Over the past 100 years, the custom boatyard has constructed just about every type of vessel imaginable, from yachts, ferries, Navy patrol boats, trawlers, luggers, tourism vessels, racing skiffs, pilot boats, game-fishing boats, and luxury motor yachts up to 115ft. But it is breaking with tradition by entering into a production boatbuilding agreement.
Wright & Sons have entered into a joint venture with two sale directors, Ben Grootemaat and Mel Brookman, who will be responsible for the sales and marketing of the Navigator 42. Three boats are already under construction.
The pair told Trade-a-Boat that two of the three boats being built are spoken for and there has been a fair bit of wider interest in the Navigator 42, mostly by word of mouth.
Expected to retail for around $800,000, the Navigator 42 has the family and dayboat-cum-coastal cruiser market in its sights, although it is also said to be a great entertainer for a crowd. With a single-level plan, the designers connect the cockpit and the saloon via an aft saloon door and a bar where the window drops down to merge the two areas.
The portside bar has three removable cockpit stools and abuts the L-shaped saloon lounge and dinette. The well-equipped galley is opposite, while cockpit seating includes a transom lounge for four. Accommodation spans a forward owner's stateroom and a twin-bunk cabin to port, opposite which is a generous en suite/day head, with separate shower stall to woo families.
Designer Bill Wright tested the Navigator 42 hull in the Australian Maritime College's towing tank at Launceston, thereby creating a vessel with "exceptional performance and fantastic fuel efficiency".
The Navigator 42 is powered by twin Yanmar 6LY3 UTP electronic diesels each producing 380hp at 3300rpm. There is 1200lt of fuel aboard, 300 litres of freshwater (in two tanks), and a holding tank of 120lt. The boat also features a fitout in either teak or American cherrywood, and bow and sternthrusters with joystick control.
For further information, email: melbrook@bigpond.net.au