“It’s a break free from the motoryacht world – it is a passagemaker,” says Robert Chaffer, Beneteau’s Motorboat Advertising 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 Competition 2024. “Swift Trawlers usually are not designed to take a seat 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 technology on this measurement vary, predated by the Swift Trawler 50 and 52. As the most recent iteration within the Swift Trawler sequence, it is filled with thoughtfully deliberate options designed to be appreciated by house owners.
Whereas the Swift Trawler 54 appears pretty quayside, it is a yacht conceived to be loved when throwing off the bow traces. It presents lengthy vary, plentiful storage, glorious seakeeping and plenty of upgrades from its predecessors, with lots of the updates impressed by suggestions from Beneteau purchasers.
“Each few years, I do a deep Swift Trawler buyer survey,” Chaffer says. “Every mannequin technology builds on the success of the earlier one and the detailed suggestions we get from our house owners.”
With consumer permission, Beneteau may also make use of every yacht’s C-Map knowledge, which may 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 know the shoppers’ wants based mostly on their boating habits.
Chaffer identified the greyish-beige material used on board, as an illustration. This seemingly easy design selection is strategic.
“From the survey, we all know we’ve individuals who dwell aboard their boats, and we all know that 30 per cent of our purchasers are canine house owners,” he says, noting that the material was chosen for its excessive sturdiness, certain to be appreciated by liveaboard house owners, and for the truth that the color hides canine hair nicely.
The surveys point out that the Swift Trawler sequence tends to draw prospects 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 every one Swift Trawler house owners are former sailors. Some purchasers are motorboaters who’ve harboured fantasies of pushing away from the shoreline for a few years and are lastly taking the plunge. What unites house owners of the Swift Trawler sequence is a thirst for journey, long-range cruising desires and a hands-on perspective.
Beneteau believes most purchasers 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 begin organising expeditions round Asian nations, highlighting the choice of getting a crew cabin for Asian house owners.”
Beneteau is aware of these boats shall be used liberally, in order that they’re designed to profit from life on the water. Within the aft cockpit, as an illustration, the couch is positioned to face outwards in the direction of the strict. It’s a stark distinction from different boats the place you may see the seating with its again in the direction of the transom.
“It’s a terrace to the ocean,” Chaffer says. “That’s what you’ve purchased the boat for, trying on the view, not gazing your patio door.” The transom itself, made from smoked glass, permits unobstructed views of the water.
The format is rigorously deliberate out to eke as a lot storage out of the boat as potential for these lengthy voyages whereas additionally being as comfy as potential for day-to-day life on board. Visitors movement and easy accessibility have been additionally extremely thought-about. This prompted inserting the galley amidships to port, versus aft on the principle deck.
As Chaffer notes, this makes it simpler for somebody on the helm to pop into the galley and make a tea versus working to the again of the saloon. Likewise, the flybridge is accessed by way of architecturally fascinating inner stairs, so in only a few steps the inside and exterior helms are simply linked.
The galley placement additionally helps to create two separate dwelling zones in the principle deck, with an aft saloon and a ahead eating space, which may convert into an extra berth when wanted.
However, because the boat is usually utilized by two {couples} at most, the cabins under will often greater than suffice. There’s a full-beam proprietor’s cabin amidships, a VIP ahead and a smaller bunk cabin to port, which could possibly be very best for youngsters – or a helpful storage room.
Proprietor and friends may sleep extra soundly due to the ‘Silent Boat’ possibility, which permits for as much as 10 hours of autonomy whereas at anchor with no need to run the generator. Including to the yacht’s eco-friendly credentials, photo voltaic panels assist high up the lithium battery financial institution.
The upgraded inside design is supposed to elicit a like-home ambiance. “There are all the same old sensible options beloved by Swift Trawler house owners, 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 gentle 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 beneath mattresses. There’s additionally the next end of joinery and elements, such because the slat detailing and latches on wardrobe doorways.
Almost 360-degree home windows in the principle saloon enable gentle to pour in and emphasise the yacht’s gentle and brilliant color palette.
Out on deck, nothing is missed, 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 simple to refill.
One other revelation from the survey that helped form the brand new boat is that the majority Swift Trawler house owners need easy mechanisms which are simple to take care of even when they’re removed from land. This ranges from home windows that slide open manually to the selection of drive practice.
“Our purchasers just like the simplicity and ease of upkeep of a standard 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 improper with it.”
Irrespective of the place the boat travels, a marine mechanic will know learn how to take care of a straight shaft configuration, whereas a extra ‘unique’ drive practice possibility could possibly be restricted to a provider’s areas. A easy drive practice provides house owners extra freedom to roam, which is the aim of this sort 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 current know-how.
“Now you’ll be able to combine straight shafts and the bow and stern thrusters right into a joystick,” Chaffer says. “So, when you’re on a finger pontoon and the wind is blowing you off, you’ll be able to 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 most recent Sleipner Vector Gen 3 fins increase stability at anchor and underway.
“Inside quantity, a spacious flybridge and fin stability are key options for the Asian market, and the ST54 now presents all of those,” Her concludes. “The passagemaker capabilities are the cherry on high.”
This text was first seen on yachtstyle.co.
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