Fjord is known for unique powerboats. The vertical bow and a clear visual language of extraordinary hulls stand out in every port and make up the outstanding design from Patrick Banfield.

The latest development of the brand portfolio of the HanseGroup, the new Fjord 42 open, presents an even more striking hull design and a flat deck layout.

The 12.59 metre long and 4.27 metre wide powerboat is both sporty and multifunctional. The large bathing platform can be lowered hydraulically and used for a dinghy or to access the water. The anchor can be raised and hydraulically stowed in the anchor locker on the bow by the push of a button from the dashboard. The new T-Top contains lots of electronics, first and foremost the electrically retractable soft-top bimini, which shadows the rear cockpit area on request.

The new Fjord 42 open is powered by two Volvo Penta IPS engines with 370 hp, or optional with 435 hp each. The larger IPS 600 engines accelerate the Fjord to 40 knots and more. The IPS Forward Drive is thereby very efficient and a joystick enables easy maneuvering. The new Fjord 42 open is controlled via an innovative dashboard that can be equipped with two 16 inch Raymarine displays. The touch screen displays can thereby be operated from all three sport seats.

The deck layout offers two large sunbathing areas on the bow and on the stern. The cockpit is Fjord typically designed with an outdoor kitchen under the T-Top and seating area, which can be converted into another sundeck. At night, the indirect on deck lights on the ground, behind the hand rails and on the T-Top create a phenomenal atmosphere.

Below deck awaits the owner pure Fjord design in the master cabin, with a large island bed, ample shelves and storage space as well as amnesties such as TV and a Fusion sound system. A second cabin with twin beds can accommodate more guests on board.

The base price for the new Fjord 42 open is €439,900.

Scotland's Boat Show 2010 takes to the sea and shore over the weekend of 15th/16th/17th October. Now in its 24th year, Scotland's Boat Show 2010 show promises to be the biggest ever with over 150 boats for sale - from a £500 dinghy to a £1.2 million luxury motor yacht – and over 30 marine trade companies from all over the UK who exhibit the latest trends and products in the world of boats.

Visitors to the show can view the latest new boats from Hanse, Dehler, Sealine, Fairline and Bayliner, together with an unrivaled selection of quality pre-owned boats for sale – perfect for those considering a boat for the first time or an upgrade to something bigger.
On shore a giant marquee hosts over 35 trade exhibitors showcasing the latest products from the boating world - from state of the art electronics to the latest fashions in marine clothing.
Adding spice to this year's show visitors can view the new 202mph Bentley Super Sport Convertible from Bentley Glasgow together with other luxury models from this prestigious company.
For those who prefer their excitement on two wheels West Coast Harley-Davidson will showcase a range of their iconic motorcycles from the latest production bikes to a fully customised Softail Deluxe.
For extra entertainment there is everything from a Pipe Band to a chance on Sunday to try your hand at radio controlled model yacht racing!
"With last year's show attracting thousands of visitors from all over Scotland, the UK and even Europe, we are now Scotland's busiest boat show and, with over £3.2 million worth of boats and £750K of cars sold at 2009's event, it has become an essential destination for the UK marine trade and for all those contemplating spending time on the water" said Gavin McDonagh, Kip Marina's Managing Director.

As dark clouds continue to overshadow events as home there is some comfort to read about green shoots elsewhere in Europe, especially marine industry green shoots. In Germany, at least the boating industry is highly optimistic about its sales for the coming season, as witnessed by the lavish new boats to be on display from September 18 to 26, 2010 at the INTERBOOT exhibition. And there's more good news from the UK where the Southampton boat Show kicks off on Friday. 

Here's the upbeat 'Press Releases' received at afloat.ie, we're glad to get them!

Friedrichshafen, Germany - The boating industry is highly optimistic about its sales for the coming season, as witnessed by the lavish new boats on display from September 18 to 26, 2010 at INTERBOOT. The new motor boats primarily offer speed and fun and the latest sailing yachts continue to emphasize sporting performance, without sacrificing comfort for the crew below deck.
A typical representative of the "speed and fun" segment is the new 7.56-meter Key Largo 27 from the Italian shipbuilder Sessa, with two 150 hp outboard motors providing a top speed of 41 knots or over 75 km/h. At anchor the boat quickly turns into a private island thanks to the sundeck in front of the cockpit's windscreen. A cozy berth offers sleeping space for two.
With four berths in two cabins and a lounge, pantry and bathroom, the new 10.8-meter Bavaria Sport 34 offers considerably more comfort below deck. Two gasoline motors (on the standard model) deliver a total of 450 hp to guarantee exhilarating speeds. For boating enthusiasts who prefer better fuel economy and lower top speeds, Germany's largest yacht builder also offers this sport boat in a diesel version with two 220 hp motors. One of the most striking motorized boats on display at INTERBOOT is the 8.3-meter Swiss-Cat 27 Geta from Swiss shipbuilder Aarewerft Lehmann. This world debut is a space-saving miracle, with up to 5 berths below deck and room on deck for up to 12 passengers to enjoy the speed of this fast-planing yacht powered by a 300 hp motor.
Another attention-grabber will be the new 6.1-meter rigid inflatable from Ott Wassersport e.K. in Meersburg as it skims over Lake Constance at breathtaking speeds, propelled by a lightweight jet-propulsion motor. This boat features an impressive functional design, including a sheltered helm position.
Another world premiere, the Linssen Grand Sturdy Hybrid from the Netherlands, will be the focus of attention for skippers who want to avoid CO2 emissions as they quietly and leisurely explore lakes and rivers in this 8.2-meter steel yacht. It has an especially hydrodynamic hull and an electric motor powered by state-of-the-art batteries, which can be charged by a 3-kilowatt generator or mains electricity from a mooring connection. And the spaciousness of this Linssen model is just as remarkable as its propulsion system: A large master cabin and a lounge can both be found below deck.
Sailing yacht manufacturers are also taking advantage of the INTERBOOT as an opportunity to debut their boats for the coming watersports season. The two largest German companies in this sector, Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH and the Hanse Group, have a spectacular array of INTERBOOT premieres, and new boats are also on display from other shipbuilders such as Hunter from the USA and Jeanneau from France.
Jeanneau has finished production of its new 12.34-meter Sun Odyssey 409 just in time for INTERBOOT, allowing it to showcase the craft as a global debut. With a displacement of 7.5 tons, this fast cruiser carries the hallmark of its designer Philippe Briand and is suited to both coastal cruises and the open sea. The 409 reflects the latest advances in yacht design. It is available with either two or three double cabins, twin helms, and has a bow that angles almost straight down to the waterline. The close-hauled sail area of nearly 80 square meters ensures a high average sailing speed.
Modern hulls and plenty of space below deck are also included in two new boats from the Bavaria Yachts - the Cruiser 36 and Cruiser 40 (11.3 and 12.35 meters, respectively). Like all new Bavaria yachts, the design is by Bruce Farr and the interior was created by BMW Group Designworks USA. Bavaria is also now sporting a new signature style to accompany its yachts' improved sailing performance.
The Hanse 325 from the Greifswald-based Hanse Group is a somewhat smaller boat (9.55 meters). This yacht's designation as a fast 'performance cruiser' belies the fact that it provides a generous amount of living space and comfort below deck.
The Greifswalders took over the Dehler shipyard and are now presenting the new Dehler 32 - a 9.8-meter cruiser racer which has already tasted regatta success. The 32-footer with its displacement of around four tons moves at a good clip thanks to 60 square meters of sail area. The yacht was designed by Judel/Vrolijk & Co. – the engineering geniuses who have already helped propel the Swiss Americas Cup syndicate "Alinghi" to two Cup victories. Sailing gets even sportier with the Dinamica RS 940 hi-tech day sailer from Italy, which is enjoying its world premiere here. The 9.4-meter racer designed by the regatta yacht specialist Claudio Maletto has a displacement of merely 2.1 tons, allowing it to fly across the water with a huge sail area of 58 square meters.
One of the largest sailing yachts at INTERBOOT is the new 15.21-meter Hunter 55 CC from the USA. Sailing is pure luxury on this ocean-going yacht, as illustrated by a whirlpool cleverly concealed under the master suite's double bed. A small crew is sufficient to handle the yacht as it sails the seas at impressive speeds with 114 square meters of sail area.
INTERBOOT is also traditionally an opportunity for the boating accessories industry to showcase its innovations for the first time. These include the latest electronic navigation products and current developments in sailing technology, such as remarkably light high-tension sheets and halyards, advanced roller furling systems and technical sailing clothing for all weathers. Additionally, owners of smaller yachts and boats can look forward to the new generation of multi-purpose handsets, such as VHF radios with built-in GPS devices, and navigation lights and interior lighting with energy-efficient LEDs.
More information is available at www.interboot.de.

Southampton, England - Make the most of the last days of summer at the PSP Southampton Boat Show. From 10 – 19 September 2010, the UK's leading outdoor boat show returns to Mayflower Park, bringing hundreds of boats, exhibitors and visitors together on the south coast.

Set on one of Europe's largest marinas, the PSP Southampton Boat Show in association with ITV Meridian offers an essential interactive experience for everyone with an interest in boats, on-water adventures and an active lifestyle, from sailing enthusiasts through to families and the 'just curious.'

Over 10 action-packed days, visitors to this year's PSP Southampton Boat Show can enjoy the very best of the UK's vibrant marine industry:

Keep updated on Show news and developments and book tickets from early June via the PSP Southampton Boat Show website – http://www.southamptonboatshow.com/, or call the ticket hotline on 0871 230 7140.