237 Nautical Miles

maximum cruising range at 25 knots

SureShade Bimini top extends from the hardtop and covers the cockpit. My test 485 HTS had the top, and it was a welcome relief on a hot, humid day. I see the SureShade as a must-have for boaters in southern climes. ¶ The cockpit connects to the main-deck interior space via a pocket door that slides to port. That door and the salon window drop into the vessel with the push of a button, creating a one-level, indoor-outdoor space. ¶ The salon has a U-shaped settee to port and a high-low table with an Isotherm refrigerator across from it. The helm is forward and to starboard. Salon headroom is about 7 feet, and the space feels big thanks to nearly 360 degrees of glass windows, glass overhead in the center of the hardtop, and a retractable sunroof forward near the helm. With the roof open and the salon window and cockpit door down, I felt like I was a running a center-console. However, even with the yacht completely open and the wind puffing, salt spray never came over the rails. ¶ A two-stateroom, two-head layout is belowdecks. The master is full-beam amidships with a queen berth measuring about 6 feet 5 inches long by 5 feet 1 inch across. A settee to port has a view out of two hullside windows. It’s a nice setup for a rainy day on the hook with a book. To starboard are cabinets with three sets of shelves, enough space for a cruising couple to take off for a week or two without wearing the same outfit twice. The master also has a 32-inch Samsung TV. An en suite head has a toilet and separate shower stall with 6-foot-7-inch headroom. ¶ The forepeak guest stateroom has a step-up queen berth and an en suite head that also serves as the day-head. There are two hanging lockers, and four self-closing drawers are under the berth. The lower salon’s U-shaped dinette to starboard converts into an additional berth for kids or guests. ¶ That lower salon feels voluminous thanks to 6-foot-10-inch headroom, overhead hatches, and a raked hardtop that allows light in from the main deck. Across from the dinette is a galley with a two-burner Kenyon cooktop, Samsung convection/ microwave oven and refrigerator. ¶ My test vessel had beachwood gray cabinets and a shore-white galley sole, with the light tones enhancing the sense of openness. Other choices include high-gloss walnut cabinetry and a misty gray sole with a white color scheme. Exterior color choices include tan and mocha, white and mocha, or silver and white. ¶ However the 485 HTS is outfitted, her low-profile look, sporty performance, cruise-friendly layout and sea-splitting hull form are standard. As we cruised in a harbor filled with new and classic yachts large and small, and an amazing view of the Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty, I noticed tourists on the ferries waving and breaking out their phones to take pictures of my ride. In a city with so much to see, that moment said a lot about the Galeon 485 HTS.