Boat Test: Flynt 956 Nova

Dutch boat builders are ambitious, many are skilled, but very few manage to launch an eye-catching modern sports boat that is fast. Robert-Jan Sanders sold sport boats abroad for many years, but he thought it was time for something completely different. The eye-catching result is the Flynt 956 Nova. He is rightly proud of it.

The big picture is essential when building a boat. If you make the wrong choices, they will affect all the details. It is not for nothing that the British say: "The devil is in the details." We say: "You can recognise the master in the broad outlines, but the genius in the devilish details."

Wish list

Sanders' search for a new model ended with the Frisian design bureau Vripack after some sketches. He worked out his ideas together and came up with a 32-foot (9.56 m) long yacht that could fulfil all the wishes of the critical modern consumer. The list of requirements was long. The most important thing was a 'design that stays with you,' or a design that makes you discover new lines, angles and points of view all the time. Another wish was that the Flynt would be capable of planning within three seconds and that it would handle impeccably in both smooth water and rough water. The boat should also have sufficient cosy outdoor space, in addition to stylish overnight accommodation. The last item on the wish list was a competitive price.

Beautiful is better

The design is extraordinary. Flynt has a modern, 'sculptured hull', which incorporates numerous surprising styling elements. The bow is high and the stern very low. Your eyes work overtime while looking from front to back to follow all the beautiful corners, curves and other elements of the complex visual language. Nowhere was the easy way chosen, as he thought that having a more attractive solution everywhere was more important than a practical one. Examples include stainless steel grilles above the bilge holes with the brand name, the way the swimming platform attaches to the hull and air vents on the sides and back of the boat. You'll keep looking. The journey begins behind the high bow with a shining stainless steel embellishment and stretches along with areas that seem to all speak a different visual language. You will see new beautiful curves, corners or harmonious lines within the first hour. The subtle accents make it difficult to categorise the Flynt. The term sports boat does not do Flynt justice, as it is a fast lifestyle cruiser.

Spider web

The shape of the underwater hull is special. It ensures that the boat accelerates quickly, won't crash into the waves and that it deflects spray perfectly. The front part of the boat is reserved for the high bow, which provides space for a surprisingly spacious cabin. The deck is flat with beautifully flushed hatches. The entrance to the cabin is quite narrow, but inside you'll be overwhelmed by an abundance of design details, all excellently exposed through the hull and roof windows. The roof and the windows have beautiful wooden frames for reinforcement. The wooden accents are reminiscent of a spider's web, in which your eyes get caught glaring at. Apart from a large bed, there is also a small galley with a sink and a wine refrigerator. On the other side, a simple chemical toilet is installed under the seat. The matt lacquered woodwork was processed at the level of a superyacht.

Flush

The low, curved windshield and the two sprung seats in the front stand out immediately in the cockpit. These are signs that this yacht is made for pure speed. Right behind them are steps on both sides. Then comes the lounge area, which is as smart as it is beautiful. There are two fine lounge beds behind the cushions that shield this seating area. There is another beautiful detail between these sunbathing areas: you can see right into the engine room due to a flush-mounted glass panel. This visual trick is borrowed from supercars, whose owners are also proud of their drive. Two 350 HP Mercruisers are installed In the engine room, but upgrading to 2 x 480 HP is possible. The engines are coupled with Bravo 3 X stern drives and double propellers. The installation work is exemplary, and the air intake at the rear and the lighting of the window on the engine hatch are particularly admirable. Right at the back is a spacious swimming platform with a built-in swimming ladder.

Spoiler

It is nice to have a strong bow thruster when sailing away because the high bow catches the wind easily. The steering position is comfortable, and all the controls are in the right place. On the open water of the Markermeer, we first tried out some simple manoeuvres. The turning circle is short, but you can correct it with the bow thruster if you fall short. Accelerating is like being fired from a rocket. The boat planes and shoots up without trimming to a dizzying 57 mph in the blink of an eye. Like a go-kart glued to the road, Flynt sails as if it is glued to the water. It allows you to turn at a super speed, and you'll regularly get the feeling as if you are sitting on top of the spoiler of a Max Verstappen. Everyone in the cockpit stays dry, even at high speeds and when skipping over small waves. The Flynt sails across big windy water very smoothly and also yields effortlessly in waves. Impeccable sailing behaviour is what we call it.

Experience has shown that the more requirements you want to include in a boat, the less of them you'll get. Sanders has disproved all reservations in this respect with the Flynt. The Flynt is a special sports boat in the highest segment. The price is not yet fixed, but it will probably start at five tons. Due to the good construction, this seems to be a realistic starting point for those seeking a particularly stylish, pure Dutch yacht with a high level of finishing and excellent sailing properties.

Technical data: Flynt 956 Nova

• Length: 9.56 metres
• Width: 3.00 metres
• Draught: 0.80 metres
• CE-design category: B
• Engine HP (kW): 2 x Mercruiser 350 HP to 2 x 480 HP
• Load displacement (kilo): 4.300
• Starting price (incl. VAT): On request

More information: www.flyntyachts.com