Dream Big: New Boats Over 40 Feet

Sportfishers

Sportfishing boats have something of a split personality. They're heavily powered, designed with wave-slicing hulls, and built to get to the fishing grounds swiftly. On the other hand, they have luxurious appointments below decks for the crew to relax on the ride home or for entertaining.

Regulator 41

This center-console is a serious offshore fishing machine. The new 41 is the largest ever from the North Carolina builder and is designed to get you out to the canyons and back quickly, in comfort and style. With a deep-V hull featuring 24 degrees of dead-rise at the transom, this hull requires plenty of power to get it moving, but that comes in spades from the quadruple 350-hp Yamaha outboards mounted on the Armstrong bracket. The boat exceeded 60 mph in testing, but according to published performance data, the most economical speed seems to be in the 35 mph range, still plenty fast enough for most folks, but with a vastly reduced thirst to make that 600 gallons of fuel last longer.

Options include an upper helm above the T-top and an outdoor galley behind the standard three-position seat/leaning post. The console interior features a small galley, a dinette that coverts to a double berth, and an enclosed head with shower, so overnight stays are a possibility for a couple. A diesel generator fitted below the cockpit sole provides power to the air conditioner, battery charger, water heater, and other domestic loads. There's no getting away from the fact that this is a big center-console, but the Yamaha Helm Master joystick control system eases nerves when it's time to bring the boat back into the dock. RegulatorMarine.com

Viking 48C

Viking's first 48 convertible, launched more than 30 years ago, was an almost instant hit. A revamped model appeared in 2002, and this latest model debuted at the 2016 boat shows. Equipped with a pair of MAN diesel engines, the new 48C is designed to cruise in the 30-knot range, depending on the engines. The boat is about fishing first, and it features almost 125 square feet of cockpit space. That's not to say Viking has taken any shortcuts below decks.

The accommodation spaces are roomy and luxurious and can be customized to the owner's taste. Viking is a semicustom builder, but the first yacht featured a large flat-screen television with a surround-sound system that would put many home theaters to shame, a gourmet galley, and sumptuous staterooms to relax in after a hard day's fishing. Joinery choices are either teak or walnut in either satin or gloss finish.

There is space aplenty on the upper deck, which features a centerline helm with excellent sightlines for the captain, power-assisted hydraulic steering, single-lever electronic engine controls, and tons of space for the electronics of your choice. VikingYachts.com

Trawlers

With these boats, it's all about the journey. Most trawlers travel at sedate speeds, typically below 10-knots, and while the so-called “fast trawler” has emerged, trawlers tend to be displacement or semi-displacement hulls, so speed is governed more by hull length than by engine power.

Krogen 50 Open

The new Krogen Open 50 model reflects a great deal of customer feedback, which led to a design departure: an open and continuous saloon/galley/pilothouse main deck. Rather than several steps to the helm, everything from the large rear cockpit through the saloon to the wheelhouse is on one level, making for better socializing. All of the attributes that Krogen is known for — exquisite joinery, rugged construction, and phenomenal seakeeping ability — are still here on the Open 50. Krogen isn't straying far from its target audience of voyagers and liveaboards. Available with either single or twin John Deere diesels, and with a 1,240-gallon fuel capacity, the anticipated range is 2,100 miles at 8 knots, with the single engine model, but slow down to 6, and that jumps to a staggering 5,000 miles, enough for an Atlantic crossing. The first boat won't be splashed until 2017, at which time pricing will be announced. KadeyKrogen.com

Nordic Tug 44

The Nordic Tug 44 is a semi-displacement hull that delivers slow and steady cruising. At a leisurely 8 knots from a single 510-hp Volvo diesel, the 44 uses less than three gallons of fuel per hour and has a range in excess of 1,700 miles, so stops at the pump are fewer and farther between.

Rather than cram in lots of berths, the layout has a huge master forward, with an island queen, along with a generous guest cabin aft. This is a boat designed for a couple to cruise in comfort, with the option of welcoming friends and family on board once in a while. The main saloon, with galley, is almost the full beam of the boat, and just three steps lead to the separate pilothouse, which has internal steps leading to the optional flybridge; the pilothouse is a great new feature for this year, keeping everyone inside if the weather turns nasty.

Catamarans

If you want space on board, it's hard to beat a catamaran on room for living, entertaining, lounging, and personal space. While sailing craft make up the majority of catamarans, the popularity of power catamarans is growing. With an engine in each hull, the widely spaced props offer superior maneuverability in tight areas.

Leopard 48

So you like sailing, but you're not too keen on living life at an angle? Love sailboats, but the lack of space would drive you nuts? If you answered yes to these questions, then a catamaran could fit your future. Nothing touches a cat for interior volume, and the Leopard 48 doesn't disappoint. For maximum sleeping space, opt for the four-cabin layout, which also has room for four heads with showers. But if the number of guests will be more limited, then the three-cabin layout is the way to go, which gives over the entire starboard hull to the owner, with a large queen cabin aft and a settee and voluminous head and shower compartment forward.

On deck, a raised helm station gives excellent all-round visibility, and the large cockpit is seemingly big enough to host the Super Bowl. Built by Robertson and Caine in South Africa, the Leopard 48 is the private version of The Moorings 48 charter version, so if you want to try before you buy, book a charter vacation and give a similar boat a workout for a week or two.

With more than 1,500 square feet of sail area, the boat should sail well. But when the breeze dies or you need to maneuver around the docks, a 39-hp Yanmar saildrive in each hull will push the boat with ease. LeopardCatamarans.com

Aspen C120

Proa or cat? To the outsider, the Aspen looks just like any other power catamaran. But take a closer look and you'll notice that the starboard hull is about 30 percent wider than the port hull. Instead of having two engines, the Aspen has only one — in the starboard hull. To prevent the boat from turning in circles, the boat has a narrower port hull, and thus less hull drag, so the boat tracks straight. The standard Volvo 330-hp motor uses less than 2 gallons of fuel per hour when cruising at 8 knots, but if you want, the boat can top out at close to 20 knots.

The generous beam means there's room for two double cabins, each with its own head compartment, plus a single, which shares a head with the guest double. The saloon is where you'll spend most of your time, though, and thanks to the generous beam, there's plenty of living space. The helm is forward to starboard and has Stidd chairs for captain and mate, while aft is the dinette and wraparound settee. The galley is to port, ahead of the door to the cockpit, which has a ladder to the flybridge.

Sailing Cruisers

What could be more exhilarating than skimming across the water as your boat heels in the breeze? Modern sailing cruisers incorporate advanced rigging designs to make them easier to sail, and larger yachts often feature spacious galleys and cabins, larger social areas in the cockpit, and creature comforts.

Beneteau Oceanis 41.1

Unveiled for the first time to the U.S. market at the 2016 Miami International Boat Show, the Oceanis 41.1 is a great example of a modern, midsized sailing yacht. Twin wheels, split backstays, a chine crease, and an opening transom that turns into a generous swim platform have become commonplace in recent years, and they're here on this latest from French builder Beneteau.

The cockpit is wide and ideal for socializing. The rig is easily handled with all lines leading aft. With the port and starboard sheet winches close to the two wheels for the convenience of the person driving, the boat could be single-handed without too much trouble. The foresail is self-tacking, so bringing the boat about is as simple as it gets. The mainsheet sits clear of the cockpit on top of a large arch, keeping the cockpit free of lines.

There are a number of options for accommodations below, depending on the owner's desire, but there's no getting away from the sleek European feel to this yacht, which is apparent as soon as one descends the companionway. A 45-hp Yanmar sits below the companionway steps, which should provide plenty of power to push the boat to hull speed when the wind fails to cooperate. Beneteau.com/us

Morris Yachts M42

There's a popular bumper sticker that says, "Life is too short to own an ugly boat." No one will ever call the M42 ugly. Designed by Sparkman & Stephens and built to order by Morris Yachts in Maine, the M42 looks elegant from any angle.

Rather than squeeze in as much accommodation as possible belowdecks, the M42 is more about spending time enjoying the surroundings as you slice through the water on this yacht. Morris refers to the M42 as a coastal cruiser. With bunks, the galley, and the head below, the M42 is set up to be sailed by a couple or even a singlehander for days or extended weekends on the water.

All control lines, sheets, and halyards have been led under covers to control/winch pods in the cockpit, within easy reach of the helmsman, leaving the deck clear and safe. There are no stanchions or lifelines to detract from those curves, and the carbon-fiber mast and light composite construction ensure that the boat performs well, even in light airs. For dead-calm moments, the three-cylinder Yanmar saildrive fitted with a bronze folding prop will get you back to the dock. MorrisYachts.com

Power Cruisers

Buy a power cruiser longer than 40 feet and you are likely to get some serious luxury for your money. Unlike trawlers, which may feature equally well-appointed interiors, power cruisers often have planning hulls and larger motors so if you want to get some place in a hurry these boats could be the choice for you.

Sea Ray 450 Sundancer

Like the Regal 53, the Sea Ray 450 Sundancer has a glass door at the rear of the saloon, with the main living spaces all on the same level. There are so many windows on the main deck that Sea Ray actually refers to this as a sunroom rather than saloon. A retractable sunroof lets in even more light and air. Power comes from a pair of Cummins 550-hp diesel engines, with the option of either V-drives or Zeus pod drives.

Accommodations below include a full-width master. Although Sea Ray uses darker trim woods, the interior of the boat is light thanks to large windows below that can hardly be called ports. Other features that give the boat an air of sophistication include solid surface counters in the galley and heads, glass-bowl vanities, and an optional outdoor kitchen and grill adjacent to the swim platform. Want to catch up on the game? The 450 comes with a 50-inch flat-screen TV in a dedicated media room. SeaRay.com

Regal 53 Coupe

The largest model in the Regal lineup, the 53 Coupe is all about entertaining and having fun on the water. Like other luxury coupe manufacturers, Regal adopted a design featuring the cockpit and saloon on one level. Large glass doors at the rear of the cabin slide out of the way, joining the saloon and cockpit into one large, seamless area — perfect for large gatherings.

There is plenty of room below decks, and the large transom door opens up to reveal a garage replete with tender with electric outboard motor. Interior accommodations are bright and airy thanks to large hull side windows, a sliding saloon roof, and the aft glass door. The boat has two large staterooms with queen beds, with the option of adding a third cabin with bunk beds.

The large engine room with standing headroom will be appreciated by those who check and maintain the pair of 550-hp MAN diesels. Instead of conventional shafts, the engines are linked to Zeus pod drives, which save space and eliminate the need for thrusters. RegalBoats.com