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In the one day, we managed to sail around Pittwater, upwind and
downwind, in 15kts of breeze, motor at speeds from two to 20kts and tow a
biggish bloke on his surfboard — all in the one boat! Such is the ability and
appeal of the powersailer.
American Roger MacGregor started the powersailer business in the 1980s and
the MacGregor 26 is still the biggest selling cruising yacht in the world.
Little wonder there have been competitive models introduced to grab some of that
lucrative global market.
We tested Hunter’s Edge 27 last year and now the most recent powersailer
competitor to appear Down Under is the Imexus 28.
Although new here, the Imexus 28 began life back in 2002, when it was
released under the mantle of Odin 820, with design inputs from Bavaria Yachts.
The Bavaria influence is obvious in the style of the cabin windows, with a
distinctive blue flash.
ON BOARD
Boarding the Imexus 28 from a dock is easy,
thanks to webbing ‘siderails’ that unclip. Boarding from the water, or when the
boat is on its trailer, is done via a boarding ladder and cockpit transom
door.
The Imexus is the only powersailer to offer sidedeck walkways, and that
feature helps its big-boat image.
Mast raising and lowering is made as easy as possible by a clever A-arm
fixture on the foredeck. With the mast pad in its hinged base and the tack of
the furling genoa locked into the pivoting A-arm, the assembly is simply winched
upright. The A-arm remains attached when the stem locking pin is in place. A
battened main in its lazy-jack boom bag, shrouds and a tackle-adjustable
backstay complete the single-spreader rig.
The alternative form of propulsion — an Evinrude 90hp outboard in the case of
the test boat — power tilts on the transom, where it’s flanked by a pair of
dropdown blade rudders.
Like competitive powersailers the Imexus uses water ballast that fills via a
transom port. However, it has a large capacity of 730lt and supplements that
with 165kg of fixed ballast, plus a 55kg, 1.45m-draft centreboard.
INTERIOR DESIGNS
A three-step companionway ladder leads
to a spacious interior that boasts 1.85m headroom, a king-size berth aft under
the cockpit and a forward double V-berth. The berth sides are padded with
quilted material.
Between the fore and aft berths are a galley with one-burner spirit stove
(two-burner optional), sink and fridge; a head with chemical toilet (marine
toilet optional) and a four-seat dinette with drop-side table that incorporates
wine storage. The table pedestal is the fin case and the mast compression post
doubles as a handhold.
There’s ample storage space in shelves and under the dinette seats, while
trim is light oak panelling and cupboard fronts. Fit and finish is very good
throughout and a considerable improvement over the original Odin model.
POWER SAILING
In the company of Imexus importer, Clive
Calder and Pittwater-based dealer, Jason Gribble, we headed out for a day’s
fun.
With the northeast breeze filling in quickly on Pittwater our test
started with a sail, followed by a blast under power.
As we motored out from Newport we opened the water ballast port and the
breather under the forward bunk, filling the tank in around 10 minutes. The main
went up quickly and the headsail unfurled, while the engine was tilted and the
rudders lowered.
Like all water-ballasted yachts the Imexus adopted an early heel in 10kts of
breeze, but it settled at that angle and powered quite respectably to windward
at 5kts. The sail controls fell readily to hand, but the tiny steering wheel had
a very heavy action that made steering through wind shifts difficult. The local
agents are looking at a disconnection system so the wheel doesn’t have to turn
the weight of the tilted motor in addition to the rudders while under sail.
We thought a reef might be called for when the wind came in at 15kts, but the
Imexus felt quite secure with full sail. Like all lightly ballasted boats the
Imexus was more at home off the wind and it could be trimmed wing-a-wing when
square.
Cruising types will be happy with the Imexus’ sailing performance, but it’s
no club racer ? twilights maybe.
SCURFS UP
With the outboard snarling away behind, the
Imexus’ personality changed entirely. The transition from sail to powerboat
wasn’t difficult to achieve - rudders flipped up, sails stowed and motor lowered
- but best performance came only when the ballast tank drained to empty, after
around five minutes of brisk motoring.
Jason Gribble emerged from the companionway in his wetsuit, clutching a
surfboard under his arm. “We’re going to do some ‘scurfing’,” he declared. Clive
rigged a bridle off the stern cleats and the wakeboard tow rope was clipped to
it, before Jason leapt into the briny.
It’s hard to know what was more impressive: the wake antics of Jason scurfing
(a combination of ski technique using a surfboard), or the looks of disbelief on
the faces of onlookers.
With the boat tied to a mooring in a sheltered bay we reflected on the
features of the Imexus 28: it’s not the best yacht in the bay, but it sails
quite well; it’s not the best powerboat you can buy for the same money, but
it’ll do 20kts easily; and it’s not a caravan, but it can be trailed and will
sleep four in comfort. If you’re looking for a three-way leisure bet, you could
do a lot worse.
FAST FACTS
Like the Hunter Edge, the Imexus 28 is a
larger boat externally and internally than the MacGregor, and it can handle a
larger engine: up to 120hp on the Imexus’ transom. The Imexus aims for a
big-yacht feel below decks and has achieved that aim better than any in the
powersailer class. The trade-off is a bulkier hull that incorporates simulated
clinker mouldings to relieve the slab-sided look.
FACTS & FIGURES
IMEXUS 28
RUN DOWN
In terms of ease of moving around on deck and a
big-boat feel below decks, the Imexus 28 is the best of the powersailer breed.
It’s legally trailerable without a permit and offers the expected combination of
power and sailing abilities.
PRICE AS TESTED
$112,000 w/ galvanised steel two-axle
trailer
OPTIONS FITTED
Evinrude E-TEC 90 outboard, furling
headsail, battened mainsail in lazy-jack boom bag, antifouling, fridge, anchor
kit, inverter, pressure water system, bowsprit, 65lt fuel tank, bilge pump,
boarding ladder, and 2700kg-rated trailer
PRICED FROM
$77,000 sans motor
GENERAL
MATERIAL: FRP monolithic hull
TYPE:
Monohull
LENGTH OVERALL: 8.5m
WATERLINE LENGTH: 8.05m
BEAM:
2.5m
DRAFT: 0.3m (board up); 1.45m (board down)
MAST HEIGHT: 9m
WEIGHT:
1300kg (no ballast); 2030kg (with ballast)
CAPACITIES
BERTHS: Two doubles and two single settee
berths
FUEL: 45lt (65lt optional)
WATER: 24lt
HOLDING TANK: 24lt
(optional)
SAILS
SAIL AREA: 28.2m² (standard)
ENGINE
MAKE/MODEL: Evinrude E-TEC
TYPE: Two-stroke outboard
RATED HP: 60 (up to 120hp
optional)
SUPPLIED BY
Church Point Brokerage,
122 Crescent
Road,
Newport, NSW, 2106
Phone: 0411 231 230
Fax: (02) 9997
3027
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.imexusyachts.com.au; www.churchpointbrokerage.com.au
FINAL REPORT
The Imexus 28 is a craft that tries to
combine the abilities of a floating home, a powerboat and a small yacht, and it
does the compromise job reasonably well. It lacks the one-level living space of
the same-length powerboat; it certainly won’t race around the cans with a
similar-length keelboat; and it’s squeezier than a caravan that takes up the
same amount of road space, but it manages to roll all these functions into one
towable unit. That’s no mean achievement.
downwind, in 15kts of breeze, motor at speeds from two to 20kts and tow a
biggish bloke on his surfboard — all in the one boat! Such is the ability and
appeal of the powersailer.
American Roger MacGregor started the powersailer business in the 1980s and
the MacGregor 26 is still the biggest selling cruising yacht in the world.
Little wonder there have been competitive models introduced to grab some of that
lucrative global market.
We tested Hunter’s Edge 27 last year and now the most recent powersailer
competitor to appear Down Under is the Imexus 28.
Although new here, the Imexus 28 began life back in 2002, when it was
released under the mantle of Odin 820, with design inputs from Bavaria Yachts.
The Bavaria influence is obvious in the style of the cabin windows, with a
distinctive blue flash.
ON BOARD
Boarding the Imexus 28 from a dock is easy,
thanks to webbing ‘siderails’ that unclip. Boarding from the water, or when the
boat is on its trailer, is done via a boarding ladder and cockpit transom
door.
The Imexus is the only powersailer to offer sidedeck walkways, and that
feature helps its big-boat image.
Mast raising and lowering is made as easy as possible by a clever A-arm
fixture on the foredeck. With the mast pad in its hinged base and the tack of
the furling genoa locked into the pivoting A-arm, the assembly is simply winched
upright. The A-arm remains attached when the stem locking pin is in place. A
battened main in its lazy-jack boom bag, shrouds and a tackle-adjustable
backstay complete the single-spreader rig.
The alternative form of propulsion — an Evinrude 90hp outboard in the case of
the test boat — power tilts on the transom, where it’s flanked by a pair of
dropdown blade rudders.
Like competitive powersailers the Imexus uses water ballast that fills via a
transom port. However, it has a large capacity of 730lt and supplements that
with 165kg of fixed ballast, plus a 55kg, 1.45m-draft centreboard.
INTERIOR DESIGNS
A three-step companionway ladder leads
to a spacious interior that boasts 1.85m headroom, a king-size berth aft under
the cockpit and a forward double V-berth. The berth sides are padded with
quilted material.
Between the fore and aft berths are a galley with one-burner spirit stove
(two-burner optional), sink and fridge; a head with chemical toilet (marine
toilet optional) and a four-seat dinette with drop-side table that incorporates
wine storage. The table pedestal is the fin case and the mast compression post
doubles as a handhold.
There’s ample storage space in shelves and under the dinette seats, while
trim is light oak panelling and cupboard fronts. Fit and finish is very good
throughout and a considerable improvement over the original Odin model.
POWER SAILING
In the company of Imexus importer, Clive
Calder and Pittwater-based dealer, Jason Gribble, we headed out for a day’s
fun.
With the northeast breeze filling in quickly on Pittwater our test
started with a sail, followed by a blast under power.
As we motored out from Newport we opened the water ballast port and the
breather under the forward bunk, filling the tank in around 10 minutes. The main
went up quickly and the headsail unfurled, while the engine was tilted and the
rudders lowered.
Like all water-ballasted yachts the Imexus adopted an early heel in 10kts of
breeze, but it settled at that angle and powered quite respectably to windward
at 5kts. The sail controls fell readily to hand, but the tiny steering wheel had
a very heavy action that made steering through wind shifts difficult. The local
agents are looking at a disconnection system so the wheel doesn’t have to turn
the weight of the tilted motor in addition to the rudders while under sail.
We thought a reef might be called for when the wind came in at 15kts, but the
Imexus felt quite secure with full sail. Like all lightly ballasted boats the
Imexus was more at home off the wind and it could be trimmed wing-a-wing when
square.
Cruising types will be happy with the Imexus’ sailing performance, but it’s
no club racer ? twilights maybe.
SCURFS UP
With the outboard snarling away behind, the
Imexus’ personality changed entirely. The transition from sail to powerboat
wasn’t difficult to achieve - rudders flipped up, sails stowed and motor lowered
- but best performance came only when the ballast tank drained to empty, after
around five minutes of brisk motoring.
Jason Gribble emerged from the companionway in his wetsuit, clutching a
surfboard under his arm. “We’re going to do some ‘scurfing’,” he declared. Clive
rigged a bridle off the stern cleats and the wakeboard tow rope was clipped to
it, before Jason leapt into the briny.
It’s hard to know what was more impressive: the wake antics of Jason scurfing
(a combination of ski technique using a surfboard), or the looks of disbelief on
the faces of onlookers.
With the boat tied to a mooring in a sheltered bay we reflected on the
features of the Imexus 28: it’s not the best yacht in the bay, but it sails
quite well; it’s not the best powerboat you can buy for the same money, but
it’ll do 20kts easily; and it’s not a caravan, but it can be trailed and will
sleep four in comfort. If you’re looking for a three-way leisure bet, you could
do a lot worse.
FAST FACTS
Like the Hunter Edge, the Imexus 28 is a
larger boat externally and internally than the MacGregor, and it can handle a
larger engine: up to 120hp on the Imexus’ transom. The Imexus aims for a
big-yacht feel below decks and has achieved that aim better than any in the
powersailer class. The trade-off is a bulkier hull that incorporates simulated
clinker mouldings to relieve the slab-sided look.
FACTS & FIGURES
IMEXUS 28
RUN DOWN
In terms of ease of moving around on deck and a
big-boat feel below decks, the Imexus 28 is the best of the powersailer breed.
It’s legally trailerable without a permit and offers the expected combination of
power and sailing abilities.
PRICE AS TESTED
$112,000 w/ galvanised steel two-axle
trailer
OPTIONS FITTED
Evinrude E-TEC 90 outboard, furling
headsail, battened mainsail in lazy-jack boom bag, antifouling, fridge, anchor
kit, inverter, pressure water system, bowsprit, 65lt fuel tank, bilge pump,
boarding ladder, and 2700kg-rated trailer
PRICED FROM
$77,000 sans motor
GENERAL
MATERIAL: FRP monolithic hull
TYPE:
Monohull
LENGTH OVERALL: 8.5m
WATERLINE LENGTH: 8.05m
BEAM:
2.5m
DRAFT: 0.3m (board up); 1.45m (board down)
MAST HEIGHT: 9m
WEIGHT:
1300kg (no ballast); 2030kg (with ballast)
CAPACITIES
BERTHS: Two doubles and two single settee
berths
FUEL: 45lt (65lt optional)
WATER: 24lt
HOLDING TANK: 24lt
(optional)
SAILS
SAIL AREA: 28.2m² (standard)
ENGINE
MAKE/MODEL: Evinrude E-TEC
TYPE: Two-stroke outboard
RATED HP: 60 (up to 120hp
optional)
SUPPLIED BY
Church Point Brokerage,
122 Crescent
Road,
Newport, NSW, 2106
Phone: 0411 231 230
Fax: (02) 9997
3027
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.imexusyachts.com.au; www.churchpointbrokerage.com.au
FINAL REPORT
The Imexus 28 is a craft that tries to
combine the abilities of a floating home, a powerboat and a small yacht, and it
does the compromise job reasonably well. It lacks the one-level living space of
the same-length powerboat; it certainly won’t race around the cans with a
similar-length keelboat; and it’s squeezier than a caravan that takes up the
same amount of road space, but it manages to roll all these functions into one
towable unit. That’s no mean achievement.