Boarncruiser 42 Retro Line AC
Even at first glance, you can see that the name "Retro Line" on our test boat says it all. Its lines are reminiscent of the original steel displacement boats and give the boat a traditional yet high-quality look. At second glance, the technology freak on our test boat will recognise
and the self-aligning SAT antenna on the equipment bracket, which indicates that the boat is equipped with high-end equipment. However, both are on the accessories list.
Anyone entering the Boarncruiser below deck is in for a surprise. This is because the galley is not located on one side, as is usually the case, but right amidships. There is a 4-ring hob, fridge-freezer combination (130 litres), microwave-oven combination, extractor bonnet and plenty of storage space. The covered hob and sink create a nice work surface, and there is another surface at the back of the smutjes on the partition wall to the seating area.
The path leads past the galley into the aft cabin, which is reserved for the owner. Here you will find a double berth with slatted frames for first-class ventilation, a flat-screen TV, good stowage and ventilation options and access to a private wet room.
as well as access to a separate wet room. Air exchange is ensured via a porthole and ventilator in the shower area. The latter is separated from the toilet and washbasin by a transparent shower wall. The forward cabin also has its own wet room, but this is smaller and has no shower partition. There is an exemplary slatted frame under the berth and, as in the aft cabin, a television provides entertainment. A practical feature is a step in front of the berth, which makes it easier to "board the bed".
In addition to the galley arrangement, there is another special feature in the saloon: the seating unit, including the table, can be raised and lowered so that you can look through the low windows while seated. Wies Hokwerda, Managing Director of De Boarnstream (see also Steel Yachts Special from page 51), answers the question as to why the windows are not simply positioned lower: "That would spoil the exterior line." - To protect against prying eyes from outside, the test boat is fitted with blinds that can be raised and lowered by remote control. This also applies to the television, which is hidden in the side wall.
A staircase with handrail provides safe and comfortable access from the saloon to the cockpit. From the bathing platform, with stern shower and long ladder, which is sufficiently easy to handle from the water, two steps lead to the cockpit. If you want to go to the foredeck from there, you can do so via the wide side decks, where there is a sturdy railing with a door for side entry. A comfortable bow seat on the foredeck invites you to linger, and sun-seekers can fulfil their wish for a cushion for the cabin roof for an extra charge. Back to the cockpit: a well-upholstered 3-seater bench with a height-adjustable table dominates here.
On the starboard side is the driving position, which - as is also the case for the entire front - is protected from the wind by light grey tinted windows in a solid frame. In rain and damp weather, three windscreen wipers and defroster nozzles ensure a clear view forwards. To protect against bad weather from above, De Boarnstream provides a convertible top with large foil windows and the engine instruments are positioned horizontally in the driver's platform, which makes it difficult for seated drivers to read them. Standing drivers not only have a good view of the engine instruments, but also have a good grip on the rocker switches behind the steering wheel.
The shipyard installs LOG, plumb line and compass as standard navigation instruments. Both are just as easy to read as the Raymarine chart plotter, which is available at extra cost, and are steered using a "ship-like steering wheel" with a wooden rim, which, like the electronic gearstick, is easy to reach in all driving positions. The single-lever gearstick is child's play to operate and the engine speed can be precisely controlled. The engine is a Perkins-Sambre diesel with a rated output of 209 hp. At 1000 rpm, it allows our test boat to run at almost 3.5 knots, and the range is over 1000 nm.
At cruising speed, a good 7 knots, the diesel consumes around 3.2 l/sm, which with the 800-litre tank gives a range of more than 210 nm plus 15% reserve. Full-throttle pilots can reach over 9 knots, but the engine then turns at least 300 rpm more (a good 2800 rpm instead of 2500 rpm) than the engine manufacturer allows. The propeller still needs to be significantly modified here. Noise level: Despite the increased speed, the value of 74 dB/A at the control stand remains well below the 85 dB/A limit.
If you turn a tight corner at high speed, you will not be unpleasantly surprised. As is usual with steel displacement boats, the hull lies on the outside of the bend and swings smoothly into its own wave. The steering always remains smooth, which is guaranteed by the "Power Steering" system purchased by the owner of our test boat. However, the pressure point of the rudder is hardly noticeable - this requires sensitivity and skill when levelling and correcting the course, especially when you have to find the new straight course from a bend. In the harbour, tight turning circles forwards and, above all, the installed bow and stern thrusters ensure good manoeuvrability, and the hull runs smoothly over the entire speed range in the choppy waters of our test area, the Sneekermeer, at around four wind forces.
The engine compartment flap is child's play to open at the touch of a button. The front area of the engine is easy to access for servicing; to get to the rear corners, the fitter has to make himself small, especially on the starboard side, and the De Boarnstream technicians fastened all cables clearly and securely in clamps and cable ducts. The power supply is provided by a starter battery (130 Ah) and three maintenance-free on-board batteries (totalling 390 Ah) as well as an inverter/charger combination (12 V/230 V) from Mastervolt. The multiple number of fuel filters, fuel filters that can be switched off remotely, a fire extinguishing system in the engine compartment and two hand-held fire extinguishers provide a high level of safety. However, the hand pump is missing from the bilge pump. On deck, solid handles, railings and non-slip floor structures ensure safe movement.
To moor the boat, De Boarnstream provides six sturdy cleats. The shipyard welds these just as well as the entire hull and deck. An unsightly silicone seam on the glass cabinet in the galley as well as a sluggish saloon hatch and equally sluggish cabinet closures are flaws in the details; the rest of the furniture finish makes a neat impression with smooth surfaces, straight gaps and rounded edges. The shipyard uses a stainless steel rubbing strake, which looks more elegant than a Wieling, but is harder to hit than its "softer and more bulging sister".
Fenders are conveniently attached to the railing that runs around the entire boat. To prevent the anchor from scratching the hull, a special ring fender sits between the reinforced side wall and the anchor. The shipyard supplies the latter as standard, as well as the remote-controlled electric anchor winch, 30 metres of 8 mm anchor chain, underfloor heating, hot water and navigation lighting approved in Germany. Conclusion: The Boarncruiser 42 Retro Line Aft Cabin is a classically styled steel displacement yacht that can comfortably accommodate four people.
Data sheet: Borancruiser 42 Retro Line
Shipyard: De Boarnstream International Marine Group
Type designation: Borancruiser 42 Retro Line
CE category: B - Outside coastal waters
Length: 12,85 m
Width: 4,30 m
Displacement: 19,50 t
Price: 567.280,00 €
