Centouno Navi Forza: Fast Can Also be Green
Mean and Green
CENTOUNO NAVI, the new Made-in-Italy superyacht brand set up by designer Manuela Lucchesi and naval architect Marco Arnaboldi, has revealed further details about its 28-metre FORZA model. Capable of 60 knots, the stylish day cruiser is proof that fast can also be green.
The low-resistance hull form, for example, has been designed for high performance combined with high efficiency. Three MAN 12V 2000hp engines coupled to next-generation MJP waterjets as well as sandwich composite construction result in a yacht that is 30% lighter than its competitors with CO2 emissions that are 50% lower.
The efficiency of both the hull design and propulsion system means that with 9,500 liters of fuel FORZA has an incredible range of 500nm at a cruising speed of 50 knots.
But that’s not all. The choice of eco-friendly materials for the custom interior outfitting can save the equivalent of 20 trees and most of the materials are fully recyclable.
“Centouno Navi is all about respect for the sea,” says Manuela Lucchesi. “The design and engineering of Forza is the result of the combined experience of the brand founders, who have lived by the sea and on boats all our lives.”
The naval architecture and build methodology draws on naval architect Marco Arnaboldi’s former experience as founder and director of his own shipyards,since 1992 apply cutting-edge waterjet technology and sandwich composite construction to fast planing yachts.
“I’ve been building boats for more than 30 years and I know what owners want,” says Arnaboldi. “Speed and efficiency are often at the top of the list because it means they can cover more ground in less time and do it with minimal environmental impact.”
The hull construction using carbon and glass fiber in a hybrid sandwich with vinylester resin and high-density PVC foam core provides a lighter, stronger structure with optimal mechanical properties. Careful control of the turbulent boundary layer (TBL) around the hull means less drag and better lift.
The advantages of waterjet propulsion over conventional drive shafts and propellers are well known: higher speed, faster acceleration, shallow water capability, greater manoeuvrability, less noise and vibration, as well as lower maintenance and longer engine life. The fact there are no rotating parts under the water also makes them safer than conventional props – something that was made abundantly clear to Marco and Manuela some years ago when driving a fast, waterjet boat at nightfall near Mallorca.
“Suddenly we felt a bump and Marco shouted, thinking we’d hit a floating container,” recalls Manuela. “We ran at the stern of the boat and saw a sperm whale emerge from our wake. We were very concerned for her well-being so after checking for water ingress, Marco circled the whale to check she was OK. We were relieved to see she looked fine. If we had been in a boat with props we would likely have been sunk and killed or badly wounded the whale.”
The dynamic profile and deck layout is based on fast shadow boats with a sleek superstructure, open transom and elongated bow. The large terraced aft deck features a fixed swim platform, a large sunbed (with room for stowing a tender underneath) and fold-down bulwarks to increase the deck area and contact with the sea. There is another wide sunbed on the foredeck.
Under the enclosed hardtop is a comfortable salon with sliding glass doors overlooking the aft deck, a dining area, and the pilot station. The guest accommodation below deck comprises 4 cabins: a full-beam owner’s suite amidships, a VIP suite forward and two twin-single cabins (two crew cabins can be accessed independently from the bow). The airy interior design can be customized according to client preference.
A truly unique feature that offers a new way of living the sea is the windscreen in front of the helm station that can be opened to provide unrestricted access from the foredeck all the way to the swim platform in the stern.
The Centouno Navi series also includes 39-metre ETEREA, the big sister of FORZA and a full tri-deck superyacht. Her hybrid carbon composite construction is identical, but she is fitted with x4 MTU engines of 2,600hp each coupled to MJP waterjets for a top speed of 58 knots and a cruising speed of 50 knots.
