Boat Reviews

Dufour 525: Flagship of the Fleet

by Sail Staff, Posted August 8, 2008

Contemporary styling matched with seagoing abilityBy Duncan KentThe headquarters of Dufour Yachts, one of France’s largest production-boat builders, lies just a few miles inland from La Rochelle, an ancient port on the country’s Atlantic coast. More than 40 years have passed since founder Michel Dufour built his first production boat, Sylphe, and his 30-foot cruiser/racer,

Elan 450

by Sail Staff, Posted August 8, 2008

Designed by Rob Humphreys, this latest model from Elan follows the general design parameters he’s established with smaller Elan models. These include an open cockpit, belowdeck sheeting lines, and a double-ended mainsheet-sheeting system. The yacht has a long waterline and a well-shaped hull; the standard three-cabin layout features the owner’s stateroom, with head and separate shower, forward

134-Foot Sloop From Dubois

by Sail Staff, Posted August 8, 2008

The Dutch builder Bloesma van Breemen has finished plating up this 134-foot aluminum high-performance cruising sloop from the board of Ed Dubois. Dubois has altered the customary deckhouse he has used on many yachts this size and has given this new yacht a low profile. The yacht has a relatively wide beam of just under 30 feet and a draft of 131/2 feet. Dubois has also specified belowdeck captive

Lagoon 620

by Sail Staff, Posted August 8, 2008

French builder Lagoon Catamarans has finalized plans for this 62-footer and intends to launch the first one next year. The VPLP design team headed by well-known designers Marc Van Peteghem and Lauriot Prevost has given the yacht solid performance hulls and has drawn three layouts that range from four to six cabins; each cabin has a separate head and shower. The main saloon is designed to be

Hanse 400e

by Sail Staff, Posted August 8, 2008

Hanse Yachts's stylish 40-foot 400e (the "e" stands for the epoxy resin used in the hull) is the first in the Judel/Vrolijk–designed line the German builder is billing as "crossover boats." It's already made a splash at U.S. boat shows with its clean hull lines and innovative styling belowdecks. I took one out for a test drive off Marblehead, Massachusetts, to see if "crossover boat" is just a

Hunter 45DS

by Sail Staff, Posted August 8, 2008

The Hunter 45DS is a handsome vessel with an "I can take you there" look. The DS stands for deck saloon, a concept that's become popular in Europe and is gaining ground in the U.S. Deck saloons are popular because they work well. As well as providing panoramic views through the large portlights, they encourage good use of interior space and allow heavy masses like engine and tankage to be

Salona 45

by Sail Staff, Posted August 11, 2008

The Salona 45 is a modern racer/cruiser. It’s a new design from a new company—the first of this Croatian builder’s line to enter the U.S. market. On deckIt’s obvious that this plumb-bowed craft is firmly situated at the performance end of the design spectrum, especially when the deck-box stern seat is removed to expose an open transom and make space for a racing crew. My

Expedition 55

by Charles Mason, Posted August 11, 2008

Ted Hood combines the best of power and sailThree years ago Ted Hood and I had a long discussion about what would make a yacht move comfortably and confidently under both sail and power. It was the middle of February, and we were returning from a morning sail in the lumpy Gulf Stream off Miami aboard a new Hood–designed 48-footer with many of the qualities we were

Passport 515 CC

by Tom Dove, Posted August 11, 2008

Contemporary styling and custom features provide exciting alternatives for the serious cruiserSome people are satisfied with the basics—a basic car, off-the-rack clothes, a standard house floor plan, a production boat. But others are not. Bob Perry's Passport Vista 515 Center Cockpit cruiser comes from a builder who specializes in satisfying sailors who like to have

Naval Academy 44

by Charles Mason, Posted August 11, 2008

The latest addition to the fleet combines proven principles with contemporary practicesSpend any time at sea and you quickly learn that conditions can change rapidly out there, and not always in predictable ways. That truth has always played a key role in educating the midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy, and for most of the past 50 years a key part of their experience has