Absolute 50 Fly

Our first Look at the Absolute 50 Fly.

By Jason Y. Wood

February 8, 2017

Absolute 50 Fly

Jason’s Take: Big-boat features abound on Absolute’s latest, and another contender enters the midsize motoryacht maelstrom.

There’s something going on in the world of motoryachts right around 50 feet LOA, and if you don’t pay attention, you could be missing out. This is a size range that welcomes the owner-operator with a manageable vessel. Builders seem to be sensing the competition, so they bring their “A” game with delightful surprises in interior volume and features that feel like they were introduced on much larger yachts, yet translate nicely when placed before boaters presented with a wealth of choices.

For Absolute Yachts, the segment is one in which the company’s designers bring some clear thinking, thanks to their experience with motor-yachts in larger sizes, their designs for coastal cruisers with the Navetta line, and their amenity-laden sport yachts.

One question, by way of example: How many European 50-footers do you see with a transom door to gain access to the crew’s quarters, which are illuminated with a wide transom window? In the U.S. that will serve as a kids’ clubhouse, another stateroom that any teenager would love. Add that to the three-stateroom, two-head layout forward, and you’ve got some real space with which to work.

What’s the point of a motor-yacht if you’re not going to have a flying bridge to love? This one extends aft to shade the cockpit and has a wide forward sunpad, companion seating, a galley area with electric grill, sink, ice maker, and refrigerator, and a broad, U-shaped settee with dining table where everyone can come together.

An optional al fresco galley on the swim platform offers an electric grill, sink, and counter area to let chefs stay right in the heart of the action at anchor, and cool off easily if they can’t stand the heat. No one wants to miss out on that!

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