WALLYTENDER 48
Laser-sharp lines and a ravishing finish captivate editor Hugo – but does its performance live up to its slick styling?
The first of four mini tests looking at the new wave of cool open sports-cruisers
Iknow we journalists should be cold, dispassionate creatures who remain resolutely objective regardless of subject matter but, cut me some slack here, it’s not every day you get to drive something as achingly cool as the new Wallytender 48. It may not be the first powerboat to feature Luca Bassani’s iconic paper-dart styling and it’s certainly not the largest (a 165-footer is on the drawing board) but being a fast, open day boat with close to 1,000hp on tap there is every chance it will be the most exciting to drive. That’s what I’m hoping, anyway, as I slip off my shoes and shuffle along the retractable passerelle that doubles as a bathing ladder when angled down into the sea.
The teak on the swim platform feels warm and smooth under foot, while everything from the finish of the GRP mouldings to the neatness of the caulking and engineering of the moving parts seems to be even slicker than previous Wallys, some of which didn’t look quite as immaculate in the flesh as they did in the glossy photographs. This one looks and feels like a million euros, which is more or less what it costs inc VAT, although that does include the fancy folding passerelle and bulwarks as standard.
One of the reasons it’s so well finished is that Wally became part of the Ferretti group earlier this year and now benefits from the same engineering, development and quality control that only a group of this size can afford.
So it may not be quite as exclusive as it was before but it’s probably a better boat for it.
Nor is the whole thing built of carbon fibre, although some elements, such as the T-top and wet bar, are still crafted from carbon in order to keep the centre of gravity as low as possible.
Ferretti also had a hand in designing and engineering this model. By their own admission the biggest challenge was to raise the freeboard and increase usable space and functionality without losing the ‘purity of the hull lines associated with all Wally yachts.’ You can judge for yourself how well they’ve managed that but I reckon they have smashed it out of the park. There isn’t a duff angle or dodgy detail anywhere, regardless of your viewpoint. It even looks cool when viewed from above, especially when you fold down those hinged rear bulwarks on either side of the sunpad to extend the size of your very own floating island of teak.
ALL SYSTEMS GO
So far so good but what is it like to drive? Time to find out by settling into that funky-looking helm seat, wrapping my palms around the carbon-fibre wheel and nailing the throttles. Much like any other 50ft sportscruiser it takes a few seconds for the twin 480hp Volvo D6 engines to overcome the hull’s inertia and release its grip on the water. The acceleration is solid but not exceptional and it runs out of puff at a mildly disappointing 34 knots – the brochure claims it’s good for 38 knots, albeit with a lesser load than the 10 passengers we are carrying.
The electronic steering is light but rather inert with 3.4 turns lock to lock and a surprisingly large turning circle for an IPS powered boat. It handles the swell with a steady, confident gait and no sign of the wet ride you might expect from such a sharp vertical bow, but the reality is that it’s not the fast, agile superboat those sensational lines might lead you to believe – a Brabus Shadow 800 is way more fun to drive. It’s no surprise
when you look at the facts. This is a 48ft, 11-tonne boat powered by standard Volvo IPS650 diesel pods, not a lithe 37ft sportsboat with supercharged petrol engines, slippery outboard legs and double the power-to-weight ratio.
Those extra feet don’t go unnoticed either, the deck is totally flat from stem to stern with masses of space to move around, deep bulwarks, a big dinette with reversible backrests, enabling passengers to face forward underway, and a fully equipped outdoor galley. There’s even a Seakeeper gyro to stop your
G&T’S spilling every time wake rolls past.
The solitary cabin is open plan with a permanent double berth forward, a seating area to port and a large, separate bathroom with a proper shower compartment. A couple could comfortably stay on board for a long weekend but it’s no liveaboard cruiser.
Sure, it’s not quite the futuristic rocketship to drive that its looks suggest but it is a fabulous boating experience that delivers on its remit to be the coolest-looking sportscruiser in the bay as well as a surprisingly functional weekender. So to hell with journalistic objectivity, I reckon this is the best Wallypower yet and I love every sharp, angular inch of it.