The first powered yachts by Camper & Nicholsons saw the light of the day in 1872. From that point "bigger and better" became a motto of that naval company.
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The searching for big yachts reached its zenith just after the turn of the century with three great vessels, Sagitta, Miranda and Marynthea built for England's nobility.
The outbreak of the First World War saw Camper & Nicholsons switch to designing and building military craft including Coastal Motor Boats, which were capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots. Camper & Nicholsons' association with leading power boat designer Ray Hunt began in the 1960s with three design collaborations on high performance luxury motor yachts and two high speed launches.
Following this success two new 83' motor yacht projects with Hunt were undertaken, the 1965 Erida II for Lord Grandard and then the 1970 Hedonist for Michael Pearson, heir to Lord Cowdray.
After a period in the wilderness during the 1990s Camper & Nicholsons was acquired by Nautor Swan International in 2001. Re-launching Camper & Nicholsons Yachting Ltd in to the motor boat market was a key element of the new strategy and the result is the Endeavour 42.
The first C&N yacht of the 21st Century, has been the "Endeavour 42", a luxurious daily commuter, with a very distinctive design and sumptuously finished interior, inspired by the original C&N launches developed in the early 1900's. The name "Endeavour" derives from the famous "J Class" yacht built by C&N for Sir Thomas Sopwith in 1934, to compete in the America's Cup.
"Endeavour 42" is perfect for a day trip or as a tender for a larger yacht or a racing team. She is also capable of hosting a formal lunch or dinner in the cockpit, where even the helm and navigator seats are handcrafted and all detailed have been studied, including the possibility of an ice making machine and a swimsuit drier.
Inside, there is a very spacious dinette, a high quality mahogany-finished toilette with shower, a master cabin with Plasma TV and an audio stereo system to listen music in the entire boat.
"Endeavour 42" features the Raymond Hunt Associates deep "V" planning hull design, incorporating resin infusion laminating system, to ensure outstanding sea qualities, as well as low fuel consumption. The boat has an overall length of 13,96m or 45' 8"ft, is powered with 2x480hp Yanmar engines and can reach a max speed of 34 knots, with cruising speed at 30 knots.
From 2008, "Endeavour 42" is powered also with the innovative 2x350hp Volvo Penta IPS engines, which give the boat the latest in term of manoeuvrability, further reducing consumption, with max speed at 36 knots, with a very silent cruising speed at 32 knots. ■