From the renowned Swedish builder, their flagship yacht seamlessly integrates intelligent features into a sleek, 15-meter Scandinavian design
The picturesque island of Donsö in Sweden welcomed us earlier this June, during our sea trial of the new Nimbus 495 Flybridge, the largest model of her Swedish builder beloved for their dedication to quality and performance.
Exploring the Nimbus 495: Scandinavian excellence on 15 meters
With only 15 meters in length, Nimbus 495 Flybridge is a showcase of her builder’s skills – from her tall hull with distinctive long bow windows to the rounded aft windows on the superstructure, this model borrows many elements from previous Nimbus models, and all of their practical spirit.
Nimbus 495 Flybridge exterior
The perfect spot for alfresco dining: The aft deck
We stepped aboard via the spacious aft platform, which, as is standard in the class, uses hydraulics to submerge, and has built-in stairs that connect it to the main deck. Aft, there is enough space for storage, and an electric grill. The aft cockpit was painstakingly designed to be useful year-round, including gloomy winter months.
With that in mind, a glass wall with built-in blinds descends from the roof of the superstructure and together with side tents encloses the cockpit. From there, a staircase leads up to the flybridge, with a fully equipped helm station and a spacious sun lounge on the bow, and a spacious sofa with a large plastic dining table aft.
All dimensions are in step with expectations from a yacht this size. Sun lovers will be happy to hear there is another spacious sun lounger on the bow, and enough space for a folding table on the very bow.
Nimbus 495 Flybridge interior
Back aft, right next to the door leading to the main deck interior, there is a glass wall separating the interior galley from the cockpit. The galley is located aft, and boasts three counter tops, has an induction cooker, an oven, a sink, three refrigerators and a dishwasher.
Farther towards the bow, a step higher on port side, there is a dining table with four folding surfaces that allow it to double in size, served by large semi-circular sofa.
Opposite, there is a small sofa, with a moving part that can serve as an additional dining seat. Behind that sofa there is the dedicated TV spot, and the TV is hidden when not in use.
Even farther towards the bow, there is another sofa, L-shaped, for those who love to join skipper in navigation, and next to it a small navigator’s corner with a table and a plotter, for guests to track the location of the vessel in real time.
Modern meets practical: A look at the layout and design
A safe and comfortable staircase leads below deck, into the corridor connecting the three cabins – the VIP cabin in the bow, with a raised double bed and large side windows with a view towards the bow; the guest cabin with bunk beds, also available as a office cabin; and the master cabin.
Placed in the very center of the hull, the master is full-width, with a large double bed in the middle, and one additional berth starboard, which doubles as a sofa. Port-side, there is a large vanity, and next to the cabin door, the en-suite with separate shower. The VIP and guest cabins share one bathroom.
The entire interior is decorated in the same style and color palette, with dark wooden floors, partitions and furniture in light wood, green sofas and dark gray details on the walls. Nimbus will also offer some level of customization, to reflect personal style of every owner.
Effortless single-handed maneuvering
In addition to being beautiful inside and out, Nimbus 495 Flybridge is a real pleasure to use, even if you’re all alone, with no help. The interior command post enjoys excellent visibility in all directions, and all navigation and engine data are displayed on large Garmin touchscreen multifunction displays.
In addition to joystick being used for docking assistance, Nimbus made the yacht entirely manageable via the same joystick. Light forward movement of the joystick gently increases rpm, while side to side movement allows precise and quick course changes.
We didn’t use the steering wheel at all, and relied on joystick alone, which is practical – but what a shame, since the steering wheel is beautifully designed, inspired by sports cars.
The docking system itself perfectly holds the position of the vessel as soon as the joystick is released, allowing you to go out on deck and moor the boat yourself.
The perfect cruiser: Unveiling the efficiency of the Nimbus 495 Flybridge
Very stable in navigation, like all other models of this builder, and super stable in turns, Nimbus 495 achieved a maximum speed of 28.6 knots at 3830 rpm, with a consumption of 195 l/h, and optimal cruising speed anywhere between 3000 and 3500 rpm (18.7 to 24.3 knots), with a consumption between 115 and 157 l/h.
Easy to pilot, comfortable and almost too easy to handle, Nimbus 495 Flybridge is a true showcase of her Swedish builder’s expertise on 15 meters.
Text Mlađan Marušić
Photos Nimbus Boats
