A Sneak Peek at New Boats
New models from European builders such as Hallberg-Rassy, Hanse, and Bavaria, made their debut at Germany's Boot Dusseldorf 2013, the world's largest boat show.
Boot Dusseldorf is the largest boat show in the world, so it’s no wonder that it’s the place to be seen during Europe’s busy season of power and sailboat displays. This year, the show attracted some 1,600 exhibitors in convention halls that seemingly stretch on forever. Never mind boat shoes, what you need are hiking boots if you want to take in all the sights.
During a visit earlier in January, I chose to concentrate my efforts on sailboats and in my two days there, managed to get a glimpse of several new models that will slowly make their way to North American shows in the coming months (and in some cases years). Here’s a brief rundown of new launches, starting with two companies that call Germany home:
Bavaria Yachts, which introduced two new models a month earlier at the Paris boat show, the Cruiser 33 and the Vision 42, chose the Boot to introduce its new big boat, the Cruiser 56, which like its smaller siblings, is a Farr Yachts design. The 56 features twin helms, and an interior with room to handle a crowd. Accommodations include a three, four, and five cabin layout; in the latter two, a cabin with two bunks takes the place of the portside head located just forward of the two aft cabins. There’s also an option for a captain’s berth in the forepeak. The 56 has a roomy garage in its transom and an inflatable rib is available that can be partially deflated and folded so it fits inside without having to remove the engine. When you’re ready to go ashore there’s a compressor right there to refill the dinghy.
Hanse 575
Hanse Yachts, which also owns the Moody and Dehler brands, introduced the Hanse 575 and the Dehler 38 at the show and unveiled plans for a new Bill Dixon-designed Moody DS 54. The 575’s cockpit is where you’d find me if the boat was sitting in some sunny tropical anchorage. Forward of the twin wheels, there’s a pair of electric-powered cockpit tables that can be lowered and covered with cushions to form twin day beds for lounging. Below, the oak interior is bright and inviting, as is the owner’s berth forward with three overhead hatches for light and separate head and shower. This boat, too, has options for up to five cabins.
The Dehler 38 is a performance boat designed by Judel/Vrolijk and the company’s in-house engineering team. Without a doubt, it looks like a boat that would be a lot of fun to campaign with the guys on the weekend and then go off with the family cruising afterward. A traveler spans the width of the cockpit, just forward of the twin helms and the mainsheet is double-ended, so it can be easily controlled by a shorthanded crew or muscled in by the boys. Below, there’s a full galley and three cabins, all with double berths.
Dehler 38
