Star Wars and boating have been synonymous in my life since my days watching the original trilogy on VHS in my parents’ cabin—don’t get me started on the prequels. My passion for boating and a galaxy far, far away once again intersected when I arrived at Ferretti’s Fort Lauderdale showroom to test the Italian giant’s new Wally Power 50X.
With a dark metallic paint job, filet-knife-like entry, a deeply raked windshield, and sharp angles everywhere you look, she gives the illusion that she’s doing 30 knots while still tied to the dock—an effect only heightened when her color-matched 500-horsepower Mercurys roared to life. A dayboat at heart, there are two large sunpads in the cockpit, along with an oversized sunpad forward. For this ride, I was eager to find a seat in the upright and locked position. The two helm seats were calling my name. Further allowing me to relive a piece of my childhood, they look as though they were plucked straight off the Death Star (go ahead, look at them and tell me I’m wrong).
As our crew of 10 gathered aboard—in itself an interesting test that proved you could have nearly a dozen people on deck without the boat feeling overcrowded—I stepped below for a closer look at the cabin. A dayboat through and through, this space is unlikely to see many overnights, but it certainly could. A double berth sits forward, flanked by perhaps too many mirrors for my taste after a morning of air travel. Stowage is excellent for a boat of this design, as is the headroom. Speaking of which, the head is a relatively generous size and includes a separate shower. The party trick though is a pair of what appear to be hullside windows to port and starboard of the berth. Not windows at all, this technological sleight of hand is created by external cameras projecting real-time views onto high-definition screens. It’s a slick touch for a midday escape while on the hook, though I might leave them off—there’s enough AI in my life these days.
As lines and fenders were handled and we began to meander out of the slip, I carefully stepped up to the bow sunpad. Perhaps I’m a bit old-school when it comes to safety, or perhaps I’ve watched too many Haulover Inlet videos, but I would only allow guests up here at the dock or at anchor on a calm day. There are no grabrails—or really anything to hold onto besides your nearest friend—should conditions get sporty.
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We quickly made our way to the inlet and the beckoning Atlantic. Like a thoroughbred racehorse, it’s out of the gates where the Wally 50X truly shines. A gentle push of the throttles and, with almost no discernible bow rise, she glides onto plane and accelerates to a top speed of 51 knots—especially impressive with 10 people, twice as many bags, and a full tank of fuel. Carving smooth, banking turns, this boat is simply fun to drive. In fact, the first note I jotted down after a turn at the helm was “addictingly fun.” A fellow marine journalist aboard made the time-honored sea-trial joke: “Hey Dan, how about Bimini for lunch?” I couldn’t help but smile. “I wish,” came my immediate, instinctual reply.
I reluctantly gave up the helm and settled into the aft sunpad, whose adjustable backrest allows you to face fore or aft. Watching the waves blur into the horizon, I found myself wishing two things. First, that the backrest spanned the full width of the sunpad—sit too close to the gunwale and there’s nothing to lean back on, which could be a concern at speed. Second, that the day didn’t have to end so soon.
It was an all-too-short sea trial, but it doesn’t take long for this boat to leave an impression. Well built, luxurious, and delivering a ride not unlike a TIE fighter, when it comes to the newest member of the Wally fleet, The Force is strong with this one.
Wally Power 50X Specifications:
LOA: 47’11”
Beam: 14’1”
Draft: 4’3”
Displ.: 16,200 lb.
Fuel: 740 gal.
Water: 63 gal.
Power: 4/400-hp Mercury (standard); 4/500-hp Mercury (optional)
Info: wally.com
This article originally appeared in the June/July 2026 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.
