Comparative review of Allures 52, Garcia Exploration 52, Alubat Cigale 16

Comparative review of Allures 52, Garcia Exploration 52, Alubat Cigale 16

In this review, we look at sleek aluminum cruising yachts capable of crossing oceans, breaking ice, while still providing cozy living spaces. What makes these three 52-foot yachts different - Allures 52, Garcia Exploration 52 and Alubat Cigale 16? What market segment does each model target? How to choose a yacht according to your cruise plan?

Allures 52

Allures 52 Is much more than meets the eye. Designed Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design Studio, This rugged yet elegant long voyage boat is built for true cruisers. It is the embodiment of the cruise dream of speed and comfort without compromise or performance overbalance.

Allures 52 built in Normandy, France to a very high standard, the welds are always professional and flawless, and the rounded insulated hulls are simply a work of art. Each yacht Allures is manufactured by a carefully formed team of specialists, reflecting the quality of the boat both on and below the deck.

The double rudder provides a flawless transition on the high seas and responds to light touch when sailing in high winds. The integral centerboard rises, reducing draft from 3.30 m to 1.10 m. This allows access to shallow water and also provides excellent performance from the upwind side.

Allures 52

Allures 52

The composite superstructure allows to reduce the total weight of the boat, and thanks to the easily controllable rigging, two people can steer the boat even in harsh conditions from the spacious and seaworthy cockpit. A delicate robot for finishing, bright stylish interiors, a good view from the salon through large windows, and an impeccable galley.

Fuel, water and battery tanks are positioned precisely in the center of the hull to provide an exceptional strength and balance-to-weight ratio for the aluminum hull. There is also ample storage space on the boat, including plenty of aft space for a generator, watermaker, spare parts, or anything else you might need extra space for. For a cruise yacht of this size, it is extremely important to provide the crew with autonomy during long ocean crossings.

Allures 52

The aft cabin on the starboard side may have a cabin, technical room or workshop. And if you prefer a combination of all three, the workbench can be converted into a bunk with ample storage space underneath. This design flexibility combined with unique capabilities Allureswill provide the owner with a truly enviable boat.

Garcia Exploration 52

Garcia Exploration 52 built on the basis of the legendary yacht project Jimmy Cornella Garcia Exploration 45... Yachting guru in conjunction with the shipyard Garcia created a dream yacht for the yachtsman himself, which eventually became a dream for all yachtsmen in the world.

Garcia Exploration 45 was specially designed for Jimmy Cornell's passage through Northwest Passage... In his life, he has traveled over 200,000 miles, traveled several times around the world, wrote many books about cruise itineraries that can be found on every yacht, founded several cruise rallies, including Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC).

Before yacht project development Garcia, Jimmy Cornell owned three yachts and traveled hundreds of thousands of miles. Of course, it is just such a person that you would entrust the project of your future yacht. His requirements for a good boat are extremely simple: a sturdy, fast, comfortable, functional and easily manageable yacht, ideal for both high latitudes and tropical sailing. Thus, keeping the principles of the 45th model, but increasing the size to 52 feet, the shipyard has created an even more majestic yacht for any region of sailing.

Garcia Exploration 52

Garcia 52

Outside, Garcia Exploration 52 looks solid and muscular, while retaining that heavy duty cockpit roof that resembles the bridge of a warship and which is the key to getting a good view from the inner helm station. The solid roof, which proved to be a good shelter on the 45, has increased in size and height. The extra 7 feet gave the yacht many benefits, such as an additional 600 liter tank. Of course, in general, the boat became almost 5 tons heavier and about 250 thousand euros more expensive than Garcia 45.

A yacht designed for high latitudes must provide the crew with safety and comfort, both inside and out. Exploration 52 has double-glazed windows facing forward to the bow deck giving the skipper a 270 ° view. Its technical characteristics are more reminiscent of those of a rescue tug than a cruising yacht, including a watertight saloon door, watertight forward and aft bulkheads and watertight hatches in the aft compartments.

Garcia 52

Garcia 52

Garcia 52

All tanks are centered and an anchor locker located at the foot of the mast for optimal weight distribution. Other key features include an integral aluminum centerboard and dual rudder bar with protective skegs for shallow water sailing. But the favorite, however, is the chain plate at the bottom of the stem for towing and ice breaking.

Owners can choose from two, three or four cabins, with seating for four to eight crew members. If the four-cabin version is chosen, it is possible to equip a workshop below deck.

Success Garcia Exploration 52 lies in its robust hull, wheelhouse and deck saloon, which provides a very secure position for all-round watch watches, along with a very long list of other benefits:

all fittings are made of welded aluminum and all valves are located above the waterline; thermal and acoustic insulation was installed above the waterline using polyethylene foam panels, as well as a thick foam insulated floor; electric windlass, located in a cabinet below deck directly in front of the mast; built-in aft arch for the installation of electronics, a wind generator, solar panels with the possibility of using it as a davit; a large aft platform has been installed with easy access to water and also for easy loading; the location of the life raft in the locker, which is accessed from the aft platform; all main sheets are controlled from the cockpit.

Garcia 52

So, two boats belonging to the same group, both made of aluminum, have a very similar hull, so what are the differences between them?

Apart from the obvious differences that the design Garcia 52 there is a deck salon, and Allures 52, the saloon itself, and the navigation post in the saloon are simply raised, the boats are significantly different, and indicate slightly different market sectors.

Both boats are very seaworthy, designed for long ocean crossings with great autonomy, but while Allures 52 we could call the perfect cruiser, Garcia 52 goes even further.

Garcia Exploration 52, relatively Allures, has a reinforced hull structure, and while on Allures, the decks are made of composite sandwich to reduce the weight of the boat, on Garcia they are made of aluminum to make the boat even more durable, and only the roof of the cabin is made of composite. All of this is responsible for superior weight. Garcia 52, about two tons more (from 16.9 to 18.8 tons), and this certainly makes Garcia a smoother and more expensive sailboat. Both boats use the same weapon configuration. The difference in price is also significant - the cost 52ft Allures, about the same as the cost 45ft Garcia.

Allures 45.9 rugged aluminum yacht review

Both boats are of a similar configuration, with a large hydrodynamically profiled centerboard, which provides good draft when the centerboard is lifted, for entry into shallow water where other boats cannot get close.

Most of the ballast is on the skeg, which protects the propeller, and some is at the base of the hull in the center. Even with most of the ballast on the skeg, the required ballast weight is much higher than on a boat with a fixed keel. Both boats have excellent running rigging that makes it easy to control the sails from the cockpit, even alone.

Interior and configuration Garcia 52 will leave anyone speechless. Deck salon - as reliable as a tank, as spacious as a house. The ideal boat for life. Spaces are allocated for everything you can imagine, from a generator to a watermaker, air conditioner, washing machine, large freezer and diesel tank, to keep all equipment running for a long time.

Garcia 52

Garcia 52

Garcia 52

Garcia offers excellent interior quality and finishes, with a very good interior on two levels, with a raised seating area for all-round visibility, with a relatively small glazed surface in height but almost continuous in length. And double glazing guarantees good insulation from cold or heat. Interior Allures 52 more classic, but this is only in comparison with such a giant as Garcia.

Allures 52

Allures 52

Allures 52

Allures 52

Allures 52

The level of comprehension, practicality and functionality that are concentrated in these boats is simply impressive. This is only possible due to the level of involvement in the design, close communication with yachtsmen, dialogue with clients and a great experience in construction. But what is most impressive is that this practicality is not reflected in aesthetics. In fact, you can't even say that these are rugged aluminum boats designed for exploring distant places, and not a luxury cruiser like Amel or Hallberg Rassy.

Alubat Cigale 16

Alubat Cigale 16 - everything is new, except for the concept and name. Cigale sounds familiar to experienced yachtsmen, but completely new Cigale 16 Is a concept of a comfortable and elegant, fast cruiser.

Designed Jean-marie finot back in the late 90s, Cigale was focused primarily on performance. It was a fast and lightweight aluminum yacht that slightly resembled racing yachts. Maxiwhile offering a completely new approach to the interior configuration of the yacht: all cabins were moved to the bow of the boat, while the aft under the cockpit was freed from bulkheads to accommodate a giant saloon. Nowadays, Cigale considered a classic yacht and a popular model in the used boat sector.

Alubat Cigale 16

In a new project Alubat Cigale 16developed in collaboration with a yacht architect Mark Lombard, the shipyard decided to combine both the progress made in naval architecture and technical improvement.

Lineup redesign Cigale launched back in 2009. At the first stage, the shipyard took up the modernization Cigale 16 - this was the priority boat they wanted to bring to the market. The main goal of the project was, first of all, to improve the dimensions of the cockpit and increase the comfort of the boat. One of the main challenges was the creation of a life-size dinghy space. Another important issue was the simplification of the yacht design. First version Cigale was considered too heavy and too complex to assemble.

As a result, a more reliable, more elegant and more comfortable yacht has been developed. 100% aluminum structure, clean lines, fully cleaned deck with hidden deck hatches. Everything has been carefully thought out to give new life to a classic yacht Alubat Cigale 16.

Alubat Cigale 16

The deck plan highlights the fact that aluminum can also be elegant. The boat is maneuverable, easily steered by a small crew, with plenty of living space on board. The inflatable dinghy can be stored on the deck, which becomes a great place to sunbathe at anchor. Hard case Cigale 16 provides stability and power, allowing the boat to carry large sails. Slim hold, keel and double rudder blade designed Mark Lombard, allow you to make the most of the rugged case. A small crew can use the boat's full potential thanks to a simple and functional deck layout.

The rugged hull is designed with maximum waterline, reduced wetted surface and light displacement for speed, upwind and extended sailing in trade winds. The rearward movement of the mast, in addition to the extended rigging and staysail, provides propulsion in all conditions and remains easy to handle.

In terms of living space comfort, the deeper and more spacious cockpit is equipped with a simple and optional dual steering system, allowing a small crew to operate the boat easily and safely. Easy access to the large feed platform on both sides without stepping over the rail. In addition, the path around the steering wheels is clear. Thus, everyone's comfort is guaranteed.

In keeping with the tradition of this lineup, the new Cigale 16 offers a spacious aft saloon that is sure to witness unforgettable evenings with stunning views through the windows in the swim platform just above the waterline.

Alubat Cigale 16

Alubat Cigale 16

Alubat Cigale 16

Available in 3 and 4 cabin versions. The light oak interior emphasizes the modernity of the concept and the quality of the new design. Wide saloon with sea views on both sides and aft; the galley and navigation table are located in the center; bow cabins, well lit and ventilated. With two helm stations as an option, or with just one helm station, you will benefit from the quality of this new boat: efficient, simple and safe in all conditions. It all does Alubat Cigale 16 a good boat for traveling at speed with maximum comfort. And of course the fact that Cigale made of aluminum, making it suitable for sailing in extreme northern and southern latitudes in rough seas and at the coldest temperatures.

First of all, aluminum ocean yachts such as Garcia, Allures and Alubat have a high price range. In addition, the technical characteristics of these boats are geared more towards experienced yachtsmen. And this limits sales, because most of today's customers pay more attention to internal volumes, comfort, innovative toys, and, accordingly, to the price-space ratio.

The main aspect in modernization Alubat Cigale 16 the idea was to create a very fast cruiser with a stern saloon, a configuration that is still missing in the yachting industry. Cigale, both then and now remains the only boat that offers such a configuration. Thus, the shipyard offers a completely different approach to planning and interior design, combining comfort and performance. But let's just say, not for everybody.

The idea was to make the boat more ergonomic in terms of handling. Comfort for the helmsman and crew was a top priority. Also, the goal of the shipyard was to facilitate the production part for itself. From the point of view of facilitating its construction. Cigale 16  Is a popular size boat and is suitable for a small crew, but above all, it is a fast boat, for extreme travel and thrill lovers with a good experience. This is a serious yacht for harsh conditions - and it is definitely not a family cruiser.

Alubat Cigale 16

The monohull cruising market is now competing with multihull yachts as well. Construction of an aluminum yacht, and even with an individual approach to production as in Garcia and Allures Is a very laborious process for a shipyard, but in the end the yacht is worth every cent spent.

It is absolutely possible to say that there are no two identical yachts in the world. Allures or Garcia... Each yacht is semi-custom built, so the owner gets the best of what works for his cruise plan and meets the needs of his crew.

Allures 52

Concerning Allures 52 - this is a great option for those who are looking for a very good aluminum boat to live on, circumnavigate the globe as autonomously as possible, take refuge in very shallow waters, explore places inaccessible to other cruisers. Those who do not plan to sail in high latitudes, but want to own the safest and most durable boat - this is definitely Allures 52. It is lighter, faster and much cheaper.

If you dream of exploring the Arctic and Antarctic or other really remote places with permanent residence on board, boats are better than Garcia Exploration 52 not found in the yachting industry. It is truly an exploration vessel with the highest level of taste and comfort. A versatile boat that will look good both in the Mediterranean and Antarctica. Besides buying Garcia or Allures, you join the owners club Grand large yachting and you will receive support and advice from both the shipyard and other owners.

Garcia 52

Interparus Yachting is the official representative of the shipyards Allures Yachting and Garcia Yachts. To order a test and visit the shipyard, call +33644142168 (WhatsApp) Sasha Goron, or leave a request on the website. When buying a yacht, training is a gift from our team. See you in La Rochelle!

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28.12.2018