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Remember when you could just go into a place and order a cup of coffee? Not anymore. Now it's got to be half-caf, half-decaf cappuccino with extra foam and a sprinkle of shaved chocolate. Or something like that. Well, it seems like the same thing has happened to sportfishing boats. Not only have they been supersized, but they're often loaded up with frills like automatic blinds, pop-up TVs, and electric doors. With its 37 Billfish, Ocean Yachts has deliberately taken a giant step back, building a sportfisherman focused on the basics: going offshore swiftly, safely, and comfortably, catching fish, and getting back home again. She's not spartan. Indeed, she has most of the creature comforts that one expects in this day and age, but she's not overdone with gimmicky gadgets that distract from the primary mission.
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
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By hoisting settees on either side of the bridge deck (manually, thank you—no powered rams needed), I exposed her twin 480-hp Yanmar diesels—electronically controlled, of course. Getting back to basics does not mean shunning modern technology, especially when it delivers improved performance. Her machinery spaces also housed a Cruisair air-conditioning unit to port and an Eskimo ice maker to starboard, both easily accessible. There was an X-Change-R oil-change system, a Westerbeke genset in a soundshield, and the other necessary engine-room components, all accessible with relative ease. And to keep things neat, the engine room has a smooth, white liner that's simple to clean and makes it easy to spot leaks.
With the settees back in place, I could appreciate just how cleverly the bridge-deck layout had been planned, making the most of its modest footprint. Extending more than seven feet fore and aft on the port side, a U-shape settee offers seating for four or more around a dining table. The table can be lowered to form a three-foot-wide berth—perfect for a midday siesta or a night's sleep under the stars. And because the settee is raised nearly a foot off the deck, it offers guests panoramic views even when they're seated. Aft of the double helm seat is a settee big enough for two that faces the dining area, forming a cozy seating area for swapping fish tales.
As I admired the efficiency of the bridge-deck layout, its real beauty struck me: With her lower helm station, the 37 offers the functionality of an open/express boat. But with windows on both sides and a fixed windshield, she looks like a true convertible, albeit with a functional lower helm station that's fully protected from the elements. With a flying bridge atop her deckhouse, she deftly combines the best attributes of both open/express and convertible styles.
Even the doorway leading to the lower deck speaks volumes about the design philosophy. Set in a stout metal frame, the door swings open on big stainless steel hinges. The brawny stainless steel handle felt secure in my grasp as if to assure me it would hold fast if I needed to grab it in a seaway. And in lieu of some intricate sliding mechanism, a small panel forward of the door simply flips up to create headroom in the stairway.
The same efficient use of space that impressed me on the bridge deck was evident in the galley and lower-deck layout. A two-burner cooktop is concealed beneath a removable panel that provides extra counterspace for prep work but stows out of sight when the stove is in use. In the corner is a stainless steel sink; 16 inches in diameter and eight inches deep, it's big enough to hold dishes, pots, or even a platter. Tucked under an adjacent four-square-foot section of Corian countertop, there's a two-drawer U-line refrigerator/freezer/ice maker, conveniently at the base of the stairs to the bridge. Above the counter is the A.C./D.C. distribution panel, just a step or two from the helm station. Along the outboard side of the galley are several eye-level and under-counter cabinets, but the eye-popper is a big pantry forward. Measuring more than a foot wide, two feet deep, and five feet high, it's roomy enough to hold stores and dry goods for a weekend or more.
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