Carolina Flare

This Spencer convertible showcases the wonders of working in wood.

Photo by Ray Matthews

March 2010

Haul Out Guide

Contents

Special Features

HAUL OUT GUIDE

Our annual trip to the yard. Join us for the latest tips from the pros.

Features in this Issue

Cutting edge

craftsmanship

We visit the interesting juncture of North Carolina boatbuilders and IPS.
By Chuck Husick

Love ‘em and leave ‘em

All of the pleasures of boating, boat clubs are increasing in popularity.

Is there one in your future?

By Louisa Beckett

Destinations

Myrtle Beach,

SOUTH CAROLINA This beach town knows a lot about fun.
By Dudley Dawson

Norfolk, VIrginia

and Portsmouth too. Twin cities make one convenient stop for sea weary cruisers.
By Beth Adams-Smith

New Boats Reviewed

KADEY-Krogen 48

A few tweeks and this model is back in trim.

By Marilyn Mower

Sabre 40

This Down Easter shows off its sailing roots and Zeus drive.

By Marilyn Mower

March madness brings

back-to-back regattas

International Rolex Regatta

Sailors from throughout the Caribbean, U.S. mainland and Europe converge on the St. Thomas Yacht Club (STYC) each year for the International Rolex Regatta set for March 27 to 29. This year’s event has attracted some particularly hot racers, says regatta co-director, John Sweeney. “Three IRC 52s including defending champ, Vincitore, and her sistership, Vela Veloce, will return after a year off as will Oystercatcher XXVI from the U.K. Returning too, is Tom Hill with his new Reichel Pugh 75, Titan XV. In addition, we’ll have the best of the Caribbean-based boats in our CSA classes, as well as one-design IC24s and Beach Cat classes.”

Marking a true southern connection, organizers have sent a letter to the commodore of Southern Yacht Club (SYC) in New Orleans, offering congratulations on the club’s re-commissioning and offered a two-for-the-price-of-one entry for boats from SYC.
Round-the-buoy and round-the-island racing are on tap as well as the Harbor Course, a highly-anticipated tradition that takes the fleet into  the capitol city Charlotte Amalie.
Shoreside, there will be nightly parties, a big bash at Yacht Haven Grande (YHG) on March 28 and the prize giving at the yacht club.
YGH and American Yacht Harbor marinas offer free dockage to competitors on a first-come first-served basis. Marriott Frenchman’s Reef offers regatta rates for competitors.
For information, visit rolexcupregatta.com.

BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival

The competition at the BVI Spring Regatta ramps up with the four-day Sailing Festival, a low-key, yet competitive event that sees sailors race up the Sir Francis Drake Channel to the Bitter End Yacht Club.  More than 100 yachts are expected to compete in the BVI Spring Regatta.
“In the exotic category we have word that several new boats will be sailing this year,” says Linda Phillips, press director. Bella Pita, a Trip 75 with a lifting keel and 330 gallons of seawater ballast, and Ran 2, a 72-footer owned by Skype founder Niklas Zennström, are a few of the newbies.
New this year are the addition of the BVI Windsurfing Championship, the International Yacht Club Challenge for team racing, and an additional Performance Cruiser class.
For information, visit bvispringregatta.org.

St. Maarten Heineken Regatta

The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta celebrates its 30th anniversary this year with a mix of traditional competitive racing and shoreside parties this dual-island nation is well known for, as well as trendy events like match racing.
The Budget Marine Match Racing Cup, which originated last year as the run-up to the Heineken Regatta, is quickly establishing itself as one of the key match racing events in the Caribbean. Beginning March 2, three of the world’s best match racing skippers–Peter Isler, Gavin Brady and Peter Holmberg–will be among eight skippers racing Jeanneau SunFast 20s for cash prizes totalling $10,000.
New this year, Gill North America will sponsor the Gill Com-modores Cup, another pre-Heineken event. “This is designed to give those crews an additional day of racing,” says Regatta Director, Heather Tackling. “It is only open to spinnaker and racing classes and focuses on windward-leeward courses off the south coast that are favored by serious racers.”
Heineken Regatta kicks off March 5 with three days of racing that follow a tried-and-true formula sailors love. The first day features the around-the -island race, the second day takes competitors from Great Bay to Marigot. On the third day is a race back to Simpson Bay. Nightly parties culminate in the prize ceremony on Kim Sha Beach where reggae legends, The Wailers, will headline.
For information, visit heinekenregatta.com.

Puerto Rico Heineken International

There’s a new name, new venue and new format for Puerto Rico’s top yacht racing event. The Puerto Rico Heineken International Regatta (PHIR), formerly raced out of Culebra, will welcome sailors to new marina and yacht club facilities at Palmas del Mar in Humacao on the east coast for three days of racing, not two.
“We are excited about the plans for this year’s regatta,” says Director, Angel Ayala. “We’ll offer a mix of windward-leeward courses for the one-design and racing classes and there will be reaching courses for the cruising classes.”
The Puerto Rico International Dinghy Regatta will be held in tandem with the PHIR, March 19 to 21, for Optimists, Lasers and Snipes.
“New this year,” says Ayala, “we will welcome a kite-surfing class. Kite Surfers will compete in windward-leeward, freestyle and height events over the three days, right in front of the Yacht Club at Palmas del Mar for everyone to see.”
The 162-slip marina at Palmas del Mar offers state-of-the-art facilities for yachts up to 200 feet. Accommodations at Palmas del Mar Hotel & Villas will be offered at a discounted rate for regatta participants. For information, visit prheinekenregatta.com.

Power Play

New stern-drive, outboard propulsion

unveiled at the Miami International Boat Show

The “wow” factor soared when Mercury Racing’s new monster QC4v 1,300-horsepower stern-drive engine was introduced last month at the Miami International Boat Show. The all-new engine was built specifically for Poker Run-style offshore powerboats.
In fact, a pair of the turbo-charged engines appeared in the new Mercedes AMG-inspired 46-foot Cigarette Rider—a collaborative effort between Cigarette Racing Team and Mercedes AMG. The co-branded powerboat was paired with the new Mercedes AMG SLS luxury sports car at the Cigarette display.
A host of other new engines debuted at the Miami show, including an 8.2-liter stern-drive engine from MerCruiser and a two-stroke 150-horsepower Pro XS outboard from Mercury Outboards. New four-stroke outboards include Honda’s new BF115 horsepower, a new F70 horsepower from Yamaha and new DF40- and DF50 engines from Suzuki.

MERCURY RACING 1300/1350
“To achieve the higher power levels that are increasingly more popular we had to design a completely new engine, drive and propeller package,” explained Erik Christiansen, director of Mercury Racing Engineering. “It’s taken two-and-a-half years so far in design.” The first production engines will likely ship in August for twin and quad applications on 39- to 60-foot boats. A new, high-capacity dry-sump gear oil drive is mated to a stronger, high-torque transmission spinning new five- and six-blade CNC propellers.
Engine air induction determines the difference between the 1,300-hp and the 1,350-hp models. The 1,300 breathes ambient air, while the 1,350 breathes outside air through a direct-air induction system. Direct-air induction requires computer-aided design integration with the vessel, resulting in an added 50 horsepower per engine.
Cigarette Racing Team’s engineers were able to test the engine on a dynamometer and anticipate the 46 Rider will top 130 mph with a pair of the 1,350-hp engines.
The 9.0 liter quad cam four valve (QC4v) cylinder block and head design, combined with SmartCraft Digital Throttle & Shift (DTS), will provide big power with luxury-car-like drivability. Snazzy new Zero Effort digital controls provide smooth operation of the potent powerhouses.

MERCURY MERCRUISER 8.2L
Mercury MerCruiser introduced an 8.2-liter engine that replaces the 8.1L. The new engine produces more power and has better mid-range acceleration, lower emissions and better fuel efficiency running on 87-octane gasoline. The 8.2L will deliver 380  horsepower, with its H.O. model delivering 430.
The 8.2L MerCruiser engine comes in stern-drive and inboard configurations. The new models are compatible with Axius, SmartCraft, SeaCore and either Digital Throttle and Shift or mechanical throttle and shift on the stern-drive models and DTS only on the inboard models.

MERCURY OUTBOARDS 150 Pro XS
Mercury introduced the Pro XS engine five years ago, and now the performance-oriented engine is offered in a 150-horse tournament-ready package. Users can expect improved torque, better top-end speed and improved fuel economy.
Mercury shared comparison tests with its standard 150 OptiMax. The 150 Pro XS delivered 2.6 more mph at top speed, and at cruising speed, the Pro XS provides 15 percent better fuel economy. Available in a 20- or 25-inch shaft, the 150 Pro XS is designed for bass boats, deep-V aluminum fishing boats, bay boats, and pontoon and deck boats 19 feet and longer.

HONDA MARINE BF115
Honda’s new BF115 is derived from the inline 4-cylinder 2.4 liter DOHC engine platform used in Honda’s Accord and will be available this summer. The new BF115 delivers the fuel efficiency and quiet operation of four-stroke outboard engine technology combined with light weight and powerful acceleration, and still manages to reduce fuel consumption by 20 percent over the previous model. The gear case has also been updated and a longer anti-ventilation plate helps trap water flowing to the propeller to minimize cavitation.

YAMAHA OUTBOARDS F70
Yamaha’s all-new four-stroke F70 outboard is so light (260 pounds) and versatile it can even be used in applications formerly reserved for two-strokes. The new F70 has the best horsepower-per-liter ratio in its class, and it weighs 109 pounds less than Yamaha’s four-stoke F75. Fuel economy of the new Yamaha F70 is superior to that of the Yamaha 90TLR, and better than the Yamaha F75.

SUZUKI MARINE DF40 AND DF50
Suzuki’s new DF40 and DF50 reportedly offer increased fuel efficiency and performance, while weighing less. Suzuki’s initial tests show they use 23 percent less fuel than the current 40- and 50-horsepower models, mainly in the cruising range, which is where the engine is used the majority of the time. Suzuki also reports the new DF50 is six percent faster on the top end and 26 percent quicker in acceleration than the current Suzuki models.

States weigh fishing license issue

New dealerships open

Chesapeake Ranger Tugs recently opened to service and sell the small, trailerable tugs built in Washington State. The new business, located in Annapolis, Maryland, is a full-service dealership for the Chesapeake Bay region. Ranger models include the Ranger 21, 25, and the new 29-footer. Their highway-friendly beam and their shallow draft makes them ideal for exploring the waters of the Chesapeake and beyond.

Grady-White Boats has added Atlantic Marine of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, to its dealer network. Atlantic will offer Grady-White’s lineup of 26 models from 18- to 36-feet in length. Atlantic Marine offers a complete call-ahead dry stack facility, a retail sales area, indoor showers plus a dock house, and a fully equipped parts and service department.

Government in action

As I wrote this, the Virginia General Assembly was deliberating several boating-related bills and you might want to voice your opinion. Senate Bill 217, introduced by Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, would allow cities and counties to assess registration fees on recreational watercraft in lieu of property taxes.
Virginia House Bill 802, introduced by Del. Charles Poindexter, R-Franklin County, would create a one-time $100 registration fee for antique boats, defined as being at least 30 years old. Registration would have to be renewed every three years. Registration numbers would not be required on the boat’s bow. Instead, the numbers would be placed on a plaque.
Maryland is the latest Mid-Atlantic state to set a saltwater fishing license plan in motion. The state’s Department of Natural Resources is requesting a $15 saltwater fishing license beginning in 2011 to place Maryland in compliance with federal law. All revenue will remain in the state. The bill is in response to a federal law that requires an annual census of saltwater anglers, ostensibly to get a more accurate picture of the type and number of fish being caught. For the coastal states, including Maryland, that currently don’t have a saltwater license, a free National Saltwater Angler Registry is providing a one-year transition period. All saltwater anglers from states without licenses must go online this year (countmyfish.noaa.gov) or call 888-674-7411 to register before they fish. Next year the registry is expected to cost $20 to $30. Maryland hopes to have its licensing system in place next year. .

White marlin imposter

Scientists say about one-third of all the billfish hauled in by anglers at the recent White Marlin Open fishing tournaments in Ocean City, Maryland, were not white marlin, but a look-a-like species called the roundscale spearfish. Samples were taken from 24 of the 26 fish caught during the tournament in 2007 and 2008 and eight were discovered to be roundscale spearfish. This raises concerns about the remaining number of white marlin, as recent population assessments may have been overestimated since the species is virtually indistinguishable from the roundscale spearfish.

A capital show

It’s not too late to preview this season’s new boats. The National Capital Boat Show runs March 12 to 14 inside the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia. The show is one of the largest in the region, serving the Washington, D.C., and suburban Maryland and Virginia markets. Find out more at agievents.com.

A River Doesn’t  Run Through It

Still, Myrtle Beach offers something for everyone

By Dudley Dawson

Until I moved to the Carolinas with my family about 20 years ago, I knew nothing of Myrtle Beach and its popularity as a resort destination among families in the mid-South. It didn’t take long, though, until friends and neighbors extolling the virtues of the beach drew our family to Myrtle, as it’s known locally. Now we make at least one pilgrimage to this South Carolina town each year for family fun with our three children, their spouses and nine grandkids, 17 of us total.

Myrtle Beach is located halfway between Wilmington, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina, but it does not boast a rich colonial history as do its two seaport neighbors. Without a major river and an inlet to call its own, the development of Myrtle Beach has instead relied upon the magnificent natural asset that is incorporated into the city’s name. Its white sand beach is one of the finest along the lower Atlantic coast–wide, clean, safe and welcoming, and running for miles north and south. A river doesn’t run through it, but the Intracoastal Waterway does. That, combined with its location midway along the Atlantic coast, makes Myrtle Beach an attractive layover spot for those cruisers who migrate north and south in the spring and fall, as well as a destination, by land or by sea, in its own right. If you are a golfer, this place is legendary.

While Myrtle Beach has little to offer in the way of historical significance—Wilmington and Charleston are preferable if that’s your thing—it seems to have succeeded in combining the best features of several other noted destinations, including Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Branson, Hilton Head, even a bit of Las Vegas, but without the sometimes exorbitant costs of those locales. When you’re taking the whole gang for a week, as we do, for a total of more than 25 hotel room-nights each time, a little savings on the price of accommodations, amenities and amusements is appreciated.
Like Lauderdale, foremost is the beach—the Grand Strand—with its rows of hotels, motels and condos between shops piled high with souvenir T-shirts and shells, but there’s more. A block or two off the beach, the Orlando factor kicks in. Small amusement parks offer roller coasters, carousels and games of skill in a garish carnival atmosphere that comes to life as the setting sun reflects off the sportfishing boats returning from offshore. A dozen outrageous miniature golf courses feature the requisite jungle animals, dinosaurs and crashing planes in abundance. It seems every hotel has its own swimming pool, pirate ship and “lazy river” on the enclosed ground floor, for aquatic play, when the weather renders the beach itself too cold or blustery. It all sounds a bit tacky, and to be honest, it is, but the kids just love it.
Off the beach a couple of miles and west of the ICW, the more recent resort amenities begin. Here are chain stores and outlet malls of every description, the larger amusement attractions,—and rolling in a bit of Branson—dinner theaters and shows of every description. Broadway on the Beach, built around a huge lagoon, offers one of Myrtle’s largest concentrations of shops and attractions, with many more in the surrounding area. Across the highway from Broadway sits the perennial favorite of my grandkids and my wife, the go-cart racing center behind the NASCAR Café, where a half-dozen tracks offer hands-on fun for, as the Christmas song says, kids from one to ninety-two.
Inland a bit further, carved out of the scrub pine flatlands, are innumerable golf courses of the non-miniature variety. There are also several that lie closer to the beach, even along the ICW. Myrtle Beach may not have the reputation of Pinehurst or Palm Springs, but it rivals Hilton Head as a must-visit for golfers who prefer to arrive by boat. Where else can you play a few rounds or take in a tournament, relax over dinner at a AAA four-diamond resort such as the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes (marinainnatgrandedunes.com), and then retire for a night of familiar comfort in your own berth?
In addition to activities already mentioned, Myrtle Beach brings a bit of Vegas to the East by hosting numerous conventions, seasonal entertainment specials and traveling Broadway shows throughout the year. A review of the coming year’s calendar (visitmyrtlebeach.com) yields many that would be of interest to those of a nautical bent. Timed to coincide with a transit north or south, such a stop would offer welcome respite from the boredom of traveling the ditch and help prevent mutiny by otherwise reluctant crew.
The new Guide to Mid-Atlantic/ICW Marinas, from the Atlantic Cruising Club (book and DVD, $39.95; DVD only, $19.95; atlanticcruisingclub.com), lists at least 15 marinas in Myrtle Beach and nearby towns including Little River, Conway and North Myrtle Beach. Some are resorts, others back up to parking lots or miniature golf courses. Some are an easy walk to shopping and dining, while others will require a rental car or taxi to get around. Some offer full amenities, others virtually nothing, so familiarize yourself with the choices and select one to suit your personal preferences and your budget before reserving a slip.
Myrtle Beach offers untold options. You might prefer a golf outing with your own long-time foursome, or dinner and a show with your sweetheart. Nothing wrong with that, certainly, but I believe Myrtle Beach is best experienced wide open, the more the merrier. Our family often splits up after breakfast together, with various subgroups spending the day pursuing activities as their individual interests dictate. We then gather for dinner, exchanging stories of our day and planning for the next. In what has become a tradition for us, dinner on the last night of our stay is always spent at Friendly’s ice cream parlor near the beach. On this one night, the kids have carte blanche to pick whatever they want from the menu—even if it’s a dinner of fried onion rings and a banana split—without objection from parents or grandparents. The memories remain long after the upset tummies have settled, and it isn’t long before they’re asking, “When are we going to the beach again?”

Craftsmanship

Tradition + Craftsmanship + Technology

= Carolina Custom Boatbuilding

By Chuck Husick

A recent visit to three of the leading Wanchese, North Carolina, custom yacht builders showed that they are managing their business in the same way the boats they build deal with the open ocean; with quiet assurance. We visited Spencer Yachts, Freedom Boatworks and Ritchie Howell Custom Carolina Yachts, some of the area’s most highly regarded builders, to get a first hand look at custom sportfishing boats nearing completion in their yards.

Propshaft Seals and

Monofilament Line

The use of IPS drives for sportfishing raises a question about the susceptibility of the forward facing, contra-rotating props to fouling with monofilament line and possible damage to shaft seals, which might compromise the watertight integrity of the pod’s drive gears. Close examination of the design of the drive seals on a boat at the Spencer yard showed that the combination of the contra rotating props and the design of the seals will assure minimal susceptibility to damage from fishing line, and that the seals can be readily accessed for maintenance by removing the props.

A total of fifteen boats were in various stages of production between Spencer and Howell, six of which were of particular interest since they are powered with Volvo Penta IPS drives, a relatively new choice for yards used to building boats propelled by large engines driving inclined propeller shaft systems. These boats were preceded by Freedom Yacht’s recently launched 56-foot convertible, powered with three IPS900 drives utilizing 700 horsepower Volvo engines. The selection of IPS propulsion for these state-of-the-art sportfishing boats is a significant vote of confidence in vectored thrust drives, and especially in the unique maneuvering performance of the IPS system’s joystick controlled “Sportfish” mode. For boats where the cockpit is king, the advantage of the absence of exhaust noise and smell is significant.
Although most of the Wanchese builders are weathering the current economic storm, one, Sculley Boatbuilders, ceased operation, a consequence of the untimely death of Jim Sculley, Sr. The owner of a triple IPS900, 54-foot express that was under construction at Sculley is having the boat completed at Spencer Yachts. The boat is expected to be able to exceed 40 knots at WOT and cruise economically at speeds above 30 knots.
Five other IPS-powered boats being built at Spencer include a 49-foot express, a 54-foot express, and two 57-foot convertibles, each powered with dual IPS900 drives, and a 70-foot convertible powered with three IPS1200s coupled to 900 horsepower D-13 engines. That’s right; this is the first confirmation of just how powerful IPS3 drives will be. This boat is scheduled for delivery in the summer of 2010 and will feature an enclosed, air conditioned flybridge. Ritchie Howell is completing a 54-foot express with a pair of IPS900s that will run at 32 knots burning 42 gallons per hour.
The use of the IPS drive in most of these sportfishing boats mandates a different engine installation to insure a totally flat fishing cockpit without excessive freeboard or compromise to fish boxes. If mounted fully aft, where the height of the engines would require an undesirable increase in the elevation of the cockpit sole, the engines are installed a bit forward and connected to the drive units via carefully balanced jack-shafts. Still, the installations are allowing more interior space and in some cases more stowage and desirable utility rooms for systems.
While top speed can be important to the owners of these yachts, Kent Lundgren, vice president of Volvo Penta’s Marine Diesel Business Unit, with whom I visited the Wanchese yards, commented that the buyers of these boats tend to have rather high profiles in their communities and are, in part, expressing their “green” aspirations for modest fuel consumption and a reduced carbon footprint by their willingness to trade a small reduction in top speed for what they expect will be remarkably economical cruising performance.
Observing the work underway at both the Spencer and the Ritchie Howell yards provided an opportunity to closely examine the construction techniques used by their highly experienced craftsmen, as well as parts of the IPS drive that would normally be out of sight. Hulls, decks and much of the bridge structure of each boat are constructed in the cold-molded technique using special marine grade plywood. Spencer’s boats are built with a structural foam core while Ritchie Howell builds using solid plywood saturated with epoxy, creating an immensely strong, very lightweight structure. Both build their hulls upside down on a jig. Small fiberglass parts are resin infused and vacuum bagged. The construction techniques used by these builders result in inherently true hull and deck surfaces that are particularly pleasing when painted.
Keeping a planing-hull boat light and well balanced is key to its performance. The non-structural bulkheads and furnishings in these boats are built using weight-efficient core materials clad in exquisitely finished wood veneers. In fact, the high-quality joinery created by North Carolina’s custom boatbuilders is both a specialty and a source of pride. Fuel tanks are typically on centerline, minimizing trim changes as fuel is consumed. We noted the use of wide-span Humphree Active-Ride Control System Interceptors for both longitudinal trim and for roll control at speeds above about 10-12 knots. Ritchie Howell has retrofitted the 60-foot Canyon Runner with a Seakeeper Model 7000 gyro stabilizer and will likely offer it as optional equipment on future builds.
It was interesting to see how the tradition of old-fashioned craftsmanship that is legendary among North Carolina’s boatbuilders has been integrated with the latest power technology. With such success in the twin installations, we can’t wait to board the new triple IPS1200-powered 70 convertible.

My own boat is a 39’ x 14’ x 4.5’ bridge deck motoryacht, so I am always interested in seeing other design ideas that fit the same envelope. Sometimes I like them; sometimes I fail to see the point. I had the chance to review Sabre Yachts’ new 40-foot sedan at the Miami Show, and I’ll tell you that the boat, built for a West Palm Beach, Florida, family, scored points with me.
First of all, the boat was easy to board, and that’s not always a sure thing at fixed docks. There were several choices for feet and handholds suitable for high or low tides and guests of varying height and agility. This was the first instance where Sabre’s sailboat background was obvious. The first Sabre that came to market was a 28-foot sailboat in 1971. That boat was a success and 588 of them were built. Sabre entered the powerboat market in 1989 with a fast trawler and then found its niche with Down East boats build on a deep-V planing hull.
While Three Rivers looked traditional, she is all modern construction with high-tech systems. All Sabre’s output is now built using dry-stack resin infusion to bond bi-axial E-glass to an Airex foam core for a greener, leaner boat: less resin and a closed environment for the process yields less air pollution and a lighter boat requiring less fuel to achieve fun speeds.

Specifications

Contact

Speaking of fun, the 40s run with Zeus pod drives and a joy stick, which should take the panic out of parking the boat or waiting for a bridge to open in a congested waterway. The vectored thrust unique to pod drives is more efficient, meaning the designed top speeds can be achieved with less horsepower. Power is a pair of 380-horsepower Cummins QSB 5.9L engines coupled to CMD Zeus 3500 drives with integrated steering and trim tabs. The sweet spot is at 2,400 to 2,600 rpms,  where the boat runs in the low to mid 20s at .9 nautical miles to the gallon.
A 9 kW Onan genset handles the house electrical needs. Sabre includes as standard equipment many of the things owners want or need such as a sound shield on the genset, a galvanic isolator, drawer-style refrigeration, and even niceties such as two flat-screen TVs and a built-in coffee maker.
A single sliding door leads from the cockpit, which has plenty of built-in seating, to the saloon. Sabre builds its boats with the kind of wood craftsmanship you would expect of a yard in Maine. Three River’s interior is a light American cherry offset by a noise-absorbent faux leather overhead.
“We chose individual helm chairs rather than a bench seat because the chairs can be adjusted individually and the inboard chair can be swiveled around to face the rest of the seating,” said Bentley Collins, Sabre’s vice president of sales and marketing. The galley is on the lower level, which makes the main deck more elegant for socializing and less cluttered during operation.
Although Three Rivers had a guest cabin opposite the galley, Bentley says 80 percent of the boats are being ordered with the space configured as a convertible dinette or lounge/media area. A sliding pocket door connecting the space with the galley is perfect for this purpose and both benefit from the light spilling below through the helm windows.
The guest and master stateroom forward share a single large head on port, although the master stateroom has private access to it as well. The master stateroom features a surprising amount of storage space for a boat with a fine entry and the cedar-lined hanging locker is a nice touch, as is the cherry lath used on the hullsides, a warm and attractive technique carried forward from the sailing yachts for dealing with curved surfaces. I could feel at home here.

48

There’s a new version of the

North Sea 48 for a new decade

With nearly 600 boats in the field, Kadey-Krogen is confident about building boats for bluewater conditions. What this builder has been doing lately is fine-tuning the details to modernize and improve the livability of its fleet based on input from what is arguably one of the most active owner/cruiser groups in the sport. The input from Kadey-Krogen owners has led to big things, such as entire new models, and little things, such as the revamping of the North Sea 48.
The North Sea 48—its nomenclature comes from its length on deck not its LOA—raised pilothouse trawler debuted in 1996 as a walkaround alternative to the builder’s Whaleback model. A widebody North Sea was added in 1999 with an asymmetrical main deck and super structure design, which has a full fore-and-aft outboard passage on the starboard side only. A decade later Kadey-Krogen announced its first major modification to the series.

 

I was recently aboard North Sea Hull No. 48, the second of the new breed and first to be delivered to the East Coast. Built for Will and Sue Parry, it’s their fifth Kadey-Krogen. So what are the differences? So subtle that you can’t see them from the dock, yet for serious cruisers—or live-aboarders like the Seattle-based owners of Hull No. 47— they are likely game changers, especially the galley.

Specifications

Contact

The centerpiece of the newly enlarged galley is a four-burner Viking propane range. Slightly larger than the Force 10 it replaces, the  new range actually dictated a little more floorspace in the galley as well.  Household size GE appliances including refrigeration  and a convection/microwave are standard and there is room for a trash compactor and dishwasher as well. Stainless steel finish is standard for the appliances, although traditional finishes are available. Optional granite countertops add to the modern look. When the 48 was introduced, the saloon TV was recessed behind tambour doors on the partial bulkhead between the saloon and galley, its backside substantially nipping into galley storage. With the advent of flatscreen TVs that hang on a wall, the galley benefits from a larger pantry with deep, pullout drawers.
While the U-shaped galley appears small in comparison to some trawler-style yachts, its size, layout and placement are a matter of form-following-function. It’s on the main deck rather than at pilothouse level to be closer to the center of gravity and designed with the ergonomics of working in a moving environment in mind. As is characteristic of a sailing yacht, you can brace yourself in this galley, and since many Kadey-Krogen owners have come to the brand from sailing yachts, it’s comforting and familiar. While the galley itself is arranged athwartship on starboard, there is a buffet like element fore and aft on port opposite. Not only does this present an additional counter for prep work, it also conceals bottle stowage, an icemaker and additional copious stowage for pots, pans and bulky food items.
“The professional gas stove is something our owners really like,” says John Gear, president of Kadey-Krogen Yachts. “When you arrive at your destination and drop anchor—the last thing you want to do is fire up the generator to make a cup of tea and spoil the ambiance.” The boat is capable of running everything but the air conditioner off its 3,000-watt inverter and 1,000-amp-hour house battery bank.
The next big change is the completely re-engineered flybridge. What you’ll notice is that instead of a centerline helm flanked by settees running fore and aft, the flybridge helm (with enough room for two helm chairs) is now off to starboard with an L-shaped settee and table to port that extends the entertainment space of the boat and makes cruising on the flybridge more congenial. The flybridge also has a summer kitchen aft of the helm area with a grill and refrigeration. This feature certainly extends the livability of the upper deck for owners who entertain on the hook or want more living space than the covered aft main deck affords. What you won’t notice is that this new flybridge is made up of less component parts. Reducing the number of molds needed to form the flybridge results in a stiffer, quieter structure that is easier to build and install.
One other change for the 48 is its flush overhead, yes the beam ceiling has been retired, also in keeping with the more modern look. This makes the biggest change in the lower deck staterooms, which now look more spacious. A two-stateroom layout with the master forward and an office that converts to a guest double is standard, but as all interior bulkheads are formed of marine plywood, a third, bunk-style cabin is easily accommodated.
“We don’t bring out a new model every year,” says John. “When we think about changes we measure them against our three criteria: long range, bluewater capability and livability.” The new version of the North Sea hits the mark on all three.

T’ain’t Your Pappy’s VHF

The GX2100 MATRIX  AIS VHF radio has a dual channel AIS receiver built in,  allowing you to see AIS targets simply by pressing a dedicated key. A display panel shows call sign, ship name, BRG, DST, SOG and COG and will allow you to contact an AIS-equipped ship directly. It displays your vessel’s position in relation to the AIS targets and an alarm alerts you when an AIS-equipped ship may be on a closing course to yours. The GX2100 can be connected to any GPS chart plotter that accepts a VDM message. It also stores way-points and will display them on an external GPS. Digital selective calling is included for transmitting a one-button mayday call. standardhorizon.com

Perfect Pod

No matter what style or type of dash-mount MFD you have, Seaview makes a sleek, waterproof pod to mount it. Provided uncut for custom installations, or available pre-cut and ready for nearly all brands of marine electronics. The pods are available in white with black anodized bases, but custom colors are available. seaviewglobal.com

Serenity Now

Following in the wake of Cheoy Lee’s Mike Burvenich-designed 69- and 83-foot Serenity yachts, the yard’s Serenity 59 is the third in the series. The 59 is a three-stateroom yacht featuring a large walk-in lazarette aft of the engine room. The master stateroom is full beam amidships, with an ensuite head and walk-in closet.
Single and twin-engine configurations are available, both feature full propeller protection. Estimated range is 2,000 nm at nine knots with the standard single John Deere 6081AFM developing 330 horsepower. Cheoyleena.com

Water Cure

Headhunter Incorporated will unveil its new Oasis reverse osmosis watermaker at the Palm Beach International Boat Show. Specifically engineered for the rigors of marine use, Oasis watermakers are offered in three sizes from 800- to 2,400-gpd. Custom systems are possible. These units incorporate features such as auto back flush, quiet high-pressure pumps and self-priming booster pumps. Optional features include auto-fill, remote panel, color touch screen control and Tank Sentry fresh water tank level monitoring. headhunterinc.com

Copper Top Goes to Sea

Boat owners know that some of the harshest battery conditions can occur with marine use. With multiple electronic accessories such as livewells, GPS units and hazard lighting on today’s boats, enthusiasts need a dependable power solution. Duracell’s new 12-volt Marine and RV battery relies on Absorbed Glass Mat Technology to prevent spilling or leakage and also protect the battery’s internal components. driveduracell.com

Turn Off the Genny,

The Ice Cream Won’t Melt

Not with this spacious propane-powered refrigerator-freezer from Norcold. Sporting 17 cubic feet of storage, there’s room for everything. Add to that the convenience of the in-door chilled water dispenser and you’ve got home appliance convenience in a compact package. The PolarMax RF’s gas-absorption technology means you won’t have to run your AC power to keep onboard food fresh. An LED control panel makes it simple to operate, the standard ice maker and automatic defrost make “chillin’” simple. Thetford.com

“You Should Have Seen It”

Now you can bring back still images or videos of exactly what you saw and show them what they missed with Liquid Image integrated camera masks. HD320 and HD321 capture high definition images and audio to a depth of 130-feet with a choice of wide angle or telephoto lenses. The 310 and 311 models offer the same lenses and record video as well as stills, and operate to a depth of 65 feet. A 302 model is perfect for near-surface exploring with a depth rating of 15 feet. divecamcentral.com $110-$300.

Riviera Yachts Goes Big Time

Riviera Yachts is exiting its period of voluntary receivership with a new 43-foot flybridge model debuting at Australia’s Sanctuary Cove Boat Show in May and plans for a line of luxury production yachts ranging in size from 73- to 85-feet (above). The 85’s standard, four-cabin layout includes a full-beam master stateroom with twin walk-in closets plus and ensuite full-beam head featuring shower and tub. The enclosed skylounge is air conditioned while a tender garage and hydraulic swim platform add to the fun on the water. Hydraulic bow and stern thrusters will make maneuvering a cinch. Engine options will suit owners of varying boating lifestyles, from long-range cruising (more than 1,500 nm) to planing speeds in the 24-knot range. Standard engines on the Riviera 85 Motor Yacht are twin Caterpillar C18s rated at 1,015 horsepower. Riviera.com.au

Who Dat? Dat’s a Crawfish

If you’re cruising around New Orleans, or just love the cuisine, you’ll likely have the need for the Crawfish volume of the Louisiana Seafood Bible. Mudbugs or crayfish, or however you refer to them, are quite the culinary rage and, according to authors Jerald and Glenda Horst, are a growing cultural phenomenon. You’ll learn not just how to cook them up—in recipes such as Delta Crispy Crawcakes or the regional favorite, Crawfish Boutlettes—but also a lot about their history and behavior. Available from Pelican Publishing, 800-843-1724.

Who Dat? Dat’s a Crawfish

If you’re cruising around New Orleans, or just love the cuisine, you’ll likely have the need for the Crawfish volume of the Louisiana Seafood Bible. Mudbugs or crayfish, or however you refer to them, are quite the culinary rage and, according to authors Jerald and Glenda Horst, are a growing cultural phenomenon. You’ll learn not just how to cook them up—in recipes such as Delta Crispy Crawcakes or the regional favorite, Crawfish Boutlettes—but also a lot about their history and behavior. Available from Pelican Publishing, 800-843-1724.

Bibb and Berry Salad
Couscous with Roasted Grape tomatoes
Grouper Picatta
Classic Strawberry Pie

A springtime feast that’s refreshing and delicious.  Enjoy.

Bibb and Berry Salad

Preparation time: 25 minutes
Serves: 4 – 6

In a large bowl, tear lettuce into small pieces and add next 5 ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, preserves and oil.  Season with pepper.  Lightly toss salad with dressing.

Couscous with

Roasted Grape tomatoes

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 – 20 minutes
Serves: 4 – 6

In a small roasting pan, combine tomatoes, 3 tbsp. olive oil, kosher salt and pepper.  Roast in 400 degree oven 10 – 15 minutes until just softened and blistered. Add balsamic vinegar and cool to room temperature.  Toss tomato mixture with couscous, basil, 1 tbsp. olive oil and feta.  Serve.

Grouper Picatta

Preparation time:  20 minutes
Cooking: 20 minutes
Serves:  4

Rinse grouper filets and pat dry. Dust with flour and season with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in large non-stick skillet. Pan sear grouper until cooked through, 4 minutes per side.  Remove and keep warm.  Add white wine, scraping up brown bits and reducing slightly.  Add lemon juice, butter, capers, and lemon slices.  Saute until reduced.  Add grouper, coating with sauce.  Garnish with parsley, season with pepper and serve.

Classic Strawberry Pie

Preparation time: 45 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Chilling time: 4 ½ hours
Serves: 6 – 8

Set aside 20 berries and slice. Quarter remaining berries, toss with sugar and lemon juice.  Let stand 30 minutes.  Drain berries reserving juice.  Add water to juice to measure 2 cups.  Add gelatin, let sit 1 minute, simmer, stirring until gelatin dissolved.  Add berries, transfer to metal bowl. Chill 20 minutes.   Layer pie crust with berry mixture, fresh berries, mixture.  Chill 4 hours.  Whip cream with sugar and vanilla until stiff.