Saxdor has given us a sneak preview of its largest model yet – a 46ft flagship called the Saxdor 460 GTC. Like the smaller Saxdor 400 GTC, it features a full-width wheelhouse with sliding side doors leading out to a pair of extra long drop-down balconies. These extend around a third of the length of the boat and feature large glass inserts, giving views of the water both when upright and folded flat. In the down position they will be at the same level as the saloon floor, extending the deck area and allowing guests to walk in and out of the side doors as well as the main rear door. It’s not c ..read more

The new scaled-up Prestige F5 shares many of the smaller F4’s characteristics but features new characteristics such as more extensive glazing Prestige has released a teaser rendering of its next F-series flybridge model. The 57ft Prestige F5 shares many of the same styling cues as the smaller Prestige F4 but elevates them to a higher level. Few details have been shared ahead of its September launch but the rendering shows a scaled-up version of the F4 with even more extensive glazing. The starboard side of the superstructure appears to be made almost exclusively of glass with full-height side ..read more

Each month we pick out an iconic boat that can lay claim to the title of world’s coolest boat. This month, we take a closer look at the MarySlim The biggest obstacle to high-speed offshore boating is the topography. Conventional wisdom suggests that the route to high speed is to use hydrodynamic lift to skim the boat across the surface; the planing hull. And it works well – a flat-bottomed boat on flat water skates effortlessly across the top like a skimming stone. Unfortunately, it also delivers a back-breaking ride if there is anything more than a ripple on that surface – and there usually ..read more

Galeon is once again pushing the boundaries of flybridge yacht design with a daring new Galeon 560 Fly. Hugo Andreae takes us on a tour The Tony Castro-designed Galeon 560 Fly replaces the outgoing Galeon 550 Fly and as with its predecessor features a raft of striking new innovations, including glass inserts in the folding bulwarks/side terraces that give guests a better view out from the cockpit and saloon when raised. These glass inserts also allow you to stand or sit on the reinforced glass looking directly down at the water when lowered. Galeon has significantly increase the size of the c ..read more

When editor Hugo’s boat was struck down by a nasty diesel infection, there was only one thing for it – to strip out the tank and have it professionally cleaned They say there are no certainties in life except death and taxes. If you own an old motor boat for long enough then I’d like to add a third: diesel bug. At some point it’s going to get you, either because you take on bad fuel or you develop your own homegrown infestation in the tank. I’m pretty sure ours was the latter. When you own a classic wooden boat like ours, it’s better for the hull to stay in the water all year round, rather th ..read more

Daniel Brocklebank, a distant ancestor of mine, received a letter of marque in 1779 from George III, appointing him as a royally licensed pirate as well as a shipbuilder. He duly spent some months harrying newly independent American ships before returning to England to his shipyard in Whitehaven. Following expansion to Liverpool, he and his sons, Thomas and John Brocklebank, built ships that began to trade across the world in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and I’m proud to say that salt spray remained in the Brocklebank blood. My father shared this passion and was fascinated by lighthouse ..read more

Daniel Brocklebank, a distant ancestor of mine, received a letter of marque in 1779 from George III, appointing him as a royally licensed pirate as well as a shipbuilder. He duly spent some months harrying newly independent American ships before returning to England to his shipyard in Whitehaven. Following expansion to Liverpool, he and his sons, Thomas and John Brocklebank, built ships that began to trade across the world in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and I’m proud to say that salt spray remained in the Brocklebank blood. My father shared this passion and was fascinated by lighthouse ..read more

Will Azimut’s latest model be the one to win over a discerning UK market finally? Hugo Andreae discovers the Azimut FLY 72 is more than just a pretty face. Will Azimut’s latest model be the one to finally win over a discerning UK market? As Hugo Andreae discovers, the 72 is more than just a pretty face. Photo: Motor Boat & Yachting The Azimut FLY 72 doesn’t sacrifice cruising practicalities for stylistic flourishes. Walk around any big Mediterranean marina and the chances are you’ll see at least half a dozen Azimuts lining the pontoons. Thanks to a range of craft that encompasses everythin ..read more

The new Cormate Utility 27 is as fast and efficient as they come, but it's not all about speed as Hugo Andreae discovers in his tour of this little speedster We’ve always had a soft spot for Cormates and the new Cormate Utility 27 is no different. Featuring a Kevlar reinforced vacuum infused hull to keep it light and stiff with a razor-sharp 24.5 degree deadrise angle for soft landings and no less than three steps, it is as fast and efficient as sportboats come. Even with the entry level 200hp outboard engine the Cormate Utility 27 will do 49 knots, while speed freaks can opt for inboard or o ..read more

So that you can feel confident navigating in shallow and deep waters, Richard Langdon shares his step-by-step guide to setting up depth sounders. Becoming familiar with the ups and downs of your depth sounder is critical for accurate readings. Photo: Richard Langdon Knowing the depth of water around your boat is critical, especially in shallow areas. Depth sounders have made this a lot easier in recent years but you need to understand what they are actually telling you. When the transducer is installed (the device that sends and receives the sound waves), it doesn’t arrive ready calibrated to ..read more