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Comanche, Jim Clark’s 100ft super maxi, smashes the transatlantic record

• Toby Hodges
• July 28, 2016

Comanche, the 100ft maxi racing yacht built to break records for Jim Clark and Kristy Hinze-Clark, has set an astonishingly fast new transatlantic record

In making the crossing in just  5 days, 14 hours, and 21 minutes Comanche has knocked over 24 hours off the prized record held by Mari-Cha IV for the last 13 years (subject to ratification). She sailed the 2,880 nautical miles at an AVERAGE speed of 21.44 knots!

Comanche, sailing without her regular skipper Ken Read due to America’s Cup World Series commentating commitments, was on standby for the record attempt since the end of June. She departed on the evening of the 22 July from New York – and crossed the Lizard finish line at 1145 today, 28 July.

Comanche was built precisely for this purpose: to break records. She set a blistering new 24-hour distance record for a monohull during the Transatlantic Race last year – 618 miles, at an average speed of 25.75 knots. But this Transat record is arguably the big one.

Comanche’s owner Jim Clark said: “The guys have once again powered our fantastic fat-bottomed girl to another title. I am so proud of the entire team and everyone involved in the entire program from top to bottom, the best in world, getting the best out of Comanche. Perfect harmony, and Kristy and I are over the moon.”

Speaking ahead of the departure, Comanche owner Jim Clark stated “Comanche has already proven her potential in major events all around the world and this looks to be a great opportunity to continue her legacy…The crew is made of some of the best sailors in the world who all have great pedigree. I have a good feeling about this attempt.”

Clark, the Silicon Valley magnate and founder of Netscape, has owned a number of high profile yachts that includes the groundbreaking 90m schooner Athena, and the J-Class Hanuman.

North Sails President Ken Read, the former Puma Volvo 70 skipper, has been helmsman on Hanuman and collaborator on Clark’s recent projects. “This latest record is testament to Jim and Kristy’s vision,” he said. “This is the culmination of six years of hard work and a huge team of experts offshore and onshore all working as one.”

For this crossing, Comanche’s rockstar crew, some of who sailed with Read on the Volvo Ocean Race, was led by Casey Smith, and included regulars Tony Mutter, Richard Clarke and navigator Stan Honey.

Honey picked the ideal weather window, ahead of a front, with flat seas and steady winds from a favourable angle. Following Comanche’s progress on the Yellowbrick tracker it was amazing to see how consistently she remained in the mid 20-knot bracket.

Stan Honey pours over his routeing at Commanche’s navstation

Crewmember and photographer Yann Riou described it as a weather pattern that only happens a couple of times a year. “In front of a low pressure system, moving at the same speed as we do… south-westerly wind, flat sea, all the way through – on the paper, this could not be any better.” In reality there was more thunderstorm activity than the crew had anticipated which enforced a couple of slower gybes.

In comparison to Mari-Cha’s historic ghost trail however (in white above), Comanche was able to sail a much more direct route. (It makes the 2003 record all the more impressive – see more details on MCIV below). The last 50 miles to the Lizard involved a comparatively slow hitch south of the Scilly Islands.

Comanche sailed with ‘only’ 17 crewmembers who used manual powered winches and hydraulics for this record attempt.

Antiguan Shannon Falcone, an America’s Cup winner with Team Oracle, prepares freeze-dried food during Comanche’s record crossing

Named after a native American tribe, Comanche is so beamy she was dubbed ‘the aircraft carrier’ – see our full tour of the yacht here

Designed by VPLP and Guillame Verdier, Comanche involved 15,000 hours design time plus 150,000 build-hours at Hodgdon Yachts in Maine ­­– in less than a year.

In comparison to Mari Cha IV, Comanche is 38ft shorter, but with only 5ft 5in less beam. Her 31 tonnes displacement is 25 tonnes lighter, yet the two yachts have similar keel draught. This all equates to Comanche boasting significant extra stability and righting moment – and consequently the ability to set vast sail area to help produce the extra power and speed she consistently shows. See what she’s like to sail onboard with our video here

It’s a long way down from the leeward rail – the formidable beam of Comanche

Stan Honey: “There are only about two weather windows a year where a monohull can make it all the way across the Atlantic in one system, and we found one of them. Beating this record by more than a day is above my expectations and I am delighted.”

Mari Cha IV

Mari Cha IV – by Thierry Martinez

Mari-Cha IV, the 42.32m ketch designed by Philippe Briand, was built by JMV Industries in 2003 with an aim to be the fastest monohull for offshore courses. She certainly achieved that when she set the Transatlantic Record on the year of her launch, making the crossing in 6 days, 17 hours, 52 minutes, at an average speed above 19 knots. Her best 24 hour run was 525 miles. She has since been completely and stunningly refitted by Royal Huisman and relaunched this year as Samurai.

Comanche Story: Across the Ocean in a Work Week

Shattering the transatlantic sailing record.

Even the most daunting world records are meant to be broken … eventually. For elite navigator Stan Honey and a crew of sailing all-stars, beating the prestigious monohull transatlantic sailing record was the ultimate accomplishment. And it was no easy feat. On July 22, 2016, the Comanche — a custom-built, 100-foot racing yacht — set sail from New York to the southern tip of England.

Precisely five days, 14 hours, 21 minutes and 25 seconds later, the Comanche’s crew shattered the world record … by more than a day.

Brave the high seas as we set sail on one of the most amazing and inspiring journeys ever to take place on film.

A Great Big Film dedicated to Comanche, made in partnership with Land Rover ( http://www.landroverusa.com/vehicles/… ).

About Comanche

Comanche is a 100 ft (33 m) maxi yacht. She was designed in France by VPLP and Guillaume Verdier and built in the United States by Hodgdon Yachts for Dr. James H. Clark and christened as  Comanche . 

Comanche  holds the 24-hour sailing record for monohulls, covering 618 nm, for an average of 25.75 knots or 47.69 kmh/h. The boat won line honours in the 2015 Fastnet race and the 2015 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, under the leadership of skipper Ken Read. In 2017,  Comanche  set a new Transpac record, covering 484.1 nmi in 24 hours, for an average speed of 20.2 knots (37.4 km/h). In 2019, under navigator Stan Honey, the yacht won the 2225-mile 50th Transpacific Yacht Race, with a time of 5 days 11 hours 14 minutes 05 seconds.  Comanche  won the 2017 Sydney to Hobart yacht race, with a time of 1 day 9 hours 15 minutes 24 seconds, a record that still stands today.

At 5 days 14 hours 21 minutes 25 seconds, the sailing yacht holds the Monohull Transatlantic sailing record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, which they achieved on July 28, 2016.

In December 2017, was sold to Australian Jim Cooney, and was renamed to LDV Comanche, as part of a one-time sponsorship from SAIC Maxus Automotive Co’s  LDV  brand. The yacht later returned to its original, unsponsored title of Comanche. Under this name it won the Sydney-Hobart race again in 2019 in 1 day 18 hours and 30 minutes.

Soon after the completion of the 2019 Sydney-Hobart race, Comanche was reportedly sold to a Russian interest group. [7]  Details of the sale have not been disclosed as of yet.

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Published on December 23rd, 2014 | by Editor

Comanche: Designer notes

Published on December 23rd, 2014 by Editor -->

Designers Guillaume Verdier and VPLP Architects provide notes on the 100-foot Comanche… Launched in September 2014, Comanche resulted from the studies realised on the Macif and Banque Populaire IMOCA 60 monohulls, who finished first and second in the 2012 Vendée Globe.

What distinguishes her from her 100-foot competitors, such as Wild Oats or Perpetual Loyal, is her great beam, her high mast which is placed very far aft, and her boom perpendicular to the transom.

Comanche is a virtually narrow boat; she is made to sail heeled thanks to the appendages’ plan. As such, she enjoys a high fineness ratio sail plan. Inside, the structure is optimized to make the boat more resistant to damage. The cockpit was designed bearing in mind manual manoeuvres to gain weight.

Guillaume Verdier: “Comanche is not just an object, it is the result of a great collaboration with skipper Ken Read, the Tim Hacket / Casey Smith team, and the boat builder Brandon Linton. We all enjoyed working on this project. It was a positive and constructive collaboration: every mistake or difficulty was an opportunity to bounce back and find new ideas.”

Vincent Lauriot-Prévost: “After the IMOCAs, this was our first exercise in the 100 footer monohull category. As light as possible, as strong as possible, such was the equation we shared with Guillaume Verdier. Her very powerful hull, her maximum draught to enter most marinas, her low freeboard height and side water ballasts make her the most powerful ship in the 100 footer fleet.”

During the Solas Big Boat Challenge, on December 9th in Sydney Harbour, Comanche’s first confrontation with her Sydney Hobart contestants revealed all the boat’s potential in light conditions.

Ken Read, the skipper, after the Solas: “We were very pleased with how the boat went upwind, we could not have been happier with how Comanche went. She was designed to do exactly the opposite of what we had today. This boat is a beast. Do we know how it will handle (the tough conditions off the New South Wales coast and Bass Strait), will it stay in one piece? We have no idea.”

Jim Clark, the boat’s owner, will present Comanche at the start of the Sydney Hobart on December 26th. Ken Read, the skipper, and his 28 crew members will aim for line honours for this boat who’s more dedicated to records and speed. After the Sydney Hobart, Comanche should tackle the crewed Transatlantic Record, currently held by Mari Cha IV.

Shipyard: Hodgdon Yachts, Maine, USA Length: 30.45 m Approx. Beam: 8 m Draught: 6.80 m Clearance: 47 m Upwind sail area: 760 m2 Downwind sail area: 1100 m2 Displacement: under 30 tonnes

Design – Collaboration: Guillaume Verdier & VPLP Guillaume Verdier Architecture Navale: Romaric Neyhousser / Benjamin Muyl / Hervé Penfornis and Guillaume Verdier VPLP Design: Philibert Chesnay / Xavier Guilbaud / Simon Watin / Daniele Capua and Vincent Lauriot Prevost Skipper: Ken Read, assisted by Casey Smith and Tony mutter Boat’s Owner : Jim Clark

Associated to project Len Imas assisted by Romain Garo – computational fluid dynamics (CFD) Pure Office – double structure check Sail designers, managed by JB Braun Jamie France and Thia Win – Daggerboard systems Gianni Cariboni engineering office – hydraulics Refraschini engineering office – Daggerboards, keel and bulb Southern Spars engineering office Jon Williams – Winches Hasso Hoffmeister – Germanisher Lloyd check Martin Prince – Model basin.

Additional information

Tags: Comanche , Guillaume Verdier , Ken Read , VPLP

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Comanche – A Fast Racer

October 18, 2015 By Daniel Mihai Popescu 2 Comments

Comanche is a 100ft (30.5 meters) sailing yacht, which has been built with the scope to break every yachting record possible, winning prestigious yacht races, and meaning that it will probably become the fastest. The beautiful yacht, a Super Maxi class, has been commissioned by the Netscape creator, James H. Clark and his wife, the former Victoria’s Secret’s Australian model, Kristy Hinze.

The sleek black and red yacht has been built under a contract with a lot of confidentiality clauses by Hodgdon Yachts from Maine. Comanche has one of the largest single-infusion hulls constructed in America, and even globally. The oven used to cure the hull and superstructure is the largest one in the United States, and has been built by Hodgdon Yachts itself. They have been using advanced composites for several years, both for yachts and for military projects.

Super Maxi Class Yacht, Comanche

The naval architects are Van Peteghem Lauriot Prévost (VPLP) and Guillaume Verdier, acknowledged names in the racing world. The 150 foot mast has been constructed by Southern Spars and the sails are from industry leader, North Sails , including a spinnaker of more than 11,000 square feet. Launched in September 2014, Comanche is the result of studies of the IMOCA Macif and Banque Populaire, first and second in the 2012 Vendee Globe. Different from her other 100′ rivals, like Wild Oats XI or Perpetual Loyal , with her large beam, her mast far aft and a boom directly over the transom, Comanche has a much larger sail plan. The cockpit has been designed for manual maneuvers rather than hydraulic and therefore saves weight. Comanche has a powerful hull shape and a maximum draft of 6.5m in order to enter most ports. With a low freeboard and lateral ballast the center of gravity has been lowered to gain power.

Comanche and its crew, downward view

Comanche is commanded by renowned US skipper Ken Read, and raced by a world-class crew of twenty-one international sailors.

Her performances, like what Ken Read has explained that happened during the Transatlantic Race 2015, an average speed of 25 knots per total, a top speed of 38.8 knots, and large distances passed in the mid 30’s knots, are things which will make me to dedicate more space to this kind of posts. I am thrilled by what man can achieve with a good boat, and pure racing, like this, using just the power of the wind and the ability to float over the furious waves, even to brake them if necessary.

Comanche Sails!! FAST!! from Onne van der Wal on Vimeo .

Above is a very short (too short) video made by Onne van der Wal, which shows Comanche sailing. Before publishing this, I have been looking for more videos, maybe more relevant, like I wish for this website to be, a better compilation of related sources on different matters.

So, I found this on YouTube, posted by sailingshack, where Ken Read presents the magnificent boat.

It really is a great boat, a very expensive one as well, it took $15 million to be built, and many millions more for the rest (called “campaigns”), and it made second place in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, losing to Wild Oats XI , and also second in the Transatlantic race 2015 (TR 15), loosing to Rambler 88 with a difference of only seven hours, which is really incredible, because in such a competition, they arrive at days distance. More on racing, in future posts, maybe I’ll make a new category.

I hope you like it and I’ll tell you more about yacht racing in general. What do you think, are you speed racers?

If you like what you read, please subscribe to this blog by completing the form . If you want to help more, start by following us on Twitter , and like our page on Facebook . You don’t know what good things may happen. To lighten your day, check our pins on Pinterest , we can be friends there too. Oh, and if you need a really good looking blog attached to your site, or just for fun, to express your feelings more competitively, read this Own Your Website offer! Thank you very much.

Copyright © 2015 The Yacht Owner – Comanche – A Fast Racer

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About Daniel Mihai Popescu

Daniel Mihai Popescu is a ship engineer with background in sea transportation, real estate, yacht brokerage, construction, entrepreneurship. Avid reader, traveled the world, explorer of the human nature. Never stopped learning, now I create and manage Wordpress based sites . • Twitter • Facebook • LinkedIn • Instagram • Pinterest • Goodreads • Medium •

January 7, 2016 at 14:04

Buna ziua, Mi-as dori un articol scris de dvs. despre velierele cu chila leagan, swing keel sailboat cum sunt cunoscute. Multumesc.

January 7, 2016 at 20:31

Am să caut mai multe informații despre ele, mie tipul ăsta de chilă mi se pare o complicație inutilă deși îi văd utilitatea. Mi-ar face plăcere dacă v-ați abona la newsletter, șamd…

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Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024

Andoo Comanche

Arguably the fastest monohull on the planet, Andoo Comanche returns to defend her Line Honours title in the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.  Skipper John “Herman” Winning Jr and his exceptional team including tactician Seve Jarvin, Sam Newton, Iain Murray and Richard Allanson have captured every major Australian offshore line honours title since they chartered the yacht in 2022.  With a new inventory of sails by North Sails, Andoo Comanche will be hard to beat in 2023, with John Winning Jr looking to cap off his impressive run with the maxi yacht.

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From casual to technical clothing, there is something for all occasions. Be quick as stock is limited!

Jim Cooney buys Comanche – the super maxi will now call Australia home

One of the favourites to take line honours in the 2017 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, LDV Comanche, was purchased today (14 December 2017) by Sydney’s Jim Cooney from its American owner Jim Clark, making the super maxi yacht an Australian owned and skippered entry when it starts the Boxing Day classic.

“LDV Comanche is a truly awe-inspiring yacht, and the chance to race to Hobart, alongside my children Julia and James with a world class crew, is a once in a lifetime opportunity too good to pass up. I started ocean racing 30 years ago and we have raced as a family in many parts of the world for 12 years, but this is an incredible opportunity for us to challenge for the world’s toughest blue water classic,” says Jim Cooney, who finished sixth on line in last year’s race at the helm of his Volvo 70 ‘Maserati’ and campaigned his iconic maxi Brindabella for seven years before that.

“This year competition is fierce, with the strongest line up of super maxis ever seen in one race. Depending on conditions, any of the 100 footers could take line honours, it threatens be one of the best races in the history of the event,” Cooney stated today.

Jim Cooney is the Chairman and majority shareholder of TCI Renewables, a professional wind energy development company headquartered in Oxford, UK. Jim is a Chartered Engineer who co-founded TCI in Australia in 1996 and successfully developed the business to span the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada and the United States. He is an accomplished industry leader in renewable energy, specialising in wind energy, and under his direction TCI Renewables has developed some of the largest wind farms in the UK.  In 2005 Jim was honoured with the prestigious Ernst & Young Australian Entrepreneur of the Year.  He holds degrees from the University of Sydney, University of London and Imperial College, London.

LDV Comanche will continue to carry the colours of the Chinese vehicle manufacturer LDV, which is using the yacht and the race as part of the launch of  its new LDV T60 Ute.

The crew on LDV Comanche reads like a who’s who of the sailing world and following the change in ownership, will gain some new names. As well as Jim Cooney, the crew will now include Jim’s son and daughter Julia and James Cooney alongside Waratah Jeremy Tilse.

The stellar crew includes three time America’s cup winner and 2015 Rolex Sydney Hobart Winner Jimmy Spithill (Australia); eleven time winner of the Transpac race and round the world race winner Stan Honey (USA); round the world race winner Brad Jackson (New Zealand); Olympic and round the world sailor Dirk de Ridder (Netherlands); multiple America’s Cup sailor and Rolex Sydney Hobart winner Warwick Fleury (New Zealand); America’s Cup sailor, Nick Burridge (New Zealand); Olympic, America’s Cup and round the world sailor Shannon Falcone (UK); Rolex Sydney Hobart race winner on Comanche, John Von Schwarz (USA); six time round the world racer and seven time America’s Cup competitor, Tony ‘Trae’ Rae (New Zealand); Sydney Hobart winner on board Comanche and the sport’s world renowned ‘Mr Fixit’, Casey Smith (Australia); Extreme sailing expert Stuart Pollard (Australia); round the world sailor Justin Slattery (Ireland); Rolex Sydney Hobart winner on Comanche Keats Keeley (USA); round the world sailor David Rolfe (Australia); and project manager Tim Hackett who has managed some of the leading teams around the world.

Launched as ‘Comanche’, and now called ‘LDV Comanche’ for the 2017 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, the 100 foot maxi racing yacht holds a remarkable list of records, all of which show her to be the ideal yacht for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. The yacht holds the 24 hour sailing distance record for monohulls and the trans-Atlantic crossing record of 5 days, 14 hours, 21 minutes and 25 seconds. In addition to the 2015 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, she won the no less tough Fastnet Race. This year she smashed the monohull record in the Transpac race with an average speed of 20.2 knots.

‘LDV Comanche’s nickname, “the aircraft carrier”, gives away what sets her apart from two of her rivals, Black Jack and Wild Oats XI. Indeed, her beam at the stern is so great it could accommodate both Black Jack and Wild Oats XI. Her optimum heel angle is anything over 20 degrees and she has the same wetted surface as Wild Oats XI at 25 degrees. The 46 metre/150 feet high mast sits directly above the canting keel and she designed deliberately to be able to – just – slip under Sydney Harbour Bridge. The mast has a static load of 75 tonnes and 150 tonnes under sail, or, to put it another way, the same weight as 80 LDV T60 Utes hanging from the mast.

Suspended from the mast is a 410 square metre mainsail, which will carry a massive picture of an LDV T60 Ute for the race. In downwind configuration, this expands to a massive 1022 square metres and the largest spinnaker is 1100 square metres. Under the yacht is a canting keel that may be swung out 35 degrees in either direction in as little as 25 seconds, while there is space on either side of the hull for 6.5 tonnes of water in the ballast tanks.

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3 speed records smashed by Comanche

Comanche breaks the transatlantic speed record.

Sailing superyacht Comanche has set a new record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean after completing her latest Transat on July 28.

The 30.45 metre carbon-fibre yacht sailed from New York’s Ambrose Lighthouse to the UK’s Lizard Point in 5 days, 14 hours, 21 minutes and 25 seconds. This new speed record for a sailing monohull, which is subject to ratification, shaves 27 hours off the previous fastest time previously set in 2003 by Mari Cha IV (which has since been refitted and renamed Samurai ).

Prior to Comanche ’s departure from New York on July 22, skipper Ken Read, president of North Sails, said: “We have been on standby for a few weeks now and have almost left on three separate occasions since the end of June. But now the right conditions have presented themselves.”

Read’s media commitments at the 2016 America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth meant he could not be on board for the record-breaking crossing. In his absence, Comanche ’s crew was led by Casey Smith.

The success of  Comanche  – the sailing yacht built to win  – follows her  second place finish at the 2014 Sydney Hobart race .

This Transatlantic speed record is just the latest in a remarkable series of records broken by  Comanche .

Comanche sets a new 24-hour distance record

The Transatlantic speed record comes 12 months after Comanche set a new 24-hour distance record for monohulls. The record was broken during the 2015 Transatlantic Race after  Comanche covered 618.01 nautical miles in 24 hours.

Her average speed was recorded as 25.75 knots, on the cusp of some strong southwesterly winds in the North Atlantic. The 24-hour distance record has since been ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council.

Comanche sets a speed record at Les Voiles de St Barth

After she failed to win the 2014 Sydney Hobart race on her maiden regatta, the first half of 2015 saw  Comanche come into her own and deliver in every conceivable way.

In an April showdown with a fleet of some of the world’s finest sailing yachts at  Les Voiles de St Barth 2015 ,  Comanche  established a speed record in the Maxi I class with a time of 2 hours, 33 minutes and 4 seconds, taking all line honours in her division.

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11 Forgotten Mid-sized Trucks: Oh Yeah, That Happened

Updated on Aug 30, 2024

Too big to be small and too small to be big, mid-sized trucks have always been the ultimate tweener of the pickup truck world. On the upside, this makes them jacks-of-all-trades , able to fill multiple roles. On the downside, this makes them masters-of-none , unable to really excel in any of those particular roles. They’re the ultimate forgotten middle child, truly loved but always the kids with the traumatic left-behind story.

Despite their hefty prices and aforementioned problematic places in the truck hierarchy, half a dozen options persist in the mid-sized segment. There’s the Chevrolet Colorado /GMC Canyon, GM’s smallest trucks that ousted the Chevy S-10/GMC Sonoma mini trucks some 20 years ago. There’s the Ford Ranger , reinvented as a mid-size option in 2019 after the compact Ranger’s demise after 2011. There’s the Nissan Frontier , another compact mini truck that jumped into the mid-size category some 20 years ago and recently grew again in its 2022 third-gen iteration. And of course there’s the ever-popular Toyota Tacoma , yet another truck that upsized around the same time as its competition and now enters its fourth-generation for 2024. Lastly, the Jeep Gladiator , a truck version of the venerable Jeep Wrangler JL SUV, hit the mid-size truck market in 2020.

As we can see, the mid-size truck market consists mostly of grown-up mini trucks pandering to a growing demand (among other factors) for larger trucks. But once upon a time, in the late 2000s, the mid-size category had even more entrants, including rebadged beauties from the likes of Isuzu, Mitsubishi, and Suzuki. Unfortunately, you’ll be hard-pressed to find any of these oddball mid-size nameplates on the road today, a testament to their rarity and short lifespan.      

It brings us great joy to highlight these forgotten mid-sized trucks. Making the list is offensively honorable for some of these pickups. For others, it is a compliment, as forgotten implies they were remembered by the general public to begin with.

Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon V-8: RIP, Small-Block Mid-size GM

When you think of factory V-8 mid-size trucks, there’s obviously the Dodge Dakota. But from 2009-2012, there was also a small-block V-8 Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon, distinguished by a small V-8 badge on the front fender. The 5.3-liter Vortec V-8–LH8 (2009) and LH9 (2010-2012)–produced 300 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque and was mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission. It’s too bad there was no manual option. Between the first-gen Colorado’s inline-5 and V-8, we know which one we’d choose. With a lower price, more marketing, and a catchy name, maybe the V-8 Colorado mid-size muscle truck wouldn’t have made this list.  

Dodge Dakota: 25 Years of Mid-size Glory

When we say mid-size truck, everyone thinks of the Dodge Dakota (1987-2011). It’s forgotten in the sense that the last Dakota rolled off its assembly line in Warren, Michigan, 13 years ago, not in the sense that it was an obscure piece of truck history. At its height in 2000, sales reached 175,000, reiterating that the Dakota was king of the mid-size class. The Dakota survived three generations. The boxy, least recognizable first generation Dakota (1987-1996) was the first mid-size truck with an optional V-8 (5.2-liter V-8). The second-gen Dakota (1997-2004) constitutes the bulk of the Dakotas you see on the road today, capped by the high performance 5.9 R/T. The third-generation Dakota (2005-2011) dropped the regular cab and got bonus points for its manual-backed 4.7-liter V-8 in 2005 and 2006.   

Ford Explorer Sport Trac: An SUV Grows a Bed

The Ford Explorer Sport Trac (2001-2010, minus 2006) was Ford’s OG mid-size. It was basically a Ford Explorer SUV with a pickup bed (and longer wheelbase), advantageous because of that roomy crew cab, something the compact Ranger lacked until its return in 2019. The second-gen Sport Trac (2007-2010) got four-wheel independent suspension and an optional 4.6-liter V-8 (to supplement the standard 4.0-liter V-6). There could have been a Sport Trac Adrenalin with a supercharged 4.6-liter V-8, but unfortunately, this Ford SVT project was canceled and the Adrenaline was neutered down to an optional package with some cool design features. There was no Mercury version of the Sport Trac. 

Current GMC Canyon: Your #5 Mid-size Pickup

The GMC Canyon is a great truck, but people seem to gravitate toward the Chevy Colorado instead. There may be some reasons: lack of awareness, poor availability, and high price, for example. If the Canyon and Colorado are mechanically the same, why does Colorado get 70 percent of GM’s mid-size share and the Canyon 30 percent (second quarter 2024)? The Tacoma, Colorado, Frontier, and Ranger outsell the Canyon, leaving only the Gladiator slightly behind. Here’s our PSA for the day: Remember the Canyon!  

Hummer H3T Alpha: The Rare V-8 Hummer Truck

The GMC Hummer EV is all the current rage, but once upon a time, Hummer shrunk its H2 into a smaller H3 SUV (2006-2010) and H3T truck (2009-2010) that basically shared underpinnings with the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon. The H3T had some impressive optional off-road talking points: 33-inch tires, locking differentials 4:1 low range, 4:10:1 axle ratios, and respectable approach and departure angles. Although the H3T’s 3.7-liter inline-five cylinder engine could be had with a manual transmission, there was another tantalizing underhood option–the 5.3-liter V-8 found in the Hummer H3T Alpha. Yup, the Alpha had the same V-8 as the aforementioned Colorado. The Hummer H3T was ahead of its time, and if you happen to see one on the road, consider yourself lucky.

Isuzu i-Series: Definitely Not a Colorado/Canyon?

As there was an Isuzu Hombre that looked like a Chevy S-10, so there was a 2006-2008 Isuzu i-Series based on the Chevy Colorado. Yup, it was a strange time–but not so strange as to have seen a V-8 i-Series. The GM/Isuzu relationship dated back to the 1970s; the Chevrolet LUV was a rebadged Isuzu. Isuzu was involved in designing the Colorado/Canyon. At launch in 2006, there was an extended cab i-280 (powered by the 2.8-liter I-4 engine) and an extended cab/crew cab i-350 (3.5-liter I-5 engine). For 2007, there was an i-290 (2.9-liter I-4) and i-370 (3.7-liter I-5). See what happened there? The models corresponded with the engines, an art long-lost in modern naming. The i-Series was discontinued when Isuzu left the United States market. If you do some hunting, you can probably pick one up for $5,000 and really confuse your truck-loving neighbors.    

Jeep Comanche: Legendary Attempt, Lasting Memories

A truck version of the Jeep Cherokee XJ once roamed the streets. The XJ-based MJ Comanche (1986-1992), marketed as a mid-size truck, was unique in its uniframe construction–unibody cab mated to a conventional rear ladder frame. It was offered in a single cab with a six-foot short bed (Comanche Sport Truck) or seven-foot long bed (Comanche Chief). Among its engine offerings was a 2.1-liter inline-four diesel engine for 1986-1987. About 200,000 Comanches were made. If you’re looking for a fun and unique truck project, Comanches can be found for nearly nothing (or a pretty penny), depending on condition. The Comanche name was dropped for good, and the Jeep Gladiator (next on our list) became its replacement some 27 years later.   

EcoDiesel Jeep Gladiator: How Quickly We Forget the Diesel One

Mitsubishi raider: definitely not a dodge dakota.

Since American-built pickups were not subject to the 25-percent “chicken tax” tariff on light-duty trucks, partnering with American-based manufacturers (Chrysler, in this case) made sense for several manufacturers on this list, including Mitsubishi. The 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider was made alongside the third-gen Dodge Dakota mid-size truck at the Warren Truck Assembly plant in Warren, Michigan. The Raiders were then sent to Normal, Illinois, for some Mitsubishi treatment; Some think the Raider looked sportier than that of the Dakota. There was a special Raider DuroCross with lowered suspension and a body kit. Like the Dakota, the Raider was powered by a 3.7-liter V-6 with 210 hp and 235 lb-ft of torque or a 4.7-liter V-8 with 235 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque. Mitsubishi claims its 2007 Raider was the only import-brand mid-size pickup with a V-8. Sales eventually fizzled, and that was the end of the Raider–and the end of Mitsubishi trucks in America.  

Subaru Baja: The Car-Truck That’s All About Fun 

Does the Subaru Baja (2003-2006) belong on this list of forgotten mid-size trucks? Like everyone else, we’re not sure what to do with the Baja–but we’ll talk about it every chance we get because it was rad. Car-in-the-front, open-bed truck-in-the-back, this funky four-door utility ute car-truck broke all the rules and received a cult-like following. Aside from its rebellious nature, the Baja was known for its “Switchback” passthrough between the cabin and the bed. 

Suzuki Equator: Definitely Not a Nissan Frontier?

Debuting at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show, the 2009-2012 Suzuki Equator was Peterson’s 4Wheel & Off-Road’s 2009 4x4 of the Year winner–probably its biggest claim to fame. Someone described it as a Frontier with a different label–a label that plops a big S on the mug. It’s believed that Suzuki sold less than 6,000 of this Frontier clone that was assembled by Nissan, equating to just a couple hundred a month. They were powered by Nissan’s 2.5-liter inline-four that made 152 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque backed by a five-speed manual or automatic transmission, or a 4.0-liter V-6 that made 261 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque, backed by a five-speed automatic.

Forgotten Mid-sized Truck Conclusion

Now that we’ve unearthed some forgotten mid-sized pickups, it’s time to get to work on your own (maybe forgotten) truck. Luckily, RealTruck has you covered! Check out great accessories for these popular mid-size trucks: Toyota Tacoma , Chevy Colorado , GMC Canyon , Jeep Gladiator , Nissan Frontier , and Ford Ranger. And as always, contact our knowledgeable sales team for product inquiries and order assistance.

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Ferretti Yachts and Riva to attend Moscow Boat Show 2013

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Written by Zuzana Bednarova

To be represented by Premium Yachts, Ferretti Yachts and Riva , two prestigious brands of the Ferretti Group, will be present at the Moscow International Boat Show 2013, displaying motor yacht Ferretti 530 as well as Riva Iseo yacht tender.

Luxury motor yacht Ferretti 530

Luxury yacht Ferretti 530 was very keen to undertake in collaboration once again with AYT – Advanced Yacht Technology, Ferretti Group Engineering Division and Studio Zuccon International Project . The compact dimensions, 16 meters long and almost 5 meters wide, allow the 530 yacht to deliver grand Italian luxury and cruising immersed in such comfort until now unheard of in a yacht of this size.

Ferretti 530 yacht boasts three revolutionary innovations: the full beam master cabin with chaise longue and two large open view windows that make it a real suite at sea level bathed in light, tones and the natural essences of teak. Moving the galley from the center to the aft section creates a unique open space that includes the saloon, galley, cocktail bar and the dining area, the cockpit area continues thanks to the tilting window. The roll bar free sky lounge and the spoiler allow the 530 a sporty appearance combined with elegantly formal lines.

Ferretti 530 Yacht - Interior

Riva , the iconic Ferretti Group brand, presented a new model at the historical Lake d’Iseo shipyards in July 2011. Featuring elegance and ease of transportation as its distinctive characteristics, Iseo superyacht tender , a 27 foot runabout, is destined to become a must-have for those who love cruising on both lakes and the sea, and, most importantly, design enthusiasts. It is also perfect for anyone wishing to enhance their yacht with an exclusive tender that will never go unnoticed.

Riva Iseo superyacht tender

Due to its ease of manoeuvrability and size, Iseo yacht tender is also ideal as a tender for large yachts. Innovative and elegant, it can also guarantee comfort in bad weather conditions. Besides the electrohydraulic bimini top, it was also designed with a waterproof, automobile-style soft top which protects those on board against water and the wind during cruising.

Please contact CharterWorld - the luxury yacht charter specialist - for more on superyacht news item "Ferretti Yachts and Riva to attend Moscow Boat Show 2013".

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