More Impressions on the New Astus 20.5

The Astus 20.5 is really a new boat from the VPLP hulls and just not an improved 20.x.

I reviewed the video from Stephen Walker's blog on Ahoy-Boats, from the 2018 Boot Düsseldorf, showing the Astus 20.5. From the looks of the new VPLP hulls, the main hull has the appearance of larger interior. Walker makes a big sell on the interior, which is improved by the wider and more high vertical sided vaka hull, plus aft aka placement. The cockpit sole appears a bit higher than the 20.2 and the cockpit benches without the gunwales, yield more space in the quarter berths. With the larger companion way hatch cover and rightly redesigned slide off hinges, the interior is more accessible for habitation functions. However, promoting it sleeps four inside is a cramped pitch, unless the two of the people are small. But then again, four people sleeping in a cabin like that is quite close quartered and leaves very little room for all the stuff four people need for an overnight or two. But altogether cozy and nice for just two, in my opinion. That is one of the reasons I took the plunge on my 20.2 XL, room for just the Mrs. and me.

The mast is specified as 1.5 feet taller than my 20.2 and the curious stay rigging is slightly different with more stays and stay angles. The mast step has integral fulcrum pin, nice improvement. The Silden boom is a step up from the previous aluminum pole. The boom has fixed goose neck and included out haul and reefing blocks. All good improvements. It is the VPLP hulls that sets apart this boat as not just an improved version, but really a new boat.

There is this bold statement Walker makes about a 40% ‘more powerful’. My engineering background begs to know, how was that 40% quantified and verified. Power is quantitative work over time. Since sailing is an adventure in variable kinetics, no two sailing experiences are quite the same. Someone needs to conduct an experiment with two Astus boats, 20.2 XL and 20.5, same sail plan, same weight of crew, sailing side by side over a given course that includes same upwind and down wind directions, and gather velocity data. Then compare data and adjust for boat variances in beam width, weight, buoyancy, and whetted surface. Show me that the 20.5 develops 40% more energy and I may be able to understand that 40% sales pitch.

Same rudder and tiller (ugh) which I find my rudder and tiller to be vast improvement.

The 20.5 appears to be a very nice boat for what it is, a coastal cruiser.