Boat test for the 2006 Oceanus Voyager 45. Includes boat specifications, photo gallery, video, layout diagrams, boat speed graphs, and engine test reviews for the 2006 Oceanus Voyager 45.

The midsize express-cruiser segment is a tough nut to crack, mainly because a plethora of stateside and European builders already offer so many choices. So while flying to Charleston, South Carolina, I asked myself why would someone—facing a nearly saturated marketplace—launch a new brand of express cruiser? I assumed the answer was because there's always room for a new concept.

Randall Sellers, president of Oceanus Yachts and distributor of the Turkish-built Oceanus Voyager 45, claims this vessel is just that. He says Oceanus' forte is delivering a seakindly, semicustom, three-cabin, cost-conscious boat. And the owner of this 45, Joe Rodrigo, agrees. He told me that to him this boat represents a good value for the money ($449,000 as tested), adding that he liked the European influence evident in the boat's contoured exterior styling.

But fitting three staterooms into a 45-foot, open-style boat is no small feat, so on the rainy morning of this test, I spent a lot of time inspecting the 45's interior setup to see how well Oceanus pulled it off. I looked around the glossy cherrywood-accented saloon (mahogany, ash, and teak in both satin and high-gloss are options), and it seemed this boat didn't suffer from the fact that her 12'9" beam is at least a foot narrower than several similar size vessels. Her saloon/galley/dinette area features all the standards boaters expect, such as a crescent-shape settee for four that can double as an extra berth (if the three staterooms aren't enough); a two-burner, propane cooktop; Vitrifrigo refrigerator; bracket-mounted Toshiba LCD TV; and sizable galley stowage space, which includes two cabinets and three drawers below the counter and several more overhead. The countertop was made out of a synthetic material that didn't match the quality of the woodwork. Granite would be a better choice, and indeed, Sellers says it will be on future models. I also noted inconsistency in the cabinet latches: Some were of the push-pull variety, while others were fixed. Sellers assured they would be uniform on the boats that follow this one off the line.

Top speed: 32.7 mph. Our test boat was quick out of the hole thanks to stern-drive power.

The three staterooms have been tailored to work with the limited space. The master is forward and features a standard step-up queen and en suite head. Although it's below decks, the room is bright, compliments of an overhead hatch that measures 20 inches across. While I found the layout here standard fare, the reduced beam allowed for only a small hanging locker that could manage a few shirts and pairs of shorts. You'll need to utilize all of the overhead space here if you're considering a serious cruise. Additionally, the bracket-mounted, 14-inch Toshiba LCD TV interfered with the locker door. Sellers assured me that from now on the TVs will be bulkhead-mounted. The narrow beam also prevented a full swing of the door opening to the head here.

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