The name has a double meaning. On the one hand, the Croatian word "more" translates as "sea". On the other hand, the English "more" also means "more". As a play on words, the result is a statement: more for the sea. At least that is how the management of More Boats would like it to be understood. The shipyard in Croatia near Split is a newcomer to the industry and is presenting itself for the first time at the boat show in Düsseldorf.
So far there is only one type of the brand, the More 55, but the yacht builders in Croatia have already produced and sold eight units of the 16 metre long luxury cruiser. The next model to be announced is a smaller More 40. The prototype is now under construction and is due to enter the water for its first trial runs in early summer 2017.
Both More Boats models are designs from the office of Maurizio Cossutti in Italy and present themselves as powerful performance cruisers with a cosy interior. The More 55 is particularly suitable as a yacht for luxury and regatta charters. The designers have therefore given the general concept an extremely sporty DNA with a T-keel and a comparatively high rig, but have not lost sight of the demands of touring sailors.
The layout in the cockpit is correspondingly simple and clearly organised. For charter use, for example, the mainsheet guide can be easily converted from the sporty German Cupper system to a conventional cockpit guide on the coachroof. And the saloon table can be completely or partially removed and stowed in special compartments under the cockpit floor and in the forecastle boxes.
The hull and deck of the More 55 are built using a vacuum infusion process with vinyl ester resins. A solid stainless steel frame is built into the ship as a strongback to ensure sufficient rigidity and friction-locked connections in the area of the shrouds and the T-keel. To make things easier for the stand personnel at the trade fair in Düsseldorf, Plexiglas floor boards were used for demonstration purposes. This allows visitors to immediately recognise the robust steel structure in the bilge.
The beautifully finished interior can be ordered either as an owner's version with three double cabins, each with its own bathroom, or as a charter version with four cabins and four bathrooms. Alternatively, a layout with five double cabins but only three bathrooms can be realised. The forepeak can be converted into a sailing cabin or an additional cabin for a skipper as required. However, the long pantry line in the saloon remains in all variants. Thanks to additional armchairs, up to six people can still sit comfortably at the large saloon table. This can also be lowered. This provides the option of another large double berth for guests in the saloon.
In the basic configuration and with the 80 hp built-in engine from Yanmar installed as standard, the More 55 costs around 460,000 euros including 19 per cent VAT.The boat will be making its German debut in Hall 16, Stand D 19.
Michael Good
Editor Test & Technology
