacht that rides on two hydrofoils. The boat’s onboard sensors constantly measure wave and ride height, plus pitch and roll. This information is fed into the vessel’s Flight Controller, which trims the foils up to 6,000 times per minute, removing all guesswork from “flying” the boat. In addition, the vessel’s 55-kilowatt C-POD drive is situated below the water’s surface. Its foils retract for accessing skinny waters, and owners can choose from a menu of customization options.

Whom It’s For: Adventure-minded boaters who want speed, performance and hydrofoil tech without the noise of an internal-combustion engine.

Picture This: It’s a crisp, clear late-summer afternoon on Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay, and you feel like having an adventure. So you and a couple of buddies hop in your Candela C-8 Center Console and hydrofoil around Jamestown Island, stopping for a swim at Mackerel Cove. And you’re back in Newport in time for dinner at The Candy Store.  

Take the next step: candela.com

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