The steel-hulled Vedette Navigator 35 was named 2019 Boat of the Year by HISWA Association in Holland.
It’s a real challenge for designers to get the proportions of a shorter boat right. People do not change shape or size, so the headroom we need has to be maintained inside, a reality that often makes the exteriors of smaller boats look a bit dumpy.
This Navigator 35 from Dutch builder Vedette avoids that trap. It has 6½ feet of headroom, and arguably looks better than its larger sisterships. It’s especially good-looking at the stern, which has twin curved sweeping stairways that frame the door and swim platform. The design keeps the cockpit deck low, making it a well-protected sitting area with screens that enclose the space for weather protection.
Beyond a set of double doors from the cockpit is the salon, which has a settee and table to port, and the galley to starboard. Vertical windows bring in lots of light and offer great views, and because the windows are double glazed, they also provide good insulation. More light can be added by opening the sunroof.
The vertical windows also contribute to the exterior’s good looks. At the front of the superstructure, they help create a powerful profile, matched by the vertical bow and straight horizontal sheerline. A step up in the deck raises the fo’c’sle to allow for the headroom in the master stateroom forward. The anchor fitting extends over the bow; an alternative is a hawsepipe that does not extend the boat’s length.
Placement of the master stateroom is standard, and a guest stateroom under the salon is optional. The helm station forward in the salon can be on centerline or offset, and woodwork and furnishings are the owner’s choice.
The hull is constructed from steel, and the paint has a deep, rich gloss that’s far beyond anything that can be achieved with fiberglass. The hull is a multi-chine design with a chine that runs well aft. The propeller is in a semi-tunnel that keeps the draft low (3 feet, 6 inches) and helps to create a nearly horizontal shaft line from the center engine. On the transom, there is a permanent trim flap set to keep the bow down and to improve the ride in head seas.
With the standard single engine, a 150-horsepower Volvo Penta, the boat reportedly has a top speed of 9 knots with minimal fuel consumption. Other engines are available. Heating and air conditioning can be fitted as well.
The Navigator 35’s combination of good looks and practical features is rare on a cruiser in this size range. No wonder it has been short-listed by HISWA Association for Boat of the Year in Holland.
SPECIFICATIONS
LOA 34ft. 11in.
Beam 12ft. 9in.
Draft 3ft. 6in.
Displacement 26,014 lbs.
Construction steel
Engines (standard) 1 x 150-hp Volvo Penta
Speed (max.) 9 knots
Fuel 92 gal.
Water 105 gal.
Info vedette.nu
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2019 issue.
