European motorboats 2018: 5 trawlers for travel

The Boarncruiser Elegance 1500 CS

In the "Displacement" category, the 5 nominees are all boats typically designed to travel on water. Here, we are no longer looking for speed, but for the comfort to live on board, an efficient propulsion system and increased safety. It is on these criteria that the judges will elect the European Powerboat of the Year 2018 in the travel category.

Boarncruiser Elegance 1500 CS

The Elegance 1500 Center Sleeper has a hull length of 14.99 m and thanks to its removable bathing platform, gains a length of 16.70 m. A special feature is that it can be driven without a license, just like the small barges found on our canals. Wide (4.75 m), it has a large living space to live comfortably inside and outside. We will note its very large owner's cabin of 17.5 m2 installed in the center of the boat, its two beautiful bathrooms, two guest cabins, a living room combining modern and retro equipped with a kitchen, a dining area, a sofa corner, just like at home or its spacious cockpit of 10m2 and its front deck with sunbathing.

The furniture is specially developed for the boat, offering a high level of comfort and customization to the owners. Regarding the motorization, the Elegance 1500 receives 2 Volvo Penta D4-180hp diesel engines installed separately for more safety. Everything is controlled by a joystick, which can be found in several places in the boat (1 on the helm, 2 in the cockpit) for easy maneuvering. At a speed of 11.5 km/h, the Elegance 1500 has a range of 2,400 miles.

Delphia BluEscape 1200

The 1200 BluEscape is a 12.45 m trawler with reduced air and water draught to meet river gauges, and the first model in the BluEscape range. A more elegant and modern range, with a single-storey layout.

With its displacement hull, the 1200 BluEscape is offered as a single or twin-engine inline skiff with a choice of engines: Volvo D3 220 hp, 140 hp Nanni, 2x115 hp Nanni or 2x140 hp Nanni.

The shipyard has focused on comfort by offering a large living space. It is offered in 2 (two double cabins), 3 or 4 cabins (for charter) with two bathrooms with toilet. On the main deck, there is a starboard helm station with access to the catwalk via a side door, a fully equipped galley and a saloon with an L-shaped bench seat and dining table. The wheelhouse is bright and open directly to the cockpit through glass doors. The cockpit is well protected by high bulwarks and a large transom, in which a door allows access to the bathing platform. Numerous options are offered to improve comfort on board.

Linssen Grand Sturdy 40.0 Sedan

The Grand Sturdy 40.0 Sedan is a 12.85 m trawler with a single level layout between cockpit and wheelhouse. This typical inland waterway vessel has a simple, yet comfortable layout for family cruising. The owner's cabin is located at the front and a second cabin with two small beds completes the sleeping arrangements.

In the cockpit, the extension of the roof protects the space, so you can enjoy the outside and the large bench protected from bad weather.

Serious Yachts Brightly 1530

The Brightly 1530 combines classic and modern lines between its wood touches on the foredeck or in the interior layout and its large contemporary windows or technical tricks. This 15.3-meter motor yacht is the largest model from the Dutch shipyard and has been designed to high standards: stainless steel air vents or dockside intakes, and all carefully handcrafted, such as the large glossy walnut doors found in the sleeping area.

The Brightly 1530 is powered by two 6-cylinder Vetus Deutz DT66 with 170 hp and reaches a maximum speed of 11 knots in complete silence. Hydraulic steering, bow and stern thrusters make the boat easy to handle. Not to mention the 24-inch touch screen in the cockpit that allows you to control all aspects of life on board. Moving around the boat from the bow to the large cockpit is easy thanks to the very wide gangways.

The layout is comfortable, bright and spacious, with a fully equipped kitchen (below on the port side of the main deck), a lounge on the main deck, another lounge on the lower deck, two cabins, an office, a bathroom..

Seafaring 44 Coupe

The Seafaring 44 Coupé is a 14.39 m trawler with a modern design and low environmental impact, low operating costs, high comfort and long range. At a speed of 10 knots, the consumption is 10L/hour. Available as a single engine (1 x Volvo D4 - 260 hp, direct drive) or twin engine (2 x Volvo D3 - 150 hp, direct drive), it reaches a maximum speed of 20 knots and a cruising speed of 8.8 knots (680 miles of range). With a speed of 7.5 knots, it offers a range of 830 miles.

The space on board is incredibly bright with a fully glazed wheelhouse and a glass roof. On board, there are between 2 and 3 cabins, as well as two bathrooms.

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