New Boat: Leen 72 Trimaran
The French builder’s flagship offers fuel-efficient cruising in a spacious package.
Photos by Olivier Blanchet
What cruising powerboat owner hasn’t wished for at least a shade more room and a few more nautical miles per gallon? We tend to adapt to what we have, but when we dream about our next boat, it’s probably safe to say we’re not thinking smaller and thirstier. French builder Neel Trimarans has answered that call on both counts with its latest launch, the Leen 72.
Neel, founded in 2010, has had success building sail-driven cruising trimarans from 47 to 65 feet. Last year, the company entered the power-tri market with the Leen 56. It launched Hull No. 1 of the 72 early this year.
At 72 feet in length with a 29-foot beam, the boat has no shortage of usable indoor space: 1,378 square feet. It’s available in a three- or four-stateroom layout, with options for crew quarters. The first hull is a three-stateroom version. Her owners are an American cruising couple who will handle the boat without a captain.
The master stateroom, on the main deck, has an athwartships, king-size island berth with sweeping views to starboard, and a step-down head, shower, vanity and dressing room in the starboard hull. The other two staterooms, one in the bow of the center hull and another in the port hull, are en suite doubles.
Exterior space is generous as well. The upper deck has a customizable social space of more than 500 square feet and a covered flybridge. Hull No. 1 has a dining table with three-quarter wraparound lounges, sunpads for three, and a food and drink prep area. A companionway forward leads to the wheelhouse and a social area with a roomy sofa and retractable TV.
The salon serves as the boat’s indoor social center and dining space. The adjacent galley has a full-size oven, a cooktop, a dishwasher, and substantial refrigerator and freezer capacity. In keeping with the boat’s long-range cruising aspirations, stowage throughout the boat is generous.
Sliding doors separate the salon and the covered cockpit, creating a social area that is connected to the outdoor environment. The transom has teak stairs that descend to the swim platform. The transom lifts to reveal a garage that can accommodate a 12-foot tender. In a nod to safety and security on deck, full walkaround side decks with deep bulwarks extend forward to the pulpit, where the boat’s heavy-duty, twin-anchor windlass and mooring cleats live.
Main drive power comes from a 330-hp Cummins diesel, which, according to the builder, drinks a paltry half-gallon of fuel per hour at 10 knots—and half that amount at 7 or 8 knots. Range at 10 knots is reportedly 2,500 nautical miles, and 3,300 nm at approximately 8.5 knots.
“No other trawler vessel can achieve this,” says Eric Bruneel, CEO and founder of the shipyard and designer of the range.
Some of that economy derives from the three narrow, slippery hulls, which also contribute to enhanced stability at sea and at anchor, Bruneel says.
Further serving the economical cruising cause are electric drive units in the outboard hulls. They can assist with maneuvering or provide about an hour and a half of batteries-only, silent, get-home power. Start the generator, and they’ll drive the boat at 5 or 6 knots, the builder says.
The main engine, generator, lithium batteries, and other mechanical and electrical systems are housed in an engine room with full standing headroom.
If comfortable living space and economical long-range cruising are your thing, then have a look at the Leen 72. The first edition hit the United States in summer 2022. A 50 is in the works for next year.
Leen 72 Trimaran Specifications:
LOA: 72’ 0”
Beam: 2’ 0”
Draft: 4’ 6”
Displ.: (light) 70,528 lbs.
Fuel: 1,320 gal.
Water: 264 gal.
Power: 1/330-hp Cummins QSL 9
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Source: https://www.powerandmotoryacht.com/boats/leen-72-trimaran-boat-review
