New Alpha 42 to be Built in the US

[Intentional Drifter]

That Alpha is a nice looking boat. I much prefer the cockpit/helm to the flybridge boats. Two things I would like to see different:

1) Would like to see an option for daggerboards. Sure, you would lose some interior space for the trunks, but having the option for the more performance-oriented among us would be nice.

2) The mast height could be lengthened a good 4 feet and still be a nice 62 foot, ICW-comfortable height, while getting a bit more sail area, especially with a square top main. The present design of 1003 sq ft is better than much of the production cat competition, but with 10 tons light displacement, having another 200 sq ft of sail area would improve her light wind sailing.

The layouts seem to show a companionway from each aft cabin to the deck. On a boat this size, that seems to be both superfluous and a waste of valuable cabin space. On a 50/60 footer, I guess I can see it, but not on a 42 footer.

I would love to see a US-built production cat, again, particularly one with such an interesting and contemporary design as this. If they're successful, by the time I'm ready to buy again, I'd give this one very serious consideration -- even more so if I could the above changes!

ID

[hblask]

So if you get an equivalent amount of options as that Leopard 39 (about $100K worth) then the Aeroyacht 42 gets up to $450K, which is more in line with what I'd expect, although still a little lower. It looks to me like a new loaded 42 is generally around $500K, so that's still a significant cut.

[Sand crab]

The Catana 42 carbon infusion is 372,860 euros. Plus, plus, plus.
Didn't I read here that the Seawind 1250 is A$650,000 in their loaded version. And you still have to get that boat to the US. And I think the PDQ Antares 44' is about $750,000. So $350,000 for a base version doesn't sound that bad.

[Sand crab]

ID is right about the aft companionways. There are pull down ladders that give you access to the deck just above the sugar scoops. It's like the L560 and L620. Imagine cruising or resting on a nice day and opening those hatches. Good airflow. You can see them on the interior photo #16. Innovative and I'm interested in the total fit of that idea.

[hblask]

So $350K base, with up to $100K options? Presumably many of those options are on the unnecessary side. So what would be the total cost of the Aeroyacht 42 in the water ready to live on and cruise? Assume you want enough electronics to be safe, solar panels and generator, a fridge and freezer, a dinghy, safety equipment, and whatever else would be a "necessity" for a liveaboard/distance cruiser. Any guesses?

[Sand crab]

That 100K would be a good estimate for a well equipped cruiser. Just like all production cats this one is ready to cruise if you don't mind roughing it. No genny, air con, radar, watermaker, etc. As it is it is ready for island hopping. Honda gen, cheap watermaker and dighy and motor. $10,000 or maybe a little more and there you go. A little extra for sheets and dishes. You can go for more like communications, epirb, liferaft but is it absolutely essential? 40 years ago nobody had this stuff. Most survived.

[smj]

What are necessities? For some it would be generator, a/c, dishwasher, washer dryer etc. for others sails and some form of motor.

[Doodles]

I get the impression from the website and YW ad that these are going to be made on an "as ordered" basis, so to me this is just another custom builder and not a real production boat. You got to wonder in this market how many people are going to be willing to order a boat from plans that has never been built. I would like to hear that they are going ahead with building a couple for sea trials and boat shows; otherwise, this may be just a pipe dream. Of course it takes some capital to do that but if you don't have that kind of capital to invest you really shouldn't be heading down this road. IMHO

[Sand crab]

I think most cats are made to order. To me a production boat is one where they make molds for a production run. I suspect they will do this here. I have read that a set of molds can cost around $250,000 for a boat this size so there is a sizeable upfront investment.
The Outremer 49 and the new 5X had orders placed prior to actually producing either boat so it has been done this way before.

[Doodles]

I'm just very skeptical I guess but so far its just a concept boat and we don't even know who the designer is (from the website: "Designed by an expert team of offshore sailors, naval architects and rig specialists, multiple design inputs from groups ..."). If it were a well know designer and there was a prototype or hull #1 in the water to test sail it would be a different story. it looks very cool and everything but for all we know it may sail like a POS. And we know nothing about build quality. The builder seems to do a lot with fiberglass but building sailboats its not its #1 priority. With someone like Outremer you have a well know builder and a track record to go on but with this you would be taking a huge leap of faith in placing an order. IMHO

I'd have to wait until there were a couple made and sailing.

[Sand crab]

Yup Doodles, it's complicated.........

[rgesner]

Email from Gregor,

Dear Rusty:

<snipping reference to that other forum>

It is our goal to make a production cat - therefore we are investing heavily into female moulds. She will not be a custom one off - and the weight of the first shell MUST be within 4% of the following ones. I am very particular about weight you see..We are using Nydacore/honeycomb as a core.

While I feel honored that there is so much talk about us on the web, I guess I am stuck in the old world. Anyone is invited to call me (631 246 6448) and I will be happy to answer any questions personally.

You can imagine how tough it is - especially in this economic environment - to establish a successful boat company. We are not independently wealthy and get nothing from banks either. It's a lot of sweat and passion...and I hope it will be a success.

Wouldn't it be great to show the French and Australians that we can build a real cool catamaran as well? I will need all the support...

Stay in touch,

Best regards

Gregor

[pathlesschosen]

Tell Gregor we are all cheering him on....

[Doodles]

I just read in the new issue of Multihulls World that several have been ordered and the first should splash by the end of the year.

[Southern Star]

I too am glad to see a forty plus foot cat being produced in North America. I suspect, however, that it will not be a luxury tax that will deterimine their success (one also needs to pay taxes on foreign built boats), but rather the currency exchange rate of the USD in relation to boats built in France, South Africa, Asia and Australia. The relative increase in the value of the Australian dollar has not only driven up the relative cost of their boats, but forced at least one manufacturer (Seawind) to relocate much of its production to Vietnam. Several years ago PDQ yachts, which had a deserved reputation for quality, were forced into bankruptcy by the 25 plus per cent rise in the Canadian dollar versus the US dollar in a period of about one year.

Yes, production in the US is now rendered somewhat more competitive by virtue of the decline of the USD. However, things are very unsettled at the moment in Europe and I suspect that the euro may well fall substantially as against the US dollar - especially if Greece pulls out and the new President in France refuses to follow through on austerity measures. If the euro falls relative to the USD, then french built boats become even cheaper in the USA (and American built ones even more expensive in Europe). Finger's crossed!

Brad