Test: Linssen Grand Sturdy 45.0 AC - Elegant round steel

When steel boats are rebuilt, often only the deck area is redesigned and the cabins are reorganised and refitted. This was not the case with our test boat, the Linssen Grand Sturdy 45.0 AC, as the shipyard changed the entire underwater hull. Linssen calls the new hull"Softchine Prestressed Hull", SPH for short. This gives the hull a "soft, rounded clamping shape" and, according to the manufacturer, combines the advantages of the buckling and multi-buckling spanker.

These advantages include lower noise levels, less water resistance and consequently more economical fuel consumption.

According to Linssen, the rough water behaviour and in particular the rolling should also improve. For driving stability and excellent directional stabilitythe so-called "Stern Gear" responsible. This includes all components such as drive trains and rudder systems that are under water. Advantages of the innovation: The propellers are optimised in terms of airflow and the rudders havea precisely engineered size and shapewhich contribute to course stability and manoeuvrability.

We are travelling with the test boat on the Grevelingenmeer and on the test day the wind is quite light at first, but later picks up to around 4 Bft.

The fuselage ironing over the cable waves generated by thiswithout tamping without any problemssplash water occurs only slightly. We carried out the measurement runs in the morning when the sea was calm and measured or calculated the following values: We achieved a maximum speed of 9.4 knots with the two Volvo Penta D3-110s. The noise level of 70 dB/A is in a pleasant range.Once again much calmer (about 3 dB/A less) at a fast cruising speed of 7.5 kn at 2250 rpm. At this speed, ranges of around 380 nm plus 15% reserve are possible, which fully meets our requirements for cruising yachts.

Canal cruisers even just reach the 1000-sm limit at 5 kn at around 58 dB/A. Up to cruising speed, the stern wave remains quite low, from 2500 rpm it increases, but does not become as huge as we have seen on other ships. According to Linssen, this is also due to the modified hull shape. The latter also applies to the low lean angle in fast bends.

The boat lies almost flat as a board on the water. Nothing flies off the table when travelling through its own waves, it doesn't even rattle in the lockers. So that you can quickly find the centre again after cornering, simply look at the rudder position indicator for better orientation.

After a short levelling phase, the Grand Sturdy 45.0 AC then heads straight ahead again. In the harbour, on the other hand, manoeuvrability is required: this is taken care of by the oppositely engaged gearbox and the bow thruster (standard) and stern thruster (extra charge).

Both are operated from a well-organised control station. This applies both to the controls and to reading the instruments. To ensure that the view ahead remains unclouded even in rainy weather, the shipyard has installed three double-arm windscreen wipers with (washer system) on the split windscreen.

It almost goes without saying that the window frame can be folded down to reduce the headroom. The front passengers all sit on the U-shaped rear bench. They sit in front of a wooden table, which can be opened for easy access to the rear section (passage to theBathing platform) can be folded down in the centre. Three steps then lead from the open cockpit to the platform.

Here you will find a bathing ladder that can be easily operated from the water and a stern shower with hot and cold water integrated into the side of the boat.

There are two more showers below deck, both of which are separate from the WCs (with hand basins), which makes the morning schedule more relaxed, especially on a fully occupied boat. It is also clear that the owner has his own WC/shower unit. He will find his spacious cabin under the cockpit.

The way there leads from the saloon via a companionway, where I (1.80 metres tall) have to be particularly careful not to bump my head when climbing up. The designer has placed another double berth for VIP guests in the bow. He integrated a kind of youth room with two separate berths on the starboard side.

The beds here are one size simpler than the double bunks, as they do not have a slatted frame.

The Linssen Easy Sleep Convert system in the saloon offers another sleeping option. There is a dinette at the front of the saloon and a fully equipped galley opposite. A good solution: to have a worktop next to the cooker, you simply fold a board from the side of the kitchen unit into the passageway. The spacious and neatly installed engine compartment can also be accessed from the saloon, as it is located at the level of the sofa area under the floor.

You can read the full test in the March issue 2019 from BOOTE.