It's often said that yachts are getting more and more alike, and there was certainly evidence of that at the recent Collins Stewart London Boat Show, but one that looked completely different was the Imexus 28 inboard, exhibited by Hamble-based Wittey Marine.
The new boat is an ultra-modern take on the traditional motor-sailor concept, claiming to combine excellent performance under sail with powerboat performance when the engine takes over.
Similar in concept to the Imexus outboard yachts, the Imexus inboard has a 120hp Cummins diesel engine for the transition from sailing yacht to powerboat.
“Gone are the days of struggling back to port against the tide with inadequate power. The Imexus has all the power and hull design needed to sit back and enjoy the ride at a blistering 27 mph,” says the company.
It claims the yacht is “a joy to sail offering all the advantages of a traditional 28 foot sailing cruiser - economy, peaceful passage making and comfortable interior design and layout - while no compromise is made when the sails come down and speed and manoeuvrability are needed.
“The hull design, coupled with an advanced water ballast system, allows the boat to move beyond the 5/6 knot hull speed of standard yachts of this size and reach the plane. During this process the water ballast is ejected, making the boat lighter and faster.”
But is there really a market for a hybrid sail/power boat of this type? Do people who want to motor at “blistering” speeds also want to sail slowly and quietly - or vice versa?
Is the Imexus a bold attempt to bridge the gap between the “rag and stick” and “stinkpot” classes - or simply neither fish nor flesh?
Perhaps it's aimed at introducing new people to the water. One of the advantages of the Imexus range is that the boats can be trailer sailed, loaded and launched from a convenient slipway without the expense of a permanent mooring. A simple mast lift and lower system means the boat can be transported from home to any favourite sailing water with ease, says the company.
Alongside the new inboard diesel version, Wittey Marine also showed the Imexus 28 outboard with a 90hp engine and 22 mph top speed as well as an updated version of the Imexus 27 with 90hp outboard.
