Adventurous owners looking to cross oceans and turn heads upon arrival may have found their ideal vessel in the newly launched LEEN 56, a power trimaran designed for blue water cruising. Just as the power catamaran concept exploded in the past few years with more demand than supply, CEO Eric Bruneel took the concept of multihull power cruising a step farther and the results are intriguing. He and the company are betting on the consumer falling in love with this new approach to distance voyaging on more than one hull.
Above: A 2022 LEEN 56 trimaran yacht on the water. Photo by Aeroyacht Ltd. in Long Island.
The French builder launches about 30 boats per year from their factory in La Rochelle and to date, they’ve focused on distance sailing trimarans under the brand NEEL. But when the market chose motors over sails, it was time to pivot and join the club. So, the letters in NEEL were reversed to LEEN and the powertri was born with the first model being a 56-footer.
Unique Design A Propulsion
Why a power trimaran? Well, that’s easy. A trimaran marries the best of the monohull trawler with the efficiency and space of a power catamaran and the result is a spacious, stable and unique platform. Add to that LEEN’s vacuum infused glass/Kevlar construction that saves weight while increasing strength, and a unique hybrid propulsion system with an ample amount of lithium batteries, and you have an energy-efficient vessel with a reported 2,500-nautical mile range.
What’s completely different about the LEEN tri is both obvious and not. First, everyone can clearly see that it’s a different kind of machine, with a large central hull and two amas, or thinner outboard hulls. The shape as well as the amount of space are noticeable in the large aft cockpit, the foredeck and the 340-square foot flybridge.
However, the second differentiating factor is a bit more subtle as it has to do with propulsion and efficiency. Designed by Nivelt and Frutschi, the LEEN 56 is a hybrid-powered trimaran with very low hydrodynamic resistance. The central hull houses a Cummins 350-hp Cummins QSB6.7 diesel while the amas hold an electric pod drive each. With a single main engine, the LEEN already has an advantage over multi-motor vessels – in fact, it’s twice as efficient as a powercat and may be as much as 10 times better than a traditional monohull powerboat with twin diesels. But there’s another difference.
Electric Drives = Better Fuel Efficiency
The boat can also maneuver on the electric drives alone while using the more fuel-efficient Onan genset to top up the lithium batteries. Furthermore, with only the electric drives, the boat can make five knots for up to one hour without the generator even running and that’s perfect for maneuvering in a harbor and docking where the wide-set pod drives will maneuver the boat with ease.
With over 1,300 gallons of fuel, the LEEN 56 can cross the Atlantic, so it can basically travel from France to Boston at nine knots. Drop that down a knot and the range extends to a mind-blowing 4,000 nautical miles. In electric mode only with generator assist – you might eek out nearly 4,200 miles albeit at a very slow speed. If you’re in a hurry, the top speed is 20-25 knots depending on the choice of diesel (350-400-hp). Adding to efficiency and livability, the large lithium battery bank ensures 24 hours of on-the-hook autonomy.
Livability: A Spacious Cabin And Tasteful Interior
Traditionally, trimarans haven’t been known for their amazing space. Unlike catamarans that spread their living quarters over two wide hulls and a vast bridge deck, trimarans typically had only one central hull that was narrower than that of a monohull powerboat and two slim outer hulls that were usually used for little more than stowage or tankage. NEEL sailing trimarans changed that up a few years ago by introducing a significant amount of living space across a larger main hull and wider amas capable of accommodating full-sized cabins. The powertri has adopted this design and it offers an astounding amount of room.
Above: The salon onboard the 2022 LEEM 56 TRIMARAN. Photo via Aeroyacht Ltd. in Long Island.
You board via swim platforms on any of the three hulls and then step up to the aft cockpit. To port is an outdoor dinette that will accommodate four and to starboard is a staircase up to the flybridge. Just ahead of the outdoor dinette is a glass door that opens to reveal an indoor dinette for five more guests. Just ahead is the U-shaped galley and across from the indoor settee is a bulkhead with a flatscreen TV. Behind that bulkhead and on the main level is the 140-square foot owner’s suite with a large bed that’s accessible from both sides, a full office and plenty of windows so you’ll never feel buried in a hull. In fact, the only thing that is on the lower level (but still directly accessible from this cabin) is a lavish head with twin sinks, a shower and a toilet.
This may seem like a lot to fit onto the main deck but there’s more. Just forward of the galley to port is an L-shaped lounge for companion seating and the helm with a double bench seat to starboard. The dash is laid out well and a sliding door allows the captain to access the side deck and help with lines or get a better view when docking. Stepping outside when maneuvering may be necessary since the visibility aft from the helm is blocked by the owner’s cabin. More likely, the driver will rely on a back-up camera to put the boat safely into a slip.
Staterooms
Between the settee and the helm is a stairway that leads to the VIP double cabin on the centerline on the lower level. It, like all other cabins specified, has its own head. The LEEN 56 can be fitted with as many as six cabins (for a maximum of 10 guests) but the standard will most likely be four including the master, the VIP, another double in the port ama and an athwartships over/under bunk stateroom in the main hull aft that will work for kids or professional crew.
Above: The master stateroom onboard the 2022 LEEM 56 TRIMARAN. Photo via Aeroyacht Ltd. in Long Island.
Engine Room
The engine room is impressive with good access to the diesel all around, the large house bank of batteries, the genset, a watermaker and the fuel tanks. This is the kind of space a professional captain would be proud of. If only four cabins are spec’d, there’s also significant garage space where to stow all the equipment and necessities of long-range cruising.
Above: The engine room on the 2022 LEEN 56 Trimaran. Photo by Olivier Blanchet / LEEN-TRIMARANS via Aeroyacht Ltd. in Long Island.
Deck and flybridge
The side decks are wide and covered by the flybridge extension so it’s easy to go from the cockpit to the bow and have weather protection. Hatches, which go down into the cabins or stowage spaces, are embedded into the decks which may seem unusual to most powerboaters and they can be tripping hazards. Additionally, it’s questionable how much air will be provided by them since the gunwales are tall and may block much of the available breeze.
Above: The flybridge deck onboard the 2022 LEEM 56 TRIMARAN. Photo via Aeroyacht Ltd. in Long Island.
The flybridge is massive and a fabulous entertaining space. The helm is to starboard with a seat built into a module that also holds a sink and a fridge. The overhead arch provides a place for integrated lighting and various antennas. Two solar panels that help top up the house batteries on sunny days share space on top. Aft is a crane/davit and plenty of space to carry a dinghy with the outboard attached. In between is voluminous deck space with modular furniture so owners can choose the layout and completely personalize their vessel. A thoughtful touch is the heated locker for jackets, gear and wetsuits that is housed under the flybridge staircase.
An Approach Like Few Others
Bruneel has built over 2,000 multihulls over 40 years and with a track record like that, the LEEN 56 comes with credibility right out of the box. The power cat segment has been growing double digits for a few years now, so the market seems to be ready for powerboats on multiple hulls – even if that means three of them. Bruneel expects the powertri to take root which is why he has a 72-footer already on the drawing board.
You can hardly beat this new concept for fuel efficiency and range, space, stability, comfort and flat-out flash. In other words, what’s not to love?
Specifications:
Architects: Nivelt and Frutschi
LOA: 56’ 1”
Beam: 27’ 1”
Draft: 4’5”
Light displacement: 44,000 pounds
Fuel capacity: 1320 gallons
Water capacity: 263 gallons
Engine: 300-450 diesel in main hull w/ twin electric drives in amas
Long range speed 9-12 knots
Maximum speed 25 knots
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