The de Groot family business in Grou in the Netherlands has been building steel boats for 40 years. The boats bear the name of the "Pikmeer", a body of water bordering Grou. De Groot builds fifteen different models, from the hull to the interior, entirely at the shipyard and, according to its own statement, does not use subcontractors at all. This favours the implementation of customer wishes to a high degree and guarantees the best quality, which we were able to see for ourselves during a tour of the shipyard and a look behind the scenes.
Each boat has its own tree trunk, from which the carpenters cut all the wood for the furniture. This ensures harmony and well-being in the boat, as not a single visual break disturbs the eye. The wiring harnesses are manufactured in-house and the boats are given a final polish in the company's own paint shop. The on-board operating manual for the boat can also be described as exemplary - with pictures, arrows and corresponding descriptions down to the last detail.
Pikmeerkruisers are available with an aft cabin, flybridge and open cockpit, which is what the OC stands for on our test boat. We are sailing a 48 OC Premier with exclusive equipment. You can't see it at first glance, but the 48 OC has two large cabins, a visible one in the bow sector and an "invisible" one under the cockpit bench seat. The bed at the front is queen-size, while there is a double and a single berth at the rear. The fact that all mattresses are ventilated and fitted with slatted frames is commendable. While the headroom in the entire boat is more than good, it is limited in the rear cabin - but not so much that you feel uncomfortable. The feel-good factor is certainly not neglected. The toilet and shower are located in two separate rooms behind the bow cabin, and a well-equipped galley on the same floor on the port side offers everything for the cabin crew.
The full driving report can be found in BOOTE 3/12.
Data sheet: Pikmeerkruiser 48
Shipyard: Yachtyard de Groot
Type designation: Pikmeerkruiser 48
CE category: B - Outside coastal waters
Material of hull and deck: Steel
Length: 14,30 m
Width: 4,45 m
Displacement: 5,00 t
Price: 411.486,00 €
