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One thing conspicuous by its absence in the saloon was noise, specifically air-conditioner noise. The business end of the whopping 38,000-Btu chilled-water A/C system is back under the aft deck, so even when coping with Florida heat and humidity on a sweltering July day, the lower deck was cool and quiet. Taking a cue from my query about the air conditioning, Clayton went on to explain that Cranchi paid a lot of attention to locating auxiliary systems, placing a high priority on ease of access. The design goal was to have all systems replaceable within 20 minutes. Examples include the freshwater tank, located under the forward berth and built in two parts so it can be removed through the doorways, and the vacuum generator (for the MSDs) in a hatch beneath the saloon sole.
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
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The same philosophy was evident in the engine room. Rams lift a big hatch in the aft deck, allowing unencumbered access to both the Volvo Penta diesels and the systems surrounding them. Between the engines, batteries are mounted in boxes along the centerline, keeping their weight as low as possible. Equipment foundations are made of either stainless steel or plastic; to keep maintenance to a minimum, there's no wood.
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Jeffery Salter |
Guests can find shelter beneath the hardtop overhang or sunshine when enjoying the aft deck. |
Taking the 43 out for sea trials, Clayton invited Carr to maneuver the boat out through the confined spaces of the boat basin and into the ICW. He did so with a purpose, knowing that she is a novice boat handler. No matter. Using the highly intuitive IPS joystick, she maneuvered the 43 with ease. And taking a turn at the helm myself, I was (again) impressed by how easy boat handling can be, thanks to Volvo Penta's IPS and joystick system.
I was also impressed by the boat's positive helm response, again due to the IPS drives, which have no rudders but instead vector the propeller thrust for steering. Acceleration was swift and sure, thanks to dual counter-rotating props and a horizontal shaft angle that are inherent in IPS. Cranchi's attention to weight control coupled with the efficiency of the IPS drive yielded a top speed of more than 39 mph while delivering 0.9 miles per gallon. And at best cruise, she can boast 1.33 miles per gallon at almost 30 mph. Those are exceptional numbers for a boat of this size and style.
While much of the 43 HT's appeal stems from her choice of propusion system, Cranchi has done its share by delivering a smart-looking, well-thought-out boat that should make her stand out from others in the IPS crowd. She's an exceptional yacht with a lot to offer.
For more information on Cranchi Boats, including contact information, click here.
SPOTLIGHT ON: TNT Hydraulic Platform
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Jeffery Salter |
Cranchi specifies a standard fixed swim platform on its Mediterranee models. But our 43 HT had a TNT hydraulic platform (price on application). Decked in teak, it looked just like a fixed platform when raised. Extending full beam and nearly five feet fore and aft, it was big enough for a boatload of guests. But what really captured my interest was that almost all of the hydraulic components for the platform, including the beefy rams, are above the waterline and easily accessible. The rams are behind the cockpit seat backs, for example. Keeping components out of the water also helps reduce corrosion.—G.L.P.
TNT Lift Systems
(954) 561-8083
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This article originally appeared in the October 2007
issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.
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