If you want to launch a new boat onto the Aussie market there’s no denying that the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show is the place to be. So, three weeks out and with only a gutted shell sitting on the floor of the Taiwanese factory where this Aquabay 70 was built, Mick Smith and his team at Aquabay Yachts could be forgiven for thinking it was an impossible dream to make it on time. But make it on time they did and with astonishing results. The prototype Aquabay 70, displayed at Sanctuary Cove, will be used as the company’s demo boat and carry out corporate charters on Sydney Harbor. But Mick also took orders for two more boats at the show – one for a Gold Coast buyer and the other will go to a Sydney businessman. Not bad going for the new kid on the block.
As I mentioned in the introduction, the Aquabay 70 displayed at Sanctuary Cove was a prototype for this new line. And the Aquabay team has identified a few minor problems that definitely won’t appear on future boats. So, I am glad to say I resisted the urge to jump to conclusions about this new boat, because the so-called problems were mostly cosmetic and could easily be fixed – her pros far outweighed her cons. And that’s before you take into consideration an excellent value for money price tag of $2.7 million… almost unheard of for a 70ft-plus luxury motoryacht.From a skipper’s perspective, the Aquabay 70’s a delight. The visibility from her centrally-mounted helm station is extremely good. Yes, there are a couple of small blind spots aft, on either side of the main saloon, but by comparison to other 70-footers I have driven recently (from their lower station), she rates very highly. The helm station has all the good gear in the electronics’ department and boasts three skipper-type chairs with foot rests. The central seat is electrically operated, so the best driving position can be easily obtained. However, the rear section of this helm-seat(s) console, houses a large pop-up plasma TV, which does stop the central skipper’s chair from going back fully, so it’s a bit tight when standing at the helm driving.
The solid skipper’s doors to port and starboard of the helm are an added bonus, as are the wide walkways down each side of the main cabin – the skipper can move quickly to the bow or stern if required. But the piece de resistance of the Aquabay 70 for the skipper, apart from her impressive performance and handling (more on that later), is her superb engine room – it’s massive.
Access is through the crew’s quarter via a heavy-duty watertight door. And even though it houses the twin Caterpillar C18 1015hp diesels, a water maker, air-con unit, generators and more, there’s plenty of room to move around in this full standing-headroom compartment. But what’s even more impressive about the engine room is that it’s been perfectly designed, so that the engineer/skipper has easy access to every component that could possibly need attention. Plus, all fuel lines and the likes are clearly marked, so they can be easily traced. But wait, there’s more. If any sea-cocks, valves, filters and the like, are hidden by a cover or hatch, that cover is clearly marked with what lies beneath.
The Aquabay 70’s interior, engine room and top decks were designed by well-known Aussie designer Peter Lowe and the boat was built in Taiwan by TC Yachts on a well-proven hull. The hull’s design is reminiscent of many being used by the world’s top motoryacht builder today. It features a sharp-bow entry that slices through chop and swells easily and extra large downturned chines, carried well forward, that throw water down and away from the hull, so it can’t be blown back inboard. Plus, her props are mounted in mini tunnels for better straight-line tracking and slow-speed maneuverability.
Speaking of which, the Aquabay 70 is also fitted with bow and stern thrusters and an engine remote that the skipper can control from the aft cockpit. You can literally walk her sideways out of the tightest berth; then, easily maneuvers with the remote until you’re in a position to takeover control at the helm. These, coupled with light and responsive steering and the electronic gear and throttle levers, which give the skipper effortless fingertip control, make her an ideal vessel for owner-skippers.
Standard engines are twin Cat C18 1015hp, but an engine upgrade to twin Cat C32 1550hp diesels is an option. However, going by the 'push you back in your seat' performance of the twin C18, I don’t consider the upgrade is warranted. The C18s had this big 70 cruising effortlessly at 22 knots pulling 1900rpm and she topped out at 29 knots pulling 3300rpm. On the fuel front, in her role as a corporate charter vessel on Sydney Harbor, running around at 12 knots, she uses only 48 liters per hour, per side. However, cruising offshore at 20 knots will increase the burn rate to a still economical 135 liters per hour, per side. A 4250-litre fuel tank gives her a cruising range of 380 nautical miles at 20 knots.
The Aquabay 70 is available in a three or four-cabin layout. Boat No.1 has three cabins with the galley down to help facilitate her charter work. Meanwhile, the aft cockpit is massive, has a fold-away shade awning and features a large alfresco dining table, which converts into a sun pad for those wishing to work on their tans. There’s a barbecue to port and a bar. She even has two removable bar stools, so any barflies onboard can sit and feel completely at home.
The aft saloon bulkhead is divided into a sliding glass door entry to starboard and an opening glass window to port. It’s through this large window that food and drinks are served to those at the bar from the aft servery. Italian design trends feature heavily in the saloon and give it a contemporary feel. The Aquabay 70’s open-plan layout is light and airy and surrounded by glass, which floods this area with natural light.
A steep spiral staircase, which could be hard to negotiate in a bit of a sea with a tray of drinks in your hand, leads to the sunken galley. This large galley has all the mod cons and is also flooded by natural light from above – the dash is cut away, so light streams down through the windscreen. In the four-cabin versions the saloon servery becomes the galley and the sunken galley is converted into the fourth cabin. The amidships owner’s stateroom is massive, has its own en-suite and walk-in wardrobe (or mini office) and would put the five-star hotels to shame in the luxury stakes. The same can be said for the forward guest stateroom. It also has its own en-suite. The third two-berth cabin, which also converts into a double and the fourth cabin (where fitted) share the day head.
Out on the foredeck is another innovation that’s sure to find favor among potential buyers – a sunken circular lounge area with its own table. Passengers can sit here safely even when underway and all that they’ll hear is the sound of the wind in their hair. Even in the aft cockpit the Aquabay 70’s underwater exhausts keep engine noise to a minimum, but up here is heaven. There’s also another fact about this boat that normally goes without notice. Nearly all of the fixtures and fittings, deck hardware and appliances used in her construction were sourced from Australia and New Zealand and shipped over to Taiwan in two containers.
With a price tag of only $2.7m ($2.9 as tested) for a luxury 70ft motoryacht, the Aquabay 70 represents excellent value for money, which she backs up with the ride, handling and performance to pit her equally against similar, but much more expensive, luxury 70-footers. The engine room is as good, or better, than you would find on any ocean going ship and her level of standard inclusions is impressive – there’s even a William 285 jet tender parked in the garage under the aft cockpit. Her sleek lines and Italian-designed interior will appeal to the ladies and the blokes will be impressed by her 'push you back in your seat' performance. Aquabay Yachts took the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show by storm and I know we’ll be seeing many more of these vessels in the near future.
Post a Comment