- IYM: What were the defining parameters and/or prerequisites at the root of your purchasing decision?
Marvin: Our former Monte Carlo had a slanted windshield with corner posts blocking my views, so visibility inside was crucial. One feature we really like about Absolute Yachts is the 360-degree view from the main cockpit deck and the ease of piloting from the helm station. Having a hardtop that could withstand the wind was also vital. The fact, it opened effortlessly with the push of a button, was like having the best of both worlds.
Amy: The aft galley also influenced our decision. It gave the boat a bigger feel by having the ability to open up the cockpit. Also, I didn’t want to be down below when preparing meals, and I liked being so close to the stern terrace when entertaining.
- IYM: What features and creature comforts did you both most enjoy?
Marvin: I nicknamed the Navetta, the mini ship, because it was tall, had a plumb bow, and when people saw us, they saw a small ship, but “mini ship” is also the literal meaning of Navetta in Italian. However, looking back, the 52-footer was the perfect size. We always found space at the marinas we visited. Sull’Acqua also got lots of looks. She was definitely a major attraction and everywhere we went, we were asked, “What kind of boat is that?”
Having the ability to walk around the bed in both the master suite and VIP cabin was great. It was also nice to have such a large size bed for when guests were staying over onboard.
Amy: The abundance of seating areas for times when we were socializing was super. On the flybridge of Sull’acqua, we loved the open space and added two loose chairs where we would start the day with a coffee and end the day with a whiskey talking about the journey. Storage was also plentiful. We kept discovering new spots once underway, and at the end of the trip had accumulated enough stuff to fill a U-Haul truck.
- IYM: Sull’Acqua holds 528 gallons of fuel and is powered by twin Volvo Penta D6 IPS 650 engines rated 480-hp each, how were her handling maneuvers?
Marvin: We mostly traveled between 9 to 15 knots and fuel economy was excellent in this range. The Navetta rode so well naturally at trawler speeds, and when we wanted to pick it up to a planing speed, we could, and we did. Coming down the ICW, we encountered boats that actually radioed to pass us, given that, they were built strictly for planing and struggled to hold the slow speeds. It’s really a shame because they miss out on the beautiful coastlines, and made us really appreciate having the displacement hull.
In terms of navigating, being powered by the pods and autopilot, weather elements were always corrected and we never felt like the winds were overtaking. Having the joystick controls made it easy to push back sideways and pick back up if need be. I also started to realize the value of using the Seakeeper 6 gyro when docking. It made a major difference and I would turn it on about 20 minutes prior for it to spool up. The starboard side access door was also very helpful when docking, or if needing to step out to speak with someone.
- IYM: During the long distance cruise of Absolute from Canada to Florida, what were some of the challenges of the diverse and changing seascapes the boat encountered?
Marvin: In the Canadian locks, the side slopes of the narrow passages make them really much narrower than they appear, and it was crucial to stay as near to the center as possible. We also learned early on the importance of announcing our passages prior to going through, to alert vessels traveling toward us.
We don’t have moving tides and currents in the Great Lakes, so halfway down the coast, the learning experiences continued when entering the brackish waters. During the long distance cruise of Absolute the navigating equipment would indicate safe depths, which at times were not accurate, due to the shoaling. The most valuable source of data was relying on community tools shared in real-time. Also, as we expected, the salt water caused more growth on the underside, and we had to have divers scrape the barnacles off along the way at different marinas.
- IYM: Your YouTube channel Sull’Acqua documenting the long distance cruise of Absolute as a memento to share with family and friends has become an inspirational tool for fellow boaters. From your interaction with followers, has anyone pushed those throttles forward and purchased an Absolute?
Marvin: It’s funny, so far we seem to have two groups of people, those who are considering an Absolute and are seeking more clarity in a general sense, and then there are the new owners waiting for their Absolutes to be delivered and they want tons of details. All the conversations are easy to have because the Navetta fulfilled our needs perfectly.A