Down under HQ
Hudson Power Cats (HPC) and HH Carbon sail catamarans have joined the line-up at the Catamaran Company, located within The Boat Works in the Coomera marine precinct.
07 December 2017
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Ian Mackenzie, director at the Catamaran Company, said the arrival of the first two Hudson 48s was already attracting attention and causing a flurry of enquiry.
“They really have that ‘wow’ factor,” he says. “Hudson is pushing new boundaries when it comes to design and construction.”
“On the marina, potential buyers marvel at it’s sleek exterior, then once on board, are very impressed with the exceptional quality of its mouldings and fit-out, and the incredible use of space. For a 48-footer, there’s so much room and it has been designed so cleverly that we can confidently say there’s nothing like it on the market.”
Built to Survey, CE Class A, the Hudson 48 would also make the ideal up market charter vessel for Sydney Harbour and Queensland waters. “It’s massive volume and superyacht-standard finish will convert monohull owners, I am sure of that!” says Ian.
Among the array of unique features is the king-size island bed, full width Master stateroom forward that flows off the saloon, all on the same level. “The ladies particularly love it,” says Ian, who premiered this model at the Sydney International Boat Show in August. “Instead of having to descend into the hull, owners can enjoy the same feeling of space and light as they do in the saloon and the vast flybridge.
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Hudson Powercats are designed by highly-awarded UK naval architect, Bill Dixon. Part of the Hudson Yacht Group, for 10 years, the brand has aimed to produce “the world’s best boats for the world’s happiest clients”.
The company began by building International J/80 One-Design sports boats, producing over 100 of them for domestic and international clients and quickly expanded their repertoire to include larger projects such as Pearl 75s, Pearl 50s and Gunboat 60s. Today Hudson offers the full spectrum seafaring vessels, from day racers, to the famous HH Carbon Catamarans, luxury performance sailing yachts currently dominating the multihull segment in the Caribbean.
The state-of-the-art manufacturing facility is in Xiamen, China, with more than 400 employees and using aerospace materials as well as conventional GRP, with multiple large CNC capabilities and the ability to build strong composites and impeccably finished interiors.
As Ian explains: “The focus is on building boats to super high-quality. Paul Hakes oversees every build. Paul headed up Hakes Marine New Zealand and has a solid background in the NZ superyacht industry. He and his team ensure every facet of a boat is finished to world-class standard.”
The Hudson 48, the first of the brand’s boats into Australia, is a semi-displacement multihull motor yacht, powered by twin V8 370hp Yanmar engines as standard. They will deliver 22 knots at top speed and a comfortable 16 cruising.
“We made the trip from Sydney to the Gold Coast in an intense southerly and massive swell cruising initially at 16 knots (spearing down waves at up to 24 knots), then pulled back to 12 and were totally stable and in control,” Ian recounts. “When we pulled in to Port Macquarie, a monohull cruiser owner were alongside us and they were visibly shaken from their experience in the conditions. I can honestly say, we barely felt it! The 48 has been so well designed and engineered.”
At delivery speed of 8 knots, the Hudson 48 uses just 15 litres an hour and has a range of 1300 nautical miles – impressive fuel economy and cruising range for those considering bluewater adventures. Inside, the Hudson 48 is your luxury apartment on the sea.
“It’s the perfect floating holiday home or entertaining platform,” states Ian, now is his twenty seventh year as a boat broker and with more than 30,000 miles of cruising and racing experience.
The flybridge helm is equipped with Ray Marine instrumentation as well as an ice maker, barbecue, large dining area, stereo and a king size sun lounge, space for 15 people, topped off with 360 degree ocean views. The sun lounge on the foredeck is yet another vantage point to enjoy the ambience under way or at anchor.
The spacious saloon accommodates a generous modern galley, dining for eight lucky people, a sofa and a bar. Large windows and triple panel patio doors maximize the views and the same level cabin sole creates the ideal indoor-outdoor flow.
“Owner’s will be able to cruise around Australia in their HPC48,” Ian says. “We are just so thrilled to be able to represent Hudson down under and predict the 48 will be a popular model for charter and for cruising couples seeking the best of everything.” Good news for those of you seeking an even bigger catamaran, there is a HPC 56 in the pipeline.
Ian is a Club Marine Valuer and Customs Valuer and has his finger on the pulse of the international market. “Because of our personal approach and extensive experience, we often sell the same boat repeatedly over the years. It helps to be based in Australia’s greatest boat yard with a fantastic waterfront office here on the Gold Coast, which is the gateway Asia, East Coast and Pacific Rim cruising.”
Testament to this is the Down under Rally choosing The Boat Works twice a year for its fleet of 80 multihulls on the “Go East” and “Go West” legs of their voyages and the plethora of international boat brands who call The Boat Works home.
The Boat Works has 50 covered controlled work areas to ensure boats are protected and work runs to schedule, rain, hail or shine. Equipment includes the 100 Tonne marine Travel Lift that carries boats up to 110-feet with a beam of 26-feet, a 70 Tonne travel lift and a 45 Tonne hydraulic submersible Sealift which is ideal for wide-beam catamarans.
In 2018/19, Ian is anticipating the launch of the HPC 56 and 66, and has already had serious enquiry on a new HH 48 sailing cat, proving the marque has legs in Australia with a reputation and pedigree that precede it.
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