Jeanneau's boat range is versatile and modern, so it is not surprising that the new DB series follows a current trend. This means boats that offer a high level of comfort for day trips, but also provide the option to stay overnight. Our Jeanneau test boat, the DB/43, will not be the only model, others are already in the pipeline. However, the name DB is not new to the shipyard; it already existed in the 1980s. Back then, the model was called DB 33 and was a boat with classic powerboat lines.
About the new DB/43: Its official launch was supposed to take place at boot 2022 in Düsseldorf. As this was cancelled due to the coronavirus, the boat was presented to the trade press and dealers at the test days in Cannes at the end of March. Here we drove the inboard version, an outboard version with three engines is also available.
According to the shipyard, the new Jeanneau DB/43 "represents a unique statement in the premium dayboat segment. It combines an exclusive style with meticulous workmanship and unrivalled spaciousness. The DB/43 remains true to Jeanneau's values of high comfort and good handling and offers unique solutions to maximise fun on board."
The boat
- Shipyard: Jeanneau/F
- Type: DB/43
- CE category: B/10 persons
- Overall length: 13.03 m
- Width: 3.82 m
- Weight: 10,038 kg
- Berths: 5
- Engine: 2x Volvo Penta D6-380 with 280 kW (380 hp) each
- Max. motorisation: 2x 380 hp
- Price: from € 653,191
- Dealer proof: www.jeanneau.com
We enter the boat via the bathing platform and can already sense that outdoor living plays a special role here, as the aft side walls can be folded down, greatly expanding the bathing area and freedom of movement. Jeanneau offers a long, wide ladder to hang on to so that the bathing pleasure can be enjoyed with ease; there is also an emergency step on the bathing platform. Further comfort in the cockpit is also a top priority on the DB/43. The seating is particularly versatile: Aft, it can be converted into a sun lounger, and in the converted version it serves as a bench seat for the huge seating area with a large table. The bench at the front can in turn be pushed backwards. This allows the carpool to gather around the galley, for example, which is ideal for preparing seafood and other delicacies. A hardtop, which is equipped with a sunroof, sits enthroned above everything. In bad weather, the area can be closed off with side panels to create a sheltered space. Another open-air platform can be found in the bow, where the designer has accommodated a convertible sun lounger. A seat cushion is also available for the area directly in the bow, and the "social area" is complete.
Below deck, in the entrance area, the buyer has the choice of having two heads or, as on our test boat, one head and a pantry block (on the port side), which Jeanneau calls "Breakfast Point". In the bow, the shipyard accommodates a cabin with double berths and a modern, bright interior. The latter also applies to the underfloor cabin, which offers its guests a double bed and a sofa on which another person can sleep.
But now back to the cockpit at the control station. It impresses with its ergonomics and dual monitors, which not only show the position but also the operating status of the two engines. The shipyard has installed two D6-380 Volvo Penta diesels with Z-drives here. The two engines are controlled not only by the normal electronic shifting and steering, but also by a joystick system that makes mooring and casting off easy, together with a bow thruster. We had the opportunity to drive the boat on a rather rough sea day. Here the new Jeanneau showed that it can cope well with the choppy seas of the Mediterranean. The boat is trimmed using the power trim system (Z-drives) and trim tabs. The DB/43 accelerates easily at planing speed, which starts at around 17 knots. For cruising speed, the two diesels are turned at 3000 rpm. The hull then travels safely and smoothly through the water at a good 23 knots. Based on the shipyard's measurements, the range in this situation (800 litre tank capacity) is 153 nautical miles plus 15 percent reserve. At full throttle at 33.1 knots, the Jeanneau still has a range of around 139 nautical miles. If you turn the rudder fully at this speed, the hull also makes its rounds smoothly and safely. The boat shows the same "composure" on the slalom course and when the steering is turned.
Need more information? You can find the article on the Jeanneau DB/43 with more pictures in BOOTE issue 06/2022 - available from newsagents from 18 May 2022 or online directly in the Delius Klasing Shop.
