First look: Windelo 54 catamaran - more innovation from the company pushing sustainable boatbuilding

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

Wow, this layout is so different that I'm still processing it. Traditionalists surely won't like it, but the layout has a lot of advantages. The front helm is kind of a protected extension of the salon, almost a mirror image of rear bulkhead helms. Neither Chris White nor Gunboat, but something different. I like that they kept the mass and cost down, and the generally simple and clean design is arguably more resource efficient and therefore better for the environment. Definite kudos for trying to use more environmentally friendly materials and greener energy. Thanks Toby and Yachting World!

[@troublekaliman]

Love the front helm...

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

@@troublekaliman All the different helm positions have pros and cons. Agree this one has most of the advantages of a front helm, while minimizing some disadvantages. The whole boat is thought provoking, which is a good thing.

[@missiondiver1]

My dream yacht, what I like best is the in cabine center cockpit, brilliant idea!

[@SeriouslyGreatVideos]

Toby, I love your videos.... John from NJ your #1 Fan

[@yachtingworld]

Thanks John, much appreciated!!

[@SailingSunday]

❤ I reckon it would be a pretty comfy crossing on this bad boy with that cockpit 🤙

[@jimheaven]

Wow. This is the future. Is it me or has monohull sailing suddenly been found out?! 1. Speed 2. Draft 3. Comfort 4. Privacy 5. Space …. Yes please!

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

Another interesting vessel im a bit supprised they didnt increase the size of the E motors and solar power a bit more...but with regen under sail perhapse they see that as boosting the budget of having extra persons drain power at anchor. Mind you its easy enough to plug in a folding portable panel and tie it down to a rail or trampoline .. I havent forgotten the generator but why run it at anchor if the solar could be boosted. Im glad they are getting orders as they've taken a number of important steps forward.

[@mrabrasive51]

Imagine solar fabric sails charging as the wind drives the boat!..thats gonna be the big game changer in boating!

[@oldsailor5711]

Don't imagine, they are avalable but at a cost, about the same price as the whole boat extra...

[@pred7949]

and what happens when you are at anchor, mooring, at the docks or on the dry? which is 85% of the time of any boat

[@troublekaliman]

how about 'wave' action energy generation? on the move or especially when at anchor... I haven't seen this being put into use yet

[@danmallery9142]

@@pred7949 all the regularly installed solar would more than meet your needs. Not saying that it would be feasible, but being on the hook would not be an issue. I think the real problem would be that having the sails up would always shade part of your hardtop array, partially negating the extra cost of the solar fabric sails.

[@mrabrasive51]

@@pred7949 i cant solve all your problems!

[@lanceleader8891]

Mr Hodges. I appreciate the effort you put into these videos but you looked tired and drained in this one. I hope all is well.

[@Dunawayyy33]

Je pensais exactement la même chose en vous voyant . J espère que vous allez bien.

[@yachtingworld]

Twas a very busy show! It was torrential rain for first 24hrs so had to run round the boats a lot - but all well otherwise thanks for the concern!

[@GermanGreetings]

No Bimini-flatter, no shifting things around... and Mums and Dads will love it: the small kids are always close and in sight, ...because they want to be there, where it is safe ! ...at least 10 km less ways for cables,lines halyards and sheets. With one short move, the captain is at the main mast foot on deck... You are together, or you are teen and want to be alone... Ej ! After half a century of cat studies and sailing cats: For me it is so much THIS, that any detail-criteling does not belong here, ...it would be only a handful anyway :) Well done ! Vive la France: Le Vindelo est vachement bien !

[@Sonnell]

Dear Sir, I appreciate that you create all these videos for us, but compared to the number of your subscribers, the quality of the audio and video is not adequate. Please think about getting a gimbal for your camera, and a lavalier microphone, these would dramatically improve the quality of your videos. Thank you.

[@pred7949]

his main focus is to test the boat for his articles in the magazine, youtube videos are not their main focus or priority, plenty of other content creators to tickle your fancy so please take your unwarranted opinions elsewhere ok thanks

[@Sonnell]

@@pred7949 wow.... so I can not have opinions and constructive suggestions? You are super cool :p

[@pred7949]

@@Sonnell and you are a super khunt

[@Muratshayev]

It seems to me that the sound is shit - this is a feature of the channel ))

[@sebastienchoquene8227]

I love this cat. I just need 2 million euros 😂

[@testicool013]

So if any boat gets struck by lightning it’s not cheap but what’s the cost when one of these full electric boats get struck

[@robertfranc2365]

Finaly a comfortable, up close and personal south ocean catamaran. Antarctica skipper!

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

Basalt fiber was chosen for Volcanic the Deep south racing class boat.. they had to be able to fend off growler ice.. Its lighter, gouge and puncture ressistant and a lot more resistant than GRP and even Carbon fiber in some ways. Its also cheaper to make so that helps.😎⛵

[@pauljamieson803]

I get the idea, but not feeling this design is for me (as it is subjective). The walkway down into the hull in the middle of the kitchen is very oddly placed and potentially dangerous (unless there is a close-off we did not see) ..

[@barilro]

They have other layouts for the kitchen. check out their website.

[@jpmackin]

😍

[@pred7949]

the cut-outs on the transom sides are the only thing about windelo that i still struggle with

[@angela1984a]

I'm almost 100% sure that you can order a boat without those cut-outs...

[@pred7949]

@@angela1984a almost a 100% sure? lol that can not exist. They would need a whole different mold and would be a truly terrible financial business decision if it were the case

[@angela1984a]

@@pred7949 And there is just no way that they could fill those holes somehow?... Yeah... Sure!... But whatever 'floats your boat'...

[@pred7949]

@@angela1984a have you got any composite boat building experience or are you just referring to what makes sense in your head?

[@pred7949]

@@angela1984a even though they are a semi custom boat builder, semi custom relates to only interior and rigging. not superstructure

[@jamielancaster01]

Not a bad price at all ($1.23 million USD)

[@hansstoop5381]

1,000 miles with the diesel generator, I see a Fischer Panda... these break down every 4 hours. Don't think you'll have a lot of fun. Unless generator repairs turn you on.

[@rnbspowa7of69]

If I was making a catamaran for “ALL” latitudes this would be a good cockpit design. 🤔🧐

[@marxug1]

This is an amazingly engineered yacht. But still they couldn’t come up with something better than roll-up plastic windows at the helm?

[@vorda400]

A beautiful boat. i adore closed cockpits. the bedrooms are spacious and the beds are of normal height plenty of storage space I fell in love with windelo with the last review, the price is decent because it works well, nothing creaks when walking, they paid attention to details Maybe just add solar panels and this diesel generator you won’t even need

[@vasiliypanamskiy]

What is the beauty of this boat? With such a control post and such huge windows in the cabins, even in a small storm of 3-4 points, it will fall apart. Sail only from bay to bay along the coast?

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

Its existing 3kw of solar panels should be enough for house loads in most of the popular cruising areas. The Diesel generator is really a backup in case of long passages of no wind.

[@vorda400]

@@vasiliypanamskiy It doesn't look so fragile to me. People are crossing the Atlantic with fifty-year-old ships that only the gelcoat holds together This boat is a partial copy of Gunboat, but for a lower price, but not because of the quality, because of the market in which they have to be placed, because future catamaran owners are looking for something special. I am very interested in how this boat behaves in stronger winds

[@vorda400]

@@LoanwordEggcorn Depending on the consumption of the "crew" on the boat in most cases in the charter the biggest problem is hot shower water, people are spoiled snowflakes and are looking for the same conditions as in a five star hotel. So their first voyage turns out to be their last voyage

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

@@vorda400 Agree it depends on expectations. Would be better for people to expect sailing to be like camping with (limited) showers and toilets.

[@ianhawkes2901]

HH Catamarans of New Zealand are way ahead of the competition in innovation, sustainability, performance and price. Integrated Fresh Water (rain) capture should be a no brainer for these manufacturers by now. Many will have to fold to HH - They listened to the sailors wants and needs not just what the designer thinks the sailor should want and need - HH gotta be 20 years ahead of everybody including Zen

[@bernardlanguillier7970]

HH catamarans are very nice, but I would personally prefer an outremer 55 or Marsaudon Composites OCR 57 over anything HH has to offer at the moment

[@Eddie_-_]

Where do you get NZ from? It’s a Chinese boat… but beautiful and one of my favorites

[@reee_4067]

HH cats are built in China and Vietnam to lower the cost.

[@goulash75]

Love the HH. I think Balance cats out of South Africa are along a similar vein.

[@sggr7708]

BS. HH ARE PRODUCED IN ZHUHAI ! CHINA IS A FASCIST TOTALITARIAN REGIME ! HH USES SLAVES TO PRODUCE MINOR QUALITY PRODUCTS UNDER UNHUMAN CONDITIONS ! ANY ONE WHO PURCHASES SUCH A PRODUCT SHOULD BE PUNISHED !

[@chikken_soup]

Only gripe I have is the lack of cockpit space

[@skrbosmrdic2003]

shaft drive or sail drive?

[@troublekaliman]

Awesome craft! how about 'wave' action energy generation? on the move or especially when at anchor... I haven't seen this being put into use yet.

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

Usually people anchor in relatively protected waters for more comfort. That would tend to limit the wave energy available. With hydrogeneration and solar, energy can be provided by sailing and sunlight respectively.

[@1corinthians15.1-4kjv]

Wave energy generation is not very efficient at all. There has been many costly attempts here in Denmark trying to make that work, all failed miserably.

[@JP77999]

👍

[@tigersharkzh]

Stating a battery capacity in Ah is pointless without also saying what the nominal voltage is. Just use the actual units used to define battery capacity, kWh.

[@angela1984a]

According to Windelo's website, one configuration gives you 53.8 kWh of batteries... Don't know if there are several different setups available...

[@barryholiday8998]

👍🏻👏

[@Muratshayev]

Only my opinion. A very controversial catamaran. I see its purpose - parking in a quiet bay. Not intended for sea navigation. Toby, thanks for the review. The review itself is great

[@barilro]

you could not be further from the truth…

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

Seems to me it could do both well, in a relatively more environmentally friendly way than more traditional designs. I actually like this design more than I thought I would.

[@Muratshayev]

@@barilro Arguments )): In fact, an open cabin, covered with a window made of polyethylene. The first big wave will flood the saloon. Such an arrangement of the steering wheels is inconvenient. In the marina, the back of the catamaran is not visible, and it will also not be visible from the side, because the low location of the bridge and the dimensions are poorly felt. Parking will be by sound. The dinghy launching system was designed by someone who had never raised a dinghy in a wave. Such a mechanism is simply dangerous. Handles are missing. New design trend. Nothing to hold onto in excitement. And don't say that the catamaran doesn't rock. The back of the saloon is not protected. A tail wave will easily be inside. Maybe I'm wrong. Or do I not understand? ))

[@MrJhchrist]

@@Muratshayev The saloon is water tight, only way a big wave gets in is if you leave the doors and windows open in which case it's on you not the boat. Likewise the stern buttons up with both a sternwall forward of the tender, and a full wall of closed doors between the saloon and aft "cockpit". No idea about the tender or handholds though.

[@reee_4067]

@@Muratshayev Are planning to solo sail a 54 catamaran? lol. Most cats at that length usually is operated by a husband/wife. If you have watched the 50 foot version, you would know that the back saloon can be closed off

[@vasiliypanamskiy]

Please tell me who now produces real catamarans for walking on the oceans? What you are shooting is coastal rafts or landing stages with sails.

[@angela1984a]

Outremer very much produces real catamarans...

[@angela1984a]

And there are alsoTRIMARANS. Check out Rapido, the bañulsdesign/McConaghy 53ft tri... and the Dragonfly 40. Ok... The Dragonfly might be a stretch, but I'm unfortunately not knowledgable enough to definitely say...

[@brettharman8921]

wonky-

[@timmyteale7605]

Poor video quality 😢

[@GuyCruls]

the sound is awful.

[@aswan2140]

A BIG "NO" from us, Makes me love the Mono Hull so much more! 🇮🇱🇺🇸

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

TBH it's relatively different from other catamarans too. I figured traditionalists would hate it. I like many aspects of it, and it's good to have some new ideas. If we never try new things then we're still sailing downwind on square riggers only.

[@angela1984a]

TRIMARANS! Have a look at the bañulsdesign/McConaghy 53ft tri...

[@marcmillis3867]

This boat is anti-logic. High class rooms with shared toilets...1 of them don't even have a sink.... High class mixed with very low class....

[@reee_4067]

Pretty sure you can semi-customize it

[@TheAegisClaw]

It looks like a house boat. It's a no from me.

[@thomaselliott573]

In an effort to be utilitarian, they went way too far, but I guess people will buy anything that is promoted as eco friendly now. The cockpit at the front is a design principle that went horribly wrong. The finish is agricultural at best, especially for this price. The electric motors provide an almost insignificant benefit - 4 hours! - so what? Ideology instead of the real thing. Very common these days. Often first efforts turn out to be lemons.

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

4 hours for the electric drive on battery only. Plus 1000 nm on diesel generator part of the hybrid drive. What don't you like about how the front helm is implemented? Electric drive is a fantastic synergy for sailing, especially since it can be recharged simply by sailing with the motors acting as generators. It's also quiet and doesn't burn fossil fuels for day sailing, most coastal cruising, etc. Plus the backup diesel gives it long range for ocean passages, if needed. Performance should be enough that the Diesel gets almost no use, even for ocean crossings. Agree the fit out is a bit industrial. The price is very low for this size of catamaran.

[@pred7949]

+ this is literally the cheapest performance catamaran on the market. You just proven yourself an oaf with your views as well as your front cockpit opinion. lol yikes

[@thomaselliott573]

@@pred7949 are you a commo?

[@thomaselliott573]

@@LoanwordEggcorn yes, that is what I said. Thanks for repeating it

[@reee_4067]

How is the front cockpit wrong? Chris White, HH and Gunboat have been using front exposed cockpits for ages.

[@longgowhereto]

Too much boat for my reality.

[@billylallen2662]

Ahahahahaha, you’ve got these diesel power generators to run this electric motors.

[@bernardlanguillier7970]

It's a light boat that will be able to sail in many conditions, then you have lot's of renewable generation that will cover most cases where you need engines. Finally you have the diesel generator when you need electricity in case of emergency. This seems like a very sensible solution.

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

Only when you need more than 4 hours of motoring from the battery. For most coastal cruising, the generator would probably not be used. The solar panels and battery bank should provide more than enough power for most uses, both at anchor and under sail. The generator is more of an emergency backup.

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

@@bernardlanguillier7970 Agree. Many people don't understand the energy budgets of sailboats well enough, it seems.

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

I forgot to add, most electric drive boats can hydrogenerate, that is, recharge the battery by using the motor as a generator when the boat is under sail. In other words using wind power to charge the battery. That's in addition to a large amount of solar power. And the generator as a backup. Also Manot and Robert did a 11,000 mile passage, crossing the Atlantic twice in their Windelo 54. They never used the generator at all. They did use hydrogeneration and the solar. See their recent interview on the Windelo KZbin channel.

[@JohnJohn-cu7nk]

👍