FLIBS Preview

Every year the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show brings the goods, from the latest in electronics gadgetry, to designs ranging from the traditional to the garish, industry luminaries, and boats from the smallest inflatable tenders to the largest megayachts that Fort Lauderdale can hold.

This year, the largest of the fleet will be the radical 230-foot megayacht designed by Espen Oino, dubbed Galactica Super Nova. Built by Dutch Shipyard Heesen Yachts, Galactica features a 40-foot beam to go along with her massively raked transom—all the more rakish when you realize that this aluminum megaship can slice through the water at 30 knots. Probably a good thing, then, that she carries over 23,000 gallons of fuel. At current market rates (though I’m sure a volume discount would apply), that’s a top-up for a mere $50,000.

But for PassageMaker, there are more—shall we say—reasonable options on the market. Here is a brief slideshow of some, but not all, of the 2016 new or newish entries on display.

Trident 620

A new class of yacht from the folks at Outer Reef, the Trident620 sports a unique, modern flair in a flybridge motoryacht. Panoramic windows, high freeboard, and a plumb bow combine to give the effect of a much larger yacht. Debuted in Cannes earlier this year.

No Limits 1550

Without a boat last year at FLIBS, the folks at No Limits stopped by to talk about their goal of bringing their 51-footer to the show in 2016. Well, they have accomplished that goal in style. Four Seasons, No Limit’s 1550 model just arrived in Fort Lauderdale after an epic journey that started in Holland (home of the boatbuilder), and arrived in the United States last month. After taking the northern route across the Atlantic, this search-and-rescue craft DNA has the moxie to handle nearly any ocean condition, and No Limits has quite a photo archive to prove it. (Stay tuned for our review of the 16-meter in the Nov/Dec issue.)

Cranchi Eco Trawler 43 Long Distance

Among other designs, Italian builder Cranchi will display a Trawler model at this year’s FLIBS. Another yacht that falls in line with modern, Euro-sensibilities, the 43LD has somewhat chunky exterior look, but clean and simple interior lines, and plenty of entertaining space.

Nordic Tugs 44 Flybridge

Nordic Tugs has been building boats since the 70s, but their keen sense of interior style is really starting to show well. The new 44 Flybridge meets all of your expectations about a Nordic Tug, and then ups the ante by introducing a very clean, stately, and livable interior without any gimmicks.

Hudson 48 Powercat

Debuted last year at FLIBS, we thought the Hudson 48 is well worth another look. Like most powercats of this size on the market, the interior spaces are second-to-none. Huge saloon, copious seating and lounging areas, and glorious open-air access give the Hudson at once a solid cruising boat and an entertainer, par excellence.