Full Metal Jacket
The B60 from Bering Yachts promises the best attributes of a cruising cat in a hardy, aluminum, customizable package.
Most of us associate production catamarans with the white, GRP vessels that barefoot sun worshippers use in tropical climates—for good reason, as cats have taken the sail and powerboat markets by storm in recent years. They offer greater guest capacity, enhanced privacy and common space, improved stability and seakindliness, shallow draft and other amenities not generally found on monohulls of similar length.
Turkey’s Bering Yachts is banking on the growing appeal of cats, but taking the idea to another level with its aluminum B60 Expedition Catamaran. Conceived for those who want to live aboard or travel farther afield on a hardier platform, the B60 offers the amenities of production GRP cats with the toughness of metal construction, rough-and-ready equipment and transatlantic range.
“Catamarans are perfect for those who dream of cruising the Mediterranean and Caribbean shallow waters, where countless stunning destinations await. They are ideal for owners who wish to operate the vessel themselves, without a crew, and for those seeking a safer and more comfortable experience—something that plastic catamarans cannot offer,” says Bering founder and CEO Alexei Mikhailov. “Additionally, these vessels are perfectly suited for charter fleets, making them a great choice for business ventures.”
Bering has earned its reputation building explorer-style steel and aluminum monohull motoryachts from 65 to 165 feet. The yard also offers a series of smaller hydrofoil-supported aluminum cats and some GRP utility boats under the Bering Marine brand. The company sees catamarans as an entirely different audience.
The B60 offers owners a range of layout options including a choice of four, five or six staterooms with variations on each. The boat was conceived primarily as a long-haul liveaboard cruiser, but the layouts are customizable to accommodate a captain and crew, charter or expanded owner staterooms.
“We can customize the boat to [an owner’s] taste,” Mikhailov says.
Other significant options include a choice of open or enclosed flybridge. The open version can be configured with generous lounge space, a bar and a barbecue, or whatever else an owner wants. The enclosed flybridge creates an additional
climate-controlled salon with interior access from the main salon. Both versions of the boat can carry a RIB, dinghy or PWC on the boat deck aft.
The model’s 28-foot, 2-inch beam allows for a main salon with a galley, sofas, a bar, a dining table and a helm with adjacent lounge seating. There is comfortable movement fore and aft along wide side decks. A bow lounge area can be configured to an owner’s taste. The cockpit has space for lounges and alfresco dining. The swim platform’s center section can be raised or lowered.
Standard power is a pair of 425-hp Cummins diesels, which, the company says, can deliver a range of more than 3,000 nautical miles at 7 knots. Economical cruise is 10 knots, and top speed is 14. Draft is a Bahamas- and Caribbean-friendly 4 feet, 6 inches.
The first hull is under construction at Bering’s shipyard in Antalya, Turkey, and is expected to be delivered by the end of this year. The keel has been laid on a second hull at a new Bering facility in Bulgaria. Plans are afoot for an 80-footer as well.
Specifications:
LOA: 62ft.
Beam: 28ft. 2in.
Draft: 4ft. 6in.
Displacement: 138,448 lbs.
Fuel: 3,566 gal.
Water: 792 gal.
Engines: 2x 425-hp Cummins QSB
Info: beringyachts.com
