A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
The Swallow Yachts Whisper 300 – a modern classic challenging convention in pursuit of pure elegance, simplicity and sustainability. And just look at that shape… In a power-cruiser market saturated by heavy plastic hulls and enormous engines with fuel bills to match, the Whisper 300 is, quite literally, a breath of fresh air.
Designed and built in Wales by Swallow Yachts, the Whisper 300 is the brainchild of designer Matt Newland. Interestingly, Newland is first and foremost a sailor, and Swallow Yachts is best known for its sailing yachts. That heritage is evident here. The brief was personal and purposeful: create an attractive, hassle-free family powerboat that is easy to use, economical to run and kind to the environment.
And so, the 30-foot Whisper 300 powerboat concept was born – a powerboat designed by a yachtie. And it shows. This is a strikingly elegant design. A fabulous blend of classic styling with modern angles and functionality. A boat that exudes pride in ownership.
Here’s the surprise – she’s built entirely of wood.
But forget traditional planking and seams. Swallow Yachts’ “encapsulated wood” construction uses modern epoxy resins to fully seal every component, resulting in a hull that is strong, lightweight and low maintenance, with durability comparable to fibreglass. Each boat is handcrafted, with no moulds and no mass production – just meticulous attention to detail.
The easily driven hull form enables the modest twin 70hp outboards to push the Whisper 300 along at a respectable 26 knots. She’ll sit comfortably on the plane at a 22-24 knot cruise and consume just 30-35 litres of fuel per hour. That’s economical boating.
And she looks great doing it!
The outboards are neatly concealed in an engine box, reducing engine noise, while still being able to tilt clear of the water, so there’s no fouling of running gear if the boat lives at the marina. Hassle-free boating, remember? Concealing the outboards within the boat offers other advantages too – like the full wrap-around swim platform, usually only possible on inboard-powered boats. How very Mediterranean.
Below deck, the forward cabin offers a generous V-berth, a beautifully appointed head and a functional dresser with hanging locker. The cockpit is sociable and refined, with seating for eight, a functional galley, and exquisite custom details throughout, such as the coloured feature table, painted in the same colour as your hull – which, incidentally, can be any colour you wish.
The light-weight nature of the Whisper 300 offers one very practical advantage – she’s able to be legally towed on the road in Australia behind a 3.5 tonne towing capacity vehicle (subject to vehicle specification).
The Swallow Yachts Whisper 300 doesn’t just tick the boxes; it redefines them.
Contact Riviera Nautic, your Australian Dealer for the Swallow Yachts Whisper 300. www.rivieranautic.com.au
Published in print August-December 2026
