But who says love is rational? They have been releasing very little about their new boat, the quality of the 3D drawings is bad and not appealing but on the photos the real thing looks awesome. The new Dragonfly will be presented at Dusseldorf and will be one of the boats I am more curious to see.
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| The Dragonfly 32 and the 40 |
Even with 40ft the interiors are small because Dragongly did not lose its focus on performance therefore the main hull is narrow but at least it will allow a decent galley and a comfortable small saloon even if the sizes seem more compatible with a 34ft boat than with a 40fter.
The same happens with the tankage, with 200L of water (100L of diesel) I could never convince my wife to cruise on it but it is really a shame because I would love to sail this boat.
We waste less fresh water than most couples and my boat's 400L water tankage lasts for 13/15 days max. If we lived with 200L of water it would just last 6/7 days and if we cruised with an extra couple, as sometimes we do, that would probably last for a few days. Fine if you like to go to ports or marinas but not good if you like to go where you want when you want and stay on anchor.
That small tankage will considerably diminish freedom of cruising and would demand a careful cruising plan and that, the small living space and the even smaller storage space is what you would pay for the fun of sailing a very fast and I am sure, rewarding boat.
Regarding storage It seems the boat will have some space on both sides of the engine, it will all depend on how it will be accessed and compartmentalized.
The Dragonfly 40 has a reasonable 60L holding tank but will have a problem in what regards carrying a dinghy even if folded and taking it on tow would slow down the boat a lot but the fact is that I know smaller Dragonfly do long range cruising, crossing the Atlantic and sailing on both sides of the pond.
It all depends on how much you value speed even if I remember quite well that the one that crossed the Atlantic on the ARC was surprisingly slow (probably due to a big load). Cruising at speed is what these boats are about and this one has a maximum previewed speed of 24kt. I have no doubt that if the boats are maintained light double digit speeds will be the norm.
It all depends on how much you value speed even if I remember quite well that the one that crossed the Atlantic on the ARC was surprisingly slow (probably due to a big load). Cruising at speed is what these boats are about and this one has a maximum previewed speed of 24kt. I have no doubt that if the boats are maintained light double digit speeds will be the norm.
Even the upwind performance should be better than on most multihulls because the Dragonfly hides under the saloon table a central centerboard with generous dimensions that will increase their draft from 0.7m to 1.9m.
All the boat looks very well designed in what concerns speed, from the shape of the central hull to the amas design passing by the sail area.
The sail area will be different on two versions, one with a carbon bigger mast and 99m2 (with jib) the other with 77m2 but on a boat with a fixed bowsprit that can mount two front sails, the jib and a furling code 0 with 80/65m2 or a Geenaker with 135/110m2. This on a boat with a displacement of 5500kg will give you an idea of the stellar performance, providing the sea is not too rough.
A word for the available engines, one of 40hp and another one with 80 hp.!!! If the one with 40 is already more than enough for a 5500kg boat the one with 80 will give it a motoring double digit speed, way better than any motorsailer of the same size. Pity that the 100L tankage would allow in this case only a relatively small autonomy.
A word for the available engines, one of 40hp and another one with 80 hp.!!! If the one with 40 is already more than enough for a 5500kg boat the one with 80 will give it a motoring double digit speed, way better than any motorsailer of the same size. Pity that the 100L tankage would allow in this case only a relatively small autonomy.
This is a boat for lovers, a passionate boat that has one of its few rational points on the way it folds itself reducing its beam from 8.40m to 4 m, increasing curiously its length from 12.40 to 13.99m. This will allow it to find places on most ports and marinas and paying as a monohull and not 2 times the price of one due to excessive beam and the same in what regards winter storage.
The price is 425 000€ for a standard boat at the factory with no taxes and that would make it considerably more expensive than a 40ft Hallberg Rassy showing that speed is a lot more expensive than luxury.
A price for lovers and rich ones too. This video with the 32 gives you an idea of what to expect regarding sailing and about the interior that has good quality and design.
A cool gadget, easy to want it!
ReplyDeleteGadget?: "a small mechanical or electronic device or tool, especially an ingenious or novel one"
ReplyDeleteI don't understand your comment, maybe someone will. The only part I understand and agree is that it is easy to want it if one likes sailing and performance cruising.
re the water storage.... how about a water maker ?
ReplyDeleteAn watermaker is complicated, demands espace to be mounted and a source of energy to have it running and that means more space for a generator.
DeleteSpace and even space for storage is something that the Dragonfly 40 has not a lot.
Sure, like the dinghy it is possible but the costs will be huge in what regards use of space that was not intended for that, probably losing a big part of the aft cabin.
re dingy... an inflatable can be easily stored in the alma .. along with an outboard - i've seen it on a few df 35's...
ReplyDeleteEasy would not be the word I would use do describe storing a decently sized dinghy on a dragonfly 35 plus an outboard.
ReplyDeleteI saw the boat today in Dusseldorf, beautiful boat with a very good quality interior but even with less storage space than I thought. On those two spaces on the cockpit floor they have space for the fenders and that's all.
ReplyDeleteFor long range cruising the only place possible for storage of water and food, not to mention the wine and the beer LOL, is inside the amas that have several points of access and can be easily modified for that purpose.
Of course, the problem is that if the access will not pose any problem with the boat at anchor or at the marina, under way in anything than settled weather will rise a safety problem and will not be easy to reach supplies on the amas with bad conditions.
Regarding the dinghy it stay over the trampoline with good weather but with bad weather it does not seem to be a good option and will have to be deflated and stored in the amas the only space also to store the outboard too.
Great to see an alternative galley layout. I wonder how much scope there is for alternative layouts…
ReplyDeleteOn starboard I would have seating, just cabinets, with a huge, wooden top