WINTER 2011
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Boat Tests > Fjord > 40 Open
Open minded
If you're worried about sunburn, you can rig a bimini between the trailing edge of the roof and poles set up in the stern. There are drop curtains too if you need to keep the weather out.
The table and seat at the stern deck lift up on power struts to reveal the engine room. You can climb down into this area to communicate with the machinery.
At the heart of the Fjord are the twin Volvo Penta IPS power units. You can have the IPS 400, 450, 500 or 600. The 400 is a 300hp four; the 600?as used on this boat?is a 435hp, 5.5L straight six. The IPS refers to the Volvo drive system, the electronically-controlled drive legs with forward-facing props which can spin through 360 degrees, and enable you to drive the boat sideways, or at any angle you like.
Volvo says the 600 refers to the fact that the IPS is so efficient this engine is the equal of a 600hp with conventional drive.
HABITAT
The Fjord has terrific detailing. The chunky fairleads drop down into the gunwale after you press four little buttons at the base of each cleat, leaving the gunwale line clear.
Set into the gunwale sides are stainless bars protecting rectangular recesses. These are for the special square-section Fjord fenders.
read on below advertisement
The galley has a fridge/freezer with slide-out drawers. This boat's owner had installed a second fridge to the right of the galley.
Our boat was fitted with a generator which supports a 240V Gaggenau cooktop. You can have gas, but a diesel stove is also an option.
The rear most seat can be flipped over to face aft, and the table can be lowered to form a sunbed. There are cushions for the sunbed forward, and you lift out the centre panel to let light in to the cabin below.
The cabin is a nice room with an island bed, another single (later boats have a sofa bed arrangement) and ensuite bathroom. Those big topsides mean there is good headroom.
You can carry a lot of people in comfort, and you can entertain a lot of people, too. This is a great picnic boat, but it would also be a great weekender. You could sleep a number of people on the aft seat/sunbed area, under the bimini.
PERFORMANCE
With at least 870hp at work, this Fjord 40 is quick. At 1500rpm you get 10 knots, the bow lifting a few degrees. At 2000rpm the nose is up (we haven't used the trim tabs) and we are at 16.3 knots. At 2500 the nose has dropped again and we have 24 knots. At 3000 you get 31.7, and at 3500rpm with a bit of trim tab we're at our 39-knot top speed.
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The table and seat at the stern deck lift up on power struts to reveal the engine room. You can climb down into this area to communicate with the machinery.
At the heart of the Fjord are the twin Volvo Penta IPS power units. You can have the IPS 400, 450, 500 or 600. The 400 is a 300hp four; the 600?as used on this boat?is a 435hp, 5.5L straight six. The IPS refers to the Volvo drive system, the electronically-controlled drive legs with forward-facing props which can spin through 360 degrees, and enable you to drive the boat sideways, or at any angle you like.
Volvo says the 600 refers to the fact that the IPS is so efficient this engine is the equal of a 600hp with conventional drive.
HABITAT
The Fjord has terrific detailing. The chunky fairleads drop down into the gunwale after you press four little buttons at the base of each cleat, leaving the gunwale line clear.
Set into the gunwale sides are stainless bars protecting rectangular recesses. These are for the special square-section Fjord fenders.
read on below advertisement
The galley has a fridge/freezer with slide-out drawers. This boat's owner had installed a second fridge to the right of the galley.
Our boat was fitted with a generator which supports a 240V Gaggenau cooktop. You can have gas, but a diesel stove is also an option.
The rear most seat can be flipped over to face aft, and the table can be lowered to form a sunbed. There are cushions for the sunbed forward, and you lift out the centre panel to let light in to the cabin below.
The cabin is a nice room with an island bed, another single (later boats have a sofa bed arrangement) and ensuite bathroom. Those big topsides mean there is good headroom.
You can carry a lot of people in comfort, and you can entertain a lot of people, too. This is a great picnic boat, but it would also be a great weekender. You could sleep a number of people on the aft seat/sunbed area, under the bimini.
PERFORMANCE
With at least 870hp at work, this Fjord 40 is quick. At 1500rpm you get 10 knots, the bow lifting a few degrees. At 2000rpm the nose is up (we haven't used the trim tabs) and we are at 16.3 knots. At 2500 the nose has dropped again and we have 24 knots. At 3000 you get 31.7, and at 3500rpm with a bit of trim tab we're at our 39-knot top speed.
next page »
« go back