OUTER REEF YACHTS

The 58th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show takes place at Bahia Mar, Fort Lauderdale November 1 – 5th, 2017. Preregister to for a personalized tour of an Outer Reef Yacht with a local sales expert, and come see for yourself why Outer Reef Yachts are award winning in design, construction, and customer service. If you would like more information on visiting Outer Reef Yachts at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, contact the Outer Reef team today. We look forward to meeting you at the show.

Long-range expert motor yacht builder Outer Reef® Yachts is proud to announce plans to showcase three Outer Reef Yachts at the 2017 Palm Beach Boat Show, March 23rd through 26th. The line-up includes a new 700 Motoryacht, and 860 Deluxbridge Skylounge Motoryacht, and an 820 Cockpit Motoryacht.

The new 2017 700 Motoryacht will make her debut, as well as be christened at the show – a long standing tradition the Outer Reef Yachts ‘family’ upholds for new owners. The 700 Long Range Motoryacht is an award winning exploration motoryacht with classic style and exhilarating performance. Some of her distinguishing features include panoramic windows of the main salon providing inspiring views, a master with four owner and crew staterooms with ensuite heads, in addition to an on deck head with exterior access. She also boasts the largest flybridge and boat deck areas on a 70’ yacht, and an exceptional range due to her optional C18, 136hp engines giving 17-18 knot cruise speeds. She is definitely a yacht to be celebrated by her new owners and all who have the opportunity to experience her!

Outer Reef will also present the new 2017 860 Deluxbridge™ Skylounge Motoryacht at the show. High demand for this skylounge model has greatly increased due to the abundant advantages of a temperature controlled upper helm station, and protection from the elements during blue water and long distance cruising. Outer Reef Yachts’ 860 Deluxbridge™ layout features four spacious owner & guest cabins, two crew cabins aft with heads, lounge and galley. Because the upper helm station eliminates the need for main deck helm station, the galley space below is greatly increased, creating an expansive country kitchen for cooking, dining and entertainment. The spacious living accommodations echo the feel of yachts 100’ (30 Meter) and above, and the ample skylounge area provides additional, private and protected dining, entertainment, and office area – all welcomed space options that are valuable during extended journeys. Upgrades include a power system designed for the US or Europe, as well as the Caribbean, and beyond. Also, the state of the art temperature control system is setup to handle extremely hot and cold climates with 14 tons of air conditioning and a Webasto Diesel heating system throughout the boat, convenient for cold climates. For the most advanced security and safety, a Carlisle and Finch Nightfinder 200 spotlight has an integrated FLIR 320 x 240 pixel thermal camera, providing the best of night vision with a 15 million candlepower Xenon spot light capability. Lastly, the engines chosen for the boat provide a wide range of cruising speeds and ranges varying from 8.5 knots to 14.5 knots and up to and incredible 3000 mile range. This exquisite yacht is turnkey and ready for a discerning owner to start their cruising experience immediately.

"BARBARA SUE II", a show-stopping 2015 820 Cockpit Motoryacht, is one of the most bespoke yachts Outer Reef has built and truly reflects the highest quality and sea keeping ability in her class. With over $590,000 in interior décor and factory upgrades, "BARBARA SUE II" is highly customized yachts. With $250,000 in navigation and Audio visual equipment, she is state of the art, with many systems still under manufacturer's warranty. Every door hinge and latch was upgraded, and a custom mix of teak and wenge wood throughout makes "BARBARA SUE II" an instant classic.

We hope you will join us at the Palm Beach Show to experience these fine yachts, and to allow the Outer Reef Team to provide personalized tours and additonal information. Please register here and we look forward to seeing you at the show.

How to Minimize Your Risk When Buying A Yacht

We all know that the last few years have seen some difficult times in the marine industry. Some builders and dealers have survived and some have gone by the way side, others have been absorbed into larger builder’s portfolios or sold to major corporations overseas.

How this will play out over the next few years is largely a guessing game, some marques will improve with greater investment in technology and better production systems and others may find the pressure to produce returns for investors will have a negative impact on quality and value.

So where does that leave buyers in the future? One thing is for sure, if we are going to sink a significant proportion of our savings into a new yacht (or even a second hand vessel) we better go armed with the best information possible before parting with our money.

There are a myriad of dealers, brokers, builders and middlemen that vie for our attention (and money). Who is working for our best interests and who is telling us simply what we want to hear?

Buying a yacht is a highly emotive proposition for many people. Often we see quite rational and even exemplary business people walk into a boat show and part with significant sums of money purely in the "heat if the moment" only to regret it years later when it comes to resale. Suddenly it becomes clear why that boat show "exceptional" deal was on the table if we signed there and then. Perhaps the wrong specification, the wrong brand, poor quality engineering behind the glamour or a hull that was later known to slam in a head sea. Perhaps over production of certain models that didn't sell well. Whatever the reason if you haven't done your due diligence you could be in for a nasty surprise later.

Most brokers are professionals and if good will be members of a recognised trade association such as the ABYA (Association of Broker and Yacht Agents) and adhering to their code of practice. Choose wisely and you will have an unlimited source of good information. As a buyer it may be well worth engaging a good broker to act on your behalf, even if buying new. You may feel his fee or small commission is a waste of money; but, he or she could potentially save you significant amounts, especially when you need an exit strategy later. By engaging a broker to source and negotiate on your behalf, he will be working solely for you and your interests.

No matter how much you think you know the market, a good broker that sees both ends of the field and has years of historical knowledge of values, day in and day, out has a better inside track to information than you will.

Often, your broker will know which builders spend more time in litigation with customers, which are better at warranty claims and those that almost reject every claim. This is the type of information that comes with experience.

Below is list of questions/considerations you should be able to determine with a little guidance from your chosen broker, to uncover:

- if a particular brand/model is right for you

- if a particular yacht has a good residual value

- if she is a saleable boat several years later

1. Golden rule number one, never buy a boat at a boat show if you feel under pressure to sign there and then. Dealers and builders have targets to reach, stock to move and production to fill and while there are genuine deals to be had at a show, in the majority of cases a dealer or builder will just as well accept your money a few weeks later on a same deal basis. There is never just a "one off" deal to be had. Give yourself time to think and do some quality research but do keep in mind not to procrastinate too long, prices never continually go down, even in tough times eventually prices rise. Labour costs, inflation, shipping prices etc have historically never become cheaper year on year.

2. Check out the second hand prices on used yacht multiple listing websites. This can be very telling. Find your particular brand and model and check prices three or four years older than what you are about to buy. Those are the numbers you should expect when your boat gets to the same age. Forget whatever the sales people tell you, the prices you see from your own research are the real prices, but don't forget advertised prices are not realised prices. Allow for some discount and negotiation to get a true figure.

3. Be wary of unknown brands or ones that have only recently appeared, it will be hard to get any track record of prices and where these boats will be a in a few years time, it's a gamble, it may pay off but it could also be an expensive mistake.

4. Buy the best quality yacht you can afford. If it means going slightly smaller, do so. Whatever budget you have you want as much of that money going into high quality equipment, machinery, joinery, fittings and particularly mouldings and hull structure, not the builders marketing and PR budget. The ocean is a harsh environment for marine gear. Low grade or average quality materials degrade quickly in a salt laden atmosphere. What was a nice shiny cleat or bollard at the boat show now looks like a pitted and corroded low rent piece of equipment. A thinly laminated hull now has deformations and gel cracks. That is going to have a significant impact on what your boat is worth. Would you buy a car with only one coat of cheap paint over a low grade steel body? Amazingly there are boats for sale that you can actually see daylight through the laminations of the hull, do you know which ones?

On the second hand market quality always sells first providing the price is right, there is a reason some boats sell in a shorter time frame and at acceptable prices while others languish sometimes for months on end without even a viewing.

The three Q's should be your guide……"Quality-Quality-Quality"

We can all be lulled into “boat show mode” with amazing hull shapes, huge hull windows that make the interior look stunning, cutting edge design interiors, glass and stainless steel everywhere. Unfortunately, all that means nothing when years later you cannot sell your dream yacht because the quality was not there behind the scenes from the start. Now it all looks dated, worn and generally shabby or broken.

5. Learn what production methods various builders use. There are very few standardized construction methods used in boat building, unlike the automotive industry where there are small tolerances which manufacturers have to work to. In boat building much of the quality comes down to the skill of the individual shipwrights and engineers at the yard. There are yards that build them fast and stack them high and others that can take twice as long to construct but the quality and engineering is vastly superior.

Do you know the difference between a resin infused hull, a cored hull, a polyester or vinylester gelcoat, hand lamination, chop and shut extended or shortened hulls ? These are just few considerations that a good broker will be able to tell you about. A good builder can produce an immaculate resin infused hull, a bad one can send you off on your travels with major defects that may not be apparent until years later. A cored hull can produce a strong and light hull but poorly executed can leak moisture into the core which can be a very expensive repair later. Which builders have the best production methods and which are at best barely acceptable? It is not always the biggest builder or the one that has the largest advertising budget. Some smaller bespoke builders have exceptional quality and have earned a reputation as premium builders.

6. Finally, go with a mindset “what is my exit strategy?”. Before you part with any money think to yourself what is going to be the best investment for reliability, residual value and saleability second hand? It may be very tempting to go for the boat that really stirs your emotions, the glamour and glitz can be very persuasive, but, that soon wears off come resale time, now it is about salvaging what you can from a poorly made decision several years ago. In general the more cutting edge the design and “of the moment” the higher the depreciation.

As a general overview and with our experience of many years selling yachts, here are a few bullet points that should help colour your thinking.

Buying from the biggest or highest profile builder is not always a guarrantee of preserving your investment. Don’t forget, come resale you will be one of dozens of sellers with the same brand and model, you will have a lot of competition. Try not let your heart rule your head, what looks amazing at a boat show particularly if it is a very cutting edge design but sports many impractical features like square edged furniture, no hand holds, poor engine access, delicate fabrics etc will take the biggest hit in depreciation.
The cheapest deal can be the most costly in maintenance, poor residual values and lack lustre desirability. There is a reason why it will be a “cheap deal”, if it were in demand it wouldn’t be cheap. Often the boat with limited availability, perhaps at a higher price but with a solid reputation will be the best investment. Consider the wise saying “the best deal is never done until you have sold…”

Try and avoid excessively high powered yachts; truth is, whether we like it or not, come resale time fuel burn and cost of running will be major factors to your potential buyer. Think very hard whether you really need to fly across the water at 30+ knots all the time. Most experienced yachtsmen will tell you it is rare that you will ever sail more than 30% of the time at higher speeds. Sea state plays a big part on whether your 30+ knot yacht can actually achieve those speeds for a good proportion of the time you are afloat. Often the steady, solid boat will get you to your destination faster than the more flighty speed machine, and at a fraction of the cost. It is true to say that the correlation between the rise in fuel cost is almost in direct proportion to the sales charts of high performance cruising yachts. As fuel prices rise the sales figures for second hand large engine cruising yachts goes in the opposite direction. Fuel is not going to become cheaper anytime soon!

In summary, time and time again, we see that the highest residual values are seen in yachts built in low numbers to high standards, but with years of solid reputation behind them and often direct from the builder. They may not be the most dashing of yachts or even the highest performance but their list of premium equipment and solid engineering along with more conservative styling keeps them current, timeless and value for money.

Trevor DeFaoite is European Sales Director for Outer Reef Yachts Europe Limited, yacht builders and professional brokers. Trevor comes from a yachting family of several generations and has previously been a Coastguard captain, delivery skipper, yacht broker, dealer and distributor. Trevor is a fully licensed member of the British ABYA (Association of Yacht Brokers & Agents).

Outer Reef Yachts is excited to announce the addition of a new sporty sedan model to the Outer Reef Trident Series called the Trident 620 Solara. The new Trident 620 Solara is a welcomed addition to the series initially launched the with the Trident 620 Flybridge model. Cruisers who have come to know Outer Reef Yachts as the expert-builder within the long range motor yacht category now have increased options while choosing the perfect vessel for cruising the European canal system and the U.S. Great Loop, with an air draft of 14’ (4.3 Meters) or long crossings under any sea conditions.

The Trident 620 Solara is built to Ocean, Category A Standards, “Unrestricted Navigation,” and the highest RCD rating, as are all Outer Reef Yachts. She also retains the same specifications and attractive, functional features of the Trident 620 Flybridge; both Trident models were developed by Outer Reef Yachts in cooperation with Setzer Yacht Architects. The Trident 620 Solara offers the signature plumb bow hull design which creates significantly increased interior volume within every Outer Reef Trident, as compared to a traditional clipper bow design. Chic, Euro-style decor elements, superior performance, greater speeds, and enhanced fuel efficiency represent only some of the many features that lend to her appeal.

A few changes differentiate the Trident 620 Solara from her predecessor, including an optional opening sunroof for those who wish to enjoy the wind and sea in their hair. Owners will delight in highly livable interior/exterior spaces, including a galley aft layout with dining counter space and an open-air salon/aft deck for alfresco entertainment. A few steps down is an expansive hydraulic swim platform which serves as a perfect launching pad for water recreation.

As for her interior, and as a production series, the Trident 620 Solara series offers her owners the flexibility of three attractive interior palettes including modern, transitional, or traditional elements, in combination with three interior layout configurations. Both the Flybridge and Solara models offer a three stateroom and three ensuite option, accommodating up to six guests below decks, plus 2 guest/crew accommodations. Upon entering the engine room, she is fully equipped with Cummins engines and pod drives (standard), which allows the Trident 620 Solara to cruise economically, comfortably, and safely at 10 knots, with a fast cruise speed of 20-22 knots and a top speed of 26-28 knots.

The new Trident 620 Solara is competitively priced, and will continue to pave the way for additional Trident Series length and model offerings – including the 620, 720 and the 3000 series (98’ and 106’). With remarkable style, utility, functionality and convenience, paired with Outer Reef’s highest standards in quality of construction and personalized service, the new Trident 620 Solara is a very attractive model option.

Making her worldwide debut at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival is the new Outer Reef Yachts 24 Meter - a must-visit appointment while at the show. At 78’8” LOA, the 24m shares the same underwater profile and superstructure of the Outer Reef 800 but has been fully customized for a European client.

The hull is a Class A, semi displacement at 81.64 tons, with power coming from twin Caterpillar C12’s delivering a combined output of 1410 bhp and a maximum speed of 14.5 knots with optimal cruising speed of 10 knots.

Whilst the yacht’s primary market is for the explorer, adventurer and long distance cruiser, and with the OR 800 hull being a very capable yacht in a range of sea conditions, this model has also been designed for a client who loves entertaining with an equal emphasis on cordon-bleu style cooking, fine wine and music.

The owners have commissioned state of the art professional galley equipment, together with a $280,000 concert hall-style entertainment system, making this one of the most alternative and exciting “Go Anywhere” offerings to be exhibited at this year’s show.

The configuration of the main deck salon is designed for high level entertainment. The interior is expansive, with 6’8” headroom and likened to similar interiors of a significantly larger super yacht, with a Wenge and Walnut finish, and is contemporary in design and feel. Contained within this, is a u-shaped settee for up to ten guests with full access to the entertainment system and drinks bar area and positioned conveniently next to the galley which, in turn, has direct access to the pilot house.

Trevor De Faoite, Outer Reef’s European sales director commented, “We have delivered a classic yacht with a modern and unique twist, to an exemplary level. And, to my knowledge, this combination is unprecedented in this boat genre anywhere in the world”.

A full WheelHouse™ Technologies and Marine Maintenance System enables the owner operator full operational control. However, there is an option to employ four crew and the vessel offers exceptionally comfortable and congenial surroundings for all, including a full beam Master Stateroom on a flat floor, with his and her’s ensuite facilities, together with two double berth VIP guest state rooms also ensuite. There is capacity for fourteen berths including crew, in total.

Whilst creature comforts and a home-away-from-home feel are top priorities, security is also paramount, and initial sea trials concluded that even when water and fuel tanks were empty, the overall stability remained excellent. Designed with a walkaround fully sheltered main deck leading to a Portugese bridge, in front of the fully weather proofed Pilot House, the yacht offers ample safe areas to operate in, during bouts of inclement weather.

There are fore and aft decks, which complete the main deck layout, clad with teak and will accommodate sun bathing and luxury dining facilities respectively. On this model, a fighting chair on the aft deck has also been fitted.

The Flybridge is based on the exclusive Deluxbridge® full beam width deck which has also been fully teak decked and offers second helm position and seating for ten with full hospitality units including BBQ, near at hand. The boat deck is aft of the fly bridge with enough space for a tender and PWC, both managed by a fully rotational Davit complete with a 12’ arm extension and with lifting power of 800 kilos/1700lbs.

The OR 24 Meter comes with all the trimmings of a fun filled, luxury home without the need to compromise on all weather and sea condition versatility.

This year’s Cannes Yachting Festival will host the exciting World Premiere of the exceptional Trident 620 flybridge sports motoryacht from Outer Reef Yachts.

Marking the first in a series of European built Trident Series boats from Outer Reef, the 61’ 8” / 18.8m long T-620 was developed in cooperation with Setzer Yacht Architects and is based upon a revolutionary and patented Tri-brid™ vacuum infused hull. With sporty good looks and a sharp-suited appearance, the T-620 is bound to attract style-conscious buyers from Europe and beyond and is a perfect solution for those wanting to enjoy day-cruising, long weekend getaways, with a further option for extended, long-range cruising.

A plumb bow design with a forgiving, wave-piercing forefoot that elevates when horsepower is applied from semi-displacement speeds. The rationale behind the Tri-brid™ hull is about empowering owners who like to cruise as fuel-efficiently as possible, but who might still enjoy short and thrilling bursts of speed up to 28 knots on occasion.

Displacing 28.58 tons at half-load and powered by an ultra-efficient, twin 550hp Cummins engine package, the T-620 is built to CE Category A Unlimited Ocean classification and is a true, long-distance ocean-voyager with economical fuel consumption of just 3.9 US gallons/hour at 8 knots giving a safe cruising range of 1500nm.

A walk-around main deck/pilot house leads aft to a shaded, external seating area. Steps lead down to the swim platform which has an ingenious Hi-Low boarding system built-in, designed and constructed exclusively by Outer Reef engineers. This fully automated system has a detachable handrail and is an improvement upon standard passerelles, by enabling safe stern-to boarding across a range of quay-side/dock-side heights. The system also doubles as a submerged ladder for the safe boarding of swimmers or divers. Up above the pilot house/salon there’s a spacious flybridge, with either single or twin helm seat set-up, a table, and plenty of outside seating and space for everyone to socialize. Towards the back there’s a dedicated tender cradle and hydraulic crane for convenient launch and retrieval.

Customers can choose between one of three different interior décor styles that include a choice of different wood veneers and one of six Awlgrip hull colors.

Accessed by guests through the central hall area, the T-620’s en-suite accommodation comprises a full-beam owner’s stateroom, with 6’ 8” standing head-room and a fully flat (not stepped) floor. A forward located VIP suite, provides another highly comfortable and welcome retreat for another 2 people and there is the option of either an additional twin bunk-bed style cabin, or the same space can be requested as an office/study, with a single Pullman berth if required.

Taking account of the fact that some owners may wish to opt for a small crew, the T-620 has the option for an additional one or two crew berths, within the workshop/storage area, in front of the separate engine room.

There are three interior versions including two galley aft layouts, which flow more directly onto the aft deck area and appropriate for owners who entertain regularly or prefer an indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Whereas the galley forward layout follows a more traditional route, feels comfortable and works well for live-a-boards or those who prefer to cruise greater distances at a time.

Carefully considered touches such as offering full-depth drawers in our staterooms offer users the kind of storage space not always available on competitor yachts in this size range. Similarly, high-quality, branded fittings, for example, such as Corian countertops and Grohe galley and head fixtures add that truly luxurious feel throughout.

An exceptionally quiet boat for occupants inside; flexible seals and rubber insulation minimize the risk of vibration, while pipe work and trunking has been isolated on mounts with sound-proof foam to minimize internal noise, such as the sound of water slapping against the hull.

Discover more about the Outer Reef Yachts Trident T-620 at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival.

Award-winning long-range motor yacht builder Outer Reef® Yachts is proud to announce the highly anticipated 550 Trident long range sport motoryacht will make its world debut at the 2016 Yachts Miami Beach International Boat Show, February 11th – 15th. The Trident™ Series was developed in cooperation with Setzer Yacht Architects, and embodies a unique synthesis of stylistic innovation, technology and functionality, while applying unique seakeeping attributes revolutionized by the Outer Reef brand. The attractive plumb bow hull design, chic styling elements, and new length options are introduced with the 550 Outer Reef® Trident™ Series, and will continue throughout larger models, up to 106’. The series offers superior performance, increased cruising and top speeds with enhanced fuel efficiency – only some of the many features that lend to her appeal.

Jeff Druek, President and CEO of Outer Reef® Yachts stated, “At the start of our journey, we anticipated the Trident™ 550 would be a spectacular yacht, especially in terms of performance and efficiency. No stone was left unturned with the Trident™ Series– from the latest technology to impeccable use of space, everything on a long range cruiser’s wish list is at his or her fingertips. The Outer Reef® Trident™, during extensive sea trials in true blue water seas, has surpassed all expectations – and we are excited for clients to experience this new yacht at the Yachts Miami Show. There is no doubt this new Trident™ 550 sets the tone for future expansion of the line and the Outer Reef® Yachts collection.”

Outer Reef® Yachts will also launch the new 860 Deluxbridge™ Motoryacht at the show. High demand for this skylounge model has greatly increased due to the abundant advantages of a temperature controlled upper helm station, and protection from the elements during blue water and long distance cruising. Outer Reef® Yachts’ 860 Deluxbridge™ layout features 4 spacious owner & guest cabins, 2 crew cabins aft with heads, lounge and galley. Because the upper helm station eliminates the need for main deck helm station, the galley space below is greatly increased, creating an expansive country kitchen for cooking, dining and entertainment. The spacious living accommodations echo the feel of yachts 100 feet plus, and the ample skylounge area provides additional, private and protected dining, entertainment, and office area – all welcomed space options that are valuable during extended journeys. Upgrades include 1140hp CAT C-18's, 55hp hydraulic bow and stern thrusters, Trac Zero Speed stabilizers, twin 38KW Northern Lights generators, and a very extensive electronics & AV system. As with every Outer Reef® Yacht within the collection, the Outer Reef® 860 Deluxbridge™ defines new standards with her cutting-edge technology, robust build, and contemporary appeal.

Outer Reef Yachts Expands Sales Representation in Australia and New Zealand

Outer Reef Yachts, the global leader in design, construction, and sale of long range motoryachts, further strengthens the company’s presence in the Australasia region by signing a new representation agreement with eyachts, the powerboat division of the Windcraft Group, for the exclusive sales representation of Outer Reef Yachts. Eyachts has established itself in this marketplace as an unrivalled new and pre-owned yacht and service provider within the powerboat market. For over 17 years, Peter Hrones, Director of the Windcraft Group and eyachts, has developed and expanded the business to become a multi-service yachting resource. The company operates two sales centers in Northern Sydney, Australia and Westhaven, New Zealand, and several service locations in the area.

This new agreement with Outer Reef Yachts, as well as eyachts securing production slots for a number of Outer Reef Tridents, is part of Outer Reef Yachts continued expansion strategy in the Australasia region. This region is an area with considerable growth potential and significant demand for robustly built, blue-water long-range motoryachts, well represented by both the Outer Reef Classic Series and Trident Series. Through this new representation agreement, Outer Reef Yachts is further strengthening its global reach, which currently includes ten customer sales center locations, ensuring that Outer Reef customers and prospective customers receive personalized sales and service representation around the globe.

Peter Hrones, Managing Director of eyachts stated, "Our team and I are extremely excited about working in partnership with Outer Reef Yachts. Currently we have hundreds of Windcraft Yacht owners that have been contemplating their next boat and considering a long distance motor yacht. Many have confirmed an Outer Reef Classic Series boat would be perfect for their next liveaboard cruising boat. With the addition of Outer Reef to our family of brands, we are now able to offer them a top of the line long range cruiser. Our owners prefer to stay within the eyachts/Windcraft Group family, due to the exceptional after-sales service they have come to enjoy over the years. We are also certain the new Outer Reef Yachts Trident Series will be a highly attractive high performance and economical long distance cruiser of the future".

Jeff Druek, President and CEO of Outer Reef Yachts stated, “We are very excited to welcome eyachts/Windcraft Group as our new sales representatives for Australia and New Zealand. Peter and his team have extensive experience within the yachting industry, and will be the perfect representatives to help deliver world-class service to Outer Reef customers in this region. We are grateful for the opportunity to build upon their expertise in our continued international development efforts, and to work with them to deliver our high quality, safe and efficient collection of Outer Reef Yachts to the passionate Australian and New Zealand yachting communities.”

Outer Reef Yachts 580 LRMY and 820 CPMY to make World Debut at 2015 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

Award-winning long-range motor yacht builder Outer Reef Yachts is proud to announce the new 580 Classic Long Range Motor Yacht will make its world debut at the 2015 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, November 5-9. Built to unlimited Ocean Category A Standards, this high quality pilothouse yacht provides great fuel economy, with her 1000 gallon standard fuel capacity at hull speeds. As the smallest Outer Reef in the Classic collection, the new 580 expands the size range offering of the builder’s Classic Motor Yacht series, now ranging from 58 to 115 feet.

“The owners of the new 580 Classic Long Range Motor Yacht, transitioning from sailing to powerboating, required a builder who would listen to their needs, and translate these needs into a customized yacht that suits their lifestyle. After their extensive research, they felt most comfortable building with Outer Reef, knowing we strive meet each customized build with precision, while protecting the value of their investment through dedication to the highest quality,” said Jeff Druek, president and CEO of Outer Reef Yachts. “We are truly excited about introducing this new yacht, which sets the tone for future expansion of the Outer Reef Yachts collection.”

An exciting feature of the new 580 Classic yacht is her 17’2 beam overall, ensuring specious accommodation including a king berth master amidships, queen VIP cabin forward, and port guest cabin with two berths. Other conveniences include a full size washer and dryer in the forward accommodation space, stand up engine room with both fore and aft access, and a large lazerette with a transom door. The open main deck layout provides unlimited sightlines from her pilothouse, an adjoining galley with full size appliances with large pantries, and a comfortable salon with covered aft deck for alfresco dining. In addition, the Outer Reef 58’ Long Range Motor Yacht is equipped with bow and stern thrusters, oversized stabilizers, upgraded inverter system for systems operation at anchor, a hardtop over her upper helm and seating area, and a boat deck with a hydraulic davit to launch her 13 foot tender to both the port side or the stern of the vessel.

Outer Reef Yachts also will launch the latest 820 Cockpit Motoryacht, with a slightly altered accommodation layout to her predecessor - the 800 Long Range Motoryacht - at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. In keeping with the core philosophy of the all Outer Reef builds, the 820 Cockpit Motoryacht offers the utmost in cruising pleasure and comfort, with highly livable exterior spaces and well-thought-out furnishings. Updated styling offered in the new 820 Cockpit Motoryacht includes a reconfigured crew area and staircase from salon to crew, which creates an increase in space, efficiency, and convenience. As with all Outer Reef’s models, the exercise of consistently reviewing and refreshing the design and engineering is the reason behind the company’s leadership position within the industry.

In addition to these two new yacht debuts at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, the Outer Reef Yachts display, located at the B/C Dock, will also showcase the most recent build of the Outer Reef 650 Long Range Motoryacht, along with a 700 Long Range Motoryacht.

Outer Reef Yachts Welcomes Kristyn Rubertus to Expanding Service Team

Outer Reef Yachts has announced that Kristyn Rubertus has joined the Outer Reef Yachts Service Department as Service Administrator, based at the company’s headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Working with senior management, Rubertus will assist with daily project management of yacht commissioning, service, and warranty while implementing growth strategies within the department.

Rubertus gained valuable experience while formerly employed with Sunseeker Florida as Service Administrator, helping coordinate warranty and after-sale parts orders for all Sunseeker Florida yachts. This position included daily communications with the factory based in Poole, England, while project managing and coordinating with their team of yacht subcontractors in South Florida. Rubertus joins Outer Reef Yachts to further her career growth, as well as the company’s continued dedication to ensuring Outer Reef yacht owners are the first priority throughout all service endeavors. Over the years, Outer Reef Yachts has established itself as a service powerhouse within the industry, going above and beyond any of the competition. At Outer Reef, all employees are held to the highest standards based on the premise that outstanding service, in combination with yacht construction of the highest quality, are the ingredients for long-lasting client relationships. Jeff Druek, President and CEO of Outer Reef Yachts stated, “From all of my previous business experiences, I’m convinced the true value of a company lies within the client’s experience after the sale, and the most lasting impressions are made with customers who feel their best interests will be looked after once their new yacht has left the dock. Our goal is to maintain the highest level of service satisfaction, which is why Outer Reef will continue to invest in the growth of our company, products, and team while welcoming the contribution of experienced professionals like Kristyn Rubertus.”

Company growth has been inevitable with the addition of new product lines this past year, including the launch of the Outer Reef Trident series, a series that focuses on the design and construction of long range motoryachts with a unique synthesis of contemporary stylistic innovation, technology and functionality. With continued expansion of the Outer Reef product line in the near future, clients can look forward to a well-rounded cruising and ownership experience, consistently guaranteed by the dedicated and growing team that proudly represents the Outer Reef Yachts company and brand.

Outer Reef Yachts successfully attended three boat shows in the month of January, globally representing their Long Range Motoryacht Classic Series and new Trident Series, at the 2015 Düsseldorf Boat Show, Seattle Boat Show, and the Riviera Beach, Florida Trawler Fest. All three shows produced increased market activity for Outer Reef Yachts, resulting in three new build contracts signed at the Düsseldorf show alone. The contracts include new builds for both the Outer Reef Classic Series, as well as the new Outer Reef Trident Series.

Jeff Druek, President and CEO of Outer Reef Yachts, stated, “International boat show attendance is imperative to Outer Reef Yachts, as it allows our team of professionals to connect with each of our localized markets’ customers, prospects and media partners, while collectively expanding our accessibility and knowledge. At boot, the Düsseldorf International Boat Show, we experienced a high volume of interest that translated into commitments from the northern and central European marketplace. We believe this is due to the re-emerging economy and a rekindled desire to spend leisure time yachting, hence the need to own a robust, proven, and efficient long range cruiser. This desire translates to all geographic areas of our marketplace, as we were also fortunate to experience heightened enthusiasm from the other January 2015 show attendees visiting Outer Reef Yachts.”

Originally a concept born from a client boat show discussion, Outer Reef’s new Trident Series is a recent concept-turned-reality, with a flurry of new build activity at the state of the art shipyard located in Split, Croatia. Due to owners’ and prospects’ needs for a trustworthy, seafaring vessel offered in 55’, 65’ and 75’, and 98’ lengths, the first Trident will be available for a personalized tour at the upcoming 2015 Cannes Yachting Festival and Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Prior to this, the first Trident 550 will be available for sea trials at our shipyard in Split this summer.

With a passion for safe, efficient, smart and enjoyable yachting as the common thread, the world of Outer Reef owners and perspective owners continues to experience healthy growth at boat shows and beyond. As this trend continues, the company strives to preserve a very intimate, personalized experience for the family of Outer Reef Yacht owners and those able to enjoy the Outer Reef experience, wherever their journey takes them.

Outer Reef Yachts, a world leader in the design, construction and sale of high quality long range motor yachts, is proud to announce the company will have a premier sales and service center located in Downtown Dubai Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This location is extremely beneficial to Outer Reef Yachts as it is located within fifteen minutes of all marinas in Dubai, including the East and West Palm Marinas, the Dubai International Marine Club (home of the Dubai International Boat Show), Dubai Marina Yacht Club ,Dubai Marina Mall, Dubai Water Canal and Creek Marina.

Outer Reefs Yachts’ Middle Eastern sales team, headquartered at this new retail center, will be led by the area’s Director of Sales, Peter N Divers. Peter has extensive experience within the global yachting market, with him recently joining Mohamed Al Zaabi at Royal Yachts in Dubai, Prior to this Peter worked with Princess Yachts in Qatar and Metropol Nauticas in Spain . This strong representation and partnership within the Dubai area was particularly attractive to Outer Reef as a growing business, tourism, and center of the Middle Eastern yachting community. The Dubai Location is an ideal hub for the entire Middle East and North Africa, covering the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Kenya and Tanzania.

Jeff Druek, Outer Reef Yacht’s Owner and CEO, stated, “We chose to continue our company’s growth in Dubai, given that Dubai is the top business gateway for the Middle East and Africa, and over the past ten years the area has become a burgeoning commercial and residential real estate center. Many of our clients in this region have expressed interest in our new Outer Reef Trident Series, a long range, robust, efficient and contemporary sports cruiser offered in 55, 65, 75 and 98 feet. The call for this style yacht within Dubai and the surrounding area, along with an overall steady growth and interest in long range cruising, is a natural segue for our business and brand and creates the perfect opportunity.”

The Gulf Cooperation Council of January 2014 reports The Gulf has been outpacing other high growth markets and this trend is set to continue. Governments and leaders in this area have set the ground work for sustained future growth, including a definitive move towards healthcare, tourism, education, housing, and yachting.

Outer Reef Yachts, the world renowned long range cruising yacht manufacturer, pioneers another first in the industry by taking QR Code technology to the next level, through the new Outer Reef Yachts’ Quik Code System™. QR Codes are computer generated images used as a shortcut to connect directly with online resources, without having to type a URL into an internet browser. By assigning an individualized QR code to each piece of equipment throughout the yacht, the code will direct a user to the desired page and topic in Outer Reef’s digital Owner’s Instructional and Maintenance Manual. An owner operator, captain, or maintenance technician can quickly locate the specific information needed through the convenience of a hand held mobile device.

The owner, captain or technician, equipped with a smart phone or tablet will easily point and click to be directed to the equipment’s specific manual page, section, and topic, removing the need to search through a hard copy or scroll through the online service manual. In short, this process provides instant access to the required information for all equipment throughout the yacht, from the Pilot House DC/AC Panels to the engine room’s hydraulic and fuel systems, etc.

The Quik Code System™ is not the first ‘convenience technology’ pioneered by Outer Reef Yachts. Outer Reef Yachts was the first long range motoryacht manufacturer to provide each owner with an iPad version of the Owner’s Instructional and Maintenance Manual for their yachts. Owners, captains and maintenance technicians of all technical backgrounds will enjoy and appreciate the convenience of accessing all the information needed to operate, manage, and maintain the yacht via an iPad. The information housed on the iPad is provided by Outer Reef Yachts to Wheelhouse Technologies (www.wheelhousetech.com), a company that specializes in creating tailored owners manuals and proprietary maintenance programs. Wheelhouse Technologies also maintains the information, by continuously updating the database as needed, to ensure the user is referring to the most current manufacturer information at all times.

Jeff Druek, President and CEO of Outer Reef Yachts, stated, “Outer Reef continues to value and promote a personalized customer service experience through our global network of sales and service experts. To compliment this, from an owner-operator standpoint, we are also aware of the importance of staying current with advances in technology that help run and maintain the vessel as efficiently as possible, whether the owner is addressing annual maintenance or preparing for a long-range cruise. A streamlined information-gathering experience, with the click of a button, will help the owner better maintain and manage various equipment and electronics. By employing time-saving, cutting-edge technology, we make it easier for owners to spend more time cruising and enjoying their Outer Reef.”

All Outer Reef Yachts, globally, will display the new Quik Code System™. The first Outer Reef Yacht to showcase the new QR code technology to the general public will be on display at the upcoming 55th Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, October 30 through November 3rd, 2014 at Outer Reef’s location, B/C Dock 9,10,12.

With their finger on the pulse internationally, Outer Reef Yachts attended three boat shows last week, representing their Long Range Motoryacht Classic Series at the Cannes Yachting Festival, Newport International Boat Show, and the Seattle Boats A Float Show, from September 9th through September 14th. The shows also provided an opportunity for the Outer Reef Team to proudly represent and provide information on the new Trident Series, recently launched in July 2014.

Jeff Druek, President and CEO of Outer Reef Yachts, stated, “With a growing Long Range Cruiser product line including the most recent launch of the Outer Reef Trident Series, it is imperative for our management team to continue to engage with our prospects and customers at a localized level, carefully listen to the experiences and feedback shared, and intelligently apply this information to the design and style of our vessels. Our yachts are built to express unique, geographic-enhanced features that meet the needs of yachtsmen spanning the globe. Different cruising grounds and conditions require a keen attention to detail, with differences in such things as crew quarters, storage and helm stations; discussing these items with the boat show visitors helps us roll up our sleeves and create a better cruising experience. This special attention sets us apart from other manufacturers, and we greatly appreciate our current and future clients’ insight, which can be applied to future, cutting-edge projects”.

Born from previous boat show discussions, Outer Reef’s new Trident Series emerged from clients’ needs for a trustworthy, seafaring vessel offered in 55’, 65’ and 75’ lengths. To meet this request, the builder selected Setzer Yacht Architects, designers of Outer Reef’s 105-115 foot flagship Explorer series, to develop the new line of vessels. “We share a passion with Outer Reef for oceangoing, blue-water ready hulls,” said Setzer. “Our past work on large, go-anywhere type expedition and explorer vessels gives us a wealth of learning we can draw upon for the Trident project.” The collaboration is thus a natural segue for Outer Reef, as its core mission includes building vessels that avoid compromising robustness in the name of aesthetics or speed.

The three mentioned boat shows brought visitors from all over the globe, and presented Outer Reef the opportunity to showcase several yachts including the 63’ LRMY, 70’ LRMY and the latest Trident series information. Visitation to Outer Reef Yachts’ show locations experienced significant growth – a good indication the yachting public is interested in long range cruisers of the highest quality, paired with stellar customer service and competitive pricing, which Outer Reef Yachts is known for.

With a passion for safe, efficient, smart and enjoyable yachting as the common thread, the world of Outer Reef owners and perspective owners continues to experience healthy growth at boat shows and beyond. As this trend continues, the company strives to preserve a very intimate, personalized experience for the family of Outer Reef Yacht owners and those able to enjoy the Outer Reef experience, wherever their journey takes them.

Outer Reef Yachts, the well-known builder of high quality long range motor yachts, is proud to announce the launch of an exciting new model line, the Outer Reef Trident Series. This new series boasts a notable departure from Outer Reef’s classic product lines that have come before her. Developed in cooperation with Setzer Yacht Architects, the Outer Reef Trident Series embodies a unique synthesis of stylistic innovation, technology and functionality. The attractive plumb bow hull design, chic styling elements, and new length options are introduced with the 550 Outer Reef Trident Series. The series also offers superior performance, heightened speeds, and enhanced fuel efficiency, representing only some of the many features that lend to her appeal.

In addition, the Outer Reef Trident Series will maintain the valued benefits of safety and efficiency commensurate with the Outer Reef brand; the Trident Series will be built to CE Category A-Unlimited Ocean. With these valued attributes, and born from significant market demand, twelve Outer Reef Tridents have already been ordered prior to her official launch. The first 550 will make her world debut at the 2015 Cannes Boat Show in France. Jeff Druek, President and CEO of Outer Reef Yachts stated, “At Outer Reef, our client’s feedback, as well as extensive market research, is paramount to our success. Once it became apparent that a yacht under 17 meters in length would increase our reach within growing global demand, the new Outer Reef Trident Series emerged as the undeniable solution. I’m confident the series is a ‘must have’ for cruisers who prefer to enjoy the flexibility and freedom of the Owner-Operator experience, for day trips and long weekend getaways, while maintaining the option of long range cruising for extended periods of time.”

The Outer Reef Trident Series, as a production series, will uphold Outer Reef Yacht’s high quality manufacturing and un-matched customer service, while yielding two things: an attractive price point well below the competition, and an enhanced specification. Differing from the company’s previous semi-custom product lines, the series offers her owners the flexibility of three attractive interior palettes including modern, transitional, or traditional elements, in combination with three interior layout configurations.

The innovative features of the new series continues to impress throughout the engine room. She is fully equipped with Cummins engines and pod drives (standard), which allows the 550 Outer Reef Trident Series to cruise economically, comfortably and safely at 10 knots, with a fast cruise speed of 18-20 knots and attain a top speed of 28 knots.

Cruising speed and efficiency is greatly increased by a newly designed hull, that performs like a planing hull at a higher speed, yet is very stable and seaworthy at slower speeds with her patented “Tri-brid™ ” semi-displacement hull design. Even with resin infused technology, which guarantees perfect resin to composite ratios for weight savings, the 550 Outer Reef Trident Series still weighs in at 58,500 lbs. at half load. This is a robust displacement for a vessel of this size, hinting of her stout construction – a quality for which Outer Reef Yachts is world-renowned.

The new Outer Reef Trident™ Series is currently available in three offerings – the 550, 680, 980 and 106 models. With remarkable style, utility, functionality and convenience, paired with Outer Reef’s highest standards in quality of construction and personalized service, the new Outer Reef Trident™ Series is destined to live up to the mythological symbolism for which she is named – the trusted, treasured object resting in the great hand of Poseidon, God of the Sea.

This month’s update comes on the heels of a very successful Outer Reef Owners Rendezvous and charity event held in beautiful Charleston Harbor, South Carolina the first week of June, 2013. The weather for move-in day was a bit uninviting and the long range forecast was not too rosy. Although we all plan and hope for good weather, being boaters, we all have learned to go with the flow when it comes to weather patterns.

The welcome dinner on Thursday evening was a bit windy, wet and raw, but warm spirits of all our owners as well as some liquid spirits and good food seemed to temper Mother Nature.

Unexpectedly, and in contradiction to all weather reports, the front pushed through very rapidly and by late Friday morning, the skies had cleared and the warm sun embraced us all. The days were filled with all sorts of activities such as seminars, a plantation tour, kayaking, owner’s boat tours and a beachside BBQ.

Saturday evening’s dinner was held aboard the USS Yorktown, a WWII aircraft carrier. The USS Yorktown was a very inspirational setting for the evening’s fund raiser for the Wounded Warrior Project, a charity that is very close to my heart. Our goal this year was to raise enough money to purchase two Action TrackChairs, which are all-terrain wheelchairs, and to donate them to the Wounded Warrior Project. At over $15,000.00 each, these amazing chairs enable our wounded warriors to get back into nature, whether it be hunting, fishing or going to the beach with their families. This freedom helps bring a sense of "normality" back into their lives when they most need it.

I am happy and extremely proud to announce that thanks to the generosity of our owners and donations from our loyal vendors that we raised well over $40,000.00, meeting our goal to purchase 2 Action TracChairs for our wounded warriors. I want to once again personally thank all of our owners and vendors for their kind generosity in helping change the lives of at least two very special veterans and their families!

The freedom we all have that allows us to pursue our family lives and business interests to the point of being able to purchase one of our Yachts would not be possible without the brave men and women or our armed forces fight for that freedom every day.

These heroic men and women have paid the ultimate price for our freedom and now it is our turn to give back, and you all have! Thank you so much!

Sunday morning was the farewell breakfast, time to say goodbye to all our friends and family and head off to wherever the wind and currents (or airplanes) may take them. Upon personal reflection, I enjoy every Rendezvous more so than the previous, for seeing all our friends continues to deepen the bonds between us. Boats may come and go, but friendships and memories last forever and that is what we are really building here at Outer Reef Yachts.

Fair winds and blue skies to all...............

Cheers,

Jeff

2011 Roundup of the Adventures of Aroona

As 2011 comes to a close, I look back and feel we had had a great year on Aroona from Sydney to the Cape York. It has been one filled with adventures for myself, Andrew and hopefully all those whom we were lucky to have onboard along the way.

The year began with a glorious few weeks exploring the Queensland coast as we headed for our home port at Yorkey's Knob Marina. From reef fishing and exploring the Whitsundays to catching barra off Hinchinbrook Island , we were off to a fantastic start! While devastating floods threatened to damper the trip, Aroona made it safe and sound to the Far North but of course the excitement didn't end there. Cyclone Yasi set a direct course for the Cairns area within two weeks giving myself and Aroona its first real taste of Mother Nature. Aroona weathered the storm beautifully up the mangroves in Trinity Inlet giving us all a big sigh of relief to push ahead.

The first big trip off the rank was Princess Charlotte Bay . With 7 of us on board, we spent 8 days getting a first taste of the world class barramundi and reef fishing in the remote waters off Cape York Peninsula. The boys had a lot to brag about on the return with record catches of over 100 barramundi caught and released and an array of other fish and mud crabs for a feast. Aroona also embarked on her first day charters by the Easter holidays with guests including the Chinese ambassador and his entourage getting a taste of the coral reefs off Cairns with a marine biologist on board to give them a personalized tour. They made for quite a challenge...as not many of them could swim!

In May, Aroona was steaming back south for the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show which saw hundreds of visitors getting a chance to see her first hand. Andrew and I received lots of positive feedback getting us excited for what possibilities are to come as we expand our charter capabilities into the future.

On our way home from the Sanctuary Cove, a number of friends and family joined us along the way for some great fishing, diving and amazing weather to explore the east coast.

The next big adventure came in July with the dwarf minke whales arriving in the Far North. We met up with them on the ribbon reefs for a week of spectacular in-water encounters making passes within inches of Andrew and others on board. It has become a must-do on the annual calendar.

We've had a variety of fantastic charters from mother-shipping for the game boats, reef fishing and diving the ribbons, Osprey Reef and Lizard Island. I couldn't be any luckier with the great range of crew that helped make each trip a memorable one! The guests have all been an amazing mix of overseas and local clients who gave back just as much as I hope they took away from their time on board. We hope to see all of you back again in the future!

Since pictures are known to say a thousand words, I thought i'd let a montage of the year gone by give you a better idea of what we have achieved and what is to come in 2012. Enjoy and thanks to all for your tremendous support.

To see the montage follow the link below or look up on you tube Charter Great Barrier Reef Aroona 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NffueKazkJY

May you all have a merry Christmas and happy new year from myself, Andrew, Maggie and the crew at Aroona and I hope your 2012 is filled with adventure!

Happy holidays,

Ross Miller

Captain

Aroona Luxury Charters

www.aroonaluxuryboatcharters.com.au

Fort Lauderdale Boat Show Wrap-Up:

In anticipation of this year’s Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), expectations were mixed coming into the show for all. Having been to almost 20 major shows over the last year, nationally and internationally, and seeing all shows slightly better than the one before, my expectations were higher than most. The crowds were tempered in volume, but true to form as per the last 2 years shows, volume was lower, but quality of the clientele was much stronger. We saw steady crowds and many follow up customers. Even with the torrential rains of Saturday and Sunday, the serious shoppers were still out.

We sported a new display this year with a very open and inviting “café style” atmosphere. Everyone seemed to be pleased with the new display. Special thanks to Colleen and staff for pulling this all together. On display we had an Outer Reef 800, 700 and 650. The Outer Reef 700 was the debut for this model in the US and was a smashing success. This new model had something for everyone and the accolades were resounding. Friday evening was the christening ceremonies for “GOODTIMES”, where we officially welcomed Ward and Kim Young into the Outer Reef “Family”. A good time was had by all and the rain held off for the ceremonies and the cocktail reception.

The show had the noticeable feeling of pent up demand after years of stagnant malaise. With the purchase of Passagemaker Magazine and Trawlerfest events by the parent company of Show Management, Active Interest Media (AIM), the show was organized with all Trawlers and Long Range Cruisers, located in one general area within a “Trawlerport” venue at the show. This made for easy comparison of different brands all in the same area and put competitors side by side. I very much liked this format as we encourage our clients to see what our competition has or has not to offer as compared to Outer Reef.

We came away from this year’s show with 2 signed and funded contracts, one for an 860 Cockpit Motoryacht and a 700 Motoryacht. It is very rare in our business model to sign, let alone fund a contract at the show, which is a positive sign moving forward. As I write this we are formalizing 2 additional contracts, one for an 860 Motoryacht and one for our new model a 630 Motoryacht, all as a result of this year’s FLIBS.

On behalf of all the staff at Outer Reef Yachts I want to extend to all our clients, friends and their families, a very prosperous and healthy Holiday Season.

Cheers,

Jeff

Aroona's first exploratory charter to the remote picturesque region of Princess Charlotte Bay was a roaring success, with well over 100 barramundi caught and released by three anglers over four days.

See testimonial and photos written by one of our guests, keen angler Robert Muir from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

Aroona, 70' Outer Reef in Australia, will be running more of these luxury fishing trips to Princess Charlotte Bay north of Cairns, and to the vast mangrove system inside Hinchinbrook Island to the south of Cairns. Trips are currently being planned for the build up to the wet season in November/December and again straight after the wet in April/May 2012.

For Charter information contact

Andrew Prentice

+61418570921

andrewp@aroonalbc.com.au

http://www.aroonaluxuryboatcharters.com.au/

ANGLER'S REFLECTIONS:

What a fabulous trip to Princess Charlotte Bay! Along with experienced barramundi fishermen Richard Hovey and Dave Hunter, I spent six unforgettable days on Aroona fishing the southern rivers of this pristine and remote area.

Aroona is a brand new 70ft semi displacement Outer Reef motor yacht. She is a magnificently appointed roomy vessel that is extremely stable and sea kindly when under way. Aroona is genuinely luxurious. Each cabin is air conditioned, has its own ensuite and is very comfortably appointed. There are four lovely areas on Aroona for guests to enjoy. The spacious flybridge was a popular spot for lunch or having a drink of an evening watching the sun set over the mangroves. The saloon area is a great place to sit, relax and eat meals in air conditioned comfort, particularly if the sand flies were bad outside. The forward deck was a popular spot for a drink after a big day's fishing. Then there is the aft deck which is all in shade with a large dining table.

Aroona has an experienced, knowledgeable and very capable captain in Ross Miller but best of all he is a great bloke to be around. Andrew Prentice, Aroona's owner was our fishing guide for this trip; with many years of chasing barramundi around up north he didn't seem to have any trouble finding us fish. Ragini our fully qualified gourmet chef was a whizz in the galley. Her cooking is restaurant class and was exquisite! All crew were very friendly and we felt welcome immediately we came aboard.

Our trip started in Cooktown, although I was told that future trips will start from Lizard Island. We travelled overnight in what were fairly rough and windy conditions, which didn't seem to worry Aroona and I slept right through the night. The next morning we arrived at the mouth of the Bizant River where Ross eased Aroona through the shallow entrance into the deep water of the main river. Over the four days we explored and fished the Bizant, Normanby and Marrett rivers and marveled at the wildlife and the beauty of these isolated mangrove systems. We saw an amazing variety of spectacular northern birdlife: burdekin ducks, magpie geese, sea eagles, brahminy kites and various honeyeaters – among many others.

We experienced some amazing sports fishing with Andrew in his well set up 5M Quintrex Hornet which comfortably fished three anglers. We caught many solid barramundi and some very large threadfin salmon; other species included mangrove jack and fingermark. Our crab pots would invariably be overflowing with good-sized mud crabs!

We found a spot in the Bizant we dubbed “threadfin alley” which produced huge, leaping threadfin salmon one after the other. The barramundi fishing was tremendous. On our best day we captured or released between 40 to 50 barra. Some of these fish were over 900mm. At times the action was so fast that Andrew would have three barra patiently (or sometimes not so patiently) lined up to be released!

At the end of the day, after a hard day of fishing and exploring, we would freshen up and enjoy a well earned beer or wine on the upper deck watching the sunset. Then be served a beautiful meal by Ragini. We had some fabulous seafood meals! (The food on Aroona is to die for)

Aroona offers an interesting luxurious alternative to the typical hard core barramundi trip. Fish hard tossing lures all day – then absolute luxury, with excellent food and wine when you return! How good is that?

For the return trip to Cooktown we went through the beautiful Flinders Island group via the reef and moored overnight at Lizard Island. We spent an afternoon trolling along the reef with some spectacular pelagic action! Big hits and long, scorching runs from Spanish mackerel (biggest was 18kg) and tough as nails giant trevally. Apologies to Andrew for the broken rod!

At Lizard Island we had a mooring with a great view of the beautiful and famous island. That evening and then at night in Aroona’s underwater lights it was like being in the middle of fish bowl. The local tawny nurses (big but harmless) huge trevally and morwong came right up to the swim platform, constantly circling hoping for a free feed.

Next morning it was back to Cooktown and back to reality. Heartfelt thanks to Aroona and her wonderful crew for an absolutely memorable trip.

Looking forward to the next trip!

Robert Muir, Buderim Qld

As a prelude to this year’s Sydney International Boat Show of 2011, the Sydney area has experienced the wettest and windiest July in 60 years, according to the locals.

As I sit here on the plane with a 44 hour transit in front of me (I must have a word or two with my travel agent when I return) back to the states, it gives me time to reflect on the show.

Knowing well how good or bad weather plays into the success of any boat show, you can imagine my angst when Andrew Coffey, Outer Reef's general Manager of Australia and New Zealand gave me daily weather updates as the show approached.

From the delivery and offload of our newest model, the 63 open Motoryacht, which had been delayed due to horrendous weather en-route from Taiwan to Australia, to the delay of the move into the show due to 5-6 meter seas and wind to 60 knots around the Sydney area, all was not looking good for the start of one of the two major boat shows of the year in Australia.

It is winter in the Southern hemisphere and typical weather is windy, overcast, rainy, around 40-50 degrees during the day, and temperatures can go down as low as freezing or below at night. Perfect boat show weather!

As I crossed the Southern oceans at 36,000 feet headed to OZ, I was bounced around by the storms brewing above and below. As we closed in on Sydney 2 days prior to show time, and while on approach, the pilot came on the intercom and announced that we were ahead of schedule (must have been those bumpy tail winds) and the forecast for Sydney (for at least that day) was to be sunny and mild.

The talk of the town was all about the weather. The forecast for the next week was for sun and temperatures into the 70's. Needless to say I was greatly relieved. The winds had calmed down to a light breeze and all the boats moved into the show, albeit a bit delayed. It was like Poseidon, the God of the Seven Seas had laid down his Trident and given us a reprieve from his wrath of the past month. It made me think a bit that Poseidon may have been an Aussie rather than a Greek.

Show day opened with not a cloud in the sky, with just a whisk of wind and temperatures approaching 75 degrees. The crowds were strong and the quality of the crowds was even stronger. Outer Reef was displaying its newest model - the 63 open pilothouse Motoryacht. This new model is a modification of our 63 cockpit model whereas we removed the cockpit and re-allocated this space creating a larger boat deck, aft deck and salon. This boat in particular, built for an Australian client and his family also boasted a crew quarters aft with full head and shower as well as a very workable utility space. The interior layout on the main deck is an arrangement that is open between the pilothouse and the galley, as well as the rest of the main deck. It was a smashing success. The crowds overwhelmingly resounded it as a magnificent layout and best in her class!
We saw many people from shows of previous years that seem finally ready to commit to purchasing and Outer Reef. Although not the overriding issue, the strength of the Aussie dollar has garnered some influence in their decision making. During the show the Aussie dollar was at $1.10 to the US dollar! To give some perspective on this, when Outer Reef opened its office in Sydney 4 years ago, the Aussie dollar was $.67 to the US dollar. The current strength of the Aussie dollar, as well as the Euro and Canadian dollar is definitely influencing the purchasers of Outer Reef's which are sold in US dollars worldwide. There is no better time than now to purchase a new Outer Reef, especially if you are Australian, European or Canadian.

The remainder of the show was no different in terms of weather and strong crowds. We even had numerous sightings of the elusive "Monday be-back" (I'll be back), those taking a final look and walk through and taking advantage of the lighter Monday crowds to get down to the serious business of negotiations. This is something that has been non-existent over the last few years. I had almost begun to think that the "Monday be-back" had gone extinct, lost forever, a casualty of the even more elusive global warming! All now is good in the world Mr. Gore!

I came away from this year’s Sydney boat show with great optimism, more so than any boat show in the past 4-5 years. I feel very confident that we will close some new build contracts, with a half dozen contracts currently being negotiated. Obviously there are some specific economic parameters at play in OZ, but I think this is commensurate with the continued rise in optimism that is returning to the boating industry worldwide.

I want to extend a very special thanks to our team down under for a very well organized show (as always). Thank you Andrew, Justin, Daniella, Matt & Kenny. Also an extra special thanks to the Beattie Family - Mark, Claire, Amy and Emma, the new owners of "WONYIP III", our Sydney show boat. The Beattie's will be leaving Sydney with "WONYIP III" in the next week or so heading to Melbourne in the Southern oceans where she will be home based.

43 hours now and counting and I will be back in the States and will begin the work to finalize some of these contracts. After that? Of course yet another boat show, oh and yes, not to forget about that travel agent!

Cheers and Good Cruising!

Jeff

New Outer Reef 65 Delivered... ...Twice!

Another new Outer Reef 65 was just offloaded this past week in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to her proud new owners, who have never before seen the boat!

The original owners of hull #65-041 were so enamored with Outer Reefs new 70' model that they decided to put their 65, just nearing completion in Taiwan, on the market for sale and once sold, order the company's new 70' model. This was decided by the owner one week prior to loading her on the cargo ship bound for the States.

Two weeks later while underway in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on her way to Florida, she was purchased sight unseen by her present owners. These owners were not strangers to the Outer Reef as they had been on many Outer Reefs displayed at boat shows prior to this purchase.

The current owners realizing the rare opportunity to purchase a new Outer Reef 65 without having to wait to build one and get on with their cruising plans post their upcoming retirement, was very appealing to them. Another consideration was that this yacht was extremely well equipped and fit very closely what would have been their own personal specifications had they gone through the new build process themselves. Joel Davidson, sales associate out of the company's Ft. Lauderdale office was responsible for the original and subsequent second sale of Hull #41.

It is not uncommon for Outer Reefs to be sold very quickly when they do become available. Considering very few Outer Reefs are available for sale on the pre-owned market, this has created a supply and demand marketplace that has bolstered both the intrinsic and market values of Outer Reefs.

As a couple of examples, just recently a 2005 Outer Reef 73 was sold without even being officially offered for sale on the pre-owned market. Joel Davidson of the company's Ft. Lauderdale office had a client patiently waiting in the wings for his dream boat, an Outer Reef 73, to become available. Joel approached one of his clients that he sold a 73 footer to many years prior, hoping that he would be receptive to selling his boat. The deal was consummated in a very short period of time, with the purchaser realizing that he had capitalized on the rare opportunity to purchase the only Outer Reef 73 unofficially available.

Due to health issues with another client building a new Outer Reef 86, the client decided to offer the yacht for sale just as the boat was nearing final lamination of the hull and superstructure. This boat was sold within 3 weeks to a European Client by Trevor White, the company's EU sales manager at one of the European boat shows. The client also realized the value of the Outer Reef and being able to get into a sped up construction timetable. Due to the backlog in the current build schedule, the client appreciated that this purchase would allow him and his family to have a boat a year earlier than would have been possible on a new build contract.

Outer Reef's business model is one of direct marketing and sales through their own offices worldwide, with no dealer network inventorying product. Outer Reef Yachts is a build to order only company and does not build for inventory which helps to maintain value for current and prospective Outer Reef owners.

Having entered the European market during the Dusseldorf Boat Show 2009, Outer Reef Yachts - Europe now have yachts in build bound for the EU market during 2010. The combination of class-leading fuel efficiency, all weather capability, and custom design have proven to be a perfect match for European buyers. Two of Outer Reef Yachts latest clients are owners of commercial ship-building yards, appreciating Outer Reef’s ‘belt and braces’ approach to yacht building.

Outer Reef Yachts are designed and built to exceed CE Open Ocean Category ‘A’. The shipyard is ISO 9001 compliant and is equipped to build vessels that exceed 24 meters in length, either to BV or Lloyds Certification.

Since its launch within the EU, Outer Reef Yachts – Europe has put in place premier sales offices and service centres. These offices are manned by the most proficient of sales and after sales management teams.

Outer Reef Yachts - Europe has recruited senior management personnel from the marine service, yacht management, engineering, and accountancy sectors. Each dedicated professional brings with him, or her, a wealth of knowledge and experience from their own particular background into the marine industry. An Outer Reef Yachts client will benefit from their dedication and professionalism.

We are honoured that Oceanstyle Yachting has agreed to operate alongside our own sales team. Oceanstyle Yachting (one of Europe’s premier Superyacht Sales and Management consultancies) has offices in Pall Mall London, Monaco, and Palma. They are able to look after Outer Reef Yacht owners (existing and new) throughout these territories whilst fully supported by both Outer Reef Yachts – Europe, and the Outer Reef Design & Technical department in Fort Lauderdale, USA. This, we believe, is a formidable partnership, being made up of skilled designers, professional sales personnel, technical staff, and yacht management administration.

These officially appointed structures and partnerships only go to enhance our clients’ relationship with Outer Reef Yachts Inc. since an Outer Reef customer always remains a direct Outer Reef customer, irrespective of the support structures in place.

Trevor DeFaoite, Director of Sales for Outer Reef Yachts – Europe comments...

“Our goal is to bring to the European market not only the finest long distance cruising yachts currently available, but a network of premier sales and services centres within Europe in order to support our customers wherever they cruise. This is a new concept for clients of this style of yacht. Prior to Outer Reef Yachts availability in the EU owners have had to liaise remotely with a dealer who represented the entire EU market for a particular brand. Outer Reef Yachts - Europe adopts an entirely different approach: the owner is always within reach of a member of the sales team, a service centre, or local technical support. We have both service and technical centres, and sales offices in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, UK, France, Italy and Palma. Several more offices will be joining us during 2010. By 2011 we will have the largest premier network within Europe of any long distance semi-displacement builder. Oceanstyle Yachting is an integral part of our European strategy and I am delighted to work alongside such a professional and well structured company.”

Outer Reef Yachts Oceanstyle Yachting, Pall Mall

For further Information on Outer Reef Yachts – Europe:

Tel +44 1489 589195

email: trevor@outerreefyachts.com

www.outerreefyachts.com

www.osyachting.com

Outer Reef Yachts partners with SeaKits® in offering their proprietary Marine Maintenance System as standard equipment on all Outer Reef models. "After many years of building on our own in house maintenance protocol, we have decided to partner with SeaKits® as we have found their system to be by far, the best and most comprehensive in the industry. By incorporating SeaKits® Marine Maintenance System into all Outer Reef's we continue to enhance value to our clients and will further enhance Outer Reef's already proven high re-sale value. I am extremely pleased to have SeaKits® and its founder Barry Kallander as a premier partner with Outer Reef says Jeff Druek, CEO of Outer Reef Yachts." About SeaKits® Marine Maintenance System: Marine Maintenance Systems The SeaKits Marine Maintenance Systemsm (MMS) is the first comprehensive spare parts and maintenance management solution specifically developed for passage making and coastal cruising yachts. MMS is designed for self-reliant owner/operators and captains who want to optimize the safety, reliability, performance, and value of their yacht. MMS users enjoy the following significant benefits: • Improved vessel reliability through proper maintenance; • Voyage continuity with onboard spare parts and electronic technical documentation including owners/operators manuals and parts catalogs; • Enhanced maintenance planning and management; • Simplified warranty claims; • Efficient outfitting through a competitive single source; and • Higher retained yacht value. MMS is delivered turnkey for each yacht with support for all marine systems and equipment, including: spare parts recommendations; preventive maintenance task descriptions; and electronic documentation. The web-based system provides for maintenance task alerting, maintenance planning and scheduling; maintenance history, spare parts inventory management, and online parts ordering. "Powered by SeaKits" Partner Program The "Powered by SeaKits" partner program for boat builders provides a unique solution for customer service and support placing all the information about each customer's specific systems and equipment at the builder's finger tips. The Powered by SeaKits program includes co-branding, the Boat Builder's Portal, customized news casting to customers, and a "sister ship" yacht to present the benefits of MMS to current and prospective customers. Spare Parts Outfitting With MMS in place, yacht owners have a partner that understand the systems, equipment, and parts requirements of there yacht. SeaKits provides competitive stem-to-stern Spare Parts Outfitting through a single point of contact. Parts are individually labeled for quick identification, and kitted in water resistant boxes as needed. Global logistics are available to MMS customer to deliver any part to any port in the world. www.seakits.com

We purchased Ginger (formerly "Toto") in March of 2012, from the original owners. We had searched extensively for the "right" boat for us for 6 months. Friends of ours, Ray and Susan, own a 65' Outer Reef and they spoke very highly of the boat, and the brand. We were impressed with the way the company stood behind its product, and supported its owners. When we saw Ginger, we knew we had found the right fit for us.

Ginger spent her first year of our ownership on the East Coast, giving us a chance to get to know the boat, and to explore the Bahamas and Chesapeake Bay. We often called upon Outer Reef with questions, small issues, or for guidance, and they were always happy to respond. We also attended an Outer Reef Rendezvous, which gave us a chance to meet other Outer Reef owners and see many of the other vessels produced by Outer Reef. We have found the owner group to be a great asset in terms of information shared, as well as friendships.

At one point in that first year, when John and a small crew were repositioning Ginger from Florida to Chesapeake Bay, they found themselves on the edge of a named storm – Alberto. The sea conditions were bad enough to send one crew member to her bunk. But John said Ginger performed admirably. He was impressed.

In the spring of 2013 we shipped Ginger to Victoria, BC… it was time to bring her home. What a happy day it was when she was off-loaded in Victoria early in May! That began our annual migration pattern: north from the Pacific Northwest to Sitka, Alaska in the spring, and south from Sitka back to the Pacific Northwest in the fall. The positioning voyages have become highlights of our year. Ginger provides a comfortable ride, even when we are crossing large bodies of water open to the power of the Pacific Ocean.

We usually spend a few weeks aboard her in the spring and again in the fall, with shorter trips around Southeast Alaska during the summer months. The master stateroom easily accommodates a wardrobe sufficient for all kinds of weather and activities, from cold days in front of a glacier, to balmy days in the San Juan Islands, and from fishing gear, to dressier city attire. The ample storage space in the pantry, as well as under the salon settee's, and in the galley's refrigerator/freezer, plus a generous boat deck freezer, can keep us well-stocked for weeks. We have not yet used all of the many storage spaces Ginger provides.

We have made many upgrades and modifications to Ginger over the nearly 4 years we have owned her, and with each improvement we learn to love her more. The most significant improvement was the addition of full canvas surrounds on the aft deck, and the flybridge, affording us additional comfortable "indoor" living areas even in cooler weather. Phantom screens added to all doors and flybridge hatch allow us to enjoy the breezes without the bugs! We also added a 70 kilo Rochna anchor, which is more appropriate for Pacific Northwest and Alaskan waters. Troll valves enable slower speeds for salmon fishing. A second radar and plotter, a night vision camera, solar panels, and an ESI fuel polisher provide some redundancy as well as extra safety measures for peace of mind in the remote areas in which we cruise.

Several times during these past few years, we have called upon Outer Reef for this or that, and the response has always been fabulous, and even beyond expectations. Even though we are separated by thousands of miles, they have remained steadfastly supportive of us as Outer Reef owners. We are extremely pleased with the company, the way they stand behind their brand, and with the quality of the boat itself.

On May 24, 2012 we were crossing back to Ft. Lauderdale from Gun Cay. For the first 47 miles the seas were as forecasted, 2'-4' plus rollers before the stream and 4'-6' in the stream with the wind out of the south southeast at 10-12 knots. I noticed a storm moving slowly north from Miami on my Sirius weather screen, but was not concerned about it because the colors were almost completely greens with only a hint of yellow, no oranges or reds. We had experienced several days of light rain and moderate wind in the green colored areas over the previous week.

When we got about 12 nm out the wind shifted more to the southeast and the waves began to increase. Sirius still did not show sever storm conditions. We were close to exiting the stream and I attributed the higher waves to that because the current often is faster close to the western side. The waves were coming astern so I altered course and adjusted cruise speed to minimize the rolling action anticipating I would soon be in calmer water out of the stream. I was wrong. Very quickly the waves increased to 8'. I turned into the wind and for the next hour and twenty minutes I was bow into 12' seas with waves every 8-10 seconds. Periodically I experienced back to back 12 footers with a deeper trough behind the second wave. Water came thru the anchor pockets and over the bow. It was difficult to hold my heading in the face of these waves.

Finally I got to the edge of the storm where the waves subsided to 6'-8' and were more widely spaced. As they settled to 6', I was able to turn back to a heading for the Ft. Lauderdale outer buoy. It took another hour and twenty minutes to get inside they jetties and we had 6 footers with an occasional 8 footer all the way in. I was very glad to have the engine power I needed to enable me to throttle up when necessary to minimize the effect of the wave action and to hold course.

Through this episode the only damage Risky Business experienced was to a wing door on the starboard side. At one point we took water over the starboard rail that slammed that door shut and the weight of the water bowed the door and split open the fiberglass jacket. I have been thru the engine room and the below decks areas, and the only other evidence I have found of the rigors of this storm was a few broken snap ties that were easily replaced. At this point all equipment and systems appear to be functioning normally.

Again, thank you for building a seaworthy boat. I never expected to test it in such difficult seas, but it is comforting to know that it can take that and more if need be.

Barry Allred

65' Outer Reef - Risky Business

To Aroona's extended friends and family,