Made for America
The aggressively designed dayboat makes its worldwide debut with four outboards.
I first came across the Wallytender 48 at the Ft. Lauderdale boat show. It was making its stateside debut, and the masses took notice. The luxury dayboat had what you might expect (a massive swim platform, folding teak-clad bulwarks and a large forward sunpad) and things you might not (a hidden passerelle). But what drew you in was the 48’s angular design aesthetic, from the sharp lines to the fighter jet-like windshield. Though upon seeing it, if you thought this retro rocket ship was going to move as fast as it looked, you might have felt betrayed. While the 48 is certainly no slouch—with the standard power option of twin IPS 650s, the 48 sees around 34 knots at wide open—it’s not exactly a bullet, either.
Hello high performance. For the first time since the Wallytender brand was acquired by the Ferretti Group, it will feature an outboard-powered version, the Wallytender 48 X, making its worldwide debut today at the Miami Yacht Show. “We are very proud of what we have achieved with the breathtaking Wallytender X,” said Luca Bassani, Wally founder, in a statement. “We have been able to maintain the strong aesthetic identity of Wally and the many practical features already found on the inboard model, perfectly suited to serve the needs of clients who prefer the outboard experience in their boating lifestyle, including top speeds and high levels of performance coupled with unrivaled seakeeping.”
Outfitted with quad 450-hp Mercury Verados, preliminary sea trials recorded the 48 X cruising in the 40-knot range and topping out around 55 knots. Making use of the deep-V hull design and generous amounts of carbon fiber in its construction, the 48 X is poised not only for high speeds but low fuel consumption. While cruising at 40 knots, the 48 X saw a range of 320 nm; while cruising at 36 knots, the range was extended by 30 nm. And with the application of outboard power comes a reduction in draft: The minimum draft at which you can cruise (with engines up) has been reduced to 2 feet, 4 inches—shaving almost two feet from the inboard version.
Moving to outboard power also highlights some of the company’s design choices. While the hidden swim platform on centerline might have been a clever feature for the 48, it was clearly designed to split the outboards, which flank the 48 X’s stern. The result is a practical solution for those looking to board from the stern, whether coming out of the water or stepping aboard from a slip. Instead of just walking onto the swim platform, you’ll be walking between 1,800 horsepower—quite an X factor.
The deck layout remains unchanged, including the sideways-opening bulwarks that offer an open “beach” effect. “As a hot spot for the outboard yachting lifestyle, Florida is the perfect place to unveil this thrilling new model,” said Stefano de Vivo, Managing Director of Wally in a statement. I couldn’t agree with him more.
