Overall Review of Greenline 39 Hybrid Yacht
Experience. A very desirable attribute when building high-quality boats. Greenline Yachts, of Slovenia, has launched over 700 hybrid-powered yachts in about a decade and a half. While some competitors are still floundering around and experimenting with hybrid or electric drives, Greenline is continuously and confidently delivering the definitive product in the category. Greenline Yachts were the first production hybrid yacht in the world and built their first hybrid yachts in 2008. Since then, they have delivered hundreds hybrid yachts to date and are the global leader in the hybrid yacht technology.
The Greenline 39 is a remarkable boat. Not only is it an amazingly well-conceived and executed product, but it speaks volumes about the depth of Greenline’s design capabilities as well as their ability to translate that exceptional design into an outstanding product.
Building a (relatively) smaller boat, like the Greenline 39 hybrid yacht, can be more of a challenge than in cases where there is the luxury of additional space. Every factor, every aspect, must be evaluated even more carefully. More room for “this” means less room for “that,” yet nothing should be left out. This review of the Greenline 39 hybrid yacht illustrates that it is a case study on offering a feature-laden, high-content boat in a relatively affordable, medium size boat.
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Review of Greenline 39 Hybrid Yacht: Exterior Features and Styling
Continuing on with this review, the Greenline 39 hybrid yacht is a sedan-style cruiser. The lines are attractively drawn. There is no flybridge option. Four solar-electric panels mounted on the cabin top recharge batteries are used for both the hybrid drive system and the “house” electrical loads. Experience shows that at anchor during the summer months, the solar panels generate enough electricity to operate the lights, the galley appliances, and other systems onboard. On anchor, there is no need to burn fuel and maintain a separate diesel generator on the Greenline 39 hybrid yacht.
Owners of a Greenline 39 hybrid yacht will prefer to dock with a starboard tie. To find room for the surprisingly spacious main cabin, the Greenline 39 is built asymmetrically. There is a wide deck on the starboard side, with the security of high bulwarks and stainless railings. The port side deck is adequate for heel-to-toe passage while holding onto a rail, (not unlike both side decks on some competing vessels), but the preferred passage fore and aft will be on the starboard side.
Boarding the Greenline 39 hybrid is accomplished through a boarding door in the aft starboard quarter, or across the hydraulically operated “tailgate” transom. With the flip of a switch, the transom of the Greenline 39 folds out over the swim platform, flush with the cockpit deck, to permit boarding from astern. Fans of “Med Mooring” will absolutely love the Greenline 39.
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Confirming the starboard side preference is the pilot door, offering quick access to the starboard side deck from the starboard helm station.
An area for a large “sun pad” is available on the foredeck, as well as an anchor roller, a winch, and a chain locker of more than adequate capacity. The rails and cleats are stainless steel.
There is an ample cockpit, with enormous storage space accessed through a hatch. Much like the larger sister ships in the fleet of Greenline hybrid yachts, if the weather is conducive it can be difficult to determine just where the cockpit ends and the cabin begins. The galley is in the aft portion of the main cabin, and with the doors open, a window flipped up, and a fold-out countertop employed the food, beverages, fun, and entertainment flow seamlessly between the cockpit and the galley.
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Interior Review of the Greenline 39 Hybrid Yacht
Most aft in the main cabin of the Greenline 39 hybrid yacht is a fully equipped and well-configured galley. The solid surface food prep counter with molded sink is to port, with the aforementioned flip-out countertop extension to facilitate food and beverage service in the cockpit. There’s a domestic-sized refrigerator and freezer to starboard, faced with the same high caliber, eased-corner joinery used on the rest of the lockers throughout the boat. A microwave/convection oven as well as an electric cooktop manage the cooking and baking chores aboard the Greenline 39 hybrid yacht.
Forward of the galley and on the port side is a C-shaped settee with a table on adjustable hydraulic support. When necessary or desired, the dinette area can convert to a bunk large enough for two adults.
Opposite the dinette is a built-in drawer and locker storage, including an electric lift to raise and lower a flat-screen TV. Underway or when the TV is not desired, it lowers into the joinery, leaving a useful countertop behind.
There is abundant natural light in the Greenline 39 hybrid yacht. Large windows on both sides of the salon are joined by a single-piece windshield providing uninterrupted visibility forward.
All that visibility will be enjoyed from the helm station, in the starboard forequarter of the main cabin. State-of-the-art electronics are built into a non-reflective console. A simple rotary switch accomplishes the shift between fully electric and fully diesel operation. The Greenline 39 hybrid yacht is a single-screw vessel, so the controls for the available bow and stern thrusters (as well as trim tabs) are logically and conveniently located. With the starboard helm, the adjacent pilot door, and with the use of bow and stern thrusters it should be remarkably simple to dock the Greenline 39 hybrid, literally moving it “sideways” to a starboard side tie if required.
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The Greenline 39 hybrid features a two-stateroom layout, forward and down a few steps from the main cabin. The master stateroom is forward, with a choice of either a single queen-size mattress on the centerline or a pair of “scissor” singles that are hinged at the top and can be either pushed to the hull sides at the foot of the beds or pushed together to create one large sleeping area. Greenline includes windows at both upper and lower levels in the master stateroom, introducing an abundance of natural light and allowing occupants to enjoy the view whether standing or seated on a bunk.
The master stateroom has en suite access to the single head. Finished to deluxe standards, the head includes a surprisingly roomy stall shower, a hand basin, and a marine toilet. A second door permits access to the head from the companionway, maintaining the privacy of anyone in the master stateroom.
Greenline’s 39 hybrid easily sleeps four in dedicated berths, without resorting to converting the dinette to accommodate another two. The guest stateroom is to port at the base of the companionway steps. There is full-standing headroom and a stowage locker immediately inside the stateroom door, with two single bunks utilizing space below the main cabin sole.
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Hybrid Drive Review
The Greenline 39 hybrid would be extremely competitive in its class it if were simply an “ordinary” boat, but it’s not. The Greenline 39 hybrid is an extraordinary boat incorporating a unique drive system. The overall concept is not dissimilar from hybrid automobiles; combining both electric motor and internal combustion drive systems to significantly improve fuel economy, maximize range, and be more environmentally responsible.
A Yanmar diesel engine as well as a large permanent magnet electric motor to turn a common prop shaft. The electric motor is suitable for virtually silent, exhaust-free cruising. Depending upon sea conditions and without adverse currents, the electric range is perhaps 20 nm at speeds of about 5 kt. The electric mode is perfect when hosting a dinner party in the cockpit on a warm evening, when trolling for salmon, or an early morning departure from an anchorage that won’t disturb the neighbors.
High-capacity lithium polymer batteries power the electric motor. The batteries recharge when the Greenline 39 hybrid is connected to shore power or with electricity produced by four solar panels on the cabin top. When in diesel mode, the electric motor switches to a generator and will recharge the batteries as well.
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Assigning the slow speed operations to the electric portion of the hybrid system can help reduce wear and tear on the diesel engine, since diesels prefer to be operated under load and at a medium to high rpm. Subtracting all those low-speed hours from “meter” additionally helps enhance the eventual resale value of the Greenline 39.
Owners of a Greenline 39 discover there’s no real need for an auxiliary generator. The solar panels provide sufficient energy to power the cooking, lighting, entertainment, and other electrical needs when not connected to shore power.
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Conclusion
The Greenline 39 hybrid yacht is well-designed, well-built, and attractively styled. But it doesn’t stop there. The vessel is uniquely responsive to environmental issues that should concern everyone. The hybrid drive system doesn’t eliminate the need to burn fossil fuel, but owners of a Greenline 39 hybrid have the satisfaction of knowing they’re burning less of it, in a vessel employing a system that enhances their enjoyment rather than sacrifices it.
Greenline 39 hybrid yacht. A boat that makes sense for our times.
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