“It’s a break free from the motoryacht world – this can be a passagemaker,” says Robert Chaffer, Beneteau’s Motorboat Advertising and marketing Product Supervisor for the Gran Turismo and Swift Trawler traces, as we strategy the brand new Swift Trawler 54, which debuted on the Cannes Yachting Pageant 2024. “Swift Trawlers aren’t designed to sit down within the marina, however to navigate, journey and discover.”
Considered from the dock, the Swift Trawler 54 has a visual purposeful stance that makes the yacht seem able to tackle the waves. The profile by Pierangelo Andreani of Andreani Design is accentuated by a rising sheerline and an inverted windscreen. “Pierangelo Andreani has created a really clear and stylish profile, though the silhouette is clearly a Swift Trawler,” Chaffer says.
Filling the hole between the Swift Trawler 48 and the Grand Trawler 62, the brand new 54 is the third era on this dimension vary, predated by the Swift Trawler 50 and 52. As the newest iteration within the Swift Trawler sequence, it is filled with thoughtfully deliberate options designed to be appreciated by homeowners.
Whereas the Swift Trawler 54 appears beautiful quayside, this can be a yacht conceived to be loved when throwing off the bow traces. It gives lengthy vary, plentiful storage, wonderful seakeeping and plenty of upgrades from its predecessors, with most of the updates impressed by suggestions from Beneteau shoppers.
“Each few years, I do a deep Swift Trawler buyer survey,” Chaffer says. “Every mannequin era builds on the success of the earlier one and the detailed suggestions we get from our homeowners.”
With shopper permission, Beneteau may also make use of every yacht’s C-Map information, which might present helpful stats on the yacht’s frequency of utilization, common velocity and the way far it’s travelled – all of which helps the French builder to grasp the shoppers’ wants based mostly on their boating habits.
Chaffer identified the greyish-beige cloth used on board, as an example. This seemingly easy design selection is strategic.
“From the survey, we all know now we have individuals who reside aboard their boats, and we all know that 30 per cent of our shoppers are canine homeowners,” he says, noting that the material was chosen for its excessive sturdiness, certain to be appreciated by liveaboard homeowners, and for the truth that the color hides canine hair properly.
The surveys point out that the Swift Trawler sequence tends to draw clients who come from crusing boats, as trawlers supply lengthy vary and ease of use. “They nonetheless need to be on the water, however they don’t need to be ‘pulling so many ropes’,” he says.
That doesn’t imply that each one Swift Trawler homeowners are former sailors. Some shoppers are motorboaters who’ve harboured fantasies of pushing away from the shoreline for a few years and are lastly taking the plunge. What unites homeowners of the Swift Trawler sequence is a thirst for journey, long-range cruising desires and a hands-on angle.
Beneteau believes most shoppers will helm their vessel themselves and simply have crew on board to assist with mooring traces, although there may be an possibility for a crew cabin on the stern if a full-time crew is desired.
Erwan Her, Beneteau’s Asia-Pacific Gross sales Director, explains: “The launch of the Swift Trawler 54 is a wonderful alternative to start out organising expeditions round Asian international locations, highlighting the choice of getting a crew cabin for Asian homeowners.”
Beneteau is aware of these boats can be used liberally, in order that they’re designed to take advantage of life on the water. Within the aft cockpit, as an example, the couch is positioned to face outwards in direction of the strict. It’s a stark distinction from different boats the place you would possibly see the seating with its again in direction of the transom.
“It’s a terrace to the ocean,” Chaffer says. “That’s what you’ve purchased the boat for, wanting on the view, not watching your patio door.” The transom itself, made from smoked glass, permits unobstructed views of the water.
The structure is rigorously deliberate out to eke as a lot storage out of the boat as attainable for these lengthy voyages whereas additionally being as snug as attainable for day-to-day life on board. Site visitors stream and quick access had been additionally extremely thought of. This prompted inserting the galley amidships to port, versus aft on the primary deck.
As Chaffer notes, this makes it simpler for somebody on the helm to pop into the galley and make a tea versus operating to the again of the saloon. Likewise, the flybridge is accessed through architecturally fascinating inner stairs, so in just some steps the inside and exterior helms are simply related.
The galley placement additionally helps to create two separate residing zones in the primary deck, with an aft saloon and a ahead eating space, which might convert into an extra berth when wanted.
However, because the boat is usually utilized by two {couples} at most, the cabins beneath will normally greater than suffice. There’s a full-beam proprietor’s cabin amidships, a VIP ahead and a smaller bunk cabin to port, which might be preferrred for youngsters – or a helpful storage room.
Proprietor and company would possibly sleep extra soundly because of the ‘Silent Boat’ possibility, which permits for as much as 10 hours of autonomy whereas at anchor while not having to run the generator. Including to the yacht’s eco-friendly credentials, photo voltaic panels assist prime up the lithium battery financial institution.
The upgraded inside design is supposed to elicit a like-home environment. “There are all the same old sensible options beloved by Swift Trawler homeowners, however as well as, the 54 takes on the ‘quiet luxurious’ strategy first seen on the flagship Grand Trawler 62,” Chaffer says.
This consists of comfortable and illuminated décor panelling on bulkheads, high-end inset cabin doorways, Berber-style carpets with acoustic underlay in cabins for noise dampening, and sprung wooden slats below mattresses. There’s additionally a better end of joinery and parts, such because the slat detailing and latches on wardrobe doorways.
Almost 360-degree home windows in the primary saloon enable mild to pour in and emphasise the yacht’s mild and brilliant color palette.
Out on deck, nothing is neglected, from the high-quality stainless-steel cleats and fittings to the non-obligatory snubbing winches and easy-load lazarette. Even the symmetrical facet decks have gasoline and water intakes to each port and starboard, so irrespective of which facet of the yacht is tied as much as a dock, it’s straightforward to refill.
One other revelation from the survey that helped form the brand new boat is that the majority Swift Trawler homeowners need easy mechanisms which might be straightforward to keep up even when they’re removed from land. This ranges from home windows that slide open manually to the selection of drive practice.
“Our shoppers just like the simplicity and ease of upkeep of a traditional straight shaft,” Chaffer explains. “If there’s an issue, they need to have the ability to repair it by themselves [or with their crew], or no less than know what’s mistaken with it.”
Regardless of the place the boat travels, a marine mechanic will know cope with a straight shaft configuration, whereas a extra ‘unique’ drive practice possibility might be restricted to a provider’s places. A easy drive practice provides homeowners extra freedom to roam, which is the aim of this type of vessel.
Commonplace energy comes from a pair of 404kW (550hp) Cummins QSB6.7 diesel engines, whereas a slight improve will present a joystick possibility for ease of manoeuvrability. An replace from earlier fashions, this takes benefit of latest expertise.
“Now you possibly can combine straight shafts and the bow and stern thrusters right into a joystick,” Chaffer says. “So, in the event you’re on a finger pontoon and the wind is blowing you off, you possibly can push the thrusters on simply sufficient to carry the boat safely on the dock.”
As this boat is constructed to go the space, seakeeping is of the utmost significance. Beneteau turned to the UK agency Dixon Yacht Design, recognized for its crusing superyachts in addition to smaller manufacturing boats. The Swift Trawler 54’s Dixon-designed ‘Fusion’ hull kind was designed for effectivity and luxury, whereas the newest Sleipner Vector Gen 3 fins enhance stability at anchor and underway.
“Inside quantity, a spacious flybridge and fin stability are key options for the Asian market, and the ST54 now gives all of those,” Her concludes. “The passagemaker capabilities are the cherry on prime.”
This text was first seen on yachtstyle.co.
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