The Selene range is built by Jet Tern Marine (JTM) from two facilities in China.  Zhuhai builds boats of 59 feet and over and Dongguang builds all models under 59 feet. 

Please note – these are my personal thoughts and opinions and come from a background of sail not power, other people may have a totally different view on one or all of these points.

Firstly, while I was considering a trawler design boat, I was fortunate to spend some time doing quite a few miles on a Nordhavn 55 and I then had the opportunity to help take a Selene 59 from Sydney to the Gold Coast.  This all helps when focusing your thoughts on a future boat.

Although some of the points here are in comparison to the Nordhavn that is not to say one is better than the other, the Nordhavn record speaks for itself, they are just a bit different.  For example, the Nordhavn has a bigger saloon, admitedly the one I spent time on was a wide body version but it would be bigger even comparing like with like, but the saloon on the Selene is big enough for what we need and the space is used elsewhere in the Selene design where we prefer it, e.g. bigger cockpit with seating, bigger pilothouse etc. 

We found on our cruises under sail, we spent little time in the saloon, we ate, sat, read etc 'al fresco', only using the saloon after dark or on chilly nights.  So what is important to one person is not so important to another, it's good fortune that we have options to choose from then we can all be happy!!

It also goes without saying that I satisfied myself that the Selene had the quality I was looking for and would do what I wanted as far as safe passagemaking is concerned.  It is also significant to me that JTM is ISO9001 accredited.

So here goes.  These points are as they occur to me and are not ranked in any way by importance.

1.      Shorter lead time.  I was fortunate that the Australian agent had a 59 in the pipeline that was not committed.  This meant about a year lead time rather than 3 years for the Nordhavn 55.  This was obviously a very important factor.  

2.      Large cockpit with table and lounge seating, dual access doors to the swim platform and a large transom door to the lazarette.  This provides an excellent useable outdoor area.  

3.      Large lazarette with full head height with fitted cupboards and storage areas, plus a small workbench.  Every man needs a shed!!  

4.      Walk through access from lazarette to the engine room and then through to the Utility Room.  Very useful access when working in the engine room. 

5.      Excellent full width Utility Room forward of the engine room containing washer, dryer, separate freezer, a sink and storage space.  This is a great space which also provides a sound buffer netween the engine room and the master stateroom.  

6.      Separate Electrical Room forward of the engine room and to one side of the utility room keeping all the electrical equipment, battery chargers, inverter etc in a separate, clean well ventilated room. 

7.      Forward seat built into the front of the Portuguese Bridge, a great spot for cocktails or a panoramic view while underway on a nice day.  

8.      I particularly like the fact that the Pilothouse is directly off the Saloon and Galley up only 4 steps.  This gives the feel of being part of the boat while on watch, rather than separated upstairs via a curved staircase.  

9.      An absolute winner is the internal access to the Flybridge from the Pilothouse, very safe, very dry.  No leaving the Pilothouse and walking around the back to the boat deck and climbing an external ladder.  

10.   I am not sure of actual dimensions but the Pilothouse seems bigger, plenty of room to move around and no squeezing between the navigator chair and table. 

11.   Electrical switch panel is full height and positioned conveniently between the Pilothouse and the stairs to the Saloon.  No getting on your knees down beside the navigators chair. 

12.   The Flybridge and boat deck, being on the same level provides an excellent and useable entertainment or sun lounge area when the dinghy is in the water.  

13.  Jet Term Marine appears to allow a lot more personal choice in layout and equipment on their Selene's and appear to be fair when pricing changes.

14.   Finally, having visited the Jet Tern Marine facility in Zhuhai, China and meeting the CEO and principal designer, Howard Chen, my mind was made up.  It is a first class facility and professionally run. 

Also significant in my deliberations was that the Selene agent in Australia was Halvorsen's.  They had been building boats since 1887 and had experience with boat building in China for a number of years.  Selene was also represented in the USA at that time by Ted Hood and I figured that these guys would know their way around a boat and how they should be built and if they represented the Selene boats, that was a good sign.