NEW BOATS - Hershine bullish on Voyager prospects

Following the success of Hershine’s launch of its new Voyager 55 Pilot House at last month’s Sydney International Boat Show, the boatbuilder says it is confident that not only is the boat market recovering from the global economic crisis, but is also showing a marked enthusiasm for the pilothouse design with a Portuguese bridge.

With one vessel already sold and orders likely to follow as a result of the show, Hershine’s Australian East Coast agent Rowell Marine claims that the self-funded retirees are now less inclined to delay their dreams for the perfect motor yacht and go coastal cruising.

Rowell Marine, who also sold a Marlow 65 motor cruiser at the show, says that while the market recovery is under way and the cost of boatbuilding set to rise, the Hershine Voyager sets new levels of affordability for vessels in its class.

“This is the extraordinary thing about the Hershine Voyager. While others might like to talk about starting prices, we are proud to boast of the finishing price! For $1.25 million, you get everything you need to immediately set off cruising in absolute luxury,” said Rowell.

“More than that, you don’t even have to get a crew together. Using traditional, tried and true technology, including bow and sternthrusters, closed-circuit television and a special docking station, the 28-tonne yacht can easily be slid into the tightest of marina spots by just one person. And that’s one of the biggest secrets to happy cruising!” he said.

Fitted with twin Volvo D9 575 turbo-diesel engines, the Hershine Voyager is reported to achieve speeds of more than 20kts or cruise economically at 12kts while providing a comfortable ride via a modified deep-vee planning hull fitted with Wesmar stabilisers.

Although a new entrant into the Australian market, the Hershine-built pilothouse yacht has an established history on the US and European markets and a proven hull design, said Rowell Marine.

The vessel exhibited at the Sydney Boat Show is hull No. 259 of its type built by Hershine, and being adapted from the popular US Jefferson design, the Hershine Voyager is said to have special modifications for cruising Australian and New Zealand waters.

Rowell Marine said the Voyager is a more traditional style of motoryacht than some of the lighter and flashier Mediterranean designs that might not offer the same security and safety when it comes to cruising Australia. Rather than risk the vulnerability of pod drives, Hershine has opted for the security of long-proven hull design and engine power while still offering amazing sideways manoeuvrability, it said.

With emphasis put on liveability, the Voyager has walk-on/off swim platform, covered wind-protected aft teak deck, extra wide-body saloon with settees, coffee table, work station and fully equipped galley, are all on the one level. Rowell Marine said every conceivable luxury is provided: recliner armchairs, dishwasher, twin oven and induction cook top, microwave, freezer, and refrigerator, while entertainment is provided by a Sony full-surround 5:1 stereo system and a large TV that doubles as a monitoring station for all navigation equipment and the three CCTV Raymarine cameras that monitor the fore and aft views from the bridge and the engineroom

According to the dealership Voyager’s designers have recognised that a couple on a liveaboard cruise do not necessarily want to be constantly in each other’s faces, hence, the 55 has a number of separate relaxation or work areas. The pilothouse itself is a comfortable lounge with TV, dining table and settee. Comfortable twin helm chairs afford a spectacular forward view which makes the pilothouse a true, fully equipped bridge protected from cold and weather while offering the visibility to confidently manoeuvre in busy waters.

Twin pilothouse doors either side give access to the walkaround Portuguese Bridge and onto the front deck and a comfortable forward-facing seat for three to sit or lounge. A Raymarine remote control allows the vessel to be piloted from this position, or any other place on the yacht. Alternatively, the interior stairs can be taken to the flybridge, which, due to all the provisions of the interior pilothouse, can be enjoyed as an open area fully equipped with helm seat, table and lounge seating. A separate split-deck provides a barbecue area complete with bar fridge and sound entertainment system.

Aft of this area is the dingy deck complete with electric crane and a centre-console, rigid-bottom inflatable fitted with a 20hp outboard motor, electric start and wheel steering, which can easily be launched and retrieved single-handedly.

Below the pilothouse are two staterooms featuring queen-sized beds complete with en suite separate showers and toilets, while an additional sleeping area can be used in the pilothouse where there is a pullout double bed fitted to the settee area.

Both staterooms have TVs and that for the master stateroom allows the skipper to monitor navigation information, anchor watch and keep a closed-circuit watch on the surroundings from the comfort of the bed.

A concealed clothes washer/dryer unit is also fitted into the master stateroom and four separate reverse-cycle air-conditioners maintain ideal temperature levels for the different indoor living areas.

Rowell Marine said every conceivable piece of equipment is fitted, even to the extent of an automatic engine oil changer and prop guard cutters to prevent the propellers ever being fouled by a stray line. Extra sound insulation has also been installed to ensure the generator is barely audible at anchor.

For further information and vessel inspections contact Rowell Marine, phone (02) 9997 1674 

Specifications - Hershine Voyager 55 Pilot House

Material: GRP (hull); GRP-Nida core (deck)
LOA: 55ft
Hull length: 51ft6in (15.69m)
Beam: 4.6m
Draft: 1.2m
Engines: 2 x 575hp D9 Volvo turbo-diesels
Trim tabs: Bennet
Stabilisers: Wesmar
Generator: Onan11.5kVa
Fuel: 2550lt
Water: 750lt