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Why is the catamaran so popular for cruising? Over all, because spacious and stable. Today we show you a compact, fast model with a small beam of 4.40 meters (to mean the very popular
Axopar 45 – 13.90 m
– is 4.10 m wide) with which you can cruise the Mediterranean far and wide in pairs. From Vandal Marine, here is the Vandal Explorer bearing the signature of Espen Oeino, among the world’s most famous nautical designers who, not surprisingly, uses it himself for his summer cruises. We haven’t tried it yet, but it’s a project we’ve been very curious about. This is what it looks like.
The spark is that gave birth to this brand is quite classic.
“I couldn’t find boats,” Ben Mennem, co-founder of the shipyard, tells us. For my needs. I wanted the biggest possible boat with the biggest possible outboards that was manageable on its own, in all conditions, with which to tour the Mediterranean with my wife. I wanted a good cruising speed, all around low fuel consumption and a range that would allow me to go, for example, from Ibiza to Sardinia, without problems.”
Thus was born a 14-meter aluminum catamaran made, as we said, in collaboration with Espen Oeino with naval architecture by Scott Jutson. Standard motorization is with two Yamaha 425hp XTOs, with which this catamaran has an impressive 4oo miles of range at about 30 knots .
Experiencing the sea with a bit of adventure, traveling far and wide, is perhaps the best way to enjoy this element. The Vandal catamaran was created for what is called glamping, or glamorous camping. Do we translate it luxury camping? Well, looking at the price we are certainly not dealing with an entry-level, but the figures are absolutely in line with the segment since it comes out almost complete (cabin and bathroom) at about 900 thousand euros. Let’s not forget that it is made of aluminum, and for the two engines alone we have to consider over 100 thousand euros.
The deck of this flybridge catamaran is designed to be experienced in its entirety with a giant aft cockpit area that is open to the water and can be modulated that can be fully enclosed with a curtain system for when the weather is inclement. On the flybridge, on the other hand, again decidedly spacious, in addition to the second wheelhouse and the usual supplies that a lounging area like this offers, a sort of opening curtain is being studied that, in addition to adding two additional bunks, offers a bed under the stars for breathtaking summer nights.
A roll cage also conceals a crane that opens to allow launching and hauling the tender directly from the flybridge without stealing space aft.
“Last summer I used my Explorer a lot,” Ben Mennem tells us again. between Monaco and Marseille, in many conditions. It was usually my wife and I on board, we carry our bicycles in the aft deck locker, which gives us the freedom to move around on land later. We also like to have the tender so we can anchor and go ashore or explore the coast.”
To port we find access to a comfortable sleeping cabin that extends between the two forward hulls and reaches a very interesting width. To starboard, however, is access to the bathroom, which includes toilet and shower. The focus in this section of the boat was mainly on developing a ventilated space and where to stow what is needed for mid-range cruising.
The cons, in this case, is having only one cabin below deck, but if you are looking for a vehicle for romantic getaways (even extended ones), this is for you.
The catamaran has important form advantages. But there is more to this model. Designer Scott Jutson wanted to add foils to this hull. These are not appendages to “take flight” in this case, but a tool to reduce friction in a major way by reducing fuel consumption by up to 25 percent. How does it work? It is a passive foil system, that is, it does not move and remains stationary.
The goal of foil, after all, is always that: to reduce friction as much as possible. At top speed, then, this catamaran exceeds 40 knots winking at those who do not disdain adrenaline. How do you maneuver? Like a sports car, according to the shipyard, which goes on to say that thanks to the asymmetrical hull shape, these foil catamarans cope with turns as if they had a deep V hull.
| Length Over All (LOA) | 14 m |
| Baglio Massimo | 4.40 m |
| Fishing | 0.70 m |
| Displacement | ~11,400 kg |
| Standard Motorization | 2x425hp |
| Peak speed | <40 kn |
| Cruising speed | 30 kn |
| Fuel tank | 2×630 l |
| Fresh water tank | 300 l |
| Cabins | 1 |
| Sleeping places | 2 |
| Bathroom | 1 |
| Design and architecture | Jutson Marine Design Espen Øino International |
| CE Category | B |
| Contacts: | www.vandalmarine.com |
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