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Perry on Design
2017 April 1 - 12:00 am

Farrier F-22

The king of the trimarans serves up 3 versions of a new model

By Robert H. Perry
At rare times certain designers can be considered dominant in their genre. Think Doug Peterson in the early IOR days and Bruce Farr in later IOR days. This dominance seldom went outside that genre. You could argue that in Bruce Farr’s case. But when it comes to trailerable, folding trimarans for the past 25 years, maybe longer, Ian Farrier has totally dominated the scene. You think folding tri and you think Ian Farrier. It’s automatic. This has given Ian many years to slowly evolve a near-perfect product. I say “near perfect” because I’m sure Ian has more tricks to come and I don’t want to sound like I’m limiting his creativity. Are these good boats? Numbers don’t lie, not in this case. If that’s not enough for you I have sailed my buddy’s turbo F-27 several times and I can assure you that it is a most enjoyable and at times exciting ride. If you want to sail flat and fast you can’t beat one of Ian’s trimarans.
Perry on Design
2017 March 1 - 12:00 am

X-treme 32

As extreme as its name, this cutting-edge design is meant for speed

By Robert H. Perry
I think I’ll just quote from the Reichel-Pugh press release here: “A high-performance design for inshore and offshore racing. The briefing to the Reichel-Pugh team was to develop a flat-out racer that delivers the thrill of a high-performance design as well as the ability to capture podium positions.” 
Perry on Design
2017 March 1 - 12:00 am

Lagoon 42

Comfort and performance with key features for cruising in style

By Robert H. Perry
 The new Lagoon 42 catamaran, also from the Van Peteghem Lauriot Prevost design team, makes a huge contrast to the two sportboats. This design is purely designed for comfort. 
Perry on Design
2017 March 1 - 12:00 am

Figaro Beneteau 3

This foiling monohull is coming to the masses

By Robert H. Perry
Boy, things in the world of yacht design are moving fast, literally and figuratively. Beneteau, working with the design team of Van Peteghem Lauriot Prevost, is producing what they call the first foiling production monohull.
Perry on Design
2017 February 1 - 12:00 am

HH55

Carbon construction sets this classy catamaran apart

By Robert H. Perry
This is the new Hudson Marine cat built in Xiamen, China. Xiamen is where my Flying Tiger boats were built. It is quite the yacht building center now. This new cat is aimed at high performance with an all carbon fiber build, deep daggerboards and a huge rig. Schedule
Perry on Design
2017 February 1 - 12:00 am

Sage 15

Choose your rig and choose your adventure with this compact package

By Robert H. Perry
I like the term “pocket cruiser” but I have seen it applied to boats as long as 30 feet LOA. The new Sage 15, designed by Jerry Montgomery, would hardly belong in a group of 30-footers, so Sage is calling its new model a “micro cruiser.” I think that works. Schedule
Perry on Design
2017 February 1 - 12:00 am

Elan GT5

This attractive cruiser is full of unique features above and belowdecks

By Robert H. Perry
 Here is a new boat from Elan, the first in the Gran Turismo series. The designer is Rob Humphreys, with some help from the Elan factory design team. In most cases you can read this as Humphreys did the hull, appendage and rig design, while the factory did the deck and interior. I quite like the look of the boat. The proportions are pleasant.Schedule
Perry on Design
2017 January 1 - 12:00 am

Seascape 24

With an emphasis on performance, this trailersailer should be equally nimble and simple

By Robert H. Perry
 The new 24 is based upon the work done with the 18- and 27-foot Seascapes. Initial stability is high with a very broad stern and a chine. The L/B is 2.94 and the D/L is 63.36. As far as I can tell the LOA is the DWL as it doesn’t look like there are any overhangs on this boat. It is 100% sailing length. Schedule
Perry on Design
2017 January 1 - 12:00 am

Allures 45.9

There are plenty of options to customize this aluminum cruiser

By Robert H. Perry
 I’m not sure why but right now there is a real interest in aluminum  production or semi-production yachts built in Europe. I like aluminum construction. It is, maybe even including wood, the prettiest of all the materials during the build stage with a shiny, smooth aluminum surface to all the structure. In some cases it is pure yacht eye candy. But aluminum has practical advantages too. ScheduleSchedule
Perry on Design
2017 January 1 - 12:00 am

Wahine Lifestyle

Features abound in a spacious 26-foot package

By Robert H. Perry
 Here is a boat from a company in Florida that is very new to me. It’s a good-looking boat that would make a nice dual-purpose boat for a small family.Schedule
Perry on Design
2016 November 1 - 12:00 am

X4

A modern Danish design that offers a powerful sailplan

By Robert H. Perry
 
 X-Yachts is introducing a third line of boats to complement  its Xp (performance) models and Xc (cruising) models. The range will be the X series and the first one will be the X6 followed by this X4 model at 41 feet LOA. I have been a fan of the X-Yachts models for many years. Its in-house design team does a great job with both styling and performance. The new X series will combine comfort and speed with the latest build technologies and exceptionally high-quality materials.Schedule
Perry on Design
2016 November 1 - 12:00 am

Dibley 21

This slick sportboat offers speed and handling with Kiwi flair

By Robert H. Perry
Sometimes I whine about the absence of design documents in the review packages I get these days.  I want to see what the designer drew. Leave it to my buddy Kevin Dibley in New Zealand to knock me out by sending me an almost complete set of plans for his exquisite new 21-foot trailerable sportboat.     Schedule
Perry on Design
2016 November 1 - 12:00 am

Feeling 13.9

A unique underbody should make for shallow-water sailing in style and comfort

By Robert H. Perry
Here is a very interesting design from Marc Lombard for the French company, Feeling. This is the first new boat I have seen from it in a few years. The promotional material says it could be a boat for “A circumnavigation in ultimate comfort.”
Schedule
Perry on Design
2016 October 1 - 12:00 am

J/112E

Sport meets cruiser and the result is a performance offering from J/Boats that will appeal to a range of sailors

By Robert H. Perry
Here is the latest J/Boats entry into the cruising boat field. I’m going to assume the design is a collaborative in-house effort like the other J/Boats. Many thanks to J/Boats for providing me with actual design drawings.  I have said this before in the reviews but the cruising boats that J/Boats has produced have always managed to echo my own thoughts on what the perfect cruising boat would be for me. They combine comfort, efficiency and style into a total design package that I find very appealing. It would work for me.
Perry on Design
2016 October 1 - 12:00 am

Melges 40

This cutting-edge design will turn heads on racing circuits worldwide

By Robert H. Perry
The Melges 24 may not have been the first “sportboat” but it sure kicked the design of sportboats in the pants good and hard. The gloves came off. The new 40, designed by Botin Partners Naval Architecture, appears to be an extension of the same all or nothing approach to a 40-foot one-design sportboat. That’s a lot of sport. 
Perry on Design
2016 October 1 - 12:00 am

Beneteau Oceanis 35.1

New cruiser includes a bevy of creature comforts

By Robert H. Perry
 This new Oceanis model from Beneteau makes a very good contrast to the J112E. The biggest difference is that J/112E might be more appealing to the skipper inclined to do some racing while the Oc
Perry on Design
2016 September 1 - 12:00 am

Maine Cat 38

This sleek cruising cat is perfect for tradewind sailing

By Robert H. Perry
 My son took my 4-year-old granddaughter sailing in our new dinghy for the first time last weekend. I asked her, “Did you like sailing, Violet?” She said, “Yes, but I didn’t like tipping.
Perry on Design
2016 September 1 - 12:00 am

Explocat 52

Flexible layouts and good speed potential are the hallmarks of this cat

By Robert H. Perry
 To my eye, designer Pierre Delion designed the Explocat with comfort in mind. The D/L is 133 and that indicates a boat of “medium” displacement. But a warning here. The displacement listed i
Perry on Design
2016 September 1 - 12:00 am

Discovery 21

This folding trimaran should make for thrilling sailing

By Robert H. Perry
 I can’t remember when I did not associate the name Chris White with offshore multihulls. Chris has always had his own approach and he has been successful with it. Chris is probably best k
Perry on Design
2016 July 1 - 12:00 am

Valiant 40

The performance cruiser that defined the category and sparked a career

By Robert H. Perry
 
 I chose the Valiant for the cruising category because it is generally considered the boat that began the move to “performance cruisers.” There were plenty of fast cruising boats before the Valiant but I think the Valiant is remembered for a couple of reasons. The term “performance cruiser” was attached to the V-40 early on and it became an easy way to identify the type. Also, the V-40 was a distinctive looking design that was very easy to recognize. People like what they know. And yes, I can’t deny it, I am the proud designer of the V-40. So with that in mind I will try to be objective.
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