One in every of two CL Yachts fashions that premiered on the Fort Lauderdale Worldwide Boat Present final October, CLB65 is a very completely different proposition to the flagship CLX96 that debuted alongside it. For starters, it’s for consumers keener on island-hopping than doing a continuous, 1,000-mile voyage.
I’d contemplate homeowners of this motor yacht to be boaters slightly than yachties, for one huge cause: CLB65 might be dealt with by a pair with many sea miles beneath their belts, though CL Yachts has included a captain’s stateroom on the rear of the boat.
Despite the fact that it’s the child of the CL Yachts portfolio, the inside measurement is spectacular because it’s constructed on the CLB72 sistership’s hull. Together with the 65ft 9in general size is a 19ft 10in beam, which is 2-3ft wider than many European-built fashions of comparable size. That provides as much as loads of further dwelling area.
The outside areas supply beneficiant areas with good layouts that ought to please any cruising couple. The aft cockpit has a desk and lounge, whereas the 2 aspect walkways result in a lounge and sunbed in entrance. This bow space is critical as a result of it’s divided between socialising and the working finish for anchoring. The excessive stainless rails are designed for shifting round safely in uneven seas.
The flybridge additionally has loads of room to roam, with a hardtop, higher helm station, two separate lounging zones, outside grill and open space on the rear. The deck can simply accommodate 10 to fifteen company.
There’s additionally an outsized swim platform on the stern for both carrying a young, or simply offering easy accessibility to the water. It’s about 4ft deep and spans nearly the complete beam of the hull, so three or 4 company in bathing fits might use it as one other place to hang around, at the least in calm seas.
Hull primary at Fort Lauderdale was powered by twin Volvo Penta 1050s with IPS drives. This customary engine choice will ship a prime finish of about 27 knots, which given the IPS manoeuvrability, is extremely respectable. If you’d like a bit extra oomph at prime finish, upgraded Volvo IPS 1350s are additionally out there.
A Boat for Boaters
My first impressions of the inside, with its galley aft, aspect aft cupboards and ahead saloon, had been combined. The white upholstery and different supplies, combined with the walnut woodwork, had been good, vibrant and useful, however fundamental in comparison with among the model’s Italian and British rivals.
However then it hit me: this boat doesn’t need to be flashy or ultramodern. It must be sensible for that boating couple wanting to make use of it as a second residence on the water. It doesn’t want the Italian marble, the leather-clad partitions or mirrored insets to attraction to that real-boater couple, who may nicely be embarrassed by the surplus anyway.
There was a pleasant sense of simplicity about the primary deck, particularly within the open-plan saloon ahead and eating space starboard of the aft galley. Because of the rear opening window and cockpit door, each inside and exterior might be joined for eating, so two teams can eat concurrently if there are loads of company.
The galley has a convection range, giant fridge, freezer and sink, with home windows that give the chef an ocean view. Simply ahead, portside, is a big lounge with a C-shaped couch and a desk beside an electrical up/down window.
To starboard, the raised helm platform with two seats permits a measure of privateness for driving the yacht, which gives wonderful navigation, as a result of giant home windows and easy-read consoles on the sprint.
Behind the helm is a storage cupboard with a white prime that matches the remainder of the inside. You possibly can spend many hours on this saloon, both beneath approach or at anchor. The design agency Interiors by Carmen created two interiors for the boat, the walnut model we considered and one other with hickory.
Gentle & Brilliant
On the decrease deck, the three staterooms are divided right into a VIP ahead, a midships main bedroom, and a twin cabin, all with en-suite loos.
The grasp is a good-looking mixture of walnut cupboards, drawers and trim, with a queen-sized mattress positioned within the centre. The en-suite options two trendy spherical sinks, giant bathroom, and an infinite glassed-in bathe with sufficient area for a wooden bench for seating. Particulars like this emphasise the 65’s liveability.
Contemplating it’s within the bow, the VIP can be generously sized, with the mattress within the centre and cabinetry round. The pinnacle, whereas not as giant as within the grasp, additionally has a glassed-in bathe space (once more with picket bench seat) that delivers on the sense of area. To port, a twin visitor cabin with en-suite rest room rounds out the lodging.
From the crew cabin accessed from the swim platform, I had an opportunity to peek contained in the engine room, and whereas it was clear and tidy, headroom was tight, which is barely problematic if you happen to’re a cruiser who likes to do preventative upkeep. Nonetheless, all issues thought of, it’s a minor downside contemplating the good structure of the remainder of the yacht.
With its standard profile and staid inside, CLB65 isn’t the flashiest new boat on the water, however then once more, who needs that? The oldsters who need this boat will admire the beneficiant spacing in each the outside and inside, plus the down-to-earth structure that may make it straightforward for a cruising couple to navigate.
This text first appeared on Yacht Style.
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