LTN 34 DIAMOND: A THREE-DAY-SEA TRIAL

It’s a hot fall day and I’ve just arrived at the port of Marsala, Sicily. I join Ezio Agazzi, owner, together with Giulio Sottocornola, of LTN Ribs: the company, in the field of techno-boating since 1995, started to build ribs in 2014. The first aluminium rib was 26 Venom in 2015.

I’m in Sicily to test LTN 34 Diamond, a 10-metre aluminium rib pushed by two Suzuki 300 HP outboards.

I load my equipment aboard, while I admire the sports design of this boat: a superstructure limited to the steering console, a slim design, a small but aggressive T-top. There are all the premises to have fun, so we don’t waste time: after checking equipment and fuel tank, we set off.

At idle speed, engines seem to be off, but the electronic throttles get gears in few tenths and manoeuvres are immediate.  Thanks to an overall lightness (just 3 tons with full load), the 10 metres of LTN 34 Diamond move with no effort.

I take the wheel, on a double fixed seat. Very comfortable, it allows to pilot both sitting or standing, even if I prefer standing because I can stay a little higher and have a larger view over the windscreen. Ergonomics is excellent, wheel and throttles are at the right distance and the two touch-screen displays are always visible and reachable. Only the footrest is not deep enough and my heel can’t reach it, which could compromise stability in case of high speed.

We reach 45 knots in just 5 seconds and with no effort. We slow down a little to decrease fuel consumption, that, at this speed, uses 180 litres a hour: 28 knots, 66 l/h is perfect.

On our right, Favignana rises in all its beauty and, on the pretext to admire the landscape, I give the rudder to my companions and I test the fore sunbathing platform. It’s wide and comfortable, with hard pillows (my back thanks for  this) and a fixed structure: the owner didn’t want any coffee tables, since there’s already an astern dinette for 8 people. Below, a large locker contains equipment which are not necessary every day (for those ones, there are some other spaces in the rear part).

Partially because the rib is perfectly stable, partially because weather is perfect…. I close my eyes and I fall asleep on the bow of a rib sailing at 29 knots.

Then, my companions wake me up: some dolphins are crossing our course. We let them reach their destinations and we continue to sail… to Arbatax, in Sardinia.

We have dinner and we go to bed.

On the second day, sea is rough, waves are 1-2  metres high. The rib bottom is excellent, immediate; the keel length and the low displacement let us dance on sea with no problem. In these conditions, LTN 34 Diamond gives a lot of fun. Of course, we are always careful, cruising speed is 25 knots (overall consumption: 50 l/h) but it’s a very funny and pleasant situation.

Even when conditions became harder, with 2.5-metre waves and a sudden strong mistral, stability is astonishing, with no noise nor vibrations. LTN 34 Diamond is in fact made of aluminium: hull, reinforcement elements, T-top, hatches, seat and sofas supports… everything is in marine aluminium 5083, a great guarantee of solidity.

We pass Marciana Marina, the rock of Paolina and we finally moor at Portfoferraio, out third island in just two days.

We have dinner but we don’t sleep aboard because, at the request of the owner, LTN 34 Diamond is a day crusing boat. However, there’s a cabin below the console, smartly designed by Alessandro Chessa (Akes Design). A step ladder goes down to the floor and two berths with a storable WC allow a couple to spend a nice weekend. Under the piloting sofa, there are a sink, a storable grill, a fridge accessible from the cockpit and an extendible fresh-water tap which can be used for a fast shower.

It’s early in the morning and we set course to 12° north. This time, it starts to rain, not a good thing for an open rib. In our raincoats, waterproof sunglasses and shoes, we take turn at the wheel. Rain is really annoying; undoubtedly, a more covering windscreen would have offered a better shelter but it’s a matter of choice. Anyway, the yard can change the project according to the customer’s needs , since the aluminium construction requires no moulds.

We are now arriving at our final destination and I take my last tests. I put my hands on the rudder to test some tight turns: the keel bites the water, the boat tilts little thanks to the tubulars support and, at over 20 knots, I complete a circle in few hundreds of feet. Rudder is extremely reactive and soft.

The Harbour of Genoa is just in front of us. Our Suzuki engines goes down to 1000 revolutions and, after a three-day stress test, they don’t show any strain. LTN 34 Diamond is still good as new. We, too, are happy and no tired. In fact, we would like to sail more.

Diamond 34 – Technical File

Overall Length:                               10.36 mt

Length:                                              9.90 mt

Overall Width:                                               3.54 mt

Width:                                     2.98 mt

Unladen displacement:   1500 Kg

Laden Displacement:                 >3000 Kg

Maximum Power:                                      2 x 400 HP

Power installed:                                     2 x 300 HP Suzuki DF300

Fuel :             450 l

Fresh Water:            140 l

People capacity:                                         14

Design category:                                    B

Material:                                                     Aluminium 5083

Project:                                                       Akes Design / LTN Ribs

Diamond 34 – Performances

revolutions        kn      lph         nm/l     autonomy (20% fuel tank)

650       2.6         4.4         0.59      213

1000     4.6         8.6        0.53      193

1500     6.0        15.8      0.38      137

2000    8.7         20          0.44      157

2500    12.5       29          0.43      155

3000    15.2       38          0.40      144

3500    23.5      48          0.49      176

4000    29.0      70          0.41      149

4500    34.0      98          0.35      125

5000    38.2      120        0.32      115

5800    45.5      180       0.25      91

Rough sea, 10 kn NW wind, temperature: 20°, clean bottom, fuel: 420 l, water: 120 l, 3 passengers

STANDARD EQUIPMENT

Pillows– SeaStar hydraulic rudder – Glove compartment. Electric digital panel– 12V socket – Electric windlass with stainless anchor and chain – chemical WC  – Cabin with 2 beds– Navigation lights– Complete electric system– Bilge pump– Shower system– Sink – Electric variable-stream autoclave– Stainless stepladder – Synthetic teak  – Lifting points– Stero system – Fore hatch actuators– Console hatch actuators– Horn – Cabin led lights- Reparation kit- electric inflator