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Whether
I pointed the 50’s bow up-sea, down-sea, or side-sea, she zoomed
amid the waves with an enthusiasm that equaled my own. At one point I
had her charging almost due north, with the weather on the starboard bow,
making pretty close to 30 knots (according to our Raymarine RC 530 chartplotter),
with the tabs down-angled just enough to maintain an overall four- to
five-degree running attitude. What a ride! I felt comfortable at the helm,
confident, empowered. We’re talkin’ the highlight of the day.
But
such an experience is rarely the total product of a single design element,
even an important one. Two other factors contribute to the 50’s
spirited offshore performance. First, the techniques used to construct
the boat are both modern and intensely integrated. From the all-glass,
longitudinally framed grid that strengthens her monocoque-type skin, to
the succession of watertight bulkheads that divide her interior into true
watertight compartments, what results is impressive structural integrity
and cohesiveness.
And
then there’s the 50’s engineering. To achieve proper balance
and an optimized angle of attack at speed, Cranchi mounts the 50’s
matched set of Volvo Penta TAMD 74P EDC diesel inboards low, fairly close
together, and well forward. The first two points enhance transverse stability,
and the third, among other things, helps reduce running angle coming out
of the hole. Moreover, each engine is trunion-mounted on isolators atop
steel beams interconnected with welded-steel brackets, a setup that rivals
the boat’s monocoque glasswork for pure, structural rigidity. Fuel
lines are made of copper, a long-lasting material. Some years ago I took
issue with the use of copper lines on Italian boats, primarily because
the material tends to fatigue and break when subjected to vibration. Cranchi
addresses the issue with flexible bulkhead hangers as well as flexible
couplings between the copper and any source of vibration, whether genset
or main engine.
Lesser
but still admirable engineering details include tall, open PVC pipes fitted
over transducers so they can be replaced or maintained without hauling
the boat, dipstick access points for directly measuring fuel levels in
the stainless steel fuel tanks, and a “soft patch” over the
machinery spaces supported on a grid of beefy aluminum box beams so the
mains can be extracted with relative ease should the need ever arise.
One
final, compelling aspect of the 50’s personality announced itself
as soon as I set foot inside: an alluring mix of modern styling and old-world
craftsmanship. Although the layout is contemporary—with a master
and en suite head at the bow, two guest staterooms aft (with a day head
nearby), and galley/saloon/dinette area in between—the lacquerwork
on the American cherry is as warm and traditionally Italian as the scent
of freshly made pesto. Upholstery’s finely executed, too. A few
details I especially liked were the soft shapeliness of the leather C-shape
lounge in the dinette area, the precise finish work on the Alcantara headliners
throughout, and the lovely feel of the leather covers on all the door
handles.
What
really put the frosting on the cannoli for me, however, was what the garage
at the stern of our test boat contained: a feisty little Zodiac Projet
350. When launched via a gutsy electric Master Winch mounted on a bulkhead
inside the engine room, a couple of sets of rollers in the garage deck,
and a fold-overboard bracket that features easy-going pneumatic tires,
it soon proved to be a racy bit of entertainment in its own right.
Not
to imply that driving a jet-powered RIB around a Palm Beach marina is
anything remotely like driving a Cranchi Mediterraneé 50 around
the Gulf Stream, of course. But hey! Fun is fun.
Cranchi
of the Americas Phone: (305) 867-4355. Fax: (305) 867-4350. www.cranchi.it.
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