Boat test for the 2008 Altima 56 with boat pictures, boat specifications, and boat test results. Includes pricing, videos, engine test reviews, and ratings for the 2008 Altima 56.

Despite the fact that the owner eliminated the lower station, the three-panel windshield remains, and it, combined with his choice of light, high-gloss anigre (teak and cherry are no-cost options) creates a continuous main-deck area that is uncommonly bright and cheery. There's nothing out of the ordinary in the way the saloon is furnished, but there is an unusual feature that I really like: a day head in the aft port corner. This makes so much sense and is so convenient (I've seen them on sportfishermen), I wonder why more builders haven't tried it. On our boat it was finished in anigre and granite, but I'd make the interior all low-maintenance fiberglass, have the door open into the cockpit, and add a shower. Voila! The ideal place to change out of a wet bathing suit.

Such a practical amenity no doubt appealed to the man who built this 56, but likely so did other more practical matters like performance and handling. The 56's solid-fiberglass (Divinycell above the waterline), semidisplacement hull turned in a fine performance in mild test conditions. Her foot-deep keel generated good tracking and no outboard lean in tight turns. Generous fuel tankage (900 gallons in two saddle tanks) translated into good range—328 miles at 17 mph—and her steering (five turns lock to lock) was light, surprising since it's not power-assisted.

The Altima 58 offers some rather impressive stainless steel work, like this two-anchor pulpit.

In fact there was a lot that surprised me about the 56. I thought I'd like the added room on the main deck. However, I ended up realizing I'd rather have the lower station (but I'd definitely keep the under-counter Sub-Zeros for the great aft sightlines they allow). I also had some ergonomic issues with the instrument panel: The gauges are horizontal and thus hard to read and the engine controls were too far for me to reach when I was seated. But the biggest and most pleasant surprise was a list price, as tested, of less than $1.4 million.

Fancy that.

For more information on Altima Yachts, including contact information, click here.

SPOTLIGHT ON: Fuel Manifold

You'd think that on a boat with just two fuel tanks, fuel transfer wouldn't be an issue. And normally it isn't. But there are circumstances when you need to move fuel around or draw it from a particular place. Considering there are those two fuel tanks and two gensets, each with two lines (supply and return), there's considerable potential for confusion on the Altima. That potential is minimized thanks to these two elegantly simple, intuitively laid-out, and well-labeled manifolds, the top for supply and the bottom for return. In no time at all, you can move fuel to or from anywhere on the boat. And best of all, they're mounted on the starboard aft engine bulkhead, where they're easy to get to.—R.T.

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