the boatbuilding business. The VQ48 is the fourth model to
hit the water and there are four more on the drawing board,
just awaiting customers, which go all the way up to 90ft.
Steentjes describes the VQ48 as a distillation of his 43
and 50, and like them it is styled by Guido de Groot, whose
portfolio includes work for yards as diverse as Mulder, Selene
and Feadship. Naval architecture is by Studio Delta. Essentially
a giant walkaround design, thanks to deep bulwarks protecting
the side decks – it’s not just the cockpit that feels safe – the latest
Vanquish has the feel of a mature design concept. And if you
can convince the yard to make any changes, then aluminium
construction makes modifi cations fairly straightforward to do.
There are no moulds to break.
With headroom in the cabin just 6ft (1.83m), that attractive
quilted deckhead lining will come in handy. The galley is a
very basic affair by the door with just a sink and a microwave
and a few drawers and lockers, but if you had a mind to, you
could probably rob some space from the starboard sofa for
a worktop and a small cooker. The gas strut on the door to
the heads is a nice touch, and the compartment itself, with
its separate shower, is roomy and practical. This is perhaps
not really a boat for sleeping in, but the forward cushioned
area could serve as a berth, as it’s well over 6ft long and 5ft 8in
(1.73m) at its widest. It tapers to almost nothing, however.
In spite of appearances, the VQ48 is quite a conservative craft.
It is not designed as an outright speed machine. It’s pretty beamy
and carries its beam well forward, as you will appreciate as soon
as you try out the generous seating area on the bow. Deadrise aft
is a fairly moderate 17°. Although more horsepower is available
if you want it, before you opt for the bigger Cummins or even
the 800hp MANs on Arnesons which I heard mentioned, I would
seriously recommend a sea trial with the twin 600hp diesels and
Zeus pod drives fi tted to our test boat.
It’s terrifi c. Truly a driver’s machine, the VQ48 proved to
have utterly impeccable handling, and resolutely refused to put
a foot wrong no matter how extreme the helm inputs. Ours was
a fl at calm day in the south of France, of course, so the boat’s
rough-weather capabilities remain unknown, but it has a versatile
hull shape which combines plenty of lift aft with a razor-sharp
entry, and a broad envelope of cruising speeds from just over
20 knots all the way up to its maximum of almost 40. Handling
responses were precise and immediate, and I’m pretty sure that
on a choppy day, driving the VQ48 could be a lot of fun. The
automatic trim worked well. With Zeus pod drives and the clever
joystick control system that goes with them, low-speed handling
of this lightweight windborne craft is about as easy as it gets.
Interestingly, there was no baffl e or other soundproofi ng
in the engineroom air intake, which lies along the starboard
side deck – I was told that the owner likes to be able to hear the
engines. We have good news for him: with no wind interference
at the helm behind that tall screen, we measured a maximum
of 85dB(A) at top speed, which – with no wind interference –
is certainly diffi cult to ignore. But it would be easily fi xed.
Vanquish’s new model has undeniable personality, which is
sometimes a polite way of saying a boat is full of annoying quirks.
Not in this case. Not for me, anyway. If you can handle the look
of the VQ48 and appreciate the basic concept – and it’s really
very simple – then one turn of the wheel at 35 knots is all it will
take to make your mind up.49THE DATA
PERFORMANCE FIGURES
RPM 1,000 1,400 1,800 2,200 2,600 3,000
Speed (knots) 8.9 13.2 21.4 28.1 33.9 39.6
LPH 17.8 55.0 89.2 121.6 169.3 246.6
GPH 3.92 12.11 19.63 26.76 37.25 54.25
MPG 2.27 1.09 1.09 1.05 0.91 0.73
Range (nm)* 558 268 268 258 224 180
Noise (dB(A)) 73 77 79 81 82 85
Trim (deg) 1.5 4.5 5.0 4.0 3.5 3.0Speed in knots. Sound readings taken at helm. GPH & MPG figures use imperial
gallons. Range in nautical miles and allows for 20% reserve. Calculated figures
based on readings from on-board fuel gauges. Your figures may vary considerably.
45% fuel, 60% water, 3 crew + safety stores only. 30ºC air temp, humidity 49%,
pressure 1,015Mb. 1ft seas, F1-2 for trials.QUICK SPINComplex curves
are all constructed
from aluminium