Yacht Class n°13 (june-july-august 2018)

PERMARE YACHTS

The Italian shipyard Permare has been advocating for some years now for Volvo Penta’s pod drives on units over 25 metres. And it seems successful. In 2017, it chose the Cannes Yachting Festival to launch the Amer 110′ with four IPS 1200. An assembly that deserves some attention on the technical plan, with its performances well above average. 

Written by Alain Brousse – Photos : All rights reserved

There could be no better promoter of Volvo Penta’s pod drives than Permare Yachts. The proof is : the triple motorization of the 94′ (3 x IPS1200, which represent 3 x 900 hp) or even better the four IPS1050 (4 x 800 hp) of the Amer Cento (Cannes 2016). This year, the San Remo based shipyard reiterates with a 110′ it has equipped with four IPS1200 (900 hp each) to offer gratifying performances to this 33 metres, displacing 102 tons. Permare will persevere with its new yacht in development, the Amer 120, that will also be powered by four IPS, but the latest model : the 1 350 developing each 1 000 hp !

A great pleasure at the helm

Permare Yachts has many arguments to convince its clients to adopt the Swedish pods principle. Their assets : they are 25 to 30% more efficient, hence a reduced consumption at equal speed. To compare : the Amer 100 and her four 900hp only burn 400 l/h while a shaft drive yacht consumes 500 l/h at the same speed. This is significant. The IPS is leading the way in terms of output, which makes it easy to understand why they are popular. On many assemblies, their performance curve is not excessively exponential. It even tends to stabilize in the last 500 rpm, when consumption usually soars. Less fuel but also less vibrations and “icing on the cake”, a evocative sound level : 57 dbA in the master at 2 000 rpm, which is perfectly tolerable, even for those who opted for night navigations.
Regarding performance, the Amer 100 immediately scores a point as her 102 tons only required eleven seconds to reach 20 knots from a standing stop ! Yet, she only hits 28 knots at her maximum speed, two knots less than expected by the shipyard. A difference that can be explained by the microalgae and shells that tend to find shelter on the hulls in warm waters, altering their slide. For “miles eaters”, she has at 1 750 rpm, a decent cruising speed of 17,8 knots and a 500 miles range. Finally, piloting the Amer 110 is source of pleasure as she is maneuverable and easy to handle. The sundeck helm station overlooks the sea. Our only request there : a footrest for the captain opting for outdoor piloting. Inside the independent wheelhouse occupying a half-deck, he will enjoy an adjustable seat, with a correct visibility on 180-degree. However, we appreciated the dashboard console, easy to learn and use. Two passengers can take place on his right side, either on some sort of sofa or on a double seat.

A 70m2 sunbridge !

Permare remains loyal to the Italian architect and designer Massimo Verme, who also works with some major shipyards of the peninsula. His style is easily recognized : his lines are dynamic, taut, and very pleasant to admire. The same goes for this 110′ whose exterior design has elicited mainly positive remarks. This is “classical-modern”, elegant from stern to bow. As we climb aboard the Amer to discover her outdoors, we recognize Permare’s emblematic flooring, a cork treated to resist salty water and the crew and passengers’ many steps. Lighter and easier to maintain than teak, it is not, though, as classy, but this is a matter of taste… Sunbathing amateurs can either opt for the sunbed or the sofa on the foredeck or for the sundeck, vast enough (70m2 !) to accommodate aft four deckchairs plus a Jacuzzi, in addition to its lunch area for six located near a portside kitchen furniture. We also think the cockpit, a deck below – with its bar, its comfortable sofa and its adjustable teak table for eight – is as pleasant, maybe even more to enjoy meals, especially as it is protected by the sunbridge. There, each side features a staircase leading to the hydraulic swim platform. The transom is electrically operated and swings up to uncover the garage sheltering a 4.50 m tender, plus in parallel a jet ski.

A plea for the five-cabin layout

The Amer 110′ we tried at the Cannes Yachting Festival had already an owner, thus she came with the “romantic” decoration he or she had opted for. Whether we like it or not, our place is not to judge it but to respect this choice. This goes for all our sea trials, even if we usually observe radically different decorations, rather on the modern side, with trendy materials… So, let’s focus on the ergonomics of the interior layout. First, the main deck volume gathering the saloon and the dining room, in a single space of 35m2. There, half-height lateral windows let the sunlight break through. The addition of dominant light colours (carpets, ceiling and sofas) gives to this place a relaxing atmosphere. The portside corridor features a staircase going below decks, in the main galley, whose adequate equipment should please the furnace master. There we also find, the crew salon, and three single cabins plus two bathrooms/toilets area, including one with a shower accessible via a staircase from the kitchen. Privacy is de rigueur between the crew and the passengers. Let’s head back to the main deck and its starboard foyer. A first door opens onto a free space with a concealed large dressing. We expected an office there, but this one is actually below decks to comply with the owner’s wishes. Another door leads to the full-beam suite, with its en suite bathroom located behind the TV partition facing the king size bed. On the Amer 110, guests are accommodated below decks, in one of the two similarly sized cabins, both en suite and with an independent shower. The shipyard boss hastened to add that the Amer 110 also exists in a five-cabin version which should allow her to join the charter fleet. And, even for a private use, this five-cabin version seems more attractive.
Once again, Permare Yachts ranks among the most innovative shipyards, especially regarding motorization, an area owners are undoubtedly increasingly sensitive to. Less fuel, less noise, fewer vibrations are today amongst the most demanded criteria.