Boring or stylish? With her straight stem and clean lines, this is certainly a topic for a long evening in the harbour. The fact is, it's modern. Manufacturers such as Fjord and Axopar are focussing on this style and Evo Yachts is doing the same. With its angular, black aluminium roof and high-gloss painted grey exterior, the yacht is reminiscent of a cross between a sports car and a state-of-the-art marine cruiser.
The materials in the interior also emphasise the sports car appearance. Alcantara almost everywhere. Whether as panelling for the bulkheads or as ceiling panels. The microfibre fabric made from ultra-fine polyester fibres can be found everywhere. But more about the interior later.
In addition to the crew cabin hatch and the anchor locker, the foredeck offers two sunbeds with plenty of space for sunbathing. The crew area for one person does not have as much luxury as the rest of the boat. There is only a transverse bed here. The inviting and well-equipped aft area is far more spacious. It is also equipped with a sun lounger that can be converted into a table and a large bar with fridge, ice machine and generous sink. There are also fold-out bulwarks, which provide more space in the stern area. The large bathing platform can be lowered hydraulically, making it easier to launch and retrieve a dinghy or jet ski.
The inside of the Evo R+
During the journey, however, you will mostly spend time in the saloon. There are three main visual highlights here. Firstly, the 360-degree all-round view, the carbon fibre steps and the striking Alcantra ceiling panelling with indirect lighting. The latter gives the saloon a special atmosphere and almost looks like a work of art, especially with the indirect LED lighting. The driving position is equipped with a large plotter on which all engine data and position data can be called up. The windscreen wipers, horn and other functions are controlled via buttons. The leather-wrapped steering wheel feels good and is easy to reach both when standing and sitting. A joystick system is also on board. According to the shipyard, emphasis was generally placed on warm fabrics such as Alcantara. The colour palette is based on a mixture of four colours and materials: white, black, teak and carbon.
Carbon fibre was chosen to emphasise the sporty character of the interior. Forged carbon was used instead of normal visible carbon fibre. Forged carbon uses shredded carbon fibres mixed with resin as a base. This mixture can be moulded into almost any shape. As the carbon fibres are not woven, there is no clear pattern and each Forged Carbon product is unique.
The exterior and interior design was again created by Valerio Rivellini, a long-time employee. The saloon also houses the first of two small pantries. It contains a sink, hob and refrigerator as well as plenty of storage space for food and crockery.
It gets brighter one floor below
The walls are covered with white microfibre fabric and the floor is covered with teak veneer or light-coloured carpet. The three-step carbon fibre staircase leads to the second, larger pantry. The wine refrigerator and a seating area are located here. The large owner's cabin is located in the foredeck and is equipped with a double bed and ample storage space. There are also windows for natural light. Opposite in the stern, the space is divided into a port and a starboard cabin. These are almost identical. There is room for two people to sleep and relax in each cabin. There is plenty of storage space for a weekend trip.
Of course, the Evo also has two toilets. The first was planned by designer Rivellini on the port side between the aft cabin and the seating area. It is large enough and has plenty of mirrors. Everyone has to decide for themselves whether they like this. In any case, it makes the space seem larger. A shower is integrated. The second toilet is in the owner's cabin. The shower and toilet are separate here. The shower is on the port side and the toilet on the starboard side. The Mercuri brothers' shipyard has always designed boats with flexible layouts to fulfil the wishes of even the most demanding owners. On the Evo R+, for example, it is possible to opt for a single galley on the main deck, which is larger than the model on display in Cannes and whose dining area has been moved to the lower deck.
The drive is anything but standard
The R+ is powered by two Volvo Penta IPS 950s (1450 hp in total), which should enable a top speed of around 33 knots and a cruising speed of 27 knots. We did not reach 33 knots during our short test drive during the Cannes Yacht Show 2023. The waves were a little too high for that and the boat was equipped with too many decorative items. It's understandable that you can't make the boat completely "BOOTE test drive-ready" at a trade fair. Nevertheless, given the short time available, we were able to get a first impression of the boat's handling characteristics at normal speed. The R+ negotiates bends with ease and without much lean. She sits well on the rudder and obediently follows the skipper's rudder commands. At full throttle and when jumping over the waves, the interior becomes a little louder. You can hear everything moving a little and rubbing against each other. The shipyard wants to change this in the next ships and promises to improve the situation.
In summary, we can say that with a length of almost 18 metres and a width of 5.31 metres, the boat is aimed at owners who want to enjoy weekend cruises and have an extravagant boat to call their own. You will probably stand out in any harbour. The style of the boat is sporty and reduced to the essentials. Nevertheless, the level of comfort is high. We see the perfect sailing area for the Evo R+ in the warm south and the Mediterranean.
Conclusion on the Evo R+
The Evo R+ is a modern boat from the pen of Valerio Rivellini. The build quality is good for construction number one. We were particularly impressed by the interior. We couldn't find anything negative about the handling characteristics. A successful boat all round.
Technical data
- Length over everything:17,71 m
- Width: 5,31 m
- Depth:1,30 m
- Fuel tank:2100 l
- Water tank: 510 l
- Hull and deck:GRP
- Category:A-B
- Max. persons: 12-16
- Max. motorisation:IPS 800 - IPS 950
- Max. speed: 33 Nodes
- Range:280 nm
- Designer:Valerio Rivellin
