The Sportivo is superbly flexible by being six boats in one
What they say
“All three Tuna models – the Sportivo (hardtop), the Classico (enclosed wheelhouse), and the Cabrio (convertible hood) – can be built with either a round bilge or a vee-hull.”
What we say
Of all the boats at the show, the Tuna 40 Sportivo brought the biggest smile to my face. There are lots of retro and traditionally styled boats on the market that look great on paper, but which have strange proportions and peculiar lines up close. The Tuna 40 is exactly the opposite. Our photographs from Düsseldorf don’t do this boat justice and it looks far more attractive in real life.
In practice, the Tuna 40 is six mix’n’match boats rolled into one. Aside from the triple whammy of hardtop, fully enclosed wheelhouse and convertible roof, each is available in two different hulls. One is a deep-keel, round-bilge form, capable of nine to 19 knots with single 130hp to twin 190hp shafts. The other is a conventional planing hull designed for Volvo’s IPS range, from twin 260hp to twin 435hp, with speeds from 20 to 40 knots – an amazing range for any boat.
Weighing in at ten tonnes, the Tuna 40 is not a heavy boat, hence its impressive 40-knot potential. However, on deck there’s an incredibly sturdy feel to everything you come into contact with, from cleats and bulwark cappings to handrails and door hinges. With no saloon down below, the two tri-cabin layouts are highly unconventional. There is a big heads and separate shower in the middle of the boat, a poorly lit galley opposite, and a lonesome berth in the third cabin.
In our opinion, the Sportivo is the best of the bunch. Swing the sturdy cockpit/hardtop door shut and clip in the glass panels, and its hardtop can be closed off completely, so it’s just as snug and secure as the Classico. But thanks to the rear-quarter glass corner windows and its timber cladding, it feels more open and looks the most elegant of the trio.
Two hulls, three decks, 9-40 knots, shafts or IPS, and two layouts – that really is an amazing choice for a sturdy 40ft (12m) boat that costs as little as £260,000.
Contact: Tuna Yachts
Tel: 31 (0)514 560222
Website: www.tuna-yachts.com
At a glance
Length: 40ft 0in (12.20m)
Beam: 14ft 3in (4.35m)
Engines: Single 130hp shaft to twin 435hp IPS600
Top speed: 40 knots (twin 435hp)
Price: from £257,165 inc UK VAT (single 135hp)
