The arrival of new boats into Australia continues as Ensign announces the Nautitech Open 40 will be on display at the Sydney International Boat Show.
The Nautitech Open 40 name relates to the Voisard-Lombard vision of a disproportionate amount of living space on a multihull. Available in either a three cabin owner's version or four cabin layout with twin heads, the Open 40 is designed to appeal to those looking to make the transition from mono to multihull.
The saloon has a forward facing galley and table to seat six people, with integrated navigation station. Two large coach roof hatches provide ventilation at anchor. Moving aft, there are no steps up or down, just a level cockpit that opens up the saloon into a huge al fresco living area, protected from the elements, but with visibility forward and aft. A cockpit table comfortably seats eight and a long bench seat on the port side raises like a deck chair at one end to give a comfortable reading recliner.
Different density foam cores are used in combination with specific laminates depending on the application and loading in different parts of the structure. Not only are all bulkheads glassed into the hulls, but all interior framing and furniture are built in and glassed in. Making a stiff, strong boat that is also quiet.
As the Open 40 is constructed by laying up the hull in four sections, Nautitech are able to produce finer hull shapes. There is an outward ‘step’ in the topsides of the Nautitech 40, a ‘hard chine’, translating directly into speed. However, the volume above waterline is greatly increased because of the stepped hull. Bruno Voisard and Marc Lombard focussed extensively on weight and, by using a foam composite lay up as opposed to a balsa core, they are saving half a tonne of weight in the Open 40. Continue this weight saving emphasis throughout the entire build, and the Open 40 boasts a difference of 2.5 tonnes.
With twin helms on the hulls and cable steering, the Open 40 feels in complete control and helming from a position where you have great visibility to all four corners of the vessel.
In just over 11kts apparent it achieves 8kts comfortably sailing with the wind on the beam. In short, the vessel performs like a catamaran with the responsiveness of a monohull.
Now that the second largest boat manufacturer in the world, Bavaria Yachts, have recently purchased Nautitech injecting funding and security to take them well into the future, the brand Nautitech looks to be in a very strong position indeed.
Ensign Ship Brokers: www.ensignbrokers.com.au
