The Boat Nuts - by Motor Boat & Yachting

Welcome to Series 2, Episode 6 of Boat Nuts, the podcast about all things boaty, brought to you in association with Sleipner.This week, Hugo and Alex are on the flybridge of an Absolute Navetta 53 at Ocean Village Marina. The boys are talking about a remarkably agile Nordic pocket-cruiser, diving into the surprisingly passionate world of next-gen anchors, and sharing hard-learned lessons on how not to buy a boat.In this episode:03:11: Boat of the Week: The Finmaster Pilot 8. This 27-foot "SUV of the sea" packs two cabins, a clever reverse screen, and hits an eye-watering 45 knots16:06: Product of the Week: Hugo tackles anchors. We look at the jump from old-school plows to next-gen designs29:18" Issue of the Day: Boat Buying Mistakes. Six critical blunders that can turn a dream boat into a total liability.Subscribe to stay updated with every new episode as we talk gear, hulls, and the best ways to get afloat!

Welcome to Series 2, Episode 5 of Boat Nuts, the podcast about all things boaty, brought to you in association with Sleipner.This week, Hugo and Alex dive into one of the most controversial and innovative designs in recent years: the Jeanneau Sealoft 480. They also tackle the essential world of inflatable tenders and get technical with the truth about Lithium batteries.In this episode:01:30 – Boat of the Week15:20 – Product of the Week: The Great Tender Group Test23:45 – Issue of the Day: Lithium Batteries. Are they the future of silent anchoring or a stop-gap full of risks?33:10 – The Green Reality: A candid look at the environmental impact of Lithium miningSubscribe to the Boat Nuts channel to get your weekly fix of expert boat reviews, gear tests, and honest industry insight!

Welcome to Series 2, Episode 4 of Boat Nuts, the podcast about all things boaty, brought to you in association with Sleipner.This week, Hugo and Alex are dockside at Ocean Village Marina in Southampton to explore the latest in marine design and technology. From million-pound masterpieces to budget-friendly "go-karts" for the water, the boys cover the full spectrum of the boating world.In this episode:[00:02:30] Boat of the Week: We take a deep dive into the Fairline Targa 47 Open. Under new leadership and a fresh design eye, is this the boat that puts Fairline back on top?[00:22:18] Tech Talk: Alex puts the Seakeeper Ride system through its paces. Is it just a glorified trim tab, or is this "vessel attitude control" a genuine game-changer for smaller boats?[00:35:45] The Big Debate: Can you realistically get a family on the water for under £50,000 this summer? The guys hunt for the modern-day "Fletcher" and find some surprising answers—including an £18k boat that looks like a floating pillbox.[00:49:15] The Used Market: Hugo reveals why some boats are affordable for a reason (starting with a rib called the "Orgasmo") and why the used market might be the ultimate "cheat code" for budget boaters.Subscribe to stay updated with every new episode as we talk gear, hulls, and the best ways to get afloat!

+ Is it a Land Rover Defender or a luxury apartment?In Episode 3 of our second series, Hugo Andreae and Alex Smith are back on board the voluminous Prestige M48 Power Cat to dive into the world of Italian adventure yachting. We take a deep dive into the Blue Game BGX83—the flagship that tells the world it’s not for everyone. From its invisible hull windows to its sea-level lower saloon, we explore why this boat is a masterclass in breaking the rules.Supported by SleipnerThis series is proudly supported by the engineering masters at Sleipner. This week, we discuss the evolution of quiet technology; because as Hugo points out, there’s nothing worse than an owner’s cabin that sounds like a hydraulic factory. In This Episode:02:45 – Boat of the Week: The Blue Game BGX83. We discuss why this 'not for everyone' flagship is actually a masterclass in modular luxury.18:10 – Product Focus: AI-Assisted Navigation. Can SEA.AI and Watchit prevent groundings and whale collisions while you're busy making a cup of tea?32:50 – The Big Issue: The Owner’s Cabin. Is the bow the new top spot, or does the midships full-beam cabin still reign supreme?45:00 – The Power Cat Revolution: Why spanning the hulls on the Prestige M48 creates a 'duplex' feel you won't find on a monohull.Get the Full StoryIf you love our weekly chat, you’ll love the magazine even more. Get the deep-dive research and expert testing that only Motor Boat & Yachting provides. Subscribe today at: www.mby.com

Are you a RIB enthusiast or a Sports Boat purist? In Episode 2 of our second series, Hugo André and Alex Smith are coming to you from the sun-drenched flybridge of the Prestige M48 Catamaran to discuss the biggest shifts in the boating world. We take a close look at the Beneteau GT50, a boat that ignores the "wedding cake" trend of massive volume to prioritise sexiness, speed, and a connection to the water.Supported by SleipnerThis episode is proudly supported by Sleipner, the Norwegian masters of marine technology. Handling a beamy powerboat in a nasty swell is a different world when you have the right gear. Hugo and Alex discuss the transformative power of Sleipner’s Vector Fin stabilisers—a system so quiet and effective that even a "soft-bottomed" sailor can stand on the flybridge in a Norwegian snowstorm without missing a beat.In This Episode:03:00 – Boat of the Week: The Beneteau GT50. Is this lower, leaner profile the future of sports cruisers?17:30 – Product Focus: The Stabiliser Showdown. We break down the pros and cons of Gyros vs. Fins.25:15 – The Vector Effect: Why curved fins create lift and eliminate that annoying "sway" at anchor.34:00 – Marine Witchcraft: Alex tries to explain the "Magnus Effect" (using tennis balls and cannonballs).37:10 – The Big Issue: RIBs vs. Sports Boats. Can a "Crossover" boat like the Highfield ADV-7 or Iron Boats truly offer the best of both worlds?Get the Full StoryIf you love our weekly chat, you’ll love the magazine even more. Get the deep-dive research and expert testing that only Motor Boat & Yachting provides. Subscribe today for less than the price of a pint at: www.mby.com

On this latest edition of The Boat Nuts podcast, Hugo and Alex tackle a subject that many folks get very passionate about, what's better a Flybridge or a Sportscruiser. Plus Alex talks through how impressed he was with the De Antonio D60 and he and Hugo cut though the complexity to tell you what you really need to know about Marine Binoculars Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 02:10 – De Antonio D60 15:50 – Explaining Marine Binoculars 24:40 – Flybridges Vs Sportscruisers

Alex Smith and Hugo Andreae get stuck into the thorny issue of hull design and ask who needs a planing hull and when is a displacement hull the right option. Plus they talk all things Southampton Boat Show and take a look at some of the best sunglasses for boating on the market (and Alex shamelessly tries to use his position as presenter to grab some freebies). If you liked this episode please consider subscribing to the channel, it makes a lot of difference. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 02:05 – Our top picks from the Southampton Boat Show 22:00 – The best boating sunglasses 34:40 – Hull design and hull shapes

Fresh from a visit to the Cannes Boat Show (Cannes Yachting Festival, to give it its proper name), Alex and Hugo discuss the boats that caught their eye at the huge European show. And with over 140 new launches, there's plenty to choose from! The boys also talk watches and discuss why a £30 David sometimes beats a £2000 Goliath. Plus when is an adventure boat really an adventure boat – and can there ever be a set definition?  Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 02:15 – Best Boats at Cannes Yachting Festival  33:05 – Our pick of the best boating watches 48:07 – What makes an adventure yacht an adventure yacht (and can you really define the term?)