A new Cruisers Yachts model offers insight into American boating lifestyles, since the builder seeks owner and dealer feedback to shape its launches. The Cruisers 57 Fly speaks to boaters’ desires to entertain and engage with the water—for instance, by taking transom platforms and folding hullsides to the next level.

Consider the portside deck, where the entire bulwark from the cockpit to the midcabin folds out. Cruisers wasn’t the first to introduce this feature, but the builder added a cool touch by placing a pair of stools next to a sliding window that opens to the galley. A wraparound settee with a dinette across the transom provides an entertainment hub for dining, lounging or water play, all accessible from the oversize swim platform, which submerges for swimming or launching a tender weighing up to 850 pounds. A transom lounge also folds out to create a beach club.

The concept of “water interaction” is more than just splashing around. The 57 Fly also has nearly 360 degrees of salon windows, allowing guests to relax in the interior’s air conditioning while still feeling connected to the surrounding environment. This theme carries through to the staterooms, all of which have oversize windows so guests can enjoy the water views while resting in bed.

The Cruisers 57 Fly could easily be called “party central,” with four dining areas spread across two levels, all supported by two spots to cook. On the main deck, there is a dinette aft and a formal dining area in the salon. The foredeck lounge is truly versatile, converting from sun pads facing either way to bench seating or a dinette with twin tables.

The flybridge is another highlight, with its galley and an optional Texan grill measuring 2 square feet. It has a flat plancha (perfect for veggies or omelets) and a traditional grate. The bridge also includes a wraparound dinette that seats 12, with a high-low table partially shaded by the hardtop.

The salon is built for alfresco living, with triple sliding doors and all-weather boating features, including a settee and a 55-inch pop-up TV. The galley has a convection microwave, two-burner Kenyon cooktop, and four fridge drawers for a total of 12.6 cubic feet of stowage. By eliminating a full-height fridge, the Cruisers design team gave the skipper unobstructed visibility aft.

Speaking of the skipper, the helm is a thoughtfully designed, ergonomic space with twin 16-inch Garmin multifunction displays, a Volvo Penta IPS joystick and a double-wide bolstered helm seat. Two footrests—one of which flips up for standing—and a window that opens for communication with the crew are practical, thoughtful features. My favorite thing at the helm was the sleek black dashboard that curves smoothly into a wide eyebrow, effectively shielding the monitors from glare through the windshield.

The 57 Fly has a three-stateroom, two-head layout. The owner’s stateroom spans the beam amidships with a walk-around queen berth, a four-drawer bureau, and a built-in table with two settees for playing games or enjoying morning croissants. An Isotherm wine locker and a washer-dryer combo are options. The en suite head has a full-size shower with a Lucite door and seat, a Euro-style sink and faucet, and another window with blinds for privacy.

The forepeak VIP stateroom has a queen berth and an equal-size en suite that doubles as a day head. The third stateroom, across the passage, has twin berths that convert into a double.

Although the 57 Fly is designed with owner-operators in mind, there’s air-conditioned crew quarters abaft the engine room. The cabin has a single berth, a head and space for handling lines. It could also serve as a private area for a teenager, be used for stowage or act as a work area.

Power for the Cruisers 57 Fly comes from a pair of Volvo Penta IPS950 pod drives, powered by 725 hp, six-cylinder common-rail D11 diesels with twin-entry turbos. This combination provides more than enough power to push the 57 Fly past the 30-knot mark, even in the choppy Gulf Stream conditions we experienced. At a cruising speed of 25 knots, the engines sip 63 gallons per hour, giving the 57 Fly a range of about 250 nautical miles. If you’re not in a hurry, cruising at 9 knots increases the range to approximately 700 nm.

On the water, the 57 Fly is a true pleasure. Whether running up-sea or cross-sea, the yacht handles with aplomb, thanks to the standard Seakeeper 9 gyrostabilizer and the hull design by Donald Blount and Associates. Returning to the marina after our offshore excursion, the joystick with pod drives made maneuvering into tight spaces a breeze, with no white-knuckle moments. Two fingers and a twist was all it took.

Let the phrase “water interaction” become part of your boating vocabulary by experiencing the Cruisers Yachts 57 Fly.

Chef’s Delight

The lower galley has acres of stowage and can be fitted with a dishwasher. A nice touch is the Plexiglas backsplash to keep any chef uh-ohs from spilling onto the dinette upholstery. The upper cooking area has a Texan grill, a fridge and an ice maker.

A Place for Everything

The foredeck is seamanlike, with a Quick vertical windlass and 200 feet of chain tucked out of sight, a washdown in the anchor locker, and a pair of clamshell lockers on the cabin top to absorb deck gear such as fenders and dock lines.

Pedigree Design

Award-winning Miami-based yacht designer Luiz De Basto engineered the dramatic windows on the 57 Fly, as well as masterminded the decor on the boat we got aboard. The ocean-sand oak draws on his background of more than 200 boats and superyachts over 30 years.

Take the next step: cruisersyachts.com

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Australian yacht builder Maritimo launched its M50 Flybridge Motor Yacht at the 2025 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. 

The 50-foot enclosed flybridge yacht integrates Maritimo’s hallmark features—ocean-going capability, safety and long-range cruising capabilities—while introducing refinements in layout, stowage and functionality. A key exterior innovation is the articulating rear swim platform, which folds to reduce the M50’s dockside length and opens to create a waterside entertainment zone. 

Inside, panoramic windows, skylights and hatches illuminate the interior with natural light. The M50 has a two-stateroom layout with a full-beam master stateroom, which the builder says is larger than those typically found on 55- and 60-foot yachts. Additional accommodations include a convertible lounge in the flybridge, increasing guest capacity to eight.

The enclosed flybridge features climate control, twin helm chairs, a wraparound lounge and space for several navigation displays. Powered by twin Volvo Penta D13-800 engines, the Maritimo M50 cruises at 24 knots and reaches top speeds of 30 knots, according to the builder’s sea trials. It’s designed for long-distance coastal or offshore cruising, and also marks the beginning of a refreshed model cycle, with the S50 Sedan variant expected in 2026.

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The sports-bridge or sports-fly yacht genre didn’t really exist 20 years ago. Back then, most 65- to 85-foot planing motoryachts with two decks were classified as express cruisers or flybridge yachts.

But evolution is a relentless tide. Flybridge models have steadily grown in volume. They have sprouted hardtops and become semi- or completely enclosed. Coupe styles have sun pads on their superstructures, along with proper stairs, lower helm stations, dinettes and wet bars. Today, an 80-foot sports-fly is likely to have amenities similar to a 20-year-old flybridge design, especially with today’s wider beams and lack of tender cranes on the upper deck.

The Princess Yachts S80 is a feature-packed example of the modern standard, putting its own spin on the same lower-deck platform as the British builder’s Y80 flybridge yacht and X80 trideck. Commonalities among the three models include the hull and powertrain, as well as four en suite staterooms and crew space. The big difference is the superstructure.

In profile with the S80, most people would hardly notice an upper deck at all. The only clues are the low windscreen forward of the helm and the swept-back arch mast. Nevertheless, five of the first seven owners specified their S80s with the hardtop option. Trading a low, sleek profile for weather protection is never going to be a wrong decision.

My time on board the S80 involved cruising to Villefranche-sur-Mer, a resort town near Nice, France. I had been aboard the S80 previously during its world premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival, where the yacht didn’t seem particularly huge amid the other larger boats. But context is important. At that show, an 80-footer is not far off the average length of the yachts on display. In Villefranche’s high-walled harbor, which is packed with 35- to 65-footers, the S80 looked like a tanker in a duck pond.

I stepped from the dock onto the swim platform and then bounded up the steps into the cockpit, where I felt instantly at home. This model is conceived for outdoor living. The cockpit has aft-deck doors set farther forward than on the X80 and Y80—and it has bulwarks and deep, glazed buttresses off the after edge of the superstructure, as well as a substantial top-deck overhang. All of it makes this area on the S80 feel like a much more intimate space, in a good way.

A central gate and walkway are between two sun pads at the transom, along with a pair of two-seat sofas. Farther forward is alfresco dining. The galley is just inside the aft-deck doors, with a lift-up window above a stowage unit. With everything open, the space combines with the interior’s picture windows along each side of the superstructure to bring in natural light.

Most of the main deck aft is for swimming, sunbathing, dining and lounging. The bridge is up two steps from the salon, beneath the raked-aft windshield. There’s a corner booth to port and a side-deck door to starboard, along with a twin-seat helm that is standard. A third seat is an option, with more seating and lounge spaces outside.

On the foredeck, which could host a party, two C-shaped booths convert to sun pads. The upper deck has its own booth seating and sun pads, as well as a wet bar. Most of the onboard dining is likely to be alfresco, but there’s room for a dining table just inside the aft-deck cockpit doors. All the lounge furniture inside and outside is low and deep, set amid nicely detailed wood throughout and not just veneers.

Lower-deck accommodations consist of four en suite staterooms accessed from a half-spiral staircase to port, descending from the salon. The full-beam owner’s stateroom is amidships and aft with a forward-facing super-king berth, a sofa to starboard, and a vanity/desk to port. Windows flanking the stateroom allow for broad views. An en suite is to starboard with a walk-in closet to port, buffering the stateroom from machinery noise.

The forepeak VIP has an aft-facing king berth. Its shower stall and head are on each side of a doorway. Between the owner’s stateroom and the VIP are a double-berth stateroom to starboard and a twin/double stateroom to port.

A crew cabin for two is tucked into the port side of the transom with a discreet entrance from the swim platform. That twin-bunk space has a head-shower compartment and serves as the yacht’s laundry, with the primary access door to the engine room. The starboard side of the transom has a tender garage big enough for a Williams SportJet 435. By comparison, the X80 and Y80 each have room for three crew, but no tender garage.

Princess has always built solid, reliable boats with exemplary seakeeping. The S80 is no different. Ergonomics at the lower and upper helms are close to perfect. The lower helm also has an opening sunroof just above the two-piece windshield.

Standard propulsion is twin 2,000 hp MAN V-12 diesels and straight-shaft gearboxes. Princess quotes a full-load top speed of 31 to 33 knots. The S80 that I got aboard was at a little above half-load and topped out at about 35 knots. Owners who want a bit more thrust to go with those sporty lines will soon be able to order the S80 with MAN V-12 2200s, producing around 37 knots. Princess says the latest two of the seven hulls sold so far will have the bigger engines.

The S80’s fuel capacity is 1,717 gallons, and optional long-range tanks will take that to 2,325 gallons. The S80 that I got aboard had the latter and theoretically could run for 1,500 nautical miles at 10 knots, with a fuel burn of around 2 gallons per nautical mile. At a fast 24-knot cruise, the fuel burn would be a little more than 5 gallons per nautical mile for a respectable 440 to 450 nm range.

With the S80, Princess Yachts takes an efficient running surface and smart accommodations, then adds a superstructure for owners who appreciate the look of an express cruiser, all of it with the entertaining spaces of a flybridge yacht. It’s truly the best of many worlds.  

Built In-House

Princess is uncommon for building about 80 percent of each yacht in-house. The shipyard does its own lamination work, joinery, upholstery, stainless-steel work, tank fabrications and electrical harnesses for about 180 yachts per year. The S80 is built at Princess’ main Newport Street yard in Plymouth, UK.

Villefranche-Sur-Mer

We didn’t have to worry about going aground off the resort town of Villefranche-sur-Mer, which is east of Nice, France. The bay is one of the deepest natural harbors in the Mediterranean—a popular anchorage to escape nasty weather. The US Navy’s Sixth Fleet often moors here. It’s about 320 feet deep, with a drop into a 1,700-foot-deep abyss less than a mile to the south. 

Chill Out

The S80 I was aboard had the upgraded 144,000 Btu chilled-water air-conditioning system that Princess advertises for cruising in warmer locales to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. This hull also has strainers with UV treatment. In a first for Princess, there’s a split-air AC setup for the cockpit, which can also be enclosed with transparent screens.

Take the next step: princessyachtsamerica.com

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When it comes to boating, I can look at horizons all day long. But I’m also pragmatic enough to appreciate getting a move on, especially when things are on the turn. Maybe it’s incoming weather or frustrating guests. Maybe it’s simply getting up late on a Sunday afternoon. People like me are attracted to semidisplacement yachting. Our mantra should be 20 knots is plenty, and 10 is zen.

In that respect, the Absolute Yachts Navetta 53 is my kind of yacht. It’s an evolution of one of Absolute’s bestsellers, the Navetta 52, which was introduced in 2015 and refreshed in 2019. About 110 hulls were built through last year.

The Navetta 53 takes design cues from Absolute’s newer Navettas: vertical bridge windows, sculpted topsides with fretted bulwarks on the quarters, near-plumb bows, and a chopped transom. Outdoor space is enhanced, with three distinct chill zones on deck. There’s more open cockpit for freestanding furniture, along with a glazed stern rail. The same setup is on the after third of the flybridge, while forward are built-in booths and a wet bar beneath a hardtop. There’s also a superb foredeck terrace with another dinette and a sun pad.

Inside, the salon has all-around glazing and side views maximized by rebated gunwales. The vibe is contemporary with mostly oak veneers, from the laminated sole to light and dark joinery. This space is tri-zone too: a galley aft (with Bosch appliances); an amidships lounge with a dinette to port and a lounge to starboard; and a two-seat lower helm forward with a side-deck door.

As on other newer Absolute yachts, the salon has sizable drop-down windows on each side for fresh breezes. Opening those windows, as well as all doors during the day, should allow the air conditioning to be left off, which means the engines and generator can be off too. Solar panels on the hardtop contribute 1.35 kilowatts of peak power to cover all the basic hotel loads.

Belowdecks accommodations are accessed from centerline stairs. There are three staterooms and two heads off a central lobby with a space for a washer-dryer. The owner’s stateroom is amidships aft and occupies the full 15-foot-3-inch beam. It is en suite with a forward-facing queen-size berth. Forward is a VIP with a queen-size berth on the diagonal and a headboard beneath a picture window, which means guests can lie in bed and enjoy views out. The VIP also has a walk-in closet, which is unusual on boats of this size. Its head is a Jack-and-Jill setup for sharing with the guest stateroom amidships to starboard. (It has forward-facing twin berths.)

As with quite a few other midsize Absolutes, there’s also a lazarette aft that can be specified with a single transverse bunk, a head-shower compartment and a closet. It would be a crew cabin on a larger boat, but is more likely to be used for an extra guest aboard a 53-footer. It’s accessed via a glass pantograph-style door and a half-hatch on the aft deck.

Propulsion is a pair of 480 hp Volvo Penta IPS650 diesels—the only engine option. I found driving this yacht a pleasure, with comfortable upper and lower helm stations. Off the coast of Varazze, Italy, we had slight seas and a gentle breeze. At approximately half-load with those diesels at their maximum 3,720 rpm, the Navetta 53 managed just over 24 knots consistently with the Trim Assist on and the optional Seakeeper 6 off. At 20 knots and 3,400 rpm, the diesels burned 40 gallons of diesel per hour, for a range of 265 nautical miles or an easy 200 nm with a cautious reserve of 25 percent. At my zen speed of 10 knots, range is more like 400 nm. At zen minus 1, it’s about 475 nm.

Whether you choose to jog the Absolute Navetta 53 or gently stroll down the coast, this is a yacht that offers flexibility for cruising itineraries. Combined with a shippy profile, stout fiberglass construction—the internal grid system is glassed to the hull—and a family-friendly layout with customizable spaces, this yacht is an eminently cruise-worthy craft.  

Inbound Investment

Absolute Yachts offers models from 47 to 75 feet across its Coupe, Fly and Navetta ranges, and is expected to build 90 to 100 boats this year. Wise Equity recently announced that it is acquiring a controlling interest in the company, after entering and exiting Italian yacht builder Cantiere del Pardo, which is responsible for the Pardo, VanDutch and Grand Soleil brands. The move could eventually help Absolute move into larger vessels.

Function and Form

Absolute’s management team started in the small-boat sector with the Italian sportboat brand Gobbi, which Azimut Yachts acquired and turned into Atlantis. The common thread is packing as much functionality as possible into a given space. All of Absolute’s models have Volvo Penta IPS installations for reliability and performance, and to help optimize lower-deck space for accommodations. For similar reasons, Absolute uses pocket doors rather than the hinged variety.

Take the next step: absoluteyachts.com

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The abbreviation GT means different things to different people. The origin is Italian, gran turismo, usually translated as grand tourer. The first automobile version was a derivative of the 1930 two-seater Alfa Romeo 6C that could travel long distances without its passengers needing dental work afterward. To me, the moniker has always meant an extra level of comfort with a sporty demeanor.

On that point, Pershing and I are in accord. The GTX80 is the second model in Pershing’s GTX series, after the GTX116 that launched 18 months ago, and it glove-fits my definition of what a GT should be.

“The starting point for us was respect for Pershing’s performance heritage while moving the brand into that GT sphere and adding an extra level of luxury to the expected aggression of the X-line models,” says Michelangelo Vallicelli of Vallicelli Design.

The GTX80’s profile is cleaner than Pershing’s X-line models and has additional volume forward, with about a third more space in the cockpit thanks to fold-down quarter platforms—a first for the builder. There’s also more usable space in the main salon, which occupies virtually the full 19-foot beam. Instead of side decks, crew have narrow walkways with no guardrails. The yacht’s snub nose and unbroken sheerline mimic the GTX116.

On Hull No. 1 of the GTX80, the salon has an aft galley and a bar with stools in the after port corner. A dining area is to starboard, although owners can opt for a sofa here instead. Amidships to port is a C-shaped booth sofa, and opposite that is a spiral staircase that connects with the deck below.

From the outside, the superstructure glass around the salon does not look vast, but lower panes on each side, plus fretting in the bulwarks amidships, allow more light in and create broad sea views from the low-slung sofas. The galley bar is a sculptural element. A drop-down window and fully opening aft-deck doors blur the lines between inside and outside. There’s room for two stools at the countertop in the cockpit. With the substantial upper-deck overhang and screening to the sides, the space is well protected from the elements.

The helm is on centerline, while the bridge console with Simrad displays and two pilot seats is to port. There’s plenty of fresh air at the helm via a sunroof and flanking doors that lead out to the foredeck terrace. Up on the flybridge, there’s a three-seat helm station with steering also set in the middle. Booth dining and a sun pad aft add relaxation options.

Accommodations belowdecks include four en suite staterooms. The owner’s stateroom is amidships, with a dogleg entrance from a central hall and an aft-facing berth offset to starboard. All of this adds privacy and means more space for the en suite. There’s room for a sofa to port and a vanity to starboard. Picture windows that measure 19-by-61 inches let in natural light.

The master’s head and a sturdy bulkhead separate that guest space from the engine room and a twin-berth crew cabin accessed from the cockpit.

In the bow, there’s an en suite VIP stateroom with an aft-facing double berth. There are a pair of twin-berth staterooms, both en suite, with the head in the starboard stateroom also serving as the day head. That stateroom can be outfitted as a mini lounge or media room.

Decor has a masculine edge, which is on-brand for Pershing, or owners can choose their own themes. Hull No. 1 has a smoky-blue hull and onboard textures that include dark grays, distressed steel lacquer work, cream leathers and light-oak soles. Leather tiles add color to staterooms; they can come in all shades or be switched out should the current or subsequent owner want a different vibe.

The only power package offered is triple 1,000 hp Volvo Penta D13-IPS1350s. Pershing quotes a 34-knot top speed, and during my runs off Venice, Italy, we saw 33.6 knots at the maximum 2,475 rpm (with a half-load, trim assist off and the two Seakeepers engaged). These GTX models are around 10 knots slower than Pershing’s X-line models. All the boats handle well. We were in 10-knot winds and 2-foot seas, and we completed doughnuts in four to five boatlengths. The yacht had great visibility through the one-piece windshield and side glazing, with only the chunky A-pillars creating blind spots.

Running at a fast 28-knot cruise and approximately 2,150 rpm, the fuel-burn rate was around 116 gallons per hour. That, plus the 1,347-gallon fuel capacity, means a range of 300 nautical miles allowing for a 10 percent reserve. Slow it down to 10 knots at just over 1,000 rpm, and the burn rate tumbles to 18 gph with nearly double the range.

Whether owners choose to run the Pershing GTX80 fast, slow or somewhere in between, this yacht is indeed a grand tourer filled with style and comfort.  

More to Come

Pershing expects to build five GTX80 hulls a year. Prior to Hull No. 1, four had already been sold. Hulls No. 5 and 6 have US specs and are bound for Florida. Two more GTX models are under development and expected to launch within the next two years: The GTX70 should premiere at the 2025 Cannes Yachting Festival, with a GTX90 sometime in 2026.

Vallicelli Design

Yacht design is in Michelangelo Vallicelli’s DNA. His father’s studio, Vallicelli Design, has a catalog of sail and power yachts that’s as long as it is impressive. Michelangelo joined the firm as chief designer three years ago and is racking up successes with the Ferretti Group. He handled the interior schemes of the wallywhy motoryachts and now is advancing Pershing to its next chapter. He has worked with accomplished yacht-design teams, including Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel and Lazzarini Pickering.

Take the next step: pershing-yacht.com

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The MY5, the first flybridge catamaran in the Fountaine Pajot powercat line and previously known as the MY40, pushes the boundaries of powercat cruising in speed, safety and style. 

Thanks to its dual-hull cat design with suspended central platform, the MY5 offers increased interior volume, long range and stability, at rest and underway. Powercats are also highly efficient, requiring less propulsion to achieve similar speeds and ranges as conventional monohull vessels.

The flybridge deck is a standout feature, offering virtually unobstructed 360-degree ocean views and an elevated beach club vibe. Aft of the off-center starboard helm is a spacious area perfect for entertaining, complete with a wet bar, refrigeration center, and seating. It’s the most popular space aboard, according to the builder. If the weather turns, a second helm station in the salon allows the skipper to pilot the MY5 in climate-controlled comfort.

On the main deck, architect Daniel Andrieu and the Andreani Design team created a modern yet timeless look, maximizing the use of space offered by the vessel’s nearly 20-foot beam. The galley, located on the starboard side, connects both interior and exterior spaces while the foredeck offers a sunbather’s paradise with dual lounges and abundant seating.

At the stern, an optional hydraulic swim platform lowers for launching a PWC or small tender. A swim ladder provides easy access from the water. The teak cockpit has an L-shaped settee and easy access to the engines via deck hatches. Crew safety is a priority, with secure grab rails along the spiral staircase leading to the flybridge and tall railings along the walkaround alleys fore and aft.

Belowdecks, the Maestro layout includes an owner’s suite with a private companionway for added privacy. The stateroom, equipped with a transverse queen berth, gets natural light via hullside windows. The VIP stateroom has a similar-sized berth, while the forward guest stateroom offers twin bunks. Two heads and enough stowage space for extended cruising complete the accommodations.

The Fountaine Pajot MY5 is standard with twin 300 hp diesels and Volvo Penta IPS drives and has a 1,000-nautical-mile range at an economical 18 knots. With optional 440 hp engines, the MY5 has a top hop of 22 knots, and with a draft of just 3 feet, 6 inches, shallow-water anchorages are easily accessible.

Quick Specifications

• Overall Length: 42’4”
• Maximum Beam: 19’9”
• Fuel Capacity: 372 Gal.
• Freshwater Capacity: 112 Gal.
• Draft: 3’6”
• Displacement: 46,000 lb.

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The Absolute Yachts 52 Fly shares design cues with its recently launched sisterships, the 56 Fly and 60 Fly. These yachts are easily recognized by their snub bows, chopped transoms, sculpted hulls and topsides, and big hullside windows, which give away the location of their owner’s staterooms.

As with the flybridge, the 52 Fly’s cockpit terrace is left bare so owners can choose from a range of exclusive modular furniture by Absolute or from other sources. The vessel’s glass balustrade, which tops off the transom, and the fretted bulwarks aft make for even stronger visual connections to the sea and provide great views for seated guests.

The 52 Fly’s foredeck is also a welcome retreat, especially with the sunshade and side screens up. The space accommodates an island sun pad, as well as a low dinette with double sofas. The flybridge is similarly splendid, and the hardtop comes standard with solar panels that contribute 1.35 kW of peak power, enough to cover the yacht’s basic hotel loads (not air conditioning) without the generator or shore power.

With nearly 360-degree views, the salon consists of an aft galley to port with Corian worktops, and a view between them and the cabinets above. An amidships lounge has a dinette to port and a three-seat sofa to starboard. The vibe is cool and contemporary, with drop-down electric windows on each side. They help keep the temperature moderate when the air conditioning is off.

The two-seat lower helm is to starboard, with great ergonomics and unobstructed visibility. Garmin touchscreen displays provide all the essential information, and other controls are conveniently situated. A side-deck door allows a proper connection with the outside world. A second two-seat helm station up on the flybridge is to port. That means there’s always a fresh-air connection available for the skipper, no matter which side he needs to see when close-quarters maneuvering. An optional third docking station can be added in the cockpit, with joystick and thruster controls for stern-to docking.

Like the rest of Absolute’s portfolio, the oomph for the 52 Fly comes from a pair of Volvo Penta diesels and IPS pod drives. The 52 Fly’s 600 hp D8-IPS800s deliver a nominal top speed of 30 knots and a 25-knot fast cruise. I saw a top-end average speed of 30.5 knots on reciprocal runs with the trim assist on, the Seakeeper gyrostabilizer off, and the boat lightly loaded. Only four people were aboard, with no tender or stores, 26 percent fuel, and 44 percent fresh water in gentle swells.

Underway, handling is surprisingly responsive. Spin the wheel hard over when running flat out, and the yacht heels gently into a relatively tight turn without scrubbing off much more than 3 knots of speed. The turning circle is not much more than three boatlengths.

At my favored cruise-forever dawdle of 10 knots, the diesels burned just 14 gph. Given the tank capacity of 475 gallons, that means a range of 340 nautical miles. The yacht is least efficient at 13 to 15 knots, with fuel burn around 73 gph. Once over the hump, the cumulative burn tracks down gently from 2.5 gallons per nautical mile at 14 knots to 2.25 gallons per nautical mile at 30 knots, so you may as well rush. At a continuous fast cruise of 25 knots, range should be around 225 nm.

Noise is not an issue. I recorded just 64 decibels at the helm at 20 knots (65 decibels is the level of normal conversation). In the owner’s stateroom at the same speed, the tank buffer for the engine room meant just 72 decibels. It was 75 decibels in the double-berth stateroom aft.

Both heads that serve the three staterooms have windows and opening portholes. The owner’s en suite stateroom occupies the full beam forward, with big bow windows and plenty of space around a forward-facing queen berth. There’s also full-standing headroom here. Amidships is the VIP, also with a forward-facing queen and its hullside windows. The guest stateroom has twin berths that convert to a double. It’s good to see there’s enough space in the lobby beneath the companionway stairs for a washer-dryer.

There’s also lazarette space aft that includes a head-shower compartment, but it can alternatively be specified as a single-berth overspill stateroom or a crew cabin. (A teenager would love it.) As on some of the other newer Absolutes, it’s accessed discreetly from the hydraulic swim platform via a pantograph-style door in the transom and a half-hatch.

There’s a lot to like about the Absolute 52 Fly: solid performance, a high level of personalization, and a pugnacious build to cruise across blue water. Add its luxurious flourishes, and you get a family-friendly owner-operator yacht that should have broad appeal.

How It’s Made

Relatively complicated hull and superstructure shapes dictate a wet lay-up build rather than resin infusion. Interiors, including the bulkheads, are assembled outside the hull. They are built up from CNC-cut flat panels before being moved by crane and then bonded to the hull walls and stringer system. Then the superstructure is placed.

Where It’s Made

Absolute Yachts is based in Podenzano, Italy, between Genoa and Milan. Employing around 300 people on a 500,000-square-foot site, the company builds around 90 boats a year. The average length is about 60 feet. 

Wide Range

Absolute Yachts’ 14-model lineup ranges from 47 to 75 feet, with seven Navetta models, six Fly models and one Coupé yacht. Production is split about evenly between the Navettas and the planing models. The next new models are expected to be the Navetta 53 and Navetta 70, with debuts planned at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September.

Take the next step: absoluteyachts.com

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Twenty years ago, I traveled Down Under to run the first 60-foot Maritimo. I thoroughly enjoyed that boat, so much so that I was excited to run the new Maritimo M60 recently in Florida. Cut to the chase: This new M60 is like a favorite flavor of ice cream, but with sprinkles added on top. Maritimo listened to customers and reviewers, taking a solid yacht and making it better.

At first glance, I thought the exterior seemed the same, but then I realized it had been gently massaged. The original “wings” over the side decks had disappeared at one point, but now they are back, providing shade to the salon and some rain protection on deck. Most importantly, they allow the upper deck to expand to the same width as the salon.

I boarded the yacht via what Maritimo calls the “adventure deck,” an expanse of teak with an optional hydraulic platform. I checked out the engine room before it heated up and found it well laid out for service. Headroom is 6-plus feet, there’s a nonslip walkway with safety rails between the engines, and all points have easy access. Standard power is a pair of 800 hp Volvo Penta D13 diesels, but this M60 had the upgraded 1,000 hp Volvo Penta diesels. The 27.5 kW Cummins generator, Quick X30 gyro and SeaXchange watermaker had room to spare. A trio of fuel tanks can be used to balance the boat’s running angle, and all wiring and plumbing is secured to high standards.

Maritimo stayed with conventional shaft drives, which not only lower the boat’s center of gravity, but also keep the shafts efficiently flat at 8 degrees, turning six-blade nibrals in a prop tunnel for shallow-water running. The variable-deadrise hull form is knife-sharp forward and flattens aft, providing a good running surface (and adding to the engine-room space).

Back on the adventure deck, the lazarette/garage can handle a 10-foot-3-inch tender, a pair of personal watercraft, or a mix of water toys. The cockpit has a console with an outdoor kitchen and settee.

Three folding doors open into the galley, which is amidships and to port for easy food delivery to the cockpit and salon. The L-shaped galley’s island has extra counter space, and there’s an array of Miele appliances, including a full-height fridge, an induction cooktop, a dual oven and a microwave. A foldout pantry to port should hold enough goodies for a week aboard.

The salon is pure entertainment (read: there’s no lower helm), with a U-shaped couch facing an L-shaped settee and a pop-up TV. Oversize windows enhance the sense of space.

An airy stairwell leads down to a foyer with a washer-dryer and a three-stateroom layout. The full-beam owner’s stateroom is amidships for minimum motion. It has a king-size berth and bureaus under each full-length window. Its en suite head has a stall shower.

Forward, the VIP stateroom has an angled queen berth to give it full walk-around space. There is direct access from the VIP to the day head with a shower. The guest stateroom has twin berths that convert to a double. Decor on the M60 that I got aboard was an intricate satin-finish walnut with a herringbone inlay.

But the real sprinkle on this cone is the flybridge, which feels like a sky lounge in size and intention. Gentle stairs lead inside from the salon for safety to the fully enclosed space. The bridge is climate-controlled with sweeping windows, making it a spot where guests can gather on the two L-shaped settees. The skipper’s private office is forward, with a pair of leather seats abaft a pale-gray dash. An eyebrow protects three 19-inch Garmin displays from reflection. Tidy monitors keep track of the Volvo Penta engines and the Quick gyro, with an array of neatly labeled push-buttons for various systems.

Bi-fold doors open the bridge to the shaded 118-square-foot aft deck, which has a teak sole and a settee well-protected by the overhang of the house.

To understand how the Maritimo M60 performs, you must know that it comes from Australia’s Gold Coast, north of Sydney. Local Maritimo owners do not have a protected Intracoastal Waterway. They cruise with few harbors in which to hide. That coast, facing the Pacific Ocean, endures waves that build across thousands of nautical miles of open ocean. When I ran that first Maritimo 60 in those waters, I called them “ugly.”

By comparison, my run aboard the new M60 off the coast of Florida was in long rows of 3- and 4-footers marching against the Gulf Stream. In friendlier seas, Maritimo says, the M60 can top 30 knots. Here, it hit a solid 26 knots. The ride was comfortable on the bridge, with no yawing or measurable pitching (except in big holes). What particularly impressed me was that there wasn’t a creak or a groan from the sturdy hull. Even with the rear doors open, I recorded a quiet 65 decibels on my meter. We talked at a conversational level.

As I said, I appreciated the first Maritimo 60 when I stepped aboard 20 years ago. Today, I appreciate all the sprinkles Maritimo has added. This yacht is a taste of the good life, indeed.

Power Play

Volvo Penta built a reputation in Europe among truck and commercial-vehicle operators with the D13, an inline-six-cylinder diesel engine that uses high-pressure injectors, an overhead camshaft, and twin-entry turbos with water-cooled exhaust manifolds. The bulletproof reputation easily translated to yacht use, where the powerful torque and rapid spool-up provide strong performance.

How It Started

Longtime boatbuilder and powerboat racer Bill Barry-Cotter started Riviera Yachts, sold it, and then launched Maritimo Yachts in Australia. His son, Tom, now has an expanded role with Maritimo, which builds eight models from 55 to 75 feet length overall in Flybridge, Sedan and Offshore series.

Take the next step: maritimoamericas.com

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The Y95 is the new flagship of Princess Yachts’ four-model Y Class of open-flybridge designs in larger sizes. There are five en suite staterooms for a total of 10 guests, with the master spanning the full beam on the main deck. The flybridge is set up for driving and entertaining in comfort. There are twin adjustable helm seats, along with a forward-facing L-shaped seating area for guests. The dining table up top seats 10 people (additional dining space is on the main deck). 

A bar on the flybridge includes a sink, an electric barbecue, a hob and a drawer refrigerator. Power is a pair of 2,000 hp MAN V-12s that, according to Princess, allow for a top speed of 23 knots. Crew quarters are abaft the engine room, separate from the guest spaces.

Take the next step: princessyachts.com

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Sirena Yachts in Turkey says preparations are underway for the U.S. debut of the Sirena 48 at the Palm Beach International Boat Show, which is scheduled to take place March 21-24 in Florida.

The Sirena 48 is the builder’s new entry-level model. According to the shipyard, 27 of the hulls are already sold, including 13 that are bound for owners in the United States.

“Similar to the Sirena 58, the new Sirena 48 has the qualities to become another bestseller for Sirena in the USA and the Americas as a whole,” Constantinos Constantinou, head of operations for Sirena in North America, stated in a press release. “The anticipation and excitement for her arrival is very high already.”

The yacht joins Sirena’s other models, which include the Sirena 58, the 58 Coupe, and the 68, 78 and 88.

The builder expects the Sirena 48 to be popular with owner-operators. The semi-displacement hull is designed to be efficient in displacement mode, but also to permit fast planing performance. Naval architecture is by Germán Frers.

Features include a swim platform sized to carry a tender or personal watercraft. Owners can choose from layouts that are open, or that have a more traditional aft deck. The crew cabin can be replaced with extra stowage.

In all the layouts, the flybridge is extended with an alfresco dining area and numerous sun pads located forward.

Inside, accommodations include three guest staterooms and the optional crew cabin. The owner’s stateroom, according to the builder, is comparable in size to what’s typically aboard a 60-foot yacht.

The hardtop of the coupe version gives the Sirena 48 a sportier exterior and brings natural light into the salon below. This version also reduces the yacht’s weight and windage, improving performance for owners who select the option of electric propulsion. Solar panels set into the hardtop roof help to prolong the operating range of the yacht under electric power alone.

“As an all-weather yacht offering an unprecedented level of choice and flexibility for a boat in her size range, we anticipate that she will be very well received across both the Mediterranean and U.S. markets,” Sirena Yachts COO Ali Onger stated in a press release. “The fact that we’ve already sold more than 27 of these units to date speaks for itself.”

Let’s talk performance: According to the builder, the Sirena 48 can achieve top speeds of 27 knots, with a cruising speed of 17 to 20 knots. Economical cruising speed is 10 knots. The hybrid version is driven by twin 213 kW (285 hp) electric motors for a top hop of 14 knots. In silent electric mode, the boat can draw power directly from the battery bank to cover up to 30 nautical miles before switching on the variable-speed generators, according to Sirena.

Take the next step: head over to sirenayachts.com

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