Bavaria and Nautitech – for when two is better than one (Pt. II)

by John Curnow on 1 Nov 2016 In this, the second instalment of the review of the amazing catamarans from Nautitech, we focus on the performance and options/customisation that are available. We go back on board the Open 46 with Jason Chipp from the Australian importer, Ensign, and Lucca Meffle from the factory.

So after talking helming positions in Part I, we move into the two hulls as it were, both the Open 40 and Open 46 are available in three or four cabin configuration. Chipp had an interesting take on it all, commenting, “We also offer forepeak berths, which I think are a fantastic idea. Who would not want to have a spare bedroom in front of your for’ard cabin? You can have the crawl-through, kid style opening or access them from a hatch on deck.”

“So if you’ve got a couple with two young kids, rather than having them sleep on the table in the saloon, put them up for’ard where there are six-foot-two long, three quarter size doubles. They would much prefer that and they can have their own bags and all their gizmos in the one location.”

“It is also another great spot for the friends that hang around too long after a few drinks that wants to crash somewhere. After a two week passage, you may even let them back out”, said Chipp with a smile. “Even if you weren’t wanting to put a bed in there, just the fact that you can have a shelf, light and ventilation for storing things makes it a great idea. Think of folding bikes, inflatable SUPs and so on, perhaps the big spinnaker, as well!”

Sitting with both Meffle and Chipp on the Open 46 it was not long before the discussion got over to sales. Now the display vessel sold soon after, along with two more not long after that, but Ensign were keen to have one available as early as possible for people to get tactile with. Chipp commented, “We wanted to spec up a vessel and keep it for showing. It’s always a tough one when you spec a boat up, but we just had to grab the build slot, bring it out here and launch it properly. It wasn’t around for long. As you say, especially when somebody sails a Nautitech, it won’t be long before it goes.”

Last year we sold four off the first boat that we brought here. Australia is a fairly reserved sort of a market. Customers like to see the boats with their mates and with their friends in the marinas before they’ll buy one. Once that happens well sell a number of them straightaway. We’ve got one going next week up to the Whitsundays to begin life as a charter vessel.”

“We also have many that get collected in Europe with owners that want to sail them around over there and even sail them back. Given how many like to do it we put a lot of support into it. We go over there and we inspect during the build. We commission the vessel and then we sail with the new owners. We do everything. It doesn’t matter to us whether it’s Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Gold Coast, Cairns, La Rochelle or wherever it might be, we’re there on the ground with the owners, servicing them.”



The sales discussion then moved on to the two large Nautitech cats, 541 and 542, which helped to really place Nautitech, who until then had not been considered in the same way as the mass producers. Meffle said of it all, “The typical buyer for these craft is minimum 45-50 years, had a few sailing boats before, but now wants to have more input into a boat. There aren’t too many production-built catamarans that actually give you a bit of input. With some of them, if you ask to move the seat or something, they’ll never do it. The beauty of the 54-footers is that we allow for more customisation.”

“For an owner that wants a three cabin, four, or five cabin vessel that they can tweak, we will work with them to put their dive tanks where they want, their compressors, an office, or storeroom. I’ve talked with people about putting their own man caves in the forepeaks. We have done one that we built in racks for all of his kite surfing boards and everything like that. It’s about working alongside the owners to get the vessel configured the way they like it.”

Chipp added, “The 54’ Nautitechs handle and perform like a smaller craft in the terms of their manoeuvrability and control. They are very easy for a husband and wife team to handle. Totally brilliant for anyone wanting to do some extended cruising with a live away from home type setup. They handle big seas well. I’ve been three reefs down and thirty-five, forty knots on one - very safe.”

“A couple that I sold the boat to in Sydney were off Turkey sailing it to Cannes for the boat show. I’m guessing they have sailed probably two or three thousand miles since they took delivery only two months ago. They keep telling me how much they love it.”

“The overriding component that we find with people who look at Nautitech is that even though they’ve got a long list of things they want in a boat, from number of cabins, to desks, office areas, pretty much in the top two or three of their requirements will be, ‘We want a boat that performs.’ That will be the overriding characteristic.”

That customisation also refers very much to the type of buyer who comes along. Meffle explains, “I would say that the cat flybridge customer prefers extra living space, and is more likely to motor sail at times compared to the more open twin helm concept. We offer in-mast furling on this vessel to ensure safety remains paramount. It’s a different boat for a different customer. The 541 is also probably more charter oriented, and also more suitable to those who are between a power cat and a sailing cat.”

“Typically they motor more often, say if the breeze is too light and are not out there if it is too heavy. They want the advantage of being in a safe, secure, and up high in a place that gives them that sort of commanding view, looking down. Remember that Nautitech is one of the few manufacturers that offers you both helming styles.”

Chipp added, “I had clients that if anything, were actually sold on the single helm before they arrived. It wasn’t until they got on both versions and went for a sail, which allowed them to work it out for themselves, that they actually preferred the twin helms. ) Whereas with other manufacturers you don’t have the choice, you’re just stuck with it.”

“Nautitech cats are about performance. In the lighter, 5-10 knot conditions they really shine, which is no doubt due to low mass and less wetted surface area. I can tack a Nautitech in two knots of breeze, whereas with many other cats you need to run an engine to do that for anything up to say ten knots of wind. If I’m sailing downwind in five knots of breeze, I can do five knots boat speed. It’s that sort of lighter weight performance that actually really impresses our clients.”

“It showcases the flair of the designer and that Nautitech and Bavaria got the dynamics right. Most cats will be pretty good in over 15 knots of wind, whereas a Nautitech is simply brilliant in those conditions. With a Nautitech I can point at 35 degrees in 10 knots, and if you give me 12, I can point at 30 degrees AWA. You used to require dagger boards for that. There is also a nice big set of rudders, so from the performance aspect, it is just fantastic. I haven’t met anyone that hasn’t been blown away with this layout. They love it”, said Chipp in closing.

As it has been all about two, we’ll finish by saying there are two things you need to do. Firstly, place Nautitech on your list of boats to investigate. The second is contact the team at Ensign and arrange for a sail, for this is where you too will get Nautitech’s Open concept and the reason why performance should be a part of your cruising catamaran’s DNA.

Now there is a lot to discuss and sample when taking in the terrific Nautitech cats by Bavaria. Call 1300 609 900 or go to http://bavariasail.com.au/catamarans/ for all your product information, but do get onto it, because quality of both design and manufacture are two truly compelling reasons to get on board with Nautitech and Bavaria.