It’s not often that I head over to the Netherlands for a one-day trip to film one boat. And when I do, it is usually because a boat deserves all the time and effort (and expense) that goes into planning such a trip.
From a business perspective, I usually try to film at least four boats in a single day, although the growing number of paying subscribers to this newsletter means I can increasingly start scoping out more single boats to film in a single day.
The No Limit Ships 1320 is one such boat.
A quick drone flyover of the 13:20. Below the paywall, I take you on board for a quick look around. The full boat tour will be coming soon!
I write this having just taken off from London City Airport aboard my usual KLM ‘commuter’ flight towards Schiphol. In around 40 minutes, I will land, and after navigating my way through security, which in itself can feel like a military exercise, I will be picked up by Hans from No Limit Ships before heading to the spot where the 1320 is currently berthed.
If you are new to the No Limit Ships brand, I encourage you to check out the videos I have uploaded to my YouTube channel, which feature the 1550 and the 1650. In summary, No Limit Ships builds some of the most capable explorer-style motorboats you will probably encounter.
The yard has been building boats for more than 25 years, having originally established its operations in Groningen back in 1996, and has a loyal following of repeat owners who understand what rugged, durable boat building is all about. These boats are not only extremely durable and seaworthy, but they are also fast.
You would not ordinarily expect a boat made out of steel, Corten steel in this case, to be able to top 30 knots, but that is exactly what the 1320 is capable of. Interestingly, the US Coast Guard 44-foot surf rescue boat, world-famous for the ability to self-right, is made of Corten steel, so the material has to be pretty darn good steel to stand up to that standard
The 1320 is a CE Cat A vessel, meaning that she can endure some lively sea states in excess of 4 metres with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that should you make contact with a subsurface object that evades the usual sensors such as radar and your line of sight, then the hull will be able to maintain its integrity, which, in itself, is often worth the added peace of mind that comes with owning a steel boat. Especially if you intend to take your family on board, and especially if you are cruising along at 30 knots at night.
This 1320 was built for an existing No Limit Ships client who previously owned two NLS vessels and wanted to downsize from one of their larger vessels, but still wanted the superior build quality and workmanship that comes with a No Limit Ships vessel.
Each vessel in the NLS range is built by hand by a dedicated team of craftsmen, many of whom have worked at the family-run business for years.
Having got to know many members of the team at No Limit Ships over the last year or two, I can see why the staff turnover is low and why many of No Limit Ships’ clients are repeat customers.
In addition to their private motorboats, NLS also crafts custom commercial vessels designed for hydrographic surveying, search and rescue operations, and demanding offshore maritime work.
But back to the 1320. Designed and crafted in the Netherlands, she features a robust Corten steel deep-V hull and decks paired with an aluminium superstructure. Her dimensions include a 4.65m beam, a draft of around 1.20m, and an air draft of 3.30m.
Rated for CE Category A ocean passage, power comes from twin Volvo Penta IPS600 engines, backed by a 2,250-litre fuel capacity, 690 litres of fresh water, and a 385-litre waste tank. If an owner wanted to, then hull number two could be fitted with 650s, but you won’t get much difference in performance with the extra horses (although your fuel bill will go up).
Official specs list an overall length of 13.20m, top speeds reaching 30 knots, and a displacement of roughly 18.5 tonnes. Equipment onboard includes Raymarine navigation electronics, Victron energy systems, a Northern Lights generator, and a Kabola boiler powering underfloor heating.
The full 1320 boat tour video will be coming very soon to my channel and will be available to everyone. So keep an eye on my uploads and turn on YouTube notifications so you don’t miss it. However, if you are a premium subscriber to this newsletter, you will find a short preview video of the 1320 below the paywall.
After all, it is only thanks to my premium subscribers in this newsletter that I can fund these often hectic, last-minute trips to film explorer yachts, which I think you will all like.
Having filmed and featured over 500 explorers, I am confident the 1320 will appeal to a broad range of seasoned boat owners who want something fast, solid, and usable year-round.
If you are not in a position to become a premium subscriber just yet, then fear not, as the full boat tour will be coming to my channel in the next few weeks (subject to any more last-minute trips!)
