PoweRfuL Thinking

The forebears of today’s MAn diesel engines were there when the company’s roots took hold more than 250 years ago in germany’s Ruhr region. An inventor named Rudolf Diesel came along in the late 1800s, working with the company engineers to create his diesel engine. Today, MAn continues the tradition of innovation, building engines such as the first diesel with 101,000 horsepower, a unit that is in service aboard a new series of ships carrying more than 9,000 containers.

The 1,000-horsepower MAn V-8 aboard the Magellano 76 is intriguing for yachtbuilders because it is a high-speed engine that has found ready acceptance in police and patrol boats. With eight cylinders in a 90-degree V, it is turbocharged and intercooled. it has four valves per cylinder and electronically controlled common rail direct fuel injection.

in the Magellano 76, the MAn engine’s design is particularly appealing because its total height is 48 inches. This lowers the yacht’s center of gravity for increased stability, and improves space for systems access in the engine room. The engine also reportedly has powerful acceleration, instant reaction to commands, a long service life and low running costs. —C.C.

Opposite is an upper-lower bunk stateroom with head and shower. Forward is the VIP stateroom. Stowage includes a pair of hanging lockers plus lockers next to and under the berth.

Crew quarters are abaft the engine room, with two single cabins, a shared head and a mess area with table and mini-galley. Access is via stairs from the full galley on the main deck, as well as by way of a door to the transom platform.

Power for the Magellano 76 is a pair of 1,000-horsepower MAN diesels that, because they are V-8s, are low and compact, creating an engine room with access to all sides of the engines and ancillary equipment. The yacht has hydraulic bow and stern thrusters, and a thoughtful redundancy is hydraulic takeoffs from each engine. My test boat also had the optional Seakeeper gyro, in a designed-to-fit area in the lazarette.

If your idea of long-range cruising includes visions of fighting the elements while enduring some discomforts, look elsewhere. The Magellano 76 is designed to cruise considerable distances and in reasonably nasty conditions—with style and luxury, and with the ability to scamper for shelter at 22 knots. She provides quite a few answers to questions that other builders haven’t even asked, and that left me thinking, Why didn’t I think of that, either?