New Calixas 105 Yacht!

The Calixas review is live...

http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/calixas-yachts/6820-review-calixas-105-expedition-yacht.html

Enjoy!

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.

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?

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 )

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...

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.

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

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.

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...

Thanks for the kudos all! Lots of work goes into these reviews. It's nice when they are appreciated.

Some bridge pics were previously requested. Here's what I have...

Great! thanks for the bridge pictures... Any details on the equipment? didn't find much on their website...

Limited details were supplied on the nav systems. With any of our reviews, I rarely focus on this equipment because it is often subject to updates & changes.

Carl,
Nice job on the review. As I did tour the yacht at the show, I can vouch for all that was said and then some. Thanks for the credit on some of the photos. Let me know if it's okay to post one or two more (like of the shower head in the stern).

Calixtas vs Nordhavn

Thanks Carl for your superb picture shot of the Calixtas. I have been wondering for years where the development of the trawler/fulldisplacement yacht would develop to. Alas, you have not answered the question. We really need to see a sea trial (and more than just 90 minutes in sheltered waters) to find out how this supertrawler really handles the off shore waters she is promoting herself as built for.

The obvious contrast is Nordhavn who had so much confidence in their ocean crossing capability that they circumnavigated in a 40' production yacht and then took responsibility for shepherding a Trans Atlanic crossing of a gaggle of their boats (+ a few drop ins) ranging from 44 to 62 feet.

The point is, Nordhavn successfully did the circumnavigation and have incorporated their knowledge
into boats as large as 86'. Althouth superbly equipped Calixtas (at least in the terms of your story) does not reveal it's offshore (let alone ocean going) capabilty.

So, is it a genuine trans-oceanic yacht? And is a Calixtas better value than a Nordhavn 86? Is it capable of reaching Cape York where no less than two Nordhavns (both less than 57 are currently exploring. Hard questions, but ones we'd like to see you confront in this space. So, please, when you post a review of an "Expedition Yacht", please show us some evidence of what an expedition yacht is.
Nordhavn have competitors but on the strength of the evidence selected Calixtas is saying "I am bigger so I must be better" I have to say that I hoped that philosophy went down with the Titanic.

Cheers

DaveA

Dave,

these are valid points, but in all honesty, this is a brand new boat... It isnt fair to say that a review must state whether it has gone around the world in order to make it valid... the review is extremely valid in what it covers. In time we will be able to see for ourselves what its capabilities are (assuming it's owners use it for all its intended).

Nordhavn didn't get a full "around the globe" review 1 month after its initial delivery, now did it?

about the bridge: does anyone know what software that is? I'm researching computer naviagation systems for yachts (to refit or to put into my next boat) and the only one I see that really seems to have it all somewhat integrated is nobeltec... (all others dont have radar, for example)...

This looks nice, although the bridge is amazing, it would probably look great with anything you put on it...

EDIT: and about not having a pilot seat or leaning bar, do you guys think that just hasnt been installed or is there some other explanation? I'd assume that it will be very difficult to stay standing up in bad seas without anything to lean on?

Roy,
There are actually two seats for the helm. Scroll back up and look at the second picture, you can see the seat on the left side. I went back and checked my photos and there are two seats, just don't remember if they are mounted or movable.

Dave A:

Some assumptions that make the case for the Calixas 105 to indeed be a capable Expedition vessel--

Naval architecture (Greg Marshall) has a serious pedigree.

Assume that wave tank testing (Greg does this in Vancouver) took place prior to the build.

The bulbous bow should reduce pitching to a dull roar.

Perhaps Lars can back me up on this, but there aren't too many designs--anybody's-- that hit the water and blow their mission.

IMHO, as usual.