Linder Aluminum Boats is one of the foremost Nordic region boatbuilders who hitherto have produced aluminum boats, canoes and runabouts for inshore lake use. Their latest, the Arkip 460 with a helm station designed for offshore use, is a big step forward for them. The question one asks then is whether Linder with experience only of constructing craft for the calm waters of inshore lakes is really able to produce a high-speed boat suitable for use at sea where it’ll encountering waves and heavy weather.

Anders Jelving, a prominent Swedish reviewer gave the following answer: “The biggest surprise was at first sight. ‘Sporty’ and ‘speedy’ are words that really don’t seem quite appropriate, because the build looks solid, traditional and safe. It’s with that in mind, that you drop the boat into the water. A Yamaha F40 really gets her moving when you open the throttle. At the first wave I braced myself, not knowing how the boat would react, but the stem cut through the water softly and easily. When there was air under the boat I rose a bit from the seat and waited for the landing, which was reassuringly soft and secure. A sharp 180-degree turn was handled with ease, so I tried the same wave again, but this time at full speed, and got the same encouraging result. Behind the console it’s quite a different boat from what I’d imagined, when I’d viewed her from the bridge of another craft. Maybe this new Linder creation might not tempt the younger generation, but anyone in a Linder 450 Arkip will be able to challenge any other boat of similar size and power.”

Anders Vaerneus, an experienced boat tester, said: “I’d doubts about the tub-construction, but I soon realised that compared to similar craft, the Linder hull is much more spacious in the stem and flatter in the stern. A great thing is that it doesn’t transmit any vibration. I threw the Linder into the waves away from my catamaran, to get the boat to show me her real colours, and she performed very competently through the swell, handling both steep and long waves, as well as the surf”. He went on to say, “I simply had fun on board, even when I was alone in the boat. I wasn’t worried by the slight side flexing, nor did I feel that the boat was too light. The three keel profiles in the hull kept the boat steady and on track, no matter what the load. The Linder behaved well in a heavy swell, even when driven hard. An exhilarating ride and superb fun – what else do you want?”

In summary, the design of this aluminium hull gives a superb ride in the heaviest of seas combined with outstanding fuel economy. The built-in buoyancy makes her unsinkable. The shallow draft and excellent power-to-weight ratio means one can get to those beautiful unspoilt beaches or simply enjoy a day’s fishing with ease and in safety. A welcome feature when you want to go home after a day on the water is to be able to lift the craft onto a trailer with minimum effort.