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Altus 50 - Altus 50
by Eston Ellis
Ocean Alexander introduces a new boat -- and a whole new line
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Once upon a time back in the 1970s, Taiwan was known for building the world’s lowest-priced boats. However, thanks in large part to the successful Ocean Alexander line from Alexander Marine Ltd., designed by renowned naval architect Ed Monk Jr., Taiwan eventually became better known for its fine yacht craftsmanship.
Today, China is the place to go for the world’s lowest manufacturing costs -- and Alexander Marine has just begun building a new line of boats there, called “Altus by Ocean Alexander.”
This new line of upscale, yet value-priced motoryachts is being built in a facility outside Shanghai, utilizing the latest construction methods and materials -- along with time-tested Ocean Alexander hull designs from 42 to 50 feet in length.
While the prices of Altus by Ocean Alexander yachts are significantly lower, these smaller models will be built with the same attention to quality, fit and finish as their larger cousins.
The goal is to “bring more people into the family” of Ocean Alexander boat owners, explained Jim McLaren of Orange Coast Yachts, the Newport Beach, California dealer for both the new Altus and the Ocean Alexander lines.
Judging from the quality and performance of the first Altus we had the opportunity to test, the Ocean Alexander family should get a lot bigger -- very soon.
Comfortable Cruising
We tested the Altus 50 off Newport Beach, California, on a clear, summer-like March morning, with light wind and flat calm seas. Our test boat was provided by McLaren and Orange Coast Yachts.
During our test, we performed a variety of maneuvers, including hard turns at speed, and we repeatedly powered through the wakes of a 58-foot chase boat that went cruising with us. We banked into turns with ease and the bow effortlessly knocked aside spray. At all times, the Altus 50 provided a rock-solid, stable, dry and comfortable ride.
Much of that exceptional performance can be attributed to the boat’s seakindly hull, designed by Ed Monk Jr. and hydrodynamic specialist Ed Hagemann. “Monk and Hagemann feel that this is one of the best-designed bottoms they’ve ever done,” McLaren explained.
“In fact, when Monk designs an 80-something-foot custom yacht to be built by Nordlund or McQueen, he shows the clients this hull, to show them what the new boat’s ride will be like.”
The hull’s prop tunnel design not only provides shallower draft, but the shading back of the tunnel directs prop wash to give the boat additional lift in the aft section. “It lifts the entire boat -- like an elevator -- as speed increases, instead of having the transom dig in and the bow lift up as on most planing hulls,” McLaren said.
During our sea trial, the hull contributed to remarkably efficient performance. Handling was so responsive, the Altus 50 actually felt sports car-like in turns.
With our test boat’s twin 500 hp Yanmar diesel inboards (440 hp Yanmars are standard), we reached a top speed of 24.1 knots at 2,980 rpm; and we reached an optimal cruising speed of 20.5 knots at 2,600 rpm. Low cruise speed was 16.9 knots at 2,300 rpm.
The boat was remarkably quiet throughout our test -- and even at top speed, normal-voice conversation at the helm was easy.
We ran the boat from the nicely arranged flybridge, which offers a pair of swiveling helm and companion seats and a centered helm console, forward. The helm console was equipped with a full array of VDO gauges, a stainless steel captain’s wheel, an optional 15 hp Key Power bow thruster joystick and ZF controls. Ample space is provided for mounting optional electronics.
The boat comes with a standard Venturi windscreen, and our test boat was equipped with an optional hardtop with integrated overhead lighting. We believe that about 90 percent of buyers will opt for this extremely practical amenity, which makes the bridge comfortable in a wide range of conditions.
Abaft the helm, to port, an L-shaped settee and an adjacent table provide a convenient area for entertaining guests. An optional wet bar and barbecue are aft, adjacent to a deck with room for an optional dinghy and davit.
Wide molded-in steps -- which are more convenient and safer for children to negotiate than typical ladders -- lead to the Altus 50’s cockpit.
The cockpit offers another spacious area for al fresco entertaining. Optional teak decks were provided on our test boat, adding a nice traditional look.
Molded-in steps to port and starboard lead up to walk-around decks that are well protected by beefy 1.5-inch-diameter waist-high stainless steel rails. The foredeck offers a spacious sunpad, along with easy access to the bow pulpit, anchor chain locker and Maxwell windlass.
Entry to the boat’s roomy lazarette is through a cockpit deck hatch. Inside, there’s good access to running gear and water tanks.
An insulated door on the lazarette’s forward bulkhead opens for engine room access. While there is no standing headroom here, the compact compartment offers remarkably good all-around access to the engines and the boat’s Northern Lights auxiliary generator. The boat’s fuel tanks and optional three-zone Cruisair air-conditioning system are also easily accessible.
Aft, our test boat had the optional Euro transom, which offers a roomy swim platform and a pair of curved steps to port and starboard that lead up to the cockpit.
The Inside Track
We entered the Altus 50’s saloon through a stainless steel-framed sliding glass door at the cockpit. The saloon’s large frameless windows provide a nice view -- and our test boat’s windows were elegantly outfitted with radiused wood cornice boxes and Levelor mini-blinds.
One of the first things we noticed in the saloon -- and throughout the 50’s interior -- was the fine teak joinerwork. Our test boat was trimmed in high-gloss Burmese teak, which had been given 22 coats of hand-polished varnish.
The spacious settee, to port, was upholstered in optional Ultraleather. Our test boat also had a club chair and an entertainment system with a plasma-screen television.
The saloon is open to a compact, yet fully equipped galley, a few steps up. Our test boat was equipped with optional black granite counters, an LG refrigerator/freezer, a Sharp microwave/convection oven, a Kenyon three-burner black ceramic cooktop, a Franke stainless steel sink and a Grohe faucet.
Opposite the galley, our test boat had an optional custom dinette to replace the standard lower helm station. Adjacent, forward steps lead belowdecks, to the Altus 50’s three staterooms -- all of which have berths with innerspring mattresses, include spacious cedar-lined hanging lockers and make optimum use of the available space.
The forward master stateroom offers a queen-size berth, abundant storage cabinets and an en suite head with a stall shower. An optional LCD television was installed aboard our test boat.
The VIP stateroom, aft and to port, has a queen-size berth; while the guest stateroom, to starboard, offers over/under bunk-style berths. A guest head with a stall shower is accessible to both cabins.
On the Altus 50, both head systems are independent, with separate tanks. This redundant design prevents a failure of one onboard toilet from becoming anything more than a minor inconvenience.
Ocean Alexander has put everything it has learned about motoryacht building over the past 25 years into this attractively priced Altus 50. While this Altus, like other boats in the Altus by Ocean Alexander line, may be “value priced,” no corners were cut in construction or design.
This seakindly cruiser is built to cruise and is decked out to impress. Experienced skippers will be pleased with the long list of practical features for real-world boating, while those new to the Ocean Alexander family will be both surprised and pleased at the low base price.
CONTACT: Alexander Marine Co. Ltd., Kaosiung, Taiwan; www.oceanalexander.com
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This article first appeared in the June 2004 issue of Sea Magazine. All or parts of the information contained in this article might be outdated. |
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