- Different concepts for different users
- More light thanks to a larger glass roof
- Larger galley and practical storage space
- Mahogany as an interior option
- Additional solar panels and roof storage space
- Low headroom for canals and rivers
- Operation by the owner
- Experiences of flybridge owners
- Construction and hull
- Drive and equipment
- Availability and presentation
- Technical data:
The Nimbus 495 Coupé is based on the same platform as the 495 Flybridge, which is already available. While the flybridge version offers an additional steering deck on the roof, the coupé version does not. Instead, it utilises the space gained for more light in the saloon and additional functions in the interior. The shipyard presented the model digitally at Boot Düsseldorf 2026.
Different concepts for different users
According to Jonas Göthberg, Commercial Director at Nimbus Sweden, the two versions appeal to different groups of buyers. Coupé owners would not buy a flybridge even if there was no enclosed alternative. They prefer sheltered spaces and measure their trips in weeks rather than weekends. The flybridge stands for more maintenance and a different way of using the boat.
More light thanks to a larger glass roof
Without the flybridge structure, the 495 Coupé offers a significantly larger glass roof above the saloon. This allows more natural light to enter the interior. For southern regions or North America, Nimbus has developed an electric awning. It extends over the glass roof at the touch of a button and provides shade, while the windows can remain open for ventilation. The combination of plenty of light and sun protection is new for the shipyard.
Larger galley and practical storage space
On the flybridge version, a staircase on the port side leads to the upper deck. This space is available for the galley on the coupé. As a result, the work surface is larger and two people can work at the same time. The Coupé also has a locker on the aft deck for wet clothes and sailing boots. This creates a separate storage space for equipment where the stairs begin on the flybridge.
Mahogany as an interior option
In addition to the standard equipment, Nimbus offers a mahogany version for the 495 Coupé. Together with an oak floor and matching upholstery, this creates a warmer atmosphere. The shipyard thus picks up on the classic look of earlier coupé models.
Additional solar panels and roof storage space
The free roof allows the installation of additional solar panels. They are not sufficient to permanently operate energy-intensive systems such as air conditioning, but extend the time without a generator when anchoring. The recessed area around the folding mast offers space for life rafts, stand-up paddleboards or inflatable boats.
Low headroom for canals and rivers
With the mast folded down, the 495 Coupé achieves a clearance height of less than 3.5 metres. This allows it to pass through European canal systems, rivers and locks. In North America, this height enables the Great Loop, a round trip through the eastern states via inland waterways. A shortened bathing platform reduces the overall length to less than 14 metres, which is relevant in many ports and for approvals.
Operation by the owner
Joacim Gustavsson, head designer at Nimbus, emphasises the design for owners without a crew. Lines of sight, the position of the side door and the steering systems support single-handed operation. The joystick system, the docking aid and the Dynamic Positioning System (automatic positioning by GPS and motors) enable precise manoeuvring. The wide starboard side deck and high railing facilitate movement on board.
Experiences of flybridge owners
The first owners of the 495 Flybridge report easy handling. One buyer, who moved up from a nine-metre boat, initially had an instructor show him the ropes. After a few months, he was confidently in control of the boat. The systems reduce stress when manoeuvring. Owners appreciate the spatial connection between the helm station, galley and saloon thanks to the curved stern glass and the wide side door. Three quarters of previous buyers are families with children.
Construction and hull
The 495 Coupé uses the same hull as the flybridge version. It is made of vacuum-infused laminate with a Divinycell core, which results in a favourable strength-to-weight ratio. Four structural bulkheads, also vacuum laminated with core material, stiffen the hull. The design is intended to prevent twisting and reduce noise in moving seas. The displacement weight is around 19,000 kilograms.
Drive and equipment
Two Volvo Penta IPS650 with 240 hp each (480 hp in total from two D6 engines) power the 495 Coupé. The IPS system (Inboard Performance System) combines diesel engines with swivelling drive pods under the hull. The fuel tanks hold 1,700 litres, the fresh water tank 520 litres and the waste water tank 170 litres. The boat offers three cabins: an owner's cabin aft, a VIP cabin in the bow and a guest or multi-purpose cabin to starboard. The CE category B permits sailing in winds up to force 8 and wave heights of up to four metres.
Availability and presentation
Nimbus will be showing a 495 Flybridge on the stand at Boot Düsseldorf 2026. The design team will be available to discuss the coupé version. Customer deliveries will start in 2027. Specifications and configurations are available from Nimbus dealers or on the nimbusboats.com website.
Technical data:
- CE category: B
- Length over everything: 14.9 metres
- Length with short platform: under 14 metres
- Torso length: 13.7 metres
- Width: 4.60 metres
- Depth: 1.20 metres
- Clearance height (mast folded in): under 3.5 metres
- Displacement: approx. 19,000 kilograms
- Fuel: 1,700 litres
- Fresh water: 520 litres
- Holding tank: 170 litres
- Cabins: 3 (owner aft, VIP forward, guest/multi-purpose starboard)
- Drive: 2 x Volvo Penta IPS650 (D6, 480 hp in total)
More information about the shipyard Here!
Jan-Ole Puls
Editor Test & Technology
Ole Puls was born in Schleswig in 1999. He quickly swapped the football pitch for the Schlei and grew up sailing a wide variety of dinghies and tall ships. From his grandfather's self-built wooden opti and a Europe to a 49er and an X362 Sport, there was a lot to choose from. After leaving school, Puls decided to train as a boat builder at the high-tech shipyard Knierim Yachtbau in Kiel in 2016. He successfully completed his training in 2020 and stayed at the shipyard as a bachelor. In 2022, he decided not only to build boats, but also to test them. Since then, he has been working for Delius Klasing Verlag in the Test & Technology section of BOOTE magazine. The training he received and the eye for detail and quality of workmanship he acquired help him immensely today. Even though he is a regatta sailor with heart and soul, he feels right at home on motorboats and enjoys separating his professional and private lives and yet combining them. Because we all know one thing: there is simply no better place to be than on the water.
