Reviews

Review: Alaska 47 Sedan

There is no resting for Alaska Motor Yachts. The new Alaska 47 Sedan supersedes the builder’s best-selling 46 Sedan.

Before I checked the Sedan 47 from Alaska Motor Yachts, I wrote a broad list of what most people want from a luxury boat in this category to see how it stacked up against the Alaska 47 Sedan. After all, single-level hard-top luxury cruisers with range and comfort are boxes that a lot of boats can tick, but it’s how we use our boats that makes everybody’s list different.

To achieve universal appeal a boat needs to cater to both ends of a spectrum and this was the basis of my list. Ostensibly, the new Alaska 47 Sedan is a traditional sedan cruising yacht,but it alludes to the fact that there is more to it than meets the eye.

 


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ALASKA 47 SEDAN

Alaska 47 Sedan

As with all Alaska motor yachts the full walkaround decks with stainless steel railings allow safe movement for all ages around the boat. When Alaska introduced the oval handrail a few years ago, it was a sublime change that enhanced safety on board. The human hand finds it very difficult to maintain a grip on a smooth, round surface but by making the handrail oval, a natural and tight grip can be formed with more resistance to rotation.

Judging distance is challenging for any boat owner docking a boat, particularly docking on the opposite side to the helm or stern-to. It’s easy enough when you can physically see the side of the boat a few feet away, but when you have to guess the beam of the boat or the length of the stern from the helm, it’s more challenging. In keeping with the ease-of-use mantra, Alaska offers a solution as standard: a second set of engine and thruster controls in the cockpit. These are positioned perfectly for viewing the full length of the port side and the whole stern, giving you confidence to approach any berth.

As you head to the swimplatform, you start to imagine the ways you can use the boat. With a 40 per cent increase in real estate and the inclusion of an amenities centre, this area is now its own outdoor zone. Whether it’s fishing, diving, dangling the legs into the water or plonking a couple of deck chairs on it, this swimplatform is sure to get considerably more use. A baitwell, storage and hot and cold water sink and washdown hose make up the universal appeal of this amenities centre.

You can also top it off with a proper overhead hot shower on a swivel arm, enabling you to have a decent outdoor shower hands-free.

 

INTERIOR

Alaska 47 Sedan saloon

The cockpit is a relaxing space, the settee comfortable and complemented by a solid table. The full-length hardtop shelters the cockpit and continues the roof lines to the inside. Dual hopper windows and bi-fold doors connect the two spaces and increase the liveability and entertaining possibilities. The owners of this new-build have had an Alaska sedan in mind for some time because they liked the dynamic that the 47 Sedan offers them. Fixed seating outside and comfortable seating for five to six in the saloon is ideal for entertaining as well as lounging.

Inside and running the length of the port side is the functional galley. On the tested model the owner has installed the optional icemaker, drinks fridge and drawer-style dishwasher. The below-bench independent fridge and freezer units provide good storage for long periods away from shore-side supplies.

The helm area has been lightened with textured fabrics covering the window frames and the helm area. The sliding door right beside the helm is almost a must for shorthanded boating these days. It allows for quick access to the bow, easy communication with your deckie and absolute certainty about how close you are to the dock for beam-to manoeuvring. Add a duplicate door on the opposite side and you have an effective yet simple ventilation method, further enhanced by overhead stainless steel hatches that allow you to manipulate the air pressure for maximised airflow. If it’s just too hot or too cold outside then the water-cooled reverse-cycle air-conditioning can take care of it.

When Alaska Motor Yachts introduced their first amidships master cabin on a sub-50ft boat they really hit the comfort mark. A lower queen-sized bed with no step-up, centreline stability and reduced hull slap are the makings for good sleeping on board. Beautifully finished cabinetry, a dedicated vanity unit, a separate shower and head make this a truly comfortable space to spend long periods away from home.

The second cabin in the forward section of the boat is nicely separated from the master by the passageway, dayhead and master en suite. The cabin has twin berths that are full length, so they can easily accommodate adults or children. The second bathroom with shower and head services the dayhead requirements and serves as a dedicated bathroom for the twin-berth cabin forward when guests are aboard.

 

ECONOMY

Alaska 47 Sedan helm

Lifting the hatch to the engineroom you are met with clean and clinical white surfaces and plenty of space for more equipment than your average boater could need. The space between the reliable twin 480hp Cummins QSB diesel engines is generous and both motors have the oil exchange pump and oil dipsticks on the inboard side making for very convenient owner-operator tasks to be achieved with ease. Everything is clearly labelled with engraved nameplates, so if your knowledge is scant in an engineroom it won’t take long to get to know your way around this space and the equipment.

Looking at this offshore vessel it is obvious the influence the local team has had on the evolution of these boats. The test boat is the 87th Alaska motor yacht launched over the past 12 years by Leigh-Smith Cruiser Sales, Dean and Ryan Leigh-Smith evolving the brand into a quality product.

When we do boat reviews it’s not uncommon to find the boat’s fuel tanks are less than half full, so the speed and fuel curves we attain don’t necessarily match the real world figures when you have full tanks. In this case the Alaska 47 Sedan was preparing for a passage to the Sydney boat show, so the fuel and water tanks were filled to capacity, adding an extra three tonnes of liquid weight. It was quite a surprise to see the speed of the Alaska 47 Sedan rise quickly over the 20kt mark but the biggest surprise was watching a top speed of 26.2kts.

The dual fuel tanks hold a total of 2270lt and cruising at an efficient displacement speed of 9.5kts the combined fuel burn is only 30lt/h, giving a range of more than 700nm. This makes it possible to cruise from Sydney to the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, or the Gold Coast to the Whitsundays with 10 per cent in reserve. With efficiency, speed and range making up the operating cost triangle, this boat ticks that box.

 

THE VERDICT

Alaska 47 Sedan stern

The new Alaska 47 Sedan is an evolution on the 46 Sedan Gen II, offering more universality with its extended swimplatform and amenities centre. The performance figures are improved both in efficiency and the top-end speed over its predecessor and the interior continues to evolve with the beautiful high-gloss woodwork and the introduction of more light-coloured, textured panelling.

 

See the full version of this review in Trade-A-Boat #245, September / October. Why not subscribe today?

 

ALASKA 47 SEA TRIALS

Twin 480hp Cummins QSB6.7 turbo-diesel engines

RPM

SPEED (KTS)

FUEL BURN (LT/H)

600

4

6

800

5.5

5

1000

6.7

10

1200

7.7

16

1400

8.7

20

1600

9.5

30

2000

11.9

56

2400

17.6

90

2600

19.9

110

3000

24.8

17

* Sea-trial data supplied by Alaska Motor Yachts. Fuel burn combined for both motors.

 

HIGHS

• Easy handling

• Amidships master

• Good range

• Impressive top speed

• Enormous integral swimplatform

 

LOWS

• Stern shower needs extension

 

ALASKA 47 SEDAN SPECIFICATIONS

PRICE

Alaska 47 Sedan price: $A890,000 (priced from)

 

GENERAL

MATERIAL Fibreglass     

TYPE Monohull luxury boat

LENGTH 15.1m

DRAFT 1.07m

BEAM 4.25m

 

CAPACITIES

PEOPLE (NIGHT) 4

FUEL 2270lt

WATER 756lt

 

ENGINES

MAKE/MODEL 2 x Cummins QSB6.7 diesel engines

TYPE Six-cylinder turbo-diesel

RATED HP 480 each

DISPLACEMENT 6.7lt each

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

LEIGH-SMITH CRUISER SALES

Shop 42 D&E Quay Street,

Sanctuary Cove, QLD, 4212

PHONE +61 7 5577 9200

FAX +61 7 5577 9077

WEB lsyachts.com.au

 

LAYOUT

Alaska 47 Sedan deck layout

Alaska 47 Sedan side view layout 

 

Photography: Jack Murphy & Leigh-Smith Cruiser Sales

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