New Calixas 105 Yacht!

Loren Schweizer · 04-02-2007, 03:00 PM

Hi blazeboss:

It has been my experience over the years that the conservative group of people who buy trawlers/expedition vessels/long-range yachts are especially cognizant of hull design and hull materials and have a tendency to choose steel or solid fiberglass over a cored hull.
Their argument for this stems from their fear of-- and this is just one example of many that I've heard--whacking a semisubmerged shipping container while far from land and ending up with a Problem.

I make no claims as to whether or not a modern cored hull is less strong or resistant to sudden impacts. I can say with some authority, however, that changing people's preconceived notions, in the yacht business anyway, can be a tad difficult.

blazeboss · 04-02-2007, 07:41 PM

thanks Loren, now I get it.the percieved saftey of steel is more important to some buyers than the improved fuel figures.I wonder how far some one with that much fear ever really getts from land?

HKT Horizon · 04-02-2007, 10:42 PM

Calixas was built in Taiwan by Horizon as an OEM project. The hull at 105 feet was the first world record holder for the largest single piece SCRIMP hull. But that has now been broken again by Horizon themselves at 130 feet which they have now built 4.

Don't quote me on this but I'm pretty sure the hull below the waterline is solid fiberglass and cored above waterline. At least that's how Horizon's normal range of yachts are built.

Personally I think the Calixas is one of the best looking exploration style yachts around. I just love the lines.

RoyN · 04-03-2007, 09:55 PM

I agree about the looks... it looks very nice, inside and out... like I said above, slightly too tall imho... nonetheless, it is a very nice balance of looks/space. I'm slightly fearful for looking at it in person though... Those who have seen the MCP yachts (made in Brazil but marketed worldwide), they are around the same size (85 - 120 i think) and the 100ft (I think its 95) is too tall for its size. It looks nice in fotos, but in person it goes too tall for its length. I wonder how it behaves at anchor...

goplay · 04-04-2007, 03:14 PM

Based on their website, the hull is cored.

YachtForum · 04-29-2007, 07:12 AM

The Calixas review is live...

http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/ca...ion-yacht.html

Enjoy!

YachtNews · 04-29-2007, 10:34 AM

Now that is a review Carl, complete with extras and miscellaneous pics. Thanks for the time on this. You can see it showing through. I admire your work.

sailandfish · 04-29-2007, 11:02 AM

Awsome review!

Noticed the deck winch seemed to be offset at an odd angle. Also I never knew it was a good thing to be a little boat that is taller than the big boats, sure would be interesting to see the stability data for this boat, and the many other vertically built boats. Love the work on the garage hinge! and the engineroom space seems great. Its always great to stick the owner and guests in the bow, better than having crew shoved up there, let them enjoy the ride if they ever come along.

RoyN · 04-29-2007, 11:33 AM

The pictures are very nice. Do you have more of the Bridge? It looks very impressive... Do you have info on what the navigation and general bridge systems is? (Software/Hardware?) The screens look beautiful, and they seem to be hinged somehow so as to not be fixed in the way of sight-line?

brunick · 04-29-2007, 02:09 PM

its just a question, but i just read through the review - very nice work - and saw some picture of the ceiling. on their page i found some pictures from the building process. but now i'm a little confused: is the whole yacht build out of wood?
its very confusing because a yacht build out of wood and build as an explorer yacht isn't that normal in my eyes...
(for example: hitting rocks rocks like german minesweeper

)

RoyN · 04-29-2007, 02:40 PM

Hey Jannick...

Not at all... What there is a bit of controversy is about what parts of the boat use Balsa Core (at least this is what I remember was being put into question when the thread started)... The boat isnt built out of wood, in fact, its built using one of the latest/considered-best techniques of fiberglass (resin-infusion/scrimp. it is supposed to make the fiberglass more resistant and lighter because it fully impregnates the fiberglass with resin by infusion, as opposed to just being manually laid on with brushes).

That being said, there is a question as to whether the entire hull is cored or only the superstructure... as I understand it, cored would make it lighter but maybe not as strong? I'm not sure... there seems to be slight skepticism brought over by another user about cored hulls not being well taken by the explorer/trawler community... I'm not sure either way...

techmati · 04-29-2007, 03:35 PM

hmm she doesnt look too tall. looks very nice well finished and very functional indeed. nice interiors although i hate the bathroom tiles....aww yeah i wanna drive her from so high up. nice spacious engine room but whats that 2x474hp straight sixes? how odd. fraid thats the way things are going with fuel prices like they are though.

brunick · 04-29-2007, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyN

Hey Jannick...

Not at all... What there is a bit of controversy is about what parts of the boat use Balsa Core (at least this is what I remember was being put into question when the thread started)... The boat isnt built out of wood, in fact, its built using one of the latest/considered-best techniques of fiberglass (resin-infusion/scrimp. it is supposed to make the fiberglass more resistant and lighter because it fully impregnates the fiberglass with resin by infusion, as opposed to just being manually laid on with brushes).

thanks for the answer

so are there some builders that're building yachts out of steel? or are the most yachts build of fiberglass?

RoyN · 04-29-2007, 04:51 PM

Yes Jannick, fiberglass, steel, and aluminum I think are the most common... Then there is wood (which isn't really so popular now a days from what I see), and more modern composite materials (carbon fiber, and a whole host of other varieties that I know nothing about)...

All three of the major materials can be used on trans-atlantic cruisers, although fiberglass is practical only to certain lengths (at some point the weight and difficulty in molding makes it impractical).

Steel and aluminum are generally used in bigger builds, and also in some smaller trawlers/expedition styles. I'm note wholly versed in the pros/cons of each, but I have heard from one builder of aluminum boats that Steel hulls last less in the water due to corrosion and are heavier... I heard from another builder that aluminum can be very much affected by corrosion, and that its lightweight can make for unstable vessels... difficult to see the balance between the obviously biased opinions.

Another popular flavor is Steel hull + Alum superstrct...

And finally, like the Calixas, fiberglass can be a good material up to certain lengths (afaik this isnt cast in stone, but is more the opinion of several builders...) I'm interested in hearing the details of the calixas hull, whether it is cored or only the structure, and if so what the benefits are.

On another issue, if someone can answer about the wheelhouse equipt on calixas I'm still very much interested... I think i'm gonna get a nobeltec system up for testing, but wanted to see what other systems are in use.

Loren Schweizer · 04-30-2007, 08:59 AM

Way to go, Carl and Chuck!

Very complete review of a well-thought out boat. This guy Twining is a yachtsman's yachtsman.

I was pleased to see that my earlier assumption regarding a cored hull was wrong; she is a solid FRP hull. Good.

I was pressed for time at the Palm Beach Show and so did not get aboard. This review underscores my need to re-prioritize (!).

Next time...