Used Boat Review: Ocean Alexander 74
The Ocean Alexander 74, a semi-displacement, semi-custom design from the board of Ed Monk, Jr.—well-known for his seaworthy, open-water cruising yachts—was an immediate success when it first launched in 2006. Misstress is a 2008 Ocean Alexander 74 Open Bridge model, ordered and owned by a yachtsman who kept it in Florida and the Bahamas, where he maintained a residence.
Photography by Charlie Clark
Used Boat Review: Ocean Alexander 74
For as long as I can remember, and that stretches back to the late 1970s when Alexander Chueh founded the company, Ocean Alexander yachts have always been impeccably finished and well-made contemporary designs. This builder is known for working with owners to create luxurious and practical yachts that can accommodate crew when desired, but are designed in many cases to be operated by experienced, capable owners.
Used Boat Review: Ocean Alexander 74
According to Sally Doleski, Ocean Alexander’s vice president of marketing, the OA74 model line ceased production in 2011, which is a good run for a yacht that retailed for over $3 million for the basic version during the Great Recession. An enclosed skylounge, along with three saloon layouts and crew’s quarters, were among numerous options available.
Used Boat Review: Ocean Alexander 74
Yolanda Phinney, an experienced broker for Rick Obey and Associates in Ft. Lauderdale, served as a succesful sales associate for Ocean Alexander before joining Obey’s firm. While at OA, she worked with the original owner of Misstress to customize the build and layout to his needs. She was also the broker of record when the owner decided to sell his 74
“Misstress was kept in Stuart at a dock behind the original owner’s home, and the yacht had a full-time crew, so she was exceptionally well-kept,” said Phinney. “This owner purchased Caterpillar’s five-year extended warranty, so the engines were also well cared for.”
Used Boat Review: Ocean Alexander 74
In the initial design phase for Misstress, the builder agreed to remove some of the stowage in the main saloon, creating a more spacious, gracious living area for the owner and family. Having seen double doors gracing an entrance to the master suite on an OA80, which is built on basically the same hull as the OA74, only with a cockpit extension for fishing and diving, the owners of Misstress opted for the same feature, as well as a dedicated landing with art and sculpture niches at the bottom of the stairs leading down to the accommodations deck.
Used Boat Review: Ocean Alexander 74
“Ocean Alexander is very amenable to customization,” Phinney said. “Changing layouts, adding or removing features, these are all easy for this builder, the only requirement being that structural bulkheads cannot be moved.”
Used Boat Review: Ocean Alexander 74
According to Ed McKnew’s 2017 PowerBoat Guide, the basic propulsion package for the OA74 was a pair of 1,000-horsepower Caterpillar C18s that generated a cruising speed of between 16 to 18 knots and a top speed of 20 knots. On the factory options list, OA also offered twin 1,650-horsepower CAT C32s (top speed of 25 knots) and twin 1,825-horsepower CAT C32 ACERTs (top speed of 27 knots), along with the required structural reinforcements and upgrades for the drive trains.
Used Boat Review: Ocean Alexander 74
“This owner opted for C32s because, at 11 knots, Misstress burned right around 12 total gallons per hour,” Phinney said. “And at 26 knots, she burned a total of 192 gph. That gave them an efficient and comfortable cruising boat with the potential to outrun a storm when needed.”
Used Boat Review: Ocean Alexander 74
The OA74 offers remarkable stowage throughout, including a nearly 6-foot-deep locker beneath the sole forward, which can include a “spirit locker that will hold ten cases of vodka and six cases of Veuve Clicquot,” according to Phinney—perfect for owners who love entertaining on a grand scale.
Used Boat Review: Ocean Alexander 74
Ocean Alexander overengineered virtually every system for Misstress, and for all the models in the series, from the 110-volt AC Headhunter freshwater pump backed up by two 12-volt DC pumps, to the integral water-softening system that knocks the edges off of hard-water land sources and makes showering as well as cleaning a flawlessly finished yacht that much easier. An optional, and very desirable, mechanical package includes dual Racor filters with Y-valves, a Fireboy extinguisher system, a fuel-polishing system, and an oil-changing system for both engines and gensets.
Used Boat Review: Ocean Alexander 74
The OA74 was constructed with some interesting standard materials. Hull and decks are hand-laid, vacuum-bagged, carbon fiber-infused composite structures offering strength and longevity. Airex foam construction was specified above the waterline to keep the yacht stiff and light, with full fiberglass protection below the waterline. An Interlux InterProtect epoxy-based coating system was used below the waterline to increase protection against osmosis and antifouling. Most interestingly, the deck, superstructure, and flybridge were reinforced and supported with fore-and-aft AL600 aluminum I-beam components for optimal strength and rigidity.
Used Boat Review: Ocean Alexander 74
Some of the standard equipment is impressive, too. There’s a Muir VRC4000C on the foredeck (and a chain counter at the helm) for reliable anchor duty, Keypower bow (36 horsepower) and stern (25 horsepower) thrusters with proportional control for precise handling around the docks, Keypower hydraulic stabilizers that can smooth out the excesses of the Gulf Stream, and extensive use of 3M Thinsulate and Quash foam-and-lead insulation for optimal sound, temperature, and vibration mitigation.
Used Boat Review: Ocean Alexander 74
Outside, a number of features identify the OA74 as a boat made for those who will take to the sea, such as wide side decks with high bulwarks for safety under way, overhangs from the boat deck and flybridge that keep the side and aft decks dry, and plenty of handholds. Watertight pilothouse doors give easy access to the decks for line handling. On the boat deck, a Steelhead SM 1750R davit with hydraulic boom for rotation and extension was included in the optional mechanical package. Inside, two complete helms were standard, unless an owner opted for the expansive country kitchen forward on the main deck.
Used Boat Review: Ocean Alexander 74
Luxurious Sakura paneling and cabinetry in high-gloss or satin varnish grace every cabin. Granite or marble was used for countertops, and was offered as optional for floors in the galley and master head compartment. And only the best names in appliances—JennAir, Gaggenau, Broan, Fisher-Paykel—were specified for the spacious, well-laid-out galley serving pilothouse dinettes and country kitchens alike.
Used Boat Review: Ocean Alexander 74
The OA74 was designed with three staterooms standard; typical accommodations include a full-beam amidships master, spacious VIP with centerline queen berth in the bow, and twin berths in a portside guest cabin. Guest cabins typically offer private access to a head compartment. The master stateroom has a centerline king berth and en suite head. Some 74s were configured with spacious his-and-hers bathrooms sharing a central shower; others have a single bathroom to starboard with a massive walk-in locker to port.
Used Boat Review: Ocean Alexander 74
With nearly 40 years of experience building trawlers and pilothouse motoryachts, Ocean Alexander has an enviable reputation as a quality builder of luxury cruising yachts. As the images of Misstress illustrate, these boats are carefully and lovingly crafted to remain desirable for years to come. You need only to step aboard at the next boat show to see this firsthand.
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