“We got all the equipment together that we thought we’d need on an extended surfing or fishing trip, and then we built a boat around it,” says Roger Paarman. “It was a lot, so we needed a boat that could carry it all.”
The Nexus 600 catamaran has a 1500-nautical-mile range under power. She was designed by surfers for long-distance travel and blue-water adventure.
Roger is one of the Paarman brothers who are surfing royalty of sorts in South Africa. Wanting to ensure a high standard of living underway and an ability to reach out-of-the-way destinations for their diving and surfing expeditions, the brothers joined forces with fisherman John Henrick and designed a catamaran with a carrying capacity of 12,000 pounds and a range under power of nearly 1,500 nautical miles. And since the Nexus 600 actually sails well fully loaded, that range is virtually unlimited with the engines off.
With a sail area of nearly 2,200 square feet, the boat can truly sail. According to company representatives, at 60 degrees apparent wind angle, she’ll do 8 knots in 12 knots of wind, while carrying a full load of fuel (634 gallons) and water (528 gallons). All lines are led to the covered helm, where two electric Anderson winches handle the halyards and reefing lines, and one Andersen manual winch manages the traveler. The hull and deck construction is a vacuum-bagged sandwich with a Corecell foam core, so the boat is light but strong. The fixed keels are 15 feet long and four feet deep, and keep her tracking. Power is provided by two 110-hp. Yanmar diesels located under the aft cabin bunks.
The beam on a 60-foot cat allows for a lot of creature comfort in the saloon area. Sliding doors give access to an equally comfortable cockpit aft.
Boarding is easy, with two low steps that lead from the waterline to the walkway, which runs the entire beam of the boat aft and provides access to the davits. From there, a walkthrough puts you into an enormous cockpit protected by a hardtop bimini. Lots of storage and seating for eight make this an ideal patio where people will spend most of their time. To starboard and up a half-level is the helm, with a comprehensive installation of electronics and controls. Access to the helm station is via a two-rung ladder, which is not ideal. But the lack of actual steps leaves more room between the cockpit and the interior, which are on the same level and separated by a sliding glass door.
The Nexus 600 comes standard with a four-cabin, four-head layout, but it is available with three or five cabins as well. The two masters are forward in the hulls, with king-sized berths athwartships. The galley is to port and has a stove, day fridge, twin sinks, and a bamboo wood bar counter that will do well for entertaining. A sliding window opens out onto the cockpit, so the cook is never cut off from the group and can hand dishes out without taking an extra step.
Just ahead of the galley is a large, forward-facing nav station with a huge desk and lots of room for electronics. Next to it to starboard is a U-shaped dinette that will seat eight easily. Diners can see out even when seated due to the huge surrounding windows. On the sole is an escape hatch in case the cat ever flips over. With the boat upright, it provides a good bit of ventilation through the sole. In the starboard aft corner is a deep freeze and two more refrigerators.
In their marketing materials, Nexus refers to the boat’s luxurious finishes. The truth is, the finishes are more durable and functional than luxurious. There are wood trim accents throughout the interior to break up the acres of white surfaces, but the finish is more practical than lavish. If you drag a surfboard through the interior, you’re not likely to scratch anything important, and sandy feet won’t leave lasting damage. For me, luxury equals minimal maintenance and not having to worry when using the boat for the purpose for which it was designed, so in a way, that’s luxury in itself.
The base price of Nexus 600 is $1.4 million. Options include a genset, dive compressor, folding props, solar panels, air conditioning, gennaker, washer and dryer, icemaker, and additional house battery banks, among other things. Overall, however, the boat is well-equipped for long-range cruising right out of the box, and it’s expected to do well in private ownership as well as in charter.
For more information, contact Nexus Catamarans.
