Yachting has been transformed over the last 50 years by major innovations such as fibreglass hulls, Dacron sails, non-stretch Dyneema cordage and GPS navigation. Modern gear makes it easier to enjoy sailing and often requires less crew. Nowadays, materials such as carbon, composites and alloys allow the construction...
Inland waterways offer boaters some of the safest, yet most interesting experiences, especially on a state-of-the-art cruiser. NauticExpo e-mag reporter Kevin Green was invited by Le Boat to test the new Horizon 1150 in southern France. Europe’s extensive network of rivers and canals are home to many boaters who...
What began as a dream to clean the ocean has become an innovative product made by a bunch of Australian surfers. “Everyone is aware of the plastics problems in the ocean and they are screaming for a solution,” Pete Ceglinski told international media representatives earlier this year at the Seabin debut in La Grande...
The latest Thai-built Alibi custom performance cruiser shows great innovation. The French company founded by racer/designer Loïc Goepfert has been making these 54-foot catamarans near Bangkok for several years. Their latest boat debuted at La Grande Motte 2017. Goepfert’s goal of building innovative, yet beautiful...
The quiet arrival of the Solarwave 64 went unheralded at La Grande Motte 2017. But crowds soon gathered around this gray ghost ship powered entirely by the sun. The Solarwave glided out into the Mediterranean at 10 knots as the twin electric motors hummed quietly, consuming 64 kilowatts. Throttling back to a cruising...
Battery technology is one of the key elements in efficient yachts, especially lightweight racers or smart-thinking cruising boats. Lithium has been the most recent pioneering technology for stored power, but it is inherently volatile, especially if special charging procedures are not followed. The Dutch Super B...
The wind is free. Add two engines and you have a formula that makes sailing catamarans appealing by combining safety and comfort. That’s the new Catana 53, showcased at the International Multihull Boat Show, April 19-23 in La Grande Motte on the French Mediterranean. Given the competitive market and the number of new...
Navionics has already popularized navigation apps for smartphones. The Italian company continues to develop its charting software with the introduction of an Android version of Dock-to-Dock Autorouting at boot Düsseldorf 2017. The program already worked on iPhones, iPads and select chartplotters. Simply punch in your...
A major trend at boot Düsseldorf 2017 was the popularity of scuba diving, reflected in the large number of exhibitors. Germany alone counts 670,000 regular divers. However, there are obvious dangers associated with the sport. It’s important to monitor depth, dive times and air supply to avoid dangers such as nitrogen...
The Solarwave 64 combines the spaciousness of a catamaran with the sun’s renewable energy to create an efficient cruising yacht. Solarwave Yachts presented its latest innovation at boot Düsseldorf 2017. The Swiss company also makes a hybrid model and a sailing model—the Solarwave-Power and Solarwave-Sailor. They...
