The word “navetta” (shuttle, it.) Appears in the names of boats at several Italian shipyards, but only Absolute Yachts has it associated with a certain type of pleasure craft, someone wittily called traveler (traveler). These boats should not be confused with trawler yachts: with a certain consonance of terms and similarity of characteristics – a solid power reserve, large capacity, dual mode (some trawlers have) – these are still different types.
Navetta yachts have been produced by the Absolute shipyard since 2014: the first at the Cannes Yachting Festival was presented to the public Navetta 58. Navetta 52 followed, and recently Absolute “bakes” new models of the line almost every year. So, in 2017, Navetta 73 made its debut in Cannes, in 2018 – Navetta 48, and this time we will get to know Navetta 68. However, yacht journalists were lucky to see it even before the official premiere – on tests in the Italian Varazza.
Architecture, layout …
This model should occupy a niche between the best-selling Navetta 58 and the current flagship of the Navetta 73 line and continues the stylistics implemented on the latest models. Outwardly, this manifests itself in a characteristic silhouette with large glazing of the superstructure and sides, inclined structures that visually connect the hardtop, flybridge and hull, a visor over the windshield. All this makes it easy to identify the Navetta boats even from a decent distance.
If we compare the Navetta 68 and the Navetta 73, the new boat looks like a slightly smaller copy of its predecessor. A similar cockpit aft with a sofa and a table, a seating area on the foredeck, also with a sofa and a large sunbed, flybridge … But here the difference is already noticeable due to the dimensions. The helm station with sofas on the sides forms a visually highlighted area, behind which is a dinette, another soft sofa and sun loungers in the stern. The decoration of this deck is a designer wet bar – not only beautiful, but also functional.
The main differences are in the saloon: the Navetta 68 has a galley on the border of the saloon and cockpit, like most modern motor yachts, and the dining table is placed opposite it – such a solution is rarely found. Otherwise, the space, complemented by the sofa area, is perceived as familiar and quite comfortable.
The wheelhouse with a “space” helm station, like the Navetta 73, makes a strong impression. The Glass Cockpit system (a joint creation of Volvo Penta and Garmin) once made a breakthrough in the field of marine navigation electronics. It includes three multifunctional displays 22 “and another 24” built into the dashboard, allowing you to simultaneously see the navigation map, the status of on-board systems and units, the image from security cameras, monitor the situation in the yacht’s premises, etc.
Dossier Absolute Navetta 68
Length:
20.80 m
Width:
5.60 m
Draft:
1.50 m
Displacement:
45 t
Fuel supply:
3500 l
Water supply:
1000 l
Power:
2 × 900 HP
Cabins:
4
Sleeping places:
8
RCD category:
“IN”
Design:
Absolute Yachts
In such glazing of the cabin, in addition to the task of making it as light and visually light as possible, the idea of combining the internal and external space is traced
Master cabin in the bow. Large windows open up the seascape, which can be observed even while lying on the bed
There are a lot of systems and devices; I will name only the radar, bow and stern thrusters, air conditioning system, desalination plant – their indication and controls immediately caught my eye. Of the three seats, the central one belongs to the captain; the joystick in the armrest avoids reaching for touchscreens.
Fiberglass body Navetta 68 complemented by carbon elements
The boat has four cabins. Looking into the large and light cabin amidships, it is easy to mistake it for the master’s, but the master cabin, even more spacious and bright, is located in the bow and is separated from the rest of the living quarters. The finishing materials used in the interior look nice: pastel colors, textured surfaces …
In the new boat, the criteria for designing space (indoor and outdoor) are clearly visible: functionality and comfort without giving up privacy – and the Absolute policy, which can be formulated as “more value for the same money”; it is declared by many shipyards, but not all of them succeed in the same way as Absolute Yachts.
… and test results
For this model, only one variant of the engine is provided – the paired Volvo Penta IPS1200 with D13 diesel engines with a capacity of 900 hp. Absolute Yachts’ commitment to both the Swedish brand and the underbody is well known, and this setup looks optimal for the Navetta 68. With it, the boat slightly exceeded 25 knots at maximum speed, corresponding to the transient and planing boundary found on most models in the line. Fuel consumption is moderate: at a cruising speed of 15 knots (1800 rpm), it was 177 l / h on both engines. At the same time, we note a slight change in the specific flow rate (and, accordingly, the power reserve) in a wide range from 1800 rpm to the maximum. And at a “trawler” speed of 8 knots, the cruising range exceeds 700 miles.
Controlling the boat both from the main helm station (in the cabin) and from the open one (on the flybridge) is easy; it is responsive to handwheel shifting and movement of the engine or joystick grips, which are conveniently located at hand. Maneuverability is also not satisfactory, the roll in the circulation is small. During acceleration, the trim did not interfere with the view of the course, although it should be borne in mind that during the test the spoilers were turned on. The half-meter wave of the hull with a deadrise on the transom of only 8 ° passed without difficulty.
ECO FAST MAX Modes RPM 1000 1200 1500 1800 2000 2200 2350 Speed 8.1 9.8 11.8 14.9 18.6 22.2 25.3 Flow 35 58 104 177 221 278 330 MPL 0.23 0. 17 0.11 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 Power reserve 729 532 357 265 265 252 242
Speed in knots, distance in miles, flow in l / h, cruising range at 10% reserve. The figures shown are based on the readings of the on-board instruments and may differ from the data you received. Loading: 50% fuel, 30% water, 8 people on board, no supplies. Air temperature +24 ° C, wind 3 points, wave up to 0.5 m.
The boat is sensitive to steering wheel movements and movement of the engine or joystick handles
The extensive foredeck seating area serves as both a “beach” and a place where it is pleasant to just sit, even when the boat is on the move
According to representatives of Absolute Yachts, the shipyard has a special partnership with Volvo Penta: Swedes often use Absolute boats as test boats for running new engines and drives at their test base. In turn, Absolute Yachts engineers gain invaluable experience in optimizing body contours and alignment for IPS systems, which were also evident during the Navetta 68 test.
It remains to mention that the vessel was equipped with a dynamic positioning system and a gyroscopic stabilizer Seakeeper 16. It was not possible to fully test it in the absence of excitement, although experience suggests that this expensive device can be useful if a sudden storm catches at sea.
Finally, about an important parameter – displacement. For some reason, Absolute does not publish the displacement value of its yachts, and each time you prepare material on the shipyard’s boats, you have to look for these numbers somewhere. So it was now. However, comparing the characteristics of the previous Navetta models, it is easy to determine that their overall completeness coefficient δ fluctuates in the range 0.25-0.27. Knowing the main dimensions of the new model, it is easy to calculate its displacement: 45 tons. And how wrong I was, we will probably find out only in Cannes, where the Navetta 68 will shine with its lacquered sides along with other yachts of the brand.
Text
Peter Shestakov
Chief Editor
What do you think?