Cranchi E56F

Any time I see a new Cranchi at a boat show, I’m reminded of the time I visited the Italian boatbuilder’s commissioning yard in Marano Lagunare, Italy, on the Adriatic coast last year. The shed had a full lineup of the company’s wares, ranging from ready-to-play 24-footers to sleek cruisers in the mid-60s—some we’ve never seen in the U.S. The lesson: Don’t assume you know about a brand just because you’ve walked the length of a stand at a boat show.

The market is changing quickly, as brands introduce models in a mad dash to update their product lines. The smart builders create boats based on what worked in the past while refining new details—they’re evolving. Case in point: Cranchi’s E56F. That “E” stands for evoluzione and it’s not hard to see why.

“We are having an extraordinary success with this yacht for the excellent navigability and, of course, for the luxury interiors,” says Paola Cranchi, who manages the company’s sales and marketing efforts. “People are in love with the colors and materials chosen for the interiors and for the great light.” She’s got a point, as the distinctive interior styling doesn’t just show off what the design team did, it shows off what they can do. The results don’t stop at the choice of finishes, fabrics, and leathers in the interior, or even at the shapes of the furnishings. The concept is also evident in features such as the divider that isolates a galley from a sitting area. It lets light in and allows the helmsman to see through it. It’s cool.

The special effects continue when you head through the saloon, where a portside helm with a racy wheel jutting from the console is at the forward end, with a dinette to starboard for companions to enjoy the ride.

One thing I really liked when I saw the E56F: the house is proportional to the 15-foot 10inch beam. You’re on a boat after all—an Italian one at that—and performance has to count for something. She’s sleek. Side decks lead to a fun-ready foredeck complete with bolstered sunpad.

Belowdecks, a three-stateroom, two-head layout awaits, and is worth closer inspection. The forepeak stateroom and starboard-side guest double share the second head, with direct access from the VIP in the bow.

As for that in the model name, that stands for flying bridge, and this one does not disappoint with a huge sunpad surrounding the helm. A dinette at the aft end makes the most of the space beneath the radar arch. The hardtop (likely popular in Florida) is an option, mostly to keep the design sleek.

Cranchi also pays attention to performance—the best reason to have a look at its Volvo Penta IPS options. There’s even a tender garage that ships an inflatable in a space over the engines.

If you’re picking up on the fact that this company is using design effectively to appeal to a sophisticated clientele, you’re right. And don’t be surprised if the Cranchi’s evolution brings larger boats. But for now, the E56F may bring discerning boaters to the show for a closer look. —

Cranchi, 877-391-2941; cranchi.it

LOA: 56'5" BEAM: 15'10" DRAFT: 4'1" DISPL.: 51,350 lb. FUEL: 490 gal. WATER: 137 gal. POWER OPTIONS: 2/725-hp Volvo Penta IPS950; 2/625-hp Volvo Penta IPS800 CRUISING SPEED: 29 knots TOP SPEED: 34.5 knots BASE PRICE: $1.5 million