Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts Leaderboard 2024 4

Brute force over ignorance

by John Curnow, Global Editor, Powerboat.World 22 Jul 2021 04:00 PDT
MC82p profile, with her Ker Yacht Design lines very distinct and pleasing © McConaghy Boats

Now the kerosene canary (aka jetliner) does not fly or glide very well. Several tens of thousands of shaft horsepower (represented as pounds of thrust) project them on to something like three quarters of the speed of sound. Take a similar pair of turbines, slap them into a neat little body called a jet fighter, and all of a sudden you're doing Mach 2.5 to 3, and so forth.

In cars, consider the GT40. Barely enough room for two souls - it only stood 40 inches tall (hence its name) or three and bit feet, just over a metre, but the whole thing was only there to envelop the great seven litre lump of Detroit iron that propelled it - and how! Driver, a touch of fuel, and away you went.

In the boating world, way back in 1860 or so, William Froude came up with the displacement hull speed formula; knots = 1.34 times the square root of the LWL in feet. In essence, and somewhat terribly over-simplified, it meant that it was easier to project a longer vessel through the water than it was a shorter one. And at any rate, the whole thing got thrown out the window once you were talking planing or semi-displacement forms, and multihulls.

What was probably more telling though, was the displacement to length ratio. Under 100 and you are light. Over 400, and you are a veritable floating granite reef. With the 100s you could effectively get the hull to climb out and be on top a lot easier. So take three Packards (RR Merlin V-12s), wrap some marine ply around them, and all of a sudden you were off with your very own PT Boat.

Conversely, at a thousand feet LOA, you need four massive screws; a whopping great set of steam turbines, then take some U237 fuel rods for a swim in the pool, and let fission do its thing. Hey presto, all of sudden flank speed was well and truly that of a very fast speedboat...

So what's the uptake then? One thing never changes. If you can propel a boat with a set of D6s instead of D13s, you're not only saving a huge mass from the iron contained in them, but also the fuel you'll need to carry around in order to simply feed the iron ladies residing below decks. This means we have arrived at the McConaghy 82p, because it's the antithesis of our heading, brute force over ignorance. Here's an 82-footer running at 17 knots, from just a pair of 300hp donks.

Make it two 450s spinning the wheels, and you are on to 20 knots, but the whole thing is about range from her bunkers holding 8000l, with 10knots looking like the economical long range cruise point. Ker Yacht Design has penned the slippery hull form. What you can expect from McConaghy is their hallmark - a light and strong structure, and some very cool design nuances to afford her the opportunity to excel at, "...apartment-style living and overall, an open and modern dynamic that simultaneously enables more comfortable cruising and better performance; a feat not yet achieved in any other line of multihull." So we are certainly keen to see it all unfold from here.

Cutting through like a...

Sabre. One of New England's finest just launched their new 43 Salon Express. Jed Elderkin of E Marine Motor Yachts got up super early to attend the virtual launch (thanks pal), and commented, "She is absolutely the right replacement for the very popular 42SE (something like 200 of which were sold). They are for a cruising couple with occasional guests. The lower convertible lounge and single head are testament to that. Buyers seeking two cabins and heads opt for the also relatively new 45SE."

"All of the Salon Express craft have an enclosed salon that is also designed to open and become an expansive area that connects with the cockpit. They had a clean sheet of paper for the new 43SE, so from the keel up it represents a lot of the thinking that has evolved since the first boats came to market," says Elderkin.

Volvo Penta D6 IPS is on offer to propel the 14,500 kilo delight, and you can select from a pair of 380s, 440s, or 480hp inline 5.5l sixes. You would think this would equate to cruising in the mid to high 20s, and the range toppers will take you on to 35 knots WOT.

Elderkin added, "They're close coupled to the pods, so no jackshafts. All the space underneath the main saloon is now used, and is configured as a utility room, washer dryer, wine fridges and other cruising amenities are available. There's an atrium lounge for'ard of the helm, with a large skylight, and a convertible berth. It's a big space used for storage when not a bunk. All in all a clever use of space."

"The Owner's Stateroom is typical of Sabre, with the island Queen, soft headliners, it's light, airy, and comfortable. Like all Sabres there is a fully furnished interior. The only modular part in the interior the head and shower module, everything else is built in situ. The flush bonded exterior glass gives her a smoother and distinctive look as well."

"The 43SE is also fully electronically networked, so full C-Zone and remote control, as Sabre first applied this to their larger vessels, like the 66, and now bring it into their higher production craft with significant experience in making it work seamlessly for owners."

The resin infused E-Glass, modified deep-Vee works for many, me included. So 2022 looks very nice indeed under the glint of this particular Sabre. We await more information expectantly...

Riva

Somehow it all just said, Riva. Not a lot more to add to that, other than Riva have launched two Hard Top additions to much loved Open vessels recently, and both have excelled at adding to the equation, especially if you're not the kind to want to look like George Hamilton. At any rate, it was all about simply being able to say Riva, admire the craftsmanship, certainly the aesthetic, and wander along the beaches of Sardinia or the Croisette at Cannes - if only in the memories of one's mind...

Let the good times flow

The Leigh-Smith family have a well-recognised name in Australia's Gold Coast boating scene, and deservedly so. Now run by brothers Dean and Ryan, Leigh-Smith Yachts represent new boats from the Alaska, Endurance and Hampton ranges.

Yet it was when Dean sent me the images from the renaming celebration for the 2019 Sanlorenzo SD112 that had gone through their brokerage arm that the sub-heading above popped into my head. The five-cabin tri-deck was listed at AUD18M, and the buyer was introduced by the Leigh-Smiths, who no doubt would have got a guerrnsey to the super VIP, 75 souls only ceremony when the boat was renamed, Trophy Wife.

I had to go back and look for items like jacuzzi on the upper deck, Williams DieselJet and SeaDoo 300 tenders, as well accommodation for up to five crew, because I only had eyes for the line, "...featuring free flowing Bollinger, cocktail bar with mixologist and live entertainment onboard."

Definitely a potential charter vessel to go into the burgeoning local and Pacific fleet, should the owner elect to go down that path, as she was built to RINA commercial class standards, and offers plenty of that Italian flair...

OK. Today you will find that the website has an abundance of material from right across the globe, and if you cannot find something, just try the search button right up the top of the landing page, above our logo.

So as you see, there are stories, lessons, inspirations and history to regale yourself with. Please do savour... We're really enjoying bringing you the best stories from all over the globe. If you want to add to that, then please make contact with us via email.

Remember too, if you want to see what is happening in the other parts of the group, go to the top of the Powerboat.World home page and the drag down menu on the right, select the website you want to see and, voila, it's all there for you.

Finally, please look after yourselves,

John Curnow
Global Editor, Powerboat.World

Related Articles

The power of tech
What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it? What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it? Posted on 2 Jul
Some thoughts on provisioning for distance sailing
A new perspective on provisioning and time spent at sea One of the great joys of distance racing unfurls the moment that the dock lines are untied. Suddenly, the myriad packing lists that inevitably define most trip-planning efforts become about as relevant as a tax return from eight years ago. Posted on 1 Jul
Bill Guilfoyle on the 2025 Transpacific Yacht Race
Bill Guilfoyle discusses the 2025 Transpacific Yacht Race When it comes to offshore sailing in the United States, the biennial Transpacific Yacht Race reigns supreme for its distance and promise of off-the-breeze sailing angles. Posted on 1 Jul
Jazz Turner completes Project FEAR
Drama right to the end in her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles Jazz Turner has completed Project FEAR, her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles in her Albin 27 yacht. A flotilla of supporters met her in Seaford Bay, which grew and grew the closer they came to Brighton Marina. Posted on 1 Jul
One thing. One big, very fast boat
One thing that opened the door, another made us enquire some more - 50 knots! Yes. It was one thing that opened the door, as it were. One thing that piqued the curiosity enough to go, ‘I'll take a look at that!' One thing that when you're trying to crack in excess of 50 knots... Posted on 30 Jun
A brief history of marine instrument networks
Hugh Agnew has been involved since the outset, and continues to develop at the cutting edge One man who has been involved since the outset, and continues to develop at the cutting edge, is Hugh Agnew, the Cambridge-educated mathematician who is one of the founders of A+T Instruments in Lymington, so I spoke to him to find out more... Posted on 25 Jun
Harald Findlay on the 2025 Edgartown Race Weekend
A Q&A with Harald Findlay on the 2025 Edgartown Race Weekend When it comes to racing sailboats on the East Coast of the United States in the summer months, few places are as classic as the waters surrounding Martha's Vineyard's northwestern flank. Posted on 18 Jun
Sailing and the summer solstice
Celebrating sailing and the longest day of the year If you love long evenings and early mornings, this is one of the best times of the whole year, as the summer solstice (Friday, June 20) and the entire rich expanse of summer are about to burst into bloom. Posted on 17 Jun
Video Review: The Amazing Cure 55
Composite Construction meets Cruising Convenience It was two years ago at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show that I talked to Dave Biggar about his ideas and plans for the Cure 55. At the 2025 show I got to step on board the yacht and see how his ideas became reality. Posted on 17 Jun
The Big Bash
Every summer the tournament rolls into town. A short format of the game. Fun and excitement abound. Every summer the tournament rolls into town. Local and international players. A short format of the game, run over a relatively compact six-week season. Posted on 15 Jun
Armstrong 728x90 - Performance Mast Range - BOTTOMLloyd Stevenson - Catalyst Yacht Tender 1456x180px BOTTOMV-DRY-X