Absolute Beauty

A stylish pod-driven Italian import designed for the cruising family.

A Absolute’s first ever flying bridge features a large sunlounge and a settee with a table.
B Hull-side ports will bring light into the lower cabins, including the master, two guest staterooms and the galley below decks.
C The stylish and functional bow-rail keeps the crew safe while tending to the anchor or walking forward while docking.
D Light-toned upholstery as well as the use of oak, cherry, or ashwood furniture contribute to the bright feel of the main cabin.
E Visibility from the helm is excellent through the single-piece windshield though from the transom, the view is limited.
F Twin 370-hp Volvo IPS500s provide close-quarters agility and extra living space forward of the engine room.
G The galley is on the lower level, aft of the master stateroom, freeing up space on the main level for a larger saloon.
H The master stateroom features a full en suite head with a walk-in shower and a pedestal sink.

In Europe, Absolute Yachts has been known for building sporty boats with elegant lines, fast, agile hulls, and of late, Volvo Penta IPS pod drives for the last eight years. To wit, the builder’s original 43, an express, reportedly recorded a top end of 44 knots (50.6 mph). Now a new series of boats promises more of that European panache, but with the enhanced functionality of a cruiser equipped with a flying bridge. The 43 Fly, expected to come to the United States in early 2011, is the first in this style, with a 50-footer planned for the near future.

The 43’s bridge deck features a sunbathing lounge forward, with a settee and table aft for socializing. Curved windows run along the entire sides of the main cabin, bathing the lower helm station and cabin in natural light. Indeed, you can go below without losing the visual sensation of being at sea while you kick back on the settee and enjoy a movie on the standard flat-panel TV. Like all Absolutes, this one will come with standard oak, cherry, or ash wood furniture and cabinetry and contrasting light-toned walls, furniture, and upholstery to maximize the bright, open feel of the interior.

Outside the cockpit, its standard teak sole is partially shaded by the large flying-bridge overhang. The swim platform will also have teak decking, and even the swim ladder will sport teak rungs.

Absolute Yachts says it installs IPS on all of its new boats to give owners the benefits of precise slow-speed maneuvering and close-quarters handling from the joystick-controlled system. An added benefit of IPS is increased living space, clearly visible on the 43 Fly’s lower deck. Here she has a master stateroom with an en suite head in the bow, and two large guest cabins just forward of the engine room, courtesy of the aft-mounted engines. The port-side guest cabin has a double berth; the starboard has twins. With all this, there’s still room for a full galley below decks, too.

This boat’s lines and interior show the 43 Fly falls right in line with her Italian sisterships, and despite being the company’s first bridge boat, she appears to have the brand’s traditional performance and handling, too.

Absolute
(877) 500-1686.

Specifications

  • Builder: Absolute
  • Model: other
  • Boat Type: Cruiser
  • LOA: 43’8″
  • Beam: 13’6″
  • Fuel Capacity: 264 gal
  • Water Capacity: 105 gal
  • Standard Power: 2/370-mhp Volvo IPS500s
  • Cabins: 1 master

This article originally appeared in the July 2010 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.