LUX TRAVELLER
The first of the CL Yachts brand to reach Australia carries on the legacy of this famous yard, reports Kevin Green.
CL Yachts is the series-production yacht division of Cheoy Lee. CLB65 is built by the experienced Cheoy Lee Shipyards in southern China which carries on a long tradition for this yard stretching back decades in Australia. Yet, nowadays, the category for this type of luxury motor yacht is a highly competitive one, including our own Australian brands. So, new dealer for Australia and New Zealand, Andrew Withers, may well have some work to do: “We wanted a premium level boat that avoids warranty issues, so we wanted an experienced yard like Cheoy Lee that has supplied hundreds of vessels to places like the USA,” said the managing director of Sydney Marine Brokerage. We are talking as I walk around hull number three of the CLB65, near his brokerage at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club on the outskirts of northern Sydney.
CL Yachts brand has an extensive list of hulls, ranging from this 65-footer to a 96-foot explorer model with futuristic styling. My first impressions of CLB65 while walking up the dock were of a fairly classic designed vessel. Raked bows with similarly sloping topsides and squared-off transom; nothing to grab the attention, yet nothing to cause a raised eyebrow among traditionalists in this design by American naval architect Howard Apollonio; an experienced designer who has worked with many boatyards in the Far East and America.
This timeless approach should win fans in Australia, especially those familiar with the many Cheoy Lee hulls already here, such as the popular Serenity 68 that had significant Australian design input back in 2008. CLB65 has several of these key features, such as good shade and a sturdy hull designed to cope with coastal conditions. For 2025, an SUV version will join this flybridge hull as well. Available in three or four cabins, our review boat came with three plus crew berth, which felt just right because it allowed for ensuites in all cabins.
SPACIOUS DECKS
Usable deck space is essential for our climate, so the CLB65 is wisely designed to maximise this. A huge flybridge, fully shaded aft deck and sun pads on the bow but with an awning option to minimise the rays when required. In addition, the wide swim platform creates yet more deck space and I noted its thick teak with chocks to support a 680 kg tender; plus shower facilities. The transom engine room door here is a big-boat feature and practical, allowing quick access for maintenance to the twin Volvos. On starboard a few steps up takes me into the aft cockpit which is fairly uncluttered, with transom bench seating and sliding table; leaving generous space to mingle or stand at the bench adjacent to the galley. The flip-up window allows easy serving of meals to the outside diners. Underfoot the teak flooring is a hatch to the engine room, one of three entrances to this area. Walking forward, each side has wide side decks with tall bulwarks and rails to guide me to the bow. Here, a large sun pad has storage beneath and mounts for the optional awning with carbon poles. A substantial vertical Maxwell windlass (RC12) is on deck with a chain running out to a 50 kg Bruce anchor, with a deep locker to ensure there’s plenty of scope for all conditions. Other good points are the oversized cleats all round and midships.
CONVIVIAL SALOON
Walking back on starboard I duck into the saloon via the heavy-duty side door, an ideal way for the skipper to move around. The entry is located just behind the console, so I move to the double seat to study the controls. Twin Garmin 17-inch screens take precedence with other key controls being the throttles and joystick for the IPS drives on starboard, plus a paddle stick for the bow thruster; the latter ideal for coping in high windage situations. The autopilot controls on the armrest are another good ergonomic idea. The CZONE digital system is controlled via the chart plotter or a mobile iPad, plus a backup screen down on the outside bulkhead. CMC stabiliser fin controls were the last notable item here.
Looking around, the views are superb because of the large front windows, with an opening side one. Alongside on port, the settee extends forward, allowing guests to chat with the steerer. An extendable table gives this lounge area good practicals while opposite is a small alcove with a wine cooler and drawers with a bulkhead containing a 55-inch elevating television. Another versatile layout feature is the small dinette aft, opposite the galley, with a stylish folding table, making this an ideal family setup or multi-guest layout. Walnut veneers contrast well with cream paint and rounded ends on all parts are stylish and practical with a high standard of joinery apparent – all done in-house by Cheoy Lee yard’s 800 staff.
The galley has an L-shaped layout and is wide enough for two to prepare food on the Fenix NTM work surfaces with a deep stainless sink. There’s a household sized Vitrifrigo fridge with freezer drawers below which gives good storage for those longer voyages. Cooking is done in a Bosch oven with a three hob induction cooktop and a small dishwasher has been optioned on this stock boat. Below decks are separate Bosch washer and dryer (that run off the generator).
TALL FLYBRIDGE
CLB65 flybridge combines a spacious entertainment area with a good navigation console, which is especially useful for the coral-clad waters of the Pacific. Offshore, tall flybridges can create a pendulum effect, but CL Yachts’ design uses carbon to greatly reduce the weight while giving shade. Wide steps inside the saloon bulkhead lead me safely up to the flybridge, and the views are superb, especially while sitting at the starboard-located steering console. A glance aft, through the stair hatch, even allows me to see the swim platform. Most controls are echoed here as well, including the Volvo IPS joystick. In addition, this stock boat comes with two remote joystick stations (on each side of the main deck). Alongside the console on port is a wrap-around couch that adjoins a wet bar and electric barbecue in the aft; where sun worshippers could sip cocktails on yet more comfy seating; or share the area with the optional davit and dinghy.
THREE DOUBLE CABINS
Comfortable accommodations on CLB65 give the owner the most stable space, by being low and in the centre of the hull with a VIP cabin forward and an ensuite guest cabin between them. This creates a usable corridor space with storage that includes the washer and separate dryer. Access to tankage is also easy here, with all liquids, including fuel, stored in moulded-in fibreglass tanks, located low and along the keel, which also aids stability. Other good features are the natural light coming down from the tall front saloon window and the wide stairs for access. Inside the owner’s a king-sized bed runs fore and aft with the wide beam really showing here to give generous floor space. On each side, there’s stylish walnut-clad cabinetry with cedar-backed closets, while the cream walls contrast well with the darker wood to give a contemporary feel. Generous headroom is another plus, along with the ample natural light from the portlights (with opening portholes). Yet another feature owner-drivers will appreciate is the bulkhead door directly into the engine room, which is also an escape route. Ablutions are on the starboard side towards the bow and maximise the space (that could be a fourth cabin) to create a spacious bathroom. His and her sinks, made in elegant composite curved stone, set the tone, with lockers and generous mirror space, along with a Tecma electric freshwater head.
Moving to the bow takes me to the VIP cabin. With a queen sized bed and ensuite, it does earn its moniker. The opening portlights enhance ventilation, and a man-sized opening skylight greatly helps the natural light. The cream décor sets a modern tone with some good design used in the storage bins, which maximise the usable hull space, along with cedar-lined closets. The ensuite is functional and has a good-sized shower cubicle and a stylish curved sink. Finally, stepping into the guest cabin shows good-sized singles that slip together, and there’s wardrobe storage along with plenty of natural light from the elongated portlights (with opening porthole).
SYSTEMS AND BUILD
CLB65’s hull uses multiple hard chines running from the bow – both to add stability and reduce spray – which worked well when encountering some wash during my sea trial. Generous beam adds to this stability, as the mould used came from sister ship CLB72. The cored fibreglass hull has carbon strengthening, along with the carbon superstructure (infused bi-axial and multi-axial E-glass and carbon fibre laminates with vinylester resin). Construction is only from composite materials without any wood inserts. Key structural engineering comes from those smart Kiwis at Gurit, and it clearly shows in areas such as the integral moulded double-bottom fuel tanks along with fresh water, grey water and black water tanks, with baffles and cleaning manholes. Stepping into the engine room, from the transom door takes me through the crew cabin, with a single bed, bathroom and some adequate living space. Beyond sat the two Volvo D13 IPS1050, 800 HP engines. There are jack shafts between them and the IPS gearboxes, which helps overall trim. An option traditionalists might choose instead is standard shaft drives, powered by Caterpillar C18 1136 HP and set in tunnels.
Elsewhere, the layout looked ideal for service staff to access the Racor filters and saltwater intakes and I noted bronze fittings used in the hull. Also good is the bilge space to cope with any flooding and all electrics are high up, including the CZONE digital switching system to control house systems. Inboard and forward, so well placed, is the Kohler 32kw generator with bank of AGM house batteries opposite. Near here I see the hull extrusions for the CMC stabiliser fins (with floor space aft for a Seakeeper gyro instead). These carbon fins operate both underway and at rest if required. CLB65 is plumbed and ready for a watermaker of the owner’s choice.
AT SEA
Myriad bays and creeks around the Alfred Yacht Club are ideal cruising territory, so it is a great place for dealer Andrew Withers and I to voyage on the CLB65. Clearing the dock, by using the deck located joystick to control the IPS pod drives is done without drama despite the wind; and we were clear. At the flybridge station I watched yachts troop out for their Wednesday afternoon races; my views unobstructed all round, which gave me the confidence to accelerate towards the open waters of Broken Bay. This was done easily, thanks to the smooth transmission and the CMC fins that had us moving briskly in a straight line without wallowing; while the spray screen deflected most of the apparent wind. Once on the plane, the 40 ton hull used its momentum through some wash to easily sit on a cruising speed of 20 knots, with fuel burn of 213 LP/H, before I put the helm down to execute a fairly flat if wide turn. Beyond that speed, I tweaked the Volvo Interceptor tabs to level us out as we reached a top speed of 25 knots; so enough for the great escape if the weather changes. Slowing down to wave at some friends on Great Mackerel Beach I eased the hull in, using the joystick, spinning it around and going astern despite the strong side wind. ‘Well mannered’ was the words jotted in my notebook. After that, it was time for home, so it was downstairs to the shelter of the main helm station for me to guide us down the beautiful Pittwater. Again here, the console views were good, aided by the open plan saloon layout allowing me to see astern. Low sound levels (69dba) added to the comfort as we sped along at cruising speed. On the way, I passed yet more of my oft frequented anchorages and could easily envisage anchoring the CLB65 in one for a most enjoyable and luxurious sojourn.
SPECIFICATIONS
Make & Model CLB Yachts CLB65
Price as tested AUD $6.1m
Construction GRP
Hull Length 19.70m / 64″6″ ft
Waterline Length 17.10m
Beam 6.05m / 10″ ft
Draft (at full load) 1.50m
Displacement (at full load) 40,900kg
Engines Twin Volvo D13 IPS1050, 800HP
Fuel 3,200L
Water 950L
Cabins 3 + 1 Crew
Construction Certificate CE Category B
PERFORMANCE DATA
RPM KNOTS L/h L/NM Range
600 5.7 10.6 1559 2888
800 7.4 25 858 1590
1000 8.85 44 583 1080
1200 10.25 65 457 847
1400 11.25 99 330 610
1600 12.5 142 255 473
1800 16.05 186 250 463
2000 20.6 221 270 501
2200 24.3 264 267 494
WOT 26.7 306 253 469
