Captain's Report

Modern Under the Water

Although the Bravo 65/72 is traditional above the waterline, its cutting-edge bottom is as slippery as an eel. Fexas drew the underbody narrow to minimize resistance, and kept the chine above the waterline for the same reason. From tank-testing, he knew that a chine crossing the waterline added a virtual “knuckle” in the hull lines that increased wavemaking and, consequently, drag until the hull was planing and the chine free of the water.

But Fexas also believed that a hull wasn’t truly on-plane until its speed/length ratio reached 4.0 – that would be about 30 knots for the Bravo, faster than the intended speed. By keeping deadrise relatively low (13 degrees) and the chine out of the water, Fexas created a hull that would operate efficiently in the displacement and semi-planing speed ranges with reasonable horsepower. Originally the Bravo 65/72 came with twin 800-hp Caterpillar 406Es, but today standard power is a pair of Cat C18 ACERTS, 1,136-hp each. We haven’t tested the boat, so can’t report on speeds. Unofficial but reliable sources, though, suggest 24 knots top, around 21 knots cruise – again, don’t hold us to these numbers.

Fantastic Plastic

Not only was Cheoy Lee one of the first companies to build large production yachts in fiberglass, they also went one step further and used cored laminates extensively. Coring keeps the boats lighter without compromising stiffness, and Fexas insisted on paring weight to the minimum. The Bravo 65/72, designed in 1999, is built with Divinycell coring in its hull, deck and superstructure, sandwiched with high-strength bi- and multi-axial fiberglass fabrics laid in vinylester resin. Below the waterline, Cheoy Lee applies an epoxy barrier coat to forestall osmosis. The company covers the boat with a five-year structural and anti-osmosis warranty.

Fuel, water and holding tanks are fiberglass, integral with the hull. Integral tanks are more difficult to build, but add security by creating essentially a double bottom under the tanks. Cheoy Lee includes cleaning manholes in the tanks, a nice touch too often omitted. Eventually all tanks need cleaning, and having the manholes makes it easy. The hull is also supported by fiberglass stringers and foam-cored bulkheads; there’s no wood in the structure.

Three Cabins

The Bravo 65/72 standard accommodations plan comprises three staterooms on the lower deck: a full-beam master amidships, VIP double forward and a twin-berthed guest in-between. Each cabin has an ensuite head – the master has a Jacuzzi and two sinks, too. An optional layout replaces a large walk-in closet in the master with a second head. There’s also a washer/dryer on this deck.

The galley is up, on the main deck adjacent to the pilothouse, where there’s a dinette for casual meals. The saloon is aft, down a couple of steps, and fitted with settees port and starboard, a wet bar and a day head. Since each boat is highly customized, the standard arrangement plan is only a starting point – details, joinery and décor are left up to the buyer.

Recommendation

If you’re looking for a comfortable cruising yacht with traditional styling, check out the Cheoy Lee Bravo 65/72. We think it’s a nice change from Eurostyling, and has all the comforts of home for extended cruising. The company, one of the best builders around, is open to lots of customization, so if you don’t see what you like, ask them. Chances are you can have it. Since the boat’s been in production for a while, there might be a few on the brokerage market.As for pricing? Cheoy Lee is hesitant to provide specific numbers because each boat is different. We think they must have a figure written down somewhere as a starting point, but they’re not telling us what it is. However, we found a new boat for sale in Australia, listed in local currency at $2,970,700 – that’s about 2,062,878 Euros, or $2,713,000 US. It might be worth a flight, if you’re a serious buyer. You could cruise Down Under, then ship it home.

Standard and Optional Features