MaxFun

TheDailySail had a crawl round a new 35 footer at the show

One of the most interesting new keelboats at London Boat Show is the Simonis Voogd designed MaxFun 35.

"The designers decided they wanted a fun boat for themselves," explains Andy Hind for importers Tangent Yachting. And the boat certainly looks the part with a large retractible prodder at the bow, full width spreaders like an Open 60 and a reasonable beam on a displacement of 3 tonnes (half of it in the keel).

On deck the MaxFun sports a carbon fibre mast and boom made by Hallspars. The headsail is fractional while there is also the ability to fly the Code O and genniker from the masthead. The typical sail wardrobe will include mainsail, 104% all round headsail, heavy headsail and two kites. Sails for the first boat were made by Hyde, but for the boat at the show they will be by Quantum.

The mast is stayed with the aid of full width spreaders and rod shrouds that terminate at stainless steel chainplates. Hence the genoa is 104% of the foretriangle. Aside from the bowsprit there is track on the mast for a conventional pole. The rig has no runners, but a single backstay on a generous purchase.

The concept of the rig is for easy handling and so the forestay is fitted with a Harken roller furler with the drum neatly concealed in a foredeck well for improved windage. "The idea is that you can gybe it from the cockpit," says Hind.

To date seven MaxFun 35s have been built - four have gone to Roy Heiner's sailing school in Holland. In the UK the first is now called Hooligan V and belongs to Ed Broadway, who bought it as a replacement for his JOD35.

The MaxFun in time will develop as a one design hopes Hind, but in the meantime has been racing under IRC and at present is being rated for IRM. Hind says she was sailing to handicap at the recent Hamble Winter Series. "She has got a hefty looking rating, but is capable of ridiculous speeds downwind."

The keel has a lead bulb and a steel fin tapered at the top to fit into a 40mm deep recess in the hull.
Down below, the MaxFun is semi-stripped out. The design is based on that of the Audi TT with panels of brushed aluminium and some surprisingly comfy seats in the saloon area to port and starboard. Aft there is an outboard facing chart table to starboard and a galley to port with single bunks in the tunnels either side of the cockpit aft.

At present the boat is being built in Holland, but Hind is expecting at some stage to move production to Ovingtons in the UK. Construction is in glass and foam core with unis in high stress area and carbon fibre reinforcement around the keel and ring frames.

Both Hooligan and the show boat will be racing in the Warsash Spring series.

MaxFun 35 vital statistics

LOA: 10.7m
LWL: 9.43m
Beam: 3.25m
Draft: 2.20m
Displacement: 3000kg
Ballast: 1,500kg
Mainsail: 45sqm
Genoa: 27.2sqm
Code 0 55sqm
GP Spi: 145sqm

Price: £94,750 (inc VAT, ex factory)

Contact: Tangent Yachting tel: +44 2380 455339 Email: sales@tangent-yachting.co.uk

The mainsheet from the track aft, up to the boom and back down to the deck in front of the trimmer.