“Katera i Yachty” journal – Grizzly 520-R: waterproof variant “KiY” #4 (220) 2009

In “peacetime” testers “cue”, like all normal people prefer the clear sky, warm and smooth water. Another thing – the editorial tests, during which the greenhouse conditions are not usually welcome. And this time the state of the atmosphere of St. Petersburg turned out to be very helpful. the air is saturated with moisture, low clouds, sprinkle chilled autumn Neva bothersome rain, wade bones chill – in a word, all that was available for a set of weather “joys” in which a roof over your head is perceived as a great blessing. Roof roof strife. The simplest version of it – is a soft top, but, like any temporary asylum, he grabs his minuses. Not everyone is happy and full cabin with aft bulkhead, especially in the compact boat – two-volume arrangement is not distinguished by a special space and significantly restricts the freedom of movement of the crew in the inhabited space. So the best solution at the length of the body a little more than 5 m in length – the so-called “polurubka” (according to the terminology adopted abroad – “hardtop”), supplemented, if necessary, an awning. I must say that such an open aft cabin-shelter does not belong only the smallest boats – such an option can be often found on ships of class motor yachts longer than 10 meters One of the reasons why the designers stop at this layout solutions -. This is achieved due to large-volume scheme versatility vessel which can be used not only as a tourist “cruiser”, but also for walking, and fishing for the same.

** On the air and under the roof **

Many people probably noticed that during the drafting of tests we often have associations with the production of small shipbuilding Soviet times. This case was no exception – the silhouette «Grizzly 520-R» boat once seemed vaguely familiar. Clarification was found quickly – a similar polurubka with a characteristic “panoramic” windscreen featured a fiberglass “Ladoga-2” and aluminum “Moscow-2”.

In the 70-ies., When the boats came into the world, they are treated, in modern language, a “premium.” At the same time, the current 5.2-meter pot, even to cabin usually enroll in the “budget” category. Something like this, despite the presence of cuttings, positioning the model and the manufacturer, although the notion of “budget” even in our times is very extensible. A set of “essentials” is not defined (as opposed to the “luxury”) also by any regulations, and this issue is interpreted one way or another shipyard exclusively in accordance with their own ideas of its experts. As for “the Grizzly 520-R», it was a “Spartan” we would not call this boat. Start with the fact that the fiberglass deck section welded aluminum hull initially provides a high level of comfort (and looks more aesthetically pleasing) compared with pure aluminum scheme, although costs more expensive. The driver and passenger are located on the left soft swivel chairs, similarly decorated two-tone cushions of the “sea” of vinyl and covered aft sofa with a spacious locker. Separate “locker” for folding awning covering the aft cockpit, is not provided, but packed in a case, it is quite organically fits into the space behind the couch. Despite the rather scanty construction tent pegs and mount on, put it quickly and without any problems, including within – largely thanks to the separate canopy that makes it easy to get to all the edges and do not put a lot of effort with the fabric stringing. The ability to partially detach the sidewall, by the way, come in handy on the go. A plastered with raindrops polycarbonate visor “road” it was visible matter and sometimes rescued to just stick his head out – that, for example, how to see the raft on the Neva snag and mooring to put an awning could grab the edge of the dock or aboard the approaching boat, literally without leaving the driver’s seat. Mooring ducks amidships there, but there is pobortno handrails on the gunwale of the cockpit, which is convenient for the start time moorings, so that all in the same sitting position and is easy to “fix.” Handrails made of stainless steel and mounted on the roof of the cabin (width potopchin readily admits passage on board, the more that the boat does not differ excessive valkost), and nose are “capital” and I do not think stagger rails. By the way, they can be used at the same time center the anchor line to the DP to the boat was anchored not deployable wind or current (single clip or fairleads for these purposes is not here). There is a self-draining anchor locker in forepeak (unique, somehow forgot to provide a recess at the end of the anchor on its cover). In short, on equipment that is part of the standard equipment, the creators of «Grizzly 520-R» is clearly not spared, and all is arranged as a whole properly – except perhaps the location of the white parking light, a significant sector of which overlaps the superstructure. Cute polurubka “520go,” inspired by the parallels with the “Ladoga-2” and “Moscow-2” is not only a panoramic windshield, but also its very concept – or rather, a way of placing the driver. I will not take from all grounds to talk about “domestic” and “West” layout approach, but all tested still “hardtop” of similar dimensions of foreign production – for example, on the «Castello Amazon HT» or «the Bella 530 HT Classic» – control station although located close to the midship – aft cabin, but under the roof and thus rather low.

Review of the surroundings – especially the forward through the far-located “Lobovyk” – with such a landing is poor (especially if the glass zapoteyut contrary to expectation), and the management is somewhat similar guidance rifle with a telescopic sight. The scheme, which we have dubbed the “domestic” and that, as in the mentioned Soviet “kayutnikah” used to “the Grizzly 520-R», this shortcoming is free – the driver is in the cockpit on a fairly high chair, and in contrast to the same “Ladoga-2” on the right side, and watching over the situation at the rate of cutting the roof; It is a low transparent “visor” to protect against the headwind. In short, it looks about the same as if instead polurubki there was “normal” to the superstructure aft bulkhead. However, something like “polupereborki” to “520-th” is still there – it is remote from the helm, what is another plus – no need for a separate steering console clutter the space under the roof. As a result, pobortno sofas inside absolutely symmetrical, and with the size of the cabin 1.85 × 1.5 m here in case of what you can get for the night, even three, especially since loungers width decreases from the stern to the bow very slightly – in terms of it are not familiar V-shaped, rather U-shaped. The only thing, in spite of the presence of otbortovok to install the mortgage board that turns the space under the roof in the flat floor, the very board we are on board tested the boat have not found, and where the designers conceived to remove it “in its stowed” along with associated cushion – is not entirely clear . It was sufficient, and the ceiling height, measured from floor molded between the sofas “bath” for the feet – 1.2 m; at least, seated on a soft pillow of medium height man rests his head not finished fibrous material in the ceiling. Although, by and large, the space under the roof is intended primarily for overnight dry and store in luggage, a considerable volume of which can accommodate lockers in the sofa and said, “bath”. The need to deepen between the sofas there for the reason that the cockpit on the “520 th” – completely self-draining and bottom ceiling is quite high above the waterline (even with a load of 5 people backflooding through scuppers we did not notice.). “Bath” in the cabin fenced in a low coaming, preventing overflow of water (at least, rain during the test there and did not get), but if it happens, in the case enters bilge Electropomp.

In one case ** **

The contours of modern pleasure boats are difficult to find signs of any revolutionary innovations. As a rule, it is only those or other variations on the theme have invented, but most designers still prefer to keep quiet about what was taken as a basis. “580 th” The developers, on the contrary, themselves immediately recognized that the housing is designed largely with an eye on the boat «Uttern». With the production of this Swedish company we are quite familiar, but I think he would be here, and they did not recognize the progenitor of familiar features. Too much of any differences – from the lack of surfaces of double curvature dictated unfolding on a plane metal and ending position of the longitudinal redanov oriented more at the waterline, and not on the buttocks, as «Uttern». But fact is fact – koekakimi patterns of behavior on the water tested boat really resembled Swedish counterpart. First of all we are talking about a certain tendency to porpoise – and, unlike most of the tested boat, manifests this effect is not in full swing with too “battened down” the motor, and the average speed range (though in this case, the pitching is easy to remove with the help of adjust the trimmer). Due appears when the speed drops a little, “nodding his nose” in steep turns both boats turned not smooth and discrete – like the second hand of the clock, while the rest, even the most extreme maneuvers performed quite comfortably and safely. I must say that the open and to cabin version on the go is not much different from each other – except for a small difference in speed due to power outboard engines (115 hp to the “580th” and 140 liters with «580R…. “), as well as some deeper rolls in the corners inherent” kayutniku “because of the greater weight of the deck section. Output mode is not accompanied by excessive trim, and a minimum planing speed is only about 25-26 km / h – a very good indicator for the housing keelback. When driving in a straight line at full speed and both boats easily expose “heel” to squeeze extra speed reserves (it must be said that the “580 th” body readily responds to trim and screws retained focus even at the minimum circulation). However, even more massive «R» confident saves to “on an even keel”, not only in calm water but also when jumping from a steep half-meter waves on the order of 70 km / h speed without trying zaryskivat and “stick” cheekbone. Due to the almost calm weather wave at first it had to raise himself, but under test curtain on misty Neva has appeared 15-meter motor yacht, going in the transition mode. We quickly jumped into the open “580 minutes” and heartily diarrhea for divorced her five-foot shafts. (Skipper cumbersome vessel, after watching our Exercise, soon broke down and just in case, put the gas down to the smallest). Jumping with a full flight and splashdown in the air were not accompanied by furious blows, but the boat remained permanently under control. In the mode of navigation «Grizzly» also showed himself a stiff upper lip – the approach to the mountain water nose regularly pop up in the open cockpit did not please a drop.

**Summary**

Successful compiling proven solutions from different times, supplemented by a number of new design solutions and has a personality and recognizability. Declared “budget” of the boat is determined, rather, its dimensions and the possibility of installing the motor fairly mild by today’s standards the power – on basic necessities (some of which are usually offered as additional paid options) creators of “the Grizzly 520-R» to save not steel and acted on we think it is reasonable, suggesting consumers are ready for operation and solid product.

** The test results of the motor boat “Grizzly 520-R” **

Load 1-5 people. plus 20 l fuel
Running awning installed,
PM – four «Yamaha 60″
HS – Aluminum three-blade «Yamaha» pitch of 14 inches,
wind speed – 2-4 m / s, the height of the waves – 0.0-0.2 m,
pace. temperature – 7 ° C,
pace. water – 9 °,
rain,
Test place – p. Neva, St. Petersburg

The original text of the article: Lisochkin Artem