Absolute Navetta 58 - radar arch!

[kashurst]

been meaning to post this for a while. just admiring the new 58" trawler design by Absolute - well known for their beautiful Italian designs and what do I see!

Yet again another Sealine innovation has been copied, albeit 8 years later; finally recognition by who better than the Italian school of the design, the radar arch on their new boat is the CORRECT way around pointing forwards. Providing shade for the driver/navigator, a strong point to trail a bimini from, protecting the leading edge from the wind and putting the radar, lights and search light up high and over your head at the front of the boat rather than at the back.

How long will it be before others copy this excellent piece of innovation. We have already had full beam master cabins in 50" boat, stairs instead of ladders to flybridge, extending cockpits and the current vogue; putting the galley at the back of the boat by the cockpit. Sealine Innovation - gone but not forgotten.



anyway I'll stand well back now.........

 

[petem]

If I remember correctly, the first Sealine T60's had forward facing arches. The boat looked a right mess and Sealine soon realised the mistake they'd made (perhaps the'y read our thread on the subject) and redesigned the boat with a much more attractive rear facing arch.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I don't think a forward facing radar arch was a Sealine innovation. Sunseeker used it in the 1980's on their sports cruisers. I agree that a forward facing arch can form a useful platform on which to mount a bimini but that means it also has to be high enough to walk under as well and that can look slightly awkward as a result. Yes, Sealine were responsible for a number of innovations. Apart from the ones you have mentioned, they also innovated the aft cockpit/aft cabin combination in the 390/410/F43 and 450/T46 which I particularly liked and also drop down panels in the flybridge overhang for storing the cockpit canopy and table, again which I thought very useful.
Interesting to see yet another Italian company coming out with a trawler style boat. I do think the Brit yards are missing out on a growing market here as I see an increasing number of this type of boat in the Med. IMHO some buyers are getting fed up with the same old variation on a gin palace theme served up by the major builders and are looking for something different. Maybe it mirrors the rise of the SUV in the motor car market?