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Cranchi Mediterranee 50 HT
by Mike Werling
A Flagship That Keeps Up With The Times
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Sometimes it feels redundant to say we had another nice day in Southern California, but we did, and we took advantage of it to test a 2010 Cranchi Mediterranee 50 Hardtop. The Cranchi family has been designing and building boats since 1870, and while tradition will always have a place, new Cranchi boats definitely have the look and feel of sleek, fast, fun-to-drive modern boats. The 50HT is no exception.
From the dock, I see the big windshields sweep back and up to the hardtop, which looks like it has a black roof at first glance. As I step up from the swim platform to the cockpit, however, I realize that what I thought was a dark top is actually a large, tinted, screened, retractable sunroof. You get all the benefits of the hardtop while retaining the ability to let the wind sweep through the cockpit.
Done in gleaming white and highlighted with accents of black, gray and aluminum, the underside of the molded hardtop sweeps up to its highest point and flows softly toward the rear of the cockpit. The color scheme makes it feel like you are in a downtown loft, but without all of the sharp angles and pretension. Two seats at the helm, a two-person bench to port, a six-person settee and a jump seat are all done in soft, tan-colored leather, as is the aft double sunpad, which is situated atop the tender garage. The garage can hold a 12-foot dinghy or a personal watercraft and other gear. A wet bar and refrigerator are opposite the settee-table combo, and built-in speakers pipe in music from the salon sound system.
The cockpit/sunpad/swim platform area really is made to be a gathering place, for a couple on a weekend cruise or a group of 10 friends out for the day. Conversation flows easily from the helm - where everything is within reach and is easy to read - back to the sunpad. With judicious use of sunscreen, the festivities can start anytime and transition smoothly from day into night.
OUT OF THE SUN
Belowdecks, the ambiance in the salon and galley is more casual executive boardroom than industrial chic. I can see CEOs exaggerating previous big catches when they should be talking balance sheets in this comfortable space. The oak walls are varnished to a high shine, and the rounded corners give the room a comfortable flow that makes it feel more open, a feeling that is enhanced by the portholes above the galley countertop to starboard and the settee to port. The ceiling maintains the curves and color scheme of the cockpit. Even the tops of the door frames are slightly arched to maintain continuity with the rest of the boat`s design.
The galley`s white Corian countertop and dark wenge wood cabinets contrast nicely with the oak walls and tan dining settee. The table at the settee seems to be half wasted for dining purposes, until you realize there are two ottoman-like chairs tucked under the table, making it a table for six. Utilizing all of its space, the galley includes a cooktop, a microwave, an under-counter refrigerator, a stainless steel sink, a grill oven and a bar cabinet. Cranchi saves owners a trip to the home store, too, by providing place settings for six.
Forward is the master stateroom, with its pedestal queen-size bed, hanging lockers and en suite head with a separate shower. A hatch and two portholes let in plenty of light when it is needed, and a TV and CD-radio with USB connection provide ample entertainment.
Two similar-sized guest staterooms - both aft of the salon, one to port and one to starboard - have room to sleep four guests. One room has twin beds, and the other has a double bed and a door to the second head, which it shares via a second door with the salon and other guest room. The second head also has a separate shower stall.
PERFORMER
We didn`t have much wind to speak of, but the Pacific Ocean provided us with some decent swells - 3-4 feet - as we turned downwind after a smooth upwind run. The swells gave the Cranchi and its deep-V hull a chance to show us what it could do with a little resistance. The boat held its speed well and came off each swell without shuddering or smashing back into the trough, and the chines kept the boat dry. I never felt like the boat was crashing through the swell as much as it was riding down the wave while gearing up for a dance with the next swell. I was reminded of a cheetah and how it lowers its haunches to launch itself into the chase. Maybe we would have had the chance to crash through the swells if they`d been spaced a little closer together - the boat may have preferred that - but I was impressed with how the boat handled itself coming off the peaks of the swells, even at top speed.
The 50 responded quickly to helm commands and maintained solid balance through hard turns and beam seas. I stood for most of the sea trial and held on to the ceiling-mounted grabrail (or "oh darn" handle) through the swells, and I never felt like I was going to be tossed from side to side or knocked to the teak-covered sole.
The twin Volvo Penta D12-800 diesels, which fired up at the dock without hesitation and serenaded the harbor with their throaty rumble on the way to open water, pushed us to a top speed of about 35 knots at 2450 rpm. At that speed, we were burning through about 70 gallons of fuel per hour. The boat`s owner, Peter Meltzer, said that top-end speed was slower than his previous Cranchi, but that could be attributed to the hardtop, which his other 50-footer didn`t have, and that there were five adults on board for the test. At 2100 rpm, the boat was making an easy 29-30 knots, the fuel burn was down to 50 gph and range was in the neighborhood of 300-320 nautical miles.
What impressed me was the fact the engines were right below my feet, and we only had to raise our voices slightly to hold a conversation. I didn`t have a decibel meter, but it was obvious the engine space is well-insulated, and the underwater exhaust system does its job well. The hatch to the engine room is hidden at the base of the settee table and opens hydraulically. It hinges open at the aft end and provides plenty of room for a mechanic or hands-on owner to descend the ladder into the engine space.
The Cranchi 50 is the flagship of the company`s Master Yacht line. It`s been around and it`s seen its share of tweaks as it stays current with the latest in boating technology. The vessel is well-equipped for a range of activities, whether it`s a day trip to Catalina Island or somewhere on Puget Sound or a weekend run along the coast with the family. Even if you just want to soak up the sun without the hassle of sharing the beach with hundreds of your closest friends, the 50 Hardtop has the accommodations, with the dual sunpad to stern and another huge sunpad on the bow. It may be named after that former Roman lake known as the Mediterranean Sea, but this vessel will be at home on any water.
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This article first appeared in the July 2010 issue of Sea Magazine. All or parts of the information contained in this article might be outdated. |
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