Ocean Alexander is a large Taiwan yard that has been building motoryachts for over
30 years. Its boats are designed by Seattle naval architect Ed Monk, Jr., who is
a prolific designer with hundreds of commercial and recreational boats to his credit.
(See
our profile.) Currently the company is building about 10 models from 54’ trawlers
to 130’ megayachts. It is emerging as one of the world’s major builders of production
motoryachts and deserves, in our opinion, a place at the table with other builders
in the top-tier motoryacht category. As you can see in the photo above, Ocean Alex
has rejected the radical Italian design look in their new motoryachts, choosing
instead to build more traditional-looking yachts that are also clearly contemporary
in their exterior lines. Having said that, the builder has recently introduced a
design of the 74 with three large vertical rectangular portlights in the master
for owners who want a bit more Viareggio in their boat.
Join us as we dig into the guts of the Ocean Alexander 74 and parse the price --
Several months ago we ran an article about the Sea Spirit 60 and recently we sent a film crew to capture the elegant feel of the boat when aboard her. While she measures only 63’ (12.28 m) LOA, she has an amazing 57’6” (17.52 m) LWL which gives her a displacement hull speed over 10 knots using the traditional 1.34 x the sq. root of her LWL. She is powered by a single 340-hp Lugger and according to her builder she sips fuel giving her trans-oceanic range from her 2,105 gal. (7986 L) fuel tanks.
Join us for a video look from bow to stern --
When it comes to large express cruisers, Cruisers Yachts is tough to beat in many areas of yacht design and finish work. The Cruisers Yachts 460 Express leads the parade when it comes to headroom in the mid cabin. And it does this without having a boat that looks like a pregnant guppy. Secondly, the Cruisers Yacht 460 comes with two forward cabin layout options: the island berth like every other express on the planet, or a twin and single arrangement. We prefer the latter because of its versatility of use, and because it opens up the cabin.
We asked our resident engineer who is also a captain, Capt. Ron, to inspect the 460 for us --
Motoryachts
Hatteras 60 Motor Yacht:
An American Legend for 50 Years
This year Hatteras celebrates its 50th year in business. The company’s first boat was a 41’ sportfisherman called Knit-Wits and it was an immediate success when it hit the New York Boat Show in January of 1960. It was the largest fiberglass yacht in the show and two years later Hatteras’ first motoryacht – a double cabin – was introduced. The rest is history. Generations of yachtsmen have dreamed all of their lives of owning a new Hatteras sportfisherman or motoryacht. Today, if you want to own the smallest Hatteras motoryacht, it will be the 60, and that is a great place to start.
Let’s take a look --
Back Cove Yachts has a heritage that bends through several channels. First, their designs were inspired by the classic Maine lobster boat. Were they not so pretty and precious, you could almost imagine them with a load of pots stacked in the aft cockpit ready to drop in a trawl along some foggy, rocky shoreline. Second, they are built by North End Composites, a Maine company that since, 1975, has been a producer of high-quality tooling and laminates. And third: North End is owned by Sabre Yachts, a long-time builder of quality semi-custom sailboats and motoryachts.
Let’s take a look at the Back Cove 37 --
New Boat
The New Kadey-Krogen 64 Expedition:
Expedition Vessel for Everyman
Traveling long distances is obviously no longer the realm of sailboaters. In fact, power cruising is one of the fastest growing segments of the boating industry, when others seem to be taking a nosedive. Little surprise then that Kadey-Krogen seemed to feel that there was room in the lineup for a larger model. But, any company that takes on a new design needs to keep in mind that the message of just who these distance cruisers are is loud and clear. Young, middle aged, or retired, these voyages are largely being made by couples, not trust fund baby-boomers with hired crews. So, with that in mind...can this Kadey-Krogen 64 Expedition fit the bill?
Well let's just see what Capt. Steve has to say --
The Fairline Squadron 65 is designed to go fast and provide accommodations for six guests. Its interior is as modern as they come and the exterior styling is what we have come to expect from builders in Northern Europe – a nice blend of Italian styling with a more traditional nautical design.
To see our view of the Fairline Squadron 65 --
We at BoatTEST.com have a soft spot in our hearts for Pershing because one of our members bought a 50’ Pershing within of month of our first appearance on the Internet on Sept. 15, 2000. The Long Island buyer had never before even heard of Pershing, but when he saw our video and read our captain’s report he fell in love. He realized that she was the ultimate day boat and had to have one. He wasn’t the only person smitten by the beautiful lines of the Pershing and for the last decade she has set a trend.
To get our take on the new Pershing 64 --
Megayachts are huge investments so it is little wonder that their owners insist that their captains maintain a rigid schedule of compounding and polishing their fiberglass topsides. Probably no fiberglass yachts get more of a beating from the sun than megayachts because they are constantly following the sun, getting directly under it, either for their owners or their charter parties both summer and winter. Good captains will compound their boats once every three months – that’s right,
four times a year! That’s why they look so good at the boat shows. To find out the tricks of the professional boating trade --
Volvo Penta revolutionized recreational boat handling several years ago with the introduction of their pod drives with joystick control for close quarter maneuvering. They called their new propulsion system IPS, and Volvo Penta had a long list of claims about their new system. BoatTEST.com has now tested over 22 boats with the IPS system and we can independently verify virtually all of Volvo’s claims with tests we have done on identical boats with inboard power. We have found the following--
• Around 35% better efficiency at best cruise
• Usually higher top speed
• Faster acceleration
• 30% reduced fuel consumption -- or better -- at best cruise
• Often lower perceived sound level
Today we take a close look at the IPS 500 and its performance across ten different BoatTEST.com models, each with a different hull design, style, and displacement.
Toggle your joystick to see the results --
Take a look behind the product label and marketing and go inside the Royal Purple
plant and see how a synthetic motor oil is born. Video tour of Royal Purple starts here --
With GPS and chart plotters it is easy for one to get out of the habit of checking a compass. But it is good seamanship not only to have a compass aboard forward of the helm but also to use it every time you go boating. Try navigating just with your compass and forget about the gps as much as you can, or until you get into an area where you need precise navigation. You never know when your electronics will fail you – and sooner or later they will. See Capt. Cefus McRea’s video on compass use from his TV program Nuts & Bolts Fishing --
BoatTEST’s Boating Course Makes a Great Christmas Present
Okay, it may be a bit early for this sort of thing, but we want to warm you up to the idea of what we think is absolutely the best Christmas or holiday gift you can give to a loved one who is a boater or wants to be. BoatTEST.com has joined with Capt. Steve to present you with an 8 CD-ROM boating course that comes in a handsome plastic box. This course covers everything your spouse, children, or friends need to know to be competent, safe boaters. It costs only $69.95, plus shipping and handling. If that is over your budget, then why not choose from one of five individual subject-area courses for only $19.95, plus shipping and handling. And, if you were really smart, you’d simply order a bunch of these courses and give them out to every boater on your gift list, and make it one-stop shopping and be done with it. Order here --
Owner Reviews
Calling Hatteras, Bertram
& Viking Owners -- Rate Your Boat
Word of mouth is one of the best ways for a new boat buyer to find out what current owners think of a particular boat. If you own one of these brands, sound off and tell us why you bought it and what you think potential buyers should know.
This week Capt. Steve goes over five new lessons and guidelines on tips for doing your own boat maintenance. It’s a great idea to keep a book or log with all your boat’s manuals, registration papers, instructions for electronics aboard, and any information on previous maintenance performed on the boat. This will not only save you time in having to dig around for these items since everything about the boat is in one binder or folder, but should you ever want to sell the boat, any interested buyers will have all the information and records about the boat right at their fingertips. In these next lessons Capt. Steve will also go over some tips on marine head maintenance, and battery care. These are basic procedures which all recreational boaters should be aware of. The videos presented this week are part of Capt. Steve’s USCG-approved boating course called “Smart Boating.” Watch Capt. Steve's video boating lessons every week on BoatTEST.com.
To view this week’s lessons --
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