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Avalon 50
by Holly Simpson
Far from being just another pretty face, her stability and versatility are unmatched
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When you’re on a boat and you observe swells coming toward you, there are certain things you anticipate, from how you’ll brace yourself against the onslaught to where you think your drink will land. Instead, wouldn’t it be nice to watch the waves coming toward you and just ... keep going?
That’s exactly what happened on board the Australian-built Avalon 50, a Downeaster-style vessel that, from the outset, doesn’t seem like she could handle much more than a short, routine harbor hop. She looks too pretty for that.
Man, was I totally wrong. I should have known better by now than to judge a book by its cover.
No Bang, Lots to Gain
We have talked about the Avalon 50 in the past, although we haven’t tested one until now; the major difference this time around is that there is a two-stateroom layout available. I’m sure you’re thinking, “Wait a minute, this boat is more than 50 feet LOA and there was only one stateroom?” Yes, you heard correctly -- but what she lacks (or lacked, now that there are two staterooms) in accommodations, she makes up for in, well, everything else.
“This boat is the Bentley on the water,” said Andy Shoemaker of San Diego-based Ballast Point Yachts, the West Coast distributor for Avalon. The boat was designed by Mark Richards of America’s Cup fame, who holds several world records for sailing and has won multiple awards for his boat designs. Someone with that kind of experience knows the definition of a responsive hull, and what a difference it makes in efficiency and comfort to cut through the water rather than ride on top of it -- but it wasn’t until we ran the boat out that it became clear to me that this was not going to be a typical Downeaster-style vessel.
I tested the boat in San Diego, motoring out beyond the breakwater to see how she would handle in unprotected waters. My reaction was nothing short of amazed. We hit some decent swells, probably in the 4-foot range, and every time I saw one coming toward us, I sat down or grabbed hold of something so I wouldn’t lose my balance. Most of the time, it ended up being an unnecessary gesture. The Avalon 50’s semi-displacement hull just cut straight through the water. Shoemaker explained that her hull shape starts with a knifelike entry, rounding off amidships and finally becoming almost flat toward the stern, helping to create that secure feeling we were experiencing. Rather than being picked up and dropped back down on every swell, you could physically feel the weight of the boat pushing the water out of her way. I’ve been on 70- and 80-foot yachts that coasted and banged up and down every single swell, actually making me feel a little seasick. I’d trust the Avalon 50 any day over one of those bigger boats.
Once we got this part out of the way, we settled the boat into the trough to see how she’d feel being hit side-on. There was, as expected, some rocking, but it wasn’t enough to be uncomfortable (and it was certainly less than what I’ve experienced on other boats in this size range). The stability was impressive overall.
The Avalon 50 is not the driest ride on the market. On a choppy day like this, I wasn’t surprised to see the windows get splashed a little and to notice some spray on the vast aft deck (which you’ll hear more about shortly). But this is common for boats with long, low profiles, and it wouldn’t stop me from buying her (provided I could pull together the scratch for a 50-foot high-end yacht like this one).
The top speed of this vessel on her twin Yanmar 440 diesels was about 35 knots; a comfortable cruise was around 20 to 22 knots. If you feel the need for speed, an engine package with 500s is also available.
Onboard Playground
Europeans -- Italians in particular -- are known for their “open” yacht design: boats with retractable overheads, aft windows and doors that slide completely open (or even off) and furnishings that are spaced in such a way as to create a beamier look inside the boat. The Avalon 50 doesn’t feature an “open” layout in the traditional sense of the word, but there is an emphasis on the outdoor areas and on making the most out of the open space aboard. The aft deck is huge; it seems to eat up half the boat, which is perfect for people who love the great outdoors. Two steps lead to the starboard sidedeck. In the absence of side railings here, you have to hang onto the overhead railing while traversing to the bow -- but in my opinion, stainless steel side rails would have detracted from the boat’s classic lines.
In keeping with Avalon’s version of the open layout, Shoemaker pointed out several key features. Wide double transom doors opened out to the 4 and 1/2-foot swim step extension (which doubles as your dinghy storage, something I liked because I can’t stand it when a builder goes to the trouble of creating a huge aft deck only to have most of it eaten up by a tender). If you tie up the tender alongside the mother ship while anchored someplace, keep the aft door leading out to the deck open and also open the sliding aft window (yet another surprise on this boat -- three of the windows open at the touch of a button; one aft and two side. They’re frameless and don’t leak; water hits the window and trickles into a track that is separated from the boat. Who needs air conditioning!), the whole boat basically from the salon to the edge of the swim step becomes one big outdoor deck sitting on the water. He was right; the view from the helm station inside took me straight out to the ocean; it’s a fun idea, because it really connects you to the water.
If you need more shade than that, there are two stainless steel rods that drop perfectly into receivers on the aft deck. A Bimini top can then be stretched over it. I know, I know -- nobody likes the concept of “assembly required” on a boat, but it is simple enough for someone to install it alone.
Inside
Yes, I’m finally getting around to telling you about the interior amenities!
Because the boat we were on was a single stateroom, everything felt bigger than normal: a huge portside galley, an ample amount of salon seating, an oversized helm seat, a comfortable forward stateroom. Everything on board is top quality -- no corners cut. When Shoemaker told me a cabinet door was teak, that meant it was solid teak; not veneer.
Countertops can be just about any material you want them to be (including teak), though granite or Corian seem to be the preferred methods. Our test boat had a pull-out trash bin in the galley, but on future models, you can expect a compactor. Should you opt for a two-stateroom model, the major difference with the galley is that it becomes an aft galley. This might almost make more sense for those who prefer to be outside (although there is a bar on the aft deck, complete with a custom refrigerator).
There is soundproofing throughout the boat, which was apparent with the low decibel readings I registered (76 dB at cruise with the door shut); though teak floors come standard, the owners of this particular boat had opted for carpeting, which further dampened the noise.
When it came to the interior amenities, the great thing I discovered about the Avalon 50 is that she neglects no one. Because she can be customized to just about any standards, there’s even less chance you wouldn’t find what you were looking for. If you want a flybridge, you can opt for one. Table and seating layouts can be designed to suit your tastes. Even the teak toilet seat is a custom design. (Scary, I know, that someone would think to customize a toilet seat, but we all have needs.)
Other interesting aspects that had been customized on our test boat included the instrumentation on the dash, from a tilt steering wheel to electronic engine controls. A bow thruster came standard, and you can opt for a stern thruster, but I don’t think it’s necessary, given the degree of maneuverability I experienced on the Avalon 50.
Key Points
In a nutshell, here are the unique features that set this vessel apart from others in her class:
*No stairs: With the exception of the three steps leading down to the galley, this is essentially a single-level boat -- ideal for people who want to cruise but who have limited mobility.
*Excellent soundproofing: Silence prevails on board, especially in the forward stateroom.
*Power windows: They promote a nice breeze and a more homelike atmosphere.
*Good visibility: The hull styling prevents the nose from pulling up; 360-degree windows create a brightly lit interior.
Versatility
What I appreciate about this boat is that her pretty façade belies her abilities. The vessel we tested had been happily broken in by an active family that used her mostly for day cruises to Catalina. It was wonderful to see and think of a boat like this actually being used; most of the time, they do what they look like they were built for -- sitting at the dock. I had a feeling this boat was uncomfortable in the marina, preferring the abandon of the sea and the joyful sounds of her owners listening to music on the aft deck, yanking out seat cushions to sunbathe on the bow and climbing onto the hardtop to unfasten the kayak for a short paddle to some unexplored rock or cave.
After all, what good is a boat that’s too pretty for cruising?
CONTACT: Avalon Motor Yachts; (619) 222-3620; www.ballastpointyachts.com
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This article first appeared in the August 2006 issue of Sea Magazine. All or parts of the information contained in this article might be outdated. |
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