In the Palm of your hand

Tag : Marine Hardware

Unleashed at the Dubai International Boat Show this March, thenewly-revamped Palm Marine faced just that situation.

Based in state-of-the-art premises in Jebel Ali, Palm Marineproudly held its head up high alongside some of the most respectednames in the yacht building industry and presented its new range ofsports cruisers, showcased with the Palm Islander 600.

"Many people expect builders in the UAE to be creating cheapboats," explained Harald Schlegel, Palm Marine's BusinessDevelopment Manager, "but you cannot produce a cheap productwithout compromising quality. Yes, we may have cheaper wage billsthan other countries, but we are still using the same rawmaterials, imported luxury hardware and quality fabrics as Europeanbuilders."

Moored stern-to in Dubai Marina, the Palm Islander 600 lies justunder the 20-metre mark, including the teak-laid hydraulic bathingplatform that offers and easy access from jetty to the cockpit.

Large enough for a PWC or sporty tender, the bathing platform leadssmoothly into the transom, with its cockpit gate to starboard.

Ridged teak steps are carved into the gelcoat for speedy crewaccess, and a watertight door leads down to the single crew ensuite crew cabin, washer-drier and engine room.

Twin 734hp MAN engines lurk below, set on the ribs for a straightshaft configuration.

Stepping through the transom to the teak-laid cockpit, which PalmMarine lays in-house, the guest immediately catches the benefit ofthe extended coachroof aft of the flybridge.

"Though Palm Marine yachts are not built specifically for thisregion, we do look at the small build aspects that make a localowner more comfortable," explained Harald.

"For instance, the extended flybridge deck that covers the cockpit;keeping guests sheltered from the sun's direct rays, and allowingevening alfresco meals with the lights built into it."

Curving around the high transom, the Sunbrella fabric finishedbench seat provides excellent shoulder support and couldsumptuously support even the largest of guests. Fronted by anatural teak folding and swivelling table, the addition of a fewfreestanding deck chairs would allow dining for eight.

The quarter Lofrans capstans are set high, feeding all warpsthrough the transom fairlead to keep the rudiments of mooring frominconveniencing the guest.

"But we are not just about looking good with our designs at PalmMarine," continued Harald, "we are also practical as well."

So saying he pointed out the two polished stainless sockets placedin the cockpit sole either side of the engine maintenance hatch.

"For any serious maintenance, the whole cockpit floor comes out, soengine work can be carried out without compromising the structureor dirtying the boat," he summarised.