Capt. Bill’s Take: Earlier this year I checked in on this new entry from Sweden, the first on the stateside scene. A tip-top level of finish? Yes indeed, but I also encountered a couple of excellent features—American builders should take a closer look.

I’ve been sea-trialing and examining boats professionally for more than 28 years now, but this was a first for me: a marine propulsion system in a soundbox, more or less genset-fashion. “And look how easy it is to access the diesel,” the guy from Nimbus Yachts USA said, as he popped a couple of turnbuckles, thereby shedding light upon a single, 370-horsepower Volvo Penta D6-370 prime mover. He laid the crisply constructed soundbox panel aside so I could see how easy it would be to access all the routine maintenance points on the engine. When he cranked the 370 and then refastened the panel to further demonstrate the whole point of the soundbox feature, he made a believer of me. Noise levels on the boat were obviously being significantly reduced by the arrangement.

There was something else that especially captured my fancy as I continued to check out the 365: a so-called “sidewalk” running down the vessel’s starboard side, complete with a starboard-side door at the helm that lets a skipper deal with lines while docking alongside without leaving the steering station, and also lets him or her manipulate engine and thruster controls while standing on the sidewalk, well outside the helm area, facing aft, an attribute that’s bound to come in handy when backing into a tight slip.

The layout of the 365 seemed pretty mainstream, with a large, electrically actuated sunroof dominating a saloon/galley/dinette on the main deck and both master and amidships staterooms (as well as a head with separate shower stall) below. According to Nimbus, the boat’s cruise speed with the single D6 will be about 21 knots, and her top end will be about 25. Opt for one of several twin-engine Volvo Penta powerplant offerings, and velocities will, of course, increase. And the aforementioned finish? Nimbus has been building boats in Sweden since 1968, and the company has the art form down! I found the interior detailing to be flawless, and the exterior glasswork every inch its equal. 

Click on a thumbnail to enlarge the images:

Nimbus Yachts USA, 772-777-6675; www.nimbus.se

Specifications

  • Builder: Nimbus
  • Model: Nimbus 365 Coupe
  • Year: 2016
  • Base Price: $461,979
  • LOA: 37’11”
  • Draft: 3’9″
  • Beam: 11’2″
  • Displacement: 14,000-15,200 lb. (depending on power choice)
  • Fuel Capacity: 185 gal.
  • Water Capacity: 72 gal.
  • Optional Power: 1/370-hp Volvo Penta D6-370; various twin-engine Volvo Penta D4 options
  • CRUISE SPEED: 21 knots
  • TOP SPEED: 25 knots

This article originally appeared in the October 2016 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.