Is this a novelty? Can a boat that has been in production for so long even celebrate its premiere? Strictly speaking, probably not. After all, little has changed in the Comfortina 35, the entry-level model of the renowned brand. Most of all in the production. Instead of Arvika, the dark blue trade fair boat with the immaculately beautiful teak deck now comes from Freienohl in Sauerland, where Dehler had its production facilities until a year ago. A Swede made in Germany.
The third boat to be exhibited at the Hanseboot is one that was built entirely by SQ-Yachts. And if you have a soft spot for the finest wood and GRP work, for elegant lines and pragmatic solutions, you simply have to visit what is perhaps the most timeless yacht in Hall B6.
"I was pretty nervous," Comfort Yachts managing director Nils Töbke told YACHT online yesterday. This is the first Hanseboot appearance for the German-built Comfortina 35, and many Comfortina owners had turned up, most of them probably not so much to buy, but to see whether the new boat met their expectations. After the first weekend, the boss was relaxed: "Not one visitor had anything to criticise. They were all satisfied."
Anything else would have been a surprise.
The Comfortina 35 appears to be absolutely flawless, even on thorough inspection. If anything, the level of workmanship has even increased. The hull and deck, for example, are sleeker and smoother than on almost any other boat. The teak interior impresses with its harmonious grain pattern and perfect fit.
And then there are the details: real wood-veneered floorboards, which are also neatly varnished from below and at the edges, the extremely careful electrical installation, with tinned strands as standard. Even in the luxury class, this is rarely found.
Anyone who knows the Comfortina 35 and looks closely will also notice the modifications that have been incorporated. The teak deck is now completely glued under vacuum, which saves the need for re-grafting after the first or second sanding due to the lack of screws.
The shipyard can now accommodate a variety of woods and colour preferences for the interior. Those who prefer a light colour can order bulkheads or bulkheads painted white - like the first 35 built by SQ-Yachts. Those who value cosiness can order them completely in wood, like the build number 2.
In the opinion of many, however, the most successful version is the construction number 3 presented at the Hanseboot, where some white accents contrast beautifully with the otherwise predominantly teak interior. Also new are the rounded mouldings at the top of the cabinets and a very chic and functional saloon table with a moulded base, which gives the boat a classic, modern look.
Otherwise: the same layout as ever, the same good berth dimensions, the same functional galley, the same large chart table as it has been for 20 years. Isn't that a bit lacking in innovation, some might ask? Perhaps it is. But why change something that still fulfils all the important requirements for a cruising boat of just under eleven metres in length?
What has remained, and many will regret this, is the price. The Comfortina 35 costs around 210,000 euros ex shipyard - around twice the price of a large series yacht of the same length, which also offers more headroom and volume. But in return, you get a level of quality and elegance that is hard to find anywhere else. Incidentally, six years ago the Comfortina won a YACHT comparison test in the middle class. So, despite her maturity, she is by no means yesterday's news.
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Jochen Rieker
Herausgeber YACHT
