Distinguishing oneself, but without sacrificing the comfort that is a feature of all the boats produced by the French yard. The Jeanneau DB/43 is the first in a new range, designed by Camillo Garroni
by Niccolò Volpati – photo by Nicolas Claris and Jérôme Kelagopian
Jeanneau tasked Camillo Garroni with creating a day boat that would stand out. The yard also asked him to preserve some of the brand’s essential characteristics, such as producing a boat that is suitable for families, and ensuring there was enough room below decks. «The design process began four years ago», says Camillo Garroni. «Nowadays you see loads of day boats, but from two hundred metres away you can’t tell one from the other, apart from a few small design details».
The deck can be very open, or more protective. The layout and the set-up have been designed to meet both those needs, according to the season and weather conditions.
The DB/43 has high sides to provide a decent amount of headroom below decks, but despite that, the lines are still sporty. It promises safety and protection when cruising with family or friends, even if it’s only for short ranges. The central console and the whole cockpit area, which are the places which get most used while underway, are protected by a large windscreen and a hard top that you can slide right back practically to the stern. The hard top, which covers the entire width of the cockpit, also extends to the beginning of the passageway forward along the side decks. And when the top ends, you have a handrail right through to the bow pulpit. But that doesn’t mean we are talking about a closed setup, because options have been made available.
The hard top, for example, has a large opening above the windscreen which allows the air to circulate, in addition to air coming in from the sides. So essentially it is a solution which means you have openings and a fresh feel, but at the same time, you can add protection when the weather conditions require it.
It is only a day boat to a certain extent because the size of the interiors allows four people to enjoy a cruise without having to do anything. There are two cabins, with welcoming areas, good headroom and enough space to spend the night.
The deck also features two other solutions that seem to have been done very well. The first is the fact that the sides fold out in the stern section. This enables them to combine with the stern platform to increase the size of the swimming area. The rest of the sides are fixed, ensuring protection for the cockpit and the side decks. Other boats have just part of the aftmost sides opening out, so they create a kind of balcony that is separate, and some distance from, the stern platform.
By contrast, the DB/43 has the entire stern area open to the water, both the middle with the swimming platform and the sides. The cockpit also features a kitchen unit. This is in the middle, and with the pivoting seat backs, whoever is cooking doesn’t have to turn their back to the guests, and everybody can socialise together. And finally, there are three seats for the skipper and co-pilots, but they have an original layout. The third, the one to port, is a bit further away from the other two, which are in front of the bridge. That setup has two advantages. It is easier to get around because nobody gets stuck at the end in the last chair. And it also creates space to get through to access the companionway by walking between the seats.
THE FULL BEAM HARD TOP ALLOWS THE BRIDGE AND THE COCKPIT TO BE PROTECTED FROM THE SUN AND WIND. BUT THE SLIDING ROOF MEANS THAT AIR CAN CIRCULATE.
At Jeanneau, they insist on having a good amount of space below decks, and the DB/43 is certainly no exception. There are two cabins, with welcoming areas, good headroom and enough space to spend the night without sacrificing anything. I also found the natural light to be very balanced, in the sense that there is no lack of it, but neither is it one of those boats that are just glass without much polyester resin. There is of course only one bathroom, but it has a separate shower cubicle. There isn’t a true dinette, because the space is set aside for cabins, but there is a linear unit on the side which houses a fridge, a sink and a microwave oven. There is only one kitchen, above decks, as they have rightly decided to avoid duplication which would just waste space.
In terms of power units, this is the inboard version, but the yard is already looking at creating one with three outboards. In the engine room two Volvo D6s are producing 380 horsepower each, which isn’t excessive, but enough to produce a top speed of over 32 knots. Just twelve knots are needed for planning, so there is a full twenty-knot span of cruising speeds to choose from. Around fifteen knots the boat sits back slightly, and the visibility isn’t the best. But it flattens out on the water as you accelerate and the trim improves. Going over the wakes left by other boats didn’t create any problems, and the feeling you get is that, even with a moderate sea, the V-bow would do its job of fending off the waves. The bridge feels good, because they have got the ergonomics right, and the wheel and throttles are right there where you need them.
When helming, you find yourself at the right distance from the console, whether seated or standing. The best speeds are to be found, I would say, between 3000 and 3600 rpm, when the DB/43 does between 23 and 32 knots, with a snapshot reading of fuel consumption that ranges from 110 to 150 litres per hour for both engines.
Engine room
Two Volvo D6s each producing 380 hp means there is the right amount of power. The boat planes easily, and can get to over 32 knots, while not using an excessive amount of fuel.
JEANNEAU
CS 30529-85505 Les Herbiers
France
www.jeanneau.com
PROJECT
Garroni Design and Michael Peters
HULL
LOA 13.03m • Length 11.15m • Maximum beam 3.82m • Draft 0.94m • Fuel tank volume 800 l • Water tank volume 250 l
MAIN PROPULSION
2xVolvo Penta D6 380 • Outlet mechanical power 280 kW (380 hp) • 4 stoke • 6 cylinders in line • Compression ratio 1.69:1 • Swept volume 5.5 l • Maximal rotational speed 3500/min • Dry weight 770 kg
EC CERTIFICATION
CAT B
PRICE
587,400 €, Excl. VAT (December 2022)
(Jeanneau DB/43, It’s a wonderful boat – Barchemagazine.com – December 2022)
