Boat test for the 2008 Ferretti 592 including boat specifications, photo galleries, boat videos, boat layout diagrams, boat test numbers, boat test results, and boat speed graphs. Also includes pricing, engine test reviews, ratings, standard features, and gear for the 2008 Ferretti 592.

Italy is renowned for setting the high-water mark in style. From the right slacks to the right hair to the right yacht, it's all got to be impeccable. It was in this atmosphere that I approached the quay in Ancona, Italy, to preview the Ferretti 592. She's a boat in two parts. Studio Zuccon International Project designed the superstructure and interior, while Ferretti Yachts' engineering division put its weight behind the systems (from electrical to plumbing to propulsion) and the hand-laid fiberglass hull. The resulting boat has styling that is both clean and streamlined, with the tried-and-true components and system arrangements that the Ferretti Group has tested across its range.

The starboard-side flying-bridge helm, directly at the top of the molded-in steps, epitomizes the style. I pressed a rocker switch, and a cover lifted to reveal the GenNav 11C display, Raymarine Smartpilot ST6002 autopilot, and analog-style gauges. The Simrad RS82 VHF is separate, protected by a water-resistant, acrylic cover. Keeping it off the retractable panel is smart, since this ensures that its cord won't become entangled between the panel and the molded-in helm.

Another example of the low-profile styling is the radar arch. It follows the boat's lines, yet it's 1'9" above the windshield, so I'd be wary about running it while standing here (the health risks of long-term radio-frequency emissions on the human body are contested, but companies like Raymarine recommend that the radar be placed "above head height"). Also, since the 4-kW radome is so far aft, the bow will obscure objects directly ahead. (Typical radar pans require 12.5 degrees of spread both above and below for their most effective use.) Of course, placing radomes thus is common among other European craft as well.

The sleek styling of the flying bridge extends to the rest of the boat, even the side decks. Beginning just forward of the superstructure, 316 stainless steel stanchions gradually bend forward and outboard while keeping a uniform height off the deck. It's a small detail, but it's the little features like this that give a boat personality.

The interior also benefits from the stripped-down aesthetic. I took in the layout: a saloon with a white-linen divan on either side and a galley down and aft. The divans make for an inviting, intimate spot to chat or look out the oversize windows occupying the length of the superstructure. Two design elements spice up the interior while being simultaneously understated: an oversize pass-through window from the galley into the saloon and a freestanding staircase that has no railing, so ascending it in a seaway could be difficult. The white oak veneer on both elements brings a warmth to the room without being obtrusive.

So Studio Zuccon International Project gave the 592 a sleek (and for the most part practical) design, but what did the Ferretti engineers bring to the table? In a word, uniformity. For instance, everything from the pumps to the refrigerators ran on 24 volts. But there's more.

PAGES:

1

2