Some of my earliest boating experiences took place aboard flybridge cruisers, on which the only spot to pilot the boat was a cramped topside station, cabin accommodations were limited, and the only power available consisted of inboards and sterndrives.
Oh my, how things have changed.
The new Jeanneau NC 1295 Fly that I tested bears an only faint resemblance to those traditional flybridge cruisers. Amenities both above- and below decks are innovative and posh. This 41-foot-2-inch length-overall pocket cruiser also handles and performs much differently, thanks in large measure to using triple outboards.
This flagship of the Jeanneau NC series is in nearly all respects a thoroughly 21st-century take on the flybridge concept. A walkthrough is like touring a custom home with so many places to explore and marvel at. For example, the salon has a 360-degree panoramic view thanks to large glass windows all the way around. There's also a dining table and seating nook, along with a galley adjacent to a bar that serves the cockpit area too. A flip-up flatscreen TV is great touch.
In the forward starboard corner is an exquisite lower helm station for piloting in comfort. A pair of 12-inch Garmin multifunction displays provide critical navigation information for a safe passage. A Helm Master EX joystick control and thruster aid low-speed maneuvering in tight quarters. It all makes for splendid year-round boating opportunities. And once you arrive, the helm chair swivels to face the salon area and socialize.
Denne historien er fra April 2023-utgaven av Boating.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 2023-utgaven av Boating.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
AFFORDABLE SATCOM
Communications devices using satellite technology are more abundant today than any time in the past. What's more, many are portable, ultra-compact, affordable relatively and designed for boating, dispelling any perceptions that you need a big, expensive dome antenna aloft to access satellite communications.
IN THE BEGINNING
REPOWERING FOUNTAIN HULL NO.1
NAVICO GROUP FATHOM 2.0
Engine charging at 48 volts could be a game-changer.
PROPS FOR INNOVATION
Sharrow MX3 propellers live up to most of the company's performance-improvement claims.
MERCURY RACING 500R
Supercharged power for a variety of boats.
FLIPPING THE SWITCH
Much reporting focuses on reasons why one might choose electric marine power. The issues of range, speed, noise levels, winterizing and ethanol challenges, lake restrictions, environmental concerns and more all must be resolved on an individual basis. Little gets said about how a boater choosing to repower with electric actually gets that accomplished. Is it DIY? And if not, how does it get done?
TOW-VEHICLE TECH
If it's been a while since you bought new tow vehicle, you might be surprised by the many built-in advancements in trailering technology. New tow tech ranges from integrated weight scales and adaptive suspensions to systems that automatically back up your truck to hitch up your trailer. Here are a few examples to look for. -Jim Hendricks
MONUMENTAL TIPS FOR BACKING A TRAILER
Three Boating greats offer advice for a perennial reader query.
STICKING POINTS - Anchoring alternatives, and why you will always need a traditional anchor.
My brother-in-law likes to fish offshore reefs, and the process once entailed navigating to a mark, dropping a float, and idling upwind or up-current to drop the anchor in hopes the set would drop us back to the float.
FOR WANT OF A CLAMP
When 100 miles from shore, home and help, this boater’s preparedness prevented potential catastrophe.