Drawing Board

A visit to Ocean Alexander’s shipyard reveals the new 90R; Hinckley makes waves with its first outboard-powered boat.

There it was, Hull No. 1 of Ocean Alexander’s 90R, flanked by its larger sibilings at the builder’s shipyard in the massive southern port city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. I had arrived as large curtains were pulled aside with Houdini-like drama to reveal the structure as it was being outfitted with electrical, plumbing and cabinetry—all done, by hand, on-site. It was a sneak peek at a design to debut at the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show in October.

The ‘R’ in 90R stands for Revolution, a moniker the builder selected very carefully.

“The 90R is a revolution in that we’ve overthrown the traditional styling that many have come to expect from Ocean Alexander,” said Sally Doleski, vice president of marketing. Leading that design upheaval is Naval Architect Evan K. Marshall, who also oversaw the styling of the 70e model before it.

Immediately recognizable—or unrecognizable, as it were—is the new, more angular hull shape. (According to Doleski, the 90R isn’t going to replace the existing 90, it’s an addition to the line.) The 90R features a 22-foot beam, and its interior, including the main-deck master, will be brightened by the liberal use of floor-to-ceiling glass. Carbon fiber will be used to construct an enclosed bridge, which is a first for this builder. oceanalexander.com —Simon Murray