Endurance 750
- Words, Video and Photography by James Dumergue
Typically traditions are shaped over time, incremental improvements of successful solutions. In motor yachts, tradition isn’t just the design’s aesthetics; it is often a style born from the best form to meet the function. The sure-footed broad-shouldered Endurance 750, based on the traditional trawler, is a proven design developed to work in various conditions.
The owner of the latest launched E750 is from the Emerald Isle. He loves to explore his native Tasmania, but he also enjoys exploring tropical Queensland. A solid sea-worthy design that could operate in various conditions and climates, with everyday practicality for extended stays on board, were the pillars that contributed to him choosing another Endurance Motor Yacht. As a long time owner of an Endurance 650 Pilothouse, he knew what he wanted and had a lot of input into the build, blending everything he loved about the E650 with his ambitions on the E750. Working closely with Dean from Leigh-Smith Yachts, the project evolved into his ideal package.
The owner of the latest launched E750 is from the Emerald Isle. He loves to explore his native Tasmania, but he also enjoys exploring tropical Queensland. A solid sea-worthy design that could operate in various conditions and climates, with everyday practicality for extended stays on board, were the pillars that contributed to him choosing another Endurance Motor Yacht. As a long time owner of an Endurance 650 Pilothouse, he knew what he wanted and had a lot of input into the build, blending everything he loved about the E650 with his ambitions on the E750. Working closely with Dean from Leigh-Smith Yachts, the project evolved into his ideal package.
Even the build process evolved as Leigh-Smith Yachts built this latest Endurance 750. Travel limitations of 2020 that came along mid-build ended up streamlining the construction and delivery process. Leigh-Smith Yacht’s marine consultants and surveyors regularly guided the build process weekly and sometimes daily through video conferencing. They also reviewed multiple gigabytes of data from videos that replaced numerous visits to the factory. It was so comprehensive; it included covering systems checks that typically happen upon arrival.
Outwardly the Endurance 750 is a traditional-looking design. Its construction is robust and utilises modern materials. The solid fibreglass hull is hand-laid utilising vinyl ester resin for the first five layers of the hull layup. Kevlar is used for the final two layers from chine to chine and three layers in the forward collision zone.
Strength is the foundation upon which Endurance build a safe and very functional long-range cruiser. At 75 feet, this traditional trawler style vessel has a high brow to meet the oncoming sea. A proud bowsprit extends beyond the flared bow, expertly finished with a stainless plate and exquisite anchoring equipment. Powerful hydraulics ensure an ever supply of power to the windlass and the 38 hp bow and stern thrusters. Large hawse pipes for mooring lines and freeing ports to ensure green water disperses from the foredeck show intent. Ample storage below the bow seating keeps fenders close by. Behind, a waist-high bulwark forms the protective wall of the Portuguese-Bridge to the main deck.
The standout benefit of the Portuguese bridge is safety. It protects the rest of the main deck from green water and offers two side protection with continuous handrails, enabling changing sides safely forward of the main saloon. It has practical everyday applications too. You can wash windows safely and put on covers without clambering.
The Endurance 750 offers all of these benefits on the second protected promenade of the sky lounge deck. Here you’ll not only get full 360 degrees walk-around decks on this level, too, but you also get the added benefit of being raised. It’s a remarkable place to enjoy arrivals at beautiful locations. A Bus-style side opening watertight door allows easy access to the walk-around deck from the helm. The option to use one of the two fold-out wing stations ensure the optimal vision for manoeuvring, taking out all the guesswork. The sightlines afforded by the wing stations helps with this boats’ manageability, with a limited crew or as a capable couple.
The sky lounge is probably one of the largest in its class, with incredible views and stunning warm cherry wood cabinetry. This Endurance has an upgraded timber package with beautifully matched grains and impeccable craftsmanship skills on display. The timberwork throughout the boat is an example of the builders flexing their skills. This upgrade will attract buyers who appreciate traditional craftsmanship. Masterful dovetail joins intricate detail and flowing curves that only skilled craftspeople can achieve.
Offering sovereignty, the sky lounge with its impressive helm forward is for passage making. Comfortable Pompenette helm chairs have a commanding position akin to being on a bigger ship. Triple 26-inch Garmin multifunction displays keep all monitoring, navigation, and engine management on hand. Course changes are possible from the armrest of the captain’s chair. Behind a dinette is the perfect place to roll out a chart or sit down for lunch underway.
Dining underway on a multi-level vessel can come with its challenges. The challenge of taking food from the galley up to the sky lounge has solved with a dumb waiter that steadily raises food and drinks up to the sky lounge’s amenities centre. The amenities centre houses a wet bar, refrigeration, ice maker and the same entertainment system as the saloon. That includes a 55 inch Smart TV on an electric actuator, plus premium audio. There’s not much need to leave this level. The rear lounge covered in premium New Zealand leather converts from a casual coffee table arrangement to a dining table for an elevated dining experience. The icing on the cake is the sky lounge toilet that helps define the sovereignty of this level. .
The sky lounge has three convenient points of access, two external and one internal. The tender deck accessed from the rear of the sky lounge is an expansive space with the flexibility to meet different uses. The owner has elected to install the BBQ module and a 1500 lb davit capable of lifting his main tender, a 4-metre BRIG with 50hp outboard and lighter weight tender with beach wheels to explore tidal areas.
Anyone who goes exploring away from shore side services knows that plenty of fuel for the tenders ensures lots of exploring. The newly designed tender fuel storage system allows owners to carry, store and lift on board up to 300 litres of fuel without the back-breaking exercise of carrying it up to the flybridge. Three GRP boxes each hold five 20l fuel drums. Untethered from the tender deck, they can be lowered onto the fuel dock or into a tender for remote filling and then lifted with hydraulics’ strength back in place. Like Dean from Leigh-Smith Yachts says, “We developed this system because our owners didn’t want to carry the fuel containers up two flights of stairs.”
For the short journey’s, the hydraulic swim platform can lift a tender on chocks a further 300 mm above the fixed platform, ideal for smooth water passages. The aft deck is a few steps up through transom gates; the insulated tender deck above provides protection and improved temperature regulation over fabric awnings. The expansive cockpit table has a comfortable lounge that spans between the transom gates. For every day casual use, two handy custom-stools designed by the owner swing out for ideal everyday use at anchor. They face aft and maximise the view whilst minimising the effort to get in and out and can tuck away for under the table when underway.
Flanking the cockpit are two fold-out wing stations with the same thruster and engine control found on the flybridge wing stations and the sky lounge main helm. Endurance has sought to maximise the positions for boat control, and they have every angle covered.
The aft deck has a custom made console for drinks and handy item storage. If you’ve ever thought you might end up in the ice chest trying to get something from the bottom of a cavernous space, then you’ll like the high waist module. It presents your drinks at the right height and can hold two cases of beer, a dozen bottles of water and six bottles of wine. To port, an on-deck toilet saves the traffic to the accommodations deck.
Stepping inside the salon exudes elegance and comfort, to port the same quality leather covers the sumptuous lounge. Large picture windows bring in the view. Occasional chairs to starboard are either side of the saloon amenities centre, which also houses the same pop-up 55inch smart tv and pro audio as the sky lounge.
A single step up from the saloon’s forward end transitions from the lounge to the boat’s heart. A permanent dining table seating eight to port with a full-service bar opposite. The bar packed with all the equipment and counter space to operate while entertaining can also service the upper level via the dumb waiter.
SA country kitchen forward makes for a practical life on board. The bar dining and galley triangle make for a unique and interactive dynamic seamlessly flexing the space between entertaining and daily life aboard.
The galley is the heart of the main deck, and it is laid out and equipped to be the epicentre of the daily dynamics, its the first place you pass when you come up from the accommodations deck. You can plop down and be part of the conversation over a coffee at the breakfast bar, or you can prepare a feast with space and equipment to satisfy demanding chefs. Its flanked by two fresh air openings via the watertight doors to the outside, and it has views forward that a long-range galley deserves.
A well-crafted custom handrail leads down to the accommodations foyer with an inlaid marble floor. Accommodations lead off in three directions; forward is the inviting, warm timber-lined VIP guest stateroom with a sumptuous island bed and a beautifully appointed ensuite bathroom with a sizable separate shower.
The piece de resistance is the full-beam master stateroom, an adventurers haven. The low centre of gravity lends itself to natural motions underway and at rest. Enhancing comfort are the hydraulically operated zero-speed fin stabilisers. Further thought and effort have gone into the accommodations’ comfort and tranquillity by competently tackling sound insulation throughout the boat.
At anchor, when you want to connect to the environment, the extra-wide opening portlight windows allow maximum cross ventilation and the water’s sound to enter the cabin. The king-sized island bed has a beautiful lounge covered in the same exquisite leather found throughout the vessel. It leads back to the desirable sized master bathroom with twin sinks, great storage and a shower cubicle of substantial proportions with handrails and a built-in seat.
On the port side, a desk/vanity gives plenty of space and storage while on the water. The cedar-lined walk-in wardrobe has ample room for permanent storage of an extensive wardrobe with plenty of spare space to bring on seasonal clothes.
On the port side, the third cabin with a queen bed and a separate ensuite, like all the guest accommodations, are finished to the same high standard as the owners. They all have opening portlights for fresh air ventilation, plus they all have built-in safety to maintain hull integrity should they be needed. Heavy-duty lockable stainless steel portlight covers are there to protect the hull integrity.
The Endurance 750 is a vessel to explore and entertain, and for that reason, it is equipped for flexibility, with built-in redundancy and furnished for self-sufficiency. Accessible from both the saloon and the watertight transom door, the fourth cabin extends the owner-operator’s accommodations and allows the flexibility to house and keep a good crew or captain in the future. The fourth cabin and facilities are of the same high standard as the rest of the boat. There’s also a crew mess with excellent bench space, microwave oven, further refrigeration, and it houses the ship’s laundry equipment too.
While the Endurance 750 may look every bit like the traditional long-range cruiser in design, it’s the class-leading size of the sky lounge and big ship thinking that set it apart. Surrounded by complete walk-around decks of the dual Portuguese bridges are the first clues that this is no ordinary vessel for exploring. Solid foundations, cloaked in kevlar armour and a high brow to meet the oncoming sea, look very reassuring to explore beyond the horizon.
