NIMBUS T11
Could this fast but comfortable 40-footer be the ultimate weekend cruiser?
The flagship of the Nimbus WTC range has a very clear mission – in the yard’s own words it is their “vision of the perfect day boat with the ambition of perfecting easy living at sea while providing a social playground for friends and families”. Sounds simple enough but given the strength of the competition from boats like the Pardo 38, Fjord 36 and of course the new Axopar 37 that’s no mean task. Thankfully, Nimbus knows a thing or two about designing fast, capable day boats and although a blustery Solent in early March is hardly the best place to experience the T11’s charms, if it can win us over here you can bet it won’t have any trouble in calmer, sunnier climes.
As luck would have it the photo boat provided by the UK’S Nimbus dealer Offshore Powerboats is a previous generation Axopar 37 Cabin. Berthed alongside each other, the Nimbus dwarfs its Scandinavian cousin. It may be called a T11 but it’s actually 12.44m long (40ft 7in in real money). It’s also wider, taller and heavier with a considerably higher freeboard. It all adds up to a boat that looks a whole model size larger than the Axopar 37.
It feels that way too, the minute you step on board. The bulwarks come up to your thighs rather than your knees and the width of the walkaround decks make it wonderfully safe and easy to move around. In fact the cockpit coamings are tall enough to make you wonder why they didn’t put in a couple of side gates to ease access from the pontoon rather then having to step onto the small aft bathing platforms or swing a leg over the bulwarks.
That extra length has been put to good use, creating one of the most versatile and userfriendly cockpits we’ve seen on a boat of this size. The aft seating area is a work of genius; it consists of three separate bench seats all of which have moveable backrests and two of which swivel. In dinette mode all three face into the boat to make a sociable c-shape around the large, square teak table. In sunbathing mode the two table
The extra LOA has been put to good use, creating one of the most versatile cockpits we’ve seen on a boat this size
leaves hinge forward and the aft seat’s backrest folds flat to create a double sunpad. In lounge mode the two side benches swivel round 90 degrees to face aft, and finally in cruising mode the backrests swing over so that these two benches now face forward, giving three rows of forward-facing seats. Crucially, all the mechanisms are smooth, robust and easy to operate – whoever designed the F//line 33’s folding seats could learn a thing or two from these.
FLEXIBLE FRIEND
Last but by no means least this whole entertaining space is served by a full-width outdoor galley that comes with a sink, a 70-litre fridge drawer and masses of storage as standard but can be added to with an optional gas-powered ceramic hob or grill and an extra 70-litre fridge or freezer. You can even add a third fridge down below. Given that you have to choose between a wetbar or an aft cabin/sunpad on the Axopar 37, that in itself is a big win.
The good news continues further forward with three separate helm seats, all with bolsters, footrests and reach adjustment, and surrounded by a deep wraparound screen that provides good protection from the wind. This whole area can be covered by a sturdy optional T-top (£8,301) with further options for a full canopy system to enclose it and an extendable sunshade to cover the aft dinette. Even the foredeck hasn’t escaped unnoticed with another sunpad and forward-facing bench looking over that squared-off bow and walk-through pulpit. And this being a Nimbus, deck storage is excellent with two good lockers for fenders and lines in the aft coamings and a deep anchor locker with hooks and a shelf to keep everything neat up front. For larger items the whole of the cockpit floor lifts up on electric rams to reveal a vast lazarette large enough for an inflatable tender and a couple of SUPS or folding bikes.
So A+ for socialising skills but how does it fare out on the water? The wide range of engines is an encouraging start. Our test boat was fitted with the standard twin Mercury 300hp V8 outboards but these can be upgraded to twin 350s or even triple 300s. There is also an option for twin diesel sterndrives – either 320hp D4s or 400hp D6s – although prices for these have not yet been released. If you opt for the inboards, you lose the lazarette.
POWER AND CONTROL
Any concern that the base engines might struggle with a boat weighing the best part of six tonnes was blown away in a rush of torque-induced acceleration. Those naturally aspirated 4.6-litre V8s are seriously grunty with no sign of hesitation or cavitation, just instant power and seamless transition onto the plane. With relatively little weight on the transom, the T11’s stepped hull stays very flat and will happily plane in the low teens but feels most comfortable and proves to be most efficient when romping along at 4,500rpm and 27.6 knots. At this speed it’s burning just over three litres per nautical mile (around 1.5mpg) and feels utterly relaxed. Unlike the smaller T9, which tends to slam a bit when things cut up rough, the T11’s extra length and weight
help it to cut more effortlessly through the Solent chop. It’s also exceptionally grippy and forgiving, delivering full speed turns without any tendency to skip, slide or cavitate even when banked hard over. Flat out we averaged 41.4 knots in two directions despite a F5-6 breeze and a 1-2ft chop.
The helm position is close to flawless with plenty of support from the seats both sitting and standing, throttles in just the right place and excellent visibility. The gap between screen and T-top does funnel a blast of air across the top of your head but at
6ft 1in my eyeline was just below it and there is a clear zip in canopy should you need to plug the gap.
The optional Mercury joystick control (£12,728) does a valiant job of simplifying marina manoeuvres in sheltered conditions, even shifting the whole boat sideways or holding station while you sort out lines and fenders, but the distance from the engines to the bow means it can’t hope to control the nose once the wind has caught it. Arguably the standard bow thruster and a few hundred quid on lessons might prove a better investment.
Nor does the fun stop when the sun sets. Three offset steps lead down into a surprisingly roomy cabin with a permanent double bed ahead of a pleasant lobby area with a large sideboard for storage and space for the extra fridge. Headroom drops below 6ft as you move forward but since you’re likely to be sitting or lying down in bed that’s not really a problem. Two doors lead off from here to the heads compartment and mid cabin. The former has a circular sliding screen to keep the shower and loo separate from the sink with just enough headroom for a 6ft person to stand. The mid cabin has standing headroom at the entrance but what can only be described as a crawl-in double berth around 4ft wide with barely enough clearance to roll over in bed. It’s nice to have and fine for two kids or a well-oiled adult but most of the time will probably be used for storage.
VERDICT
The T11 does a very convincing job of feeling like a fast, nimble sportsboat under way but then transforming into a large, sociable platform the minute you stop. It may not be quite as freakishly quick or soft-riding as the latest Axopar 37 but by any other standard it’s still very good while the extra size and versatility of both the cockpit and the accommodation make it a more sociable day boat as well as a more comfortable weekend cruiser. It’s not quite such good value but the quality is good and it’s no more expensive than its rivals from Fjord, Pardo and Fairline. And don’t forget there’s also a cabin version if you want an all-weather bruiser. Is it the perfect day boat? We wouldn’t go quite that far but it comes as close as anything. CONTACT
Offshore Powerboats +44(0)1590 677955; www.nimbus.se
Helm position is close to flawless, with plenty of support from seats both sitting and standing