Showing posts with label Alfamarine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alfamarine. Show all posts

July 27, 2007

Boat Review: Alfamarine 58

Presentation
Presented in the 2002 season, the Alfamarine 58 is an eighteen metre classic styled fully open sports yacht much loved by the Central and South Italian customer. But not only as classic open yachts are lately getting higher market rating. Classic in lines and design, the Alfamarine 58 is an evolution of the 55 launched in 1990 with a completely renewed stern and deck, and changed radar arch windscreen design. Performing to the limits for a sport yacht, the Alfamarine 58 is full of modern design solutions, based on one of the best deep Vee hulls in its size.
Accommodation
The exterior of this yacht speaks for the inside, as we have what is a classic interior layout with three cabins all with there own separate head. Master cabin is forward and two identical guest cabins feature mid ships with twin in line parallel berths each. Interior dining area is a comfortable C-shaped settee to starboard. Galley is to port and is hidden by clean wooden top, becoming invisible when the cooking is over. A crew cabin with shower head is located aft.
Outside cockpit space is one of the winners for the 58, featuring a C-shaped settee to starboard, one of the most spacious in this size dimensions. An exterior wet bar and galley is located to port, just behind the comfortable dark blue finished helm station. A four person sunbed is located aft. While another sunbed is located forward on deck. Tender stowage is on the bathing platform.
Performance
The Alfamarine hull and 58 in particular is designed around the highly rated Renato Sonny Levi and Franco Harrauer deep V-design. If you want head turning performance I suggest you take the optional surface drive and big 1360hp engine option, which allow for a 48 knots max speed.  But the standard Caterpillar 1000hp engines and shafts set up still give a nice 36 knots of top speed with thirty knots cruising. Sea keeping in both versions is excellent with shaft drives handling big heads seas easier thanks to the lower starting planning speed these deliver. Still the Arneson surface drives would handle most solutions in the best of manners and also provide for better fuel economy at fast cruise which equals to an extended range.
Positive
superb performing hull
cockpit space and comfort
Negative
railing as optional
Competition
Competition in the open sport yacht seventeen to eighteen meter segment is ever increasing, but when you want something looking timeless and classic the result comes down to a few builders.  Criteria here is for open style no hard sport yacht, and three cabins.  
Baia 54 Aqua - similar layout but more modern, flush deck, only with surface drives
Dalla Pieta DP 58 - modern design, only shaft drives, spacious crew or 4th guest cabin aft
Gianetti 55 Sport - extra 4th double cabin aft, very comfortable inside
Italcraft X 54 - 3rd cabin aft, nice cockpit layout, good hull and performance
Itama 55 FiftyFive - real classic yacht, similar layout with spacious galley
Sarnico 58 - aft third cabin, spacious interior saloon
Uniesse 57 Open - American sportfish style with Italian flair, comfortable cockpit
WILD CARD: Magnum 60 Furio - two cabins + crew, surface drives performance
Conclusion
The Alfamarine is a classic sports yacht for those who don't like to have a fashion boat, but something which is timeless and always good looking without forgetting modern design solutions as adapted in most of today's boats in this size dimension. If this is what you want I suggest you have a good look at the Alfamarine 58.
Technical Data
LOA. 18.46 meters (60.5ft)
Beam. 4.60 metres
Displacement. 22.000 kg dry
Fuel Capacity. 3200 litres
Water Capacity. 800 litres
Berths. six berths in three cabins, one crew cabin berth
Engines. 2 x Cat C18 1000hp, 2 x MAN V12 1360hp
Propulsion. Shaft Line, Arneson Surface Drives ASD 12, ASD 12L
Speed. 36 knots max 36 cruise Cats 1000hp, 48 knots max 40 knots with surface drives MAN 1360hp
Hull Shape.  Mono hedron deep Vee
Certification. CE A RINA
Picture Copyright Alfamarine. Data Alfamarine.