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Kev77 · 01-07-2020, 03:06

Some renderings from the new Neel 43

Interesting layout with one bedroom behind the saloon on the main deck..

I suppose the pricing will be interesting too.

Can’t quite workout the head and shower placements apart from the one On the main deck!

Nav station forward looks neat

Galley looks a bit too exposed in heavy seas ..

What do you think?

Kev77 · 01-07-2020, 03:14

Some additional info..

Overall length 42,70 ft
Overall width 24,60 ft
Draught 4,5 ft
Air draft 62 ft
Displacement 9 T
Full battens mainsail 630 sq ft
Furling solent 466 sq ft
Water 132 US Gallons
Fuel 80 US Gallons
Engine Diesel Sail drive 50HP
Ship designers Marc Lombard Yacht Design Group

toolbar · 01-07-2020, 03:53

That is a heavy beast.

Paul

Rigamarole · 01-07-2020, 20:33

Personally I've never understood the attraction to the Neel Trimarans. You must really, really want a trimaran and not a catamaran.

Muaddib1116 · 01-07-2020, 20:56

I think the consensus seems to be that the people who are interested in that type of boat find the design to be pretty feature rich and they reportedly sail pretty ok, but the big problem has been build and finish quality. Do some google searches, there are a few well known examples of poor quality. There is some indication that they have been improving though, so it depends on what year the boat was built as well.

harlem24 · 01-07-2020, 23:52

I'd say after the reports in the last years, especially about the 47 and 51, I'd never buy one of the first builds from Neel.
Both first boats looked awful regarding fit and finish.
Bu if you can wait until they get setteled and are looking for a fast boat with enough space, the Neels are imho worth a look.

HellBentSailing · 02-07-2020, 00:54

I think they are cool boats and I like the idea of a tri, but I have a hard time getting around the fact that they have less space and practicality than an equivalently sized catamaran, are more expensive 99.9% of the time, and are more difficult to maneuver in a marina (single engine and rudder for catamaran beam even with a bow thruster). Add to that the glaring quality issues and this isn't a pretty picture. The Neel 47 that was touring boat shows in the U.S. was literally falling apart with pieces of trim coming off of cupboards and the step into one of the ama cabins literally coming out of the wall. Not to mention the original 45 (shudders) with misaligned and sheared bolts on the compression posts, cracks forming around the load areas, dramatically uneven caulking, and one boat where the engine room (admittedly a pretty appealing feature) flooded. I am also not a fan of the fact that a 45 foot boat as wide as any cat has the same amount of cabins, all of which are smaller, and the same number of heads as a 40 foot cat that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars less (one of the heads on the cat will likely have a separate shower stall as well). I'm also all for the performance benefits of a tri, but they don't even seem to be here either with those specs pointing to a cruising machine that will barely match more performance-oriented cruising cats. If you like them, great. I really, really, REALLY want to like them as well, but a boat built as cheaply as a Neel that costs as much one with way more drawbacks than benefits could never possibly earn my favour. Plus I could never trust a boat from a company with this kind of reputation for quality to take me across a bay, much less an ocean. Congratulations to anyone who has bought or buys one and good luck on your travels, you are most certainly going to need it.

Kev77 · 02-07-2020, 05:19

Neel Trimarans have received a lot of criticism on the net..

I think some of it quite harsh

The 47 at the boat show was rushed out to make it on time - probably not the first time this happens to manufacturers.

The 45 that caused a huge discussion had a jet ski fitted on its transom I believe so pretty sure overloading the boat that much will cause problems!!

No doubt quality and fit and finish are a improvement area for Neel however let’s not forget that it’s a relatively young shipyard @ 10yrs

And unless they are ignoring everything that issue would be highly on their agenda I would think.

Price point I also don’t agree I think they are priced fairly - the latest FP 47 Cat or a Lagoon 450 is far more expensive than a neel 47..

And I can imagine the 43 will be at a similar price than a Astrea 42 or Lagoon 42 if not cheaper still..

Neel’s are boats that will not appeal to everyone and that’s not their aim but as an alternative to mono’s and Cat’s why not at least they are trying something different ..

Also around safety if I was in a Collision in mid Atlantic I would rather be in something with 3 hulls

Not to mention they are fast winning recently 2 ARC’s in the 45 and 47.

Also can a boat that has won multihull of the year 2020 be so cr@p?

Muaddib1116 · 02-07-2020, 05:35

From what I've read and seen, I agree with Kev77 about the speed and price. The few used ones on yachtworld all seem to be really well priced, but part of me also thinks that must be because owners who are unhappy with the poor build are trying to dump them.

As far as space and use compared to a catamaran, the big difference seems to be the "main-floor" master suite. For a couple who is primarily going to cruise alone and wants room for guests, that's a pretty attractive layout.

Rohan · 02-07-2020, 07:08

I have examined NEELs at boat shows, and spoken to he designer Eric Bruneel.

Some people are asking, why this over a catamaran? Because this is a trimaran. Better motion and faster. Bruneel claims that they average 10 kts coming here from France and I believe him. Also, keep in mind that a catamaran doesn't have more space. I think some people are looking at it the wrong way. The cabins on catamarans are in the amas. By contrast, on this boat, the main cabins are in the bridgedeck, which means you have additional secondary cabins in the amas as well as a ridiculous amount of storage space below. It's incredible how much there is.

Also, the cabins have the most breathtaking view I have ever seen on any boat anywhere. I think you couldn't find that anywhere else except on a powerboat.

To me, the disadvantage is that I'm more of a traditionalist, and the Neels look a little too futuristic, like a spaceship on the water. But that's personal preference. The other disadvantage in some cases would be the enormous beam. I also thought the heads on the 45 were a little small, they could have set a huge one up down in the ama also. This one looks like it has one large head instead of two smaller ones, which would be a drawback for some people, although I'm sure there is an option for an additional one.

I didn't see any quality issues that jumped out at me, but your mileage may vary.

Grimgrak · 02-07-2020, 18:15

From what i've seen of quality on Neel builds it's pretty bad things fall apart pretty quick.

contrail · 06-07-2020, 19:15

Remember that Boat of the Year awards have no way to assess how well things hold up over time. So, yes, they can turn out to be flimsy.

Kev77 · 07-07-2020, 00:20

What I’ve learned so far is that any boat commands compromises even multi million euro ones!!

Personally I can live with light standard cabinetry and some sharp edges let’s say..

Although having spoken to Neel in the last few weeks they have put more emphasis in their quality control programs throughout the build of their hulls this is re assuring

Some people prefer their boats to have 5 bathrooms and a 100 kg wooden elephant in their saloon - I personally would swap that for a lighter boat with more performance and less things to maintain/service .

Each to their own as they say