NAUTITECH 482: The renaissance of a successful catamaran

On the basis of the excellent Mortain/Mavrikios design, Nautitech, now based in Rochefort in the former CIM factory (big charter catamarans), is re-launching the excellent 47’. Going much further than a simple restyling, Bruno Voisard’s team has completely reinterpreted this much-appreciated multihull, to adapt it to the demands of 2013. Here is the test of the new Nautitech 482.

A classic design!

Built by Nautitech within the Dufour group in the Périgny/La Rochelle factory until 2000, the 475 was the flagship of several charter fleets. The 50 boats produced allowed thousands of crews to discover comfortable cruising in a catamaran. This intensive use formed a unique test bed for this big multihull, which had ‘everything right’ when it was launched. When Bruno Voisard bought out the brand in 2002, he backed a modernised development, re-oriented towards use by private owners: the 47’. The rigid bimini was extended, but it was above all the revision of the accommodation plan which characterised this version, which remained in the catalogue until 2010.

The Nautitech lines are easily recognizable on the latest boat from the builder.

A modern catamaran with a classic design

When the 482 project was born, Nautitech’s aim was to create a new boat based on proven lines and an overall definition which had not dated. The in-house research and development department, accompanied by the architect Franck de Rivoyre for the structure, therefore modified the bows and the hulls, which were lengthened aft to bring the silhouette up to date, and make the sugar...