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It was my turn at the
helm once we got back. Having sea trialed several Bluewaters over the
years, I was not surprised by the responsiveness of the boat to her rudders
and the sweet feel of the wheel. The oomph of Teleflex Sea Star hydraulics
combined with engine-driven power assist was partly responsible, but engine
placement was also a factor. Bluewater mounts its prime movers low, which
yields a fairly low shaft angle, and when they are teamed up with those
conical tunnels, the approach yields a more efficient prop/water interface.
Moreover, rather than conventionally installing the engines near the keel,
the company spaces them as far apart as possible. The upshot? Increased
responsiveness and more pivot power in close-quarters handling situations.
Docking our test boat
provides a good example. After centering the wheel and turning off the
optional Raymarine R80RC Plus radar (no sense exposing people in the marina
to unnecessary radiation), I used the Mathers single-lever sticks to do
a twin-screw pirouette at the mouth of the slip—just a couple of
détente clicks did the trick. Then I backed in with the down-current
diesel alone, a ploy that kept the rear of the 52 from falling off with
the tide. Handling the bow was a snap. All I needed was a couple of corrective
shots from the optional SidePower thruster. The whole thing took just
a couple of minutes. Apple-pie easy.
The interior of the
52 is like a lot like other Bluewater interiors I’ve looked at: expansive,
sensibly appointed, and homelike enough to accommodate freestanding furniture
for the most part. No problem changing the decor here—all you have
to do is hit your local furniture store and buy a new sofa and a couple
of chairs.
The layout’s a
classic—master stateroom aft, with en suite head (molded-fiberglass
bathtub included), VIP forward, with en suite head again, and galley/saloon/dinette
area in between. One notable aspect is the profusion of solidly residential
brand names on the equipage: Hunter-Douglas blinds, Grohe plumbing fixtures,
Whirlpool dishwasher, Corian countertops. Another is the visibility from
inside the boat. Because the windows are large, numerous, and thoughtfully
positioned, you can sit on the 52’s Flexsteel sofa or in one of her
barrel chairs in the saloon and watch what’s going on outside. Nice
for intensely nosey guys like me.
The only thing I didn’t
like about our 52 was the engine room—there simply ain’t one.
To offer Guardian Power, Bluewater has to install its powerplants inside
take-apart furniture and cabinetry in the master stateroom and galley,
a stratagem that makes doing routine maintenance, bilge checks, and other
chores a little like disassembling and then reassembling a puzzle. On
the upside, the company keeps the number of pieces to a minimum and installs
beefy, well-built hinges that facilitate movement. Thick layers of Soundown
foam inside the machinery spaces and locks that prevent inadvertent opening
underway also help.
One final but important
point: Your typical coastal-cruising motoryacht spends a fair amount of
time either in marinas or at anchor doing duty as a second home. What
I especially like about Bluewater’s approach to this mission is the
real livability and kick-back comfort that result. For instance, our test
boat’s genset, like most other gensets, is destined to do most of
its running when folks are asleep—it’s therefore mounted in
a Soundown-lined locker under a hatch in the middle of the saloon, as
far from both staterooms as possible. Ventilation’s excellent, too.
Not only do most of the windows slide open to reveal dense-mesh screens,
but the convenient amidships entry door has a sliding screen as well—just
like at home. And then there’s the sink and other appliances in the
galley: They’re not downsized or marinized in the least. They’re
big and robust—again, just like home.
“What kinda top
speed ya gonna put in yer magazine,” Jaeckel smiled as he helped
load the last case of test gear into the trunk of my rental car. It was
day’s end and I was a little tired but a lot convinced that the 52
LE will take a guy places most other motoryachts won’t.
“Gotta go with
the conventional speeds…the ones in the channel,” I responded.
“That stuff near the island was a little, how shall I put it: rarefied.”
“Haha,”
Jaeckel laughed, slapping me on the back, “Not for a Bluewater.”
Bluewater Phone:
(320) 679-3811. Fax: (320) 679-3820. www.bluewateryacht.com.
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