Reviews

Review: Powerplay 60

The Powerplay 60 power cat is a boat that can be handled and lived in by two – or one that offers entertainment opportunities for many in multiple zones.

North Queensland boat designer James Dewing established Powerplay Catamarans almost 15 years ago. He has produced charter, owner and sportsfish versions of these boats ranging in size from 12 to 18m, all finding homes with owners and charter fleets in the Caribbean, USA and the Whitsundays. The production facility was in Townsville until it moved to Zhuhai, China in 2010 and became Powerplay Catamarans International.

 

POWERPLAY CATAMARANS

Powerplay 60 powercat

The boat we are on today is a second generation Powerplay 60 G2 power cat – it is now an ex-demonstrator vessel, for sale, soon to be replaced by the Powerplay 62 G3.

The beam is 25ft (7.6m) and a single-level bridge deck runs from the cockpit aft, all the way to the master stateroom forward of the galley. The flybridge is fully enclosed with a solid build to it, the proportions and weight distribution look right for a vessel of this size and it sits well in the water.

Boarding is simple, thanks to the extended boarding platforms. The inboard side of these platforms is well-suited to safe entry and exit from the tender when at anchor. The tender is stored in traditional aft davits between the hulls, although an optional hardtop extension allows it to be stored on the upper deck via a davit crane.

At the top of the steps to the cockpit is a functional area to grab some shade and an easy flow across the deck and inside. Raised seating stretches across the transom – it works well as an area to interact with the kids coming and going on the kayaks and is flanked either end with moulded fibreglass lids that reveal a barbecue to starboard and freshwater sink to port.

It’s a pleasant place with a view to enjoy the midday shade in the fresh air, although the elevated seating position would benefit from a footrail to rest the legs and a removable folding table to free the hands.

 

MASSIVE SALOON

Powerplay 60 saloon

You could have all the family over for Christmas on this boat. It’s got a galley that can cater to a tribe, large appliances, lots of bench space and a double-door refrigerator that has volume to hold all the Christmas trimmings – and there’s even an oven and a steam oven to cook it.

A marble-topped galley bench forms a breakfast bar, while to starboard the dining table works well for five to six adults. I like the two windows that separate the dining side of the saloon from the cockpit – they conveniently slide up or down with the push of a button into the aft bulkhead and allow the food from the barbecue to be passed straight to the table.

The other nice feature is a simple but effective ventilation method that works like a dorade box vent on a sailing yacht. The lowerable windows don’t go all the way to the top leaving a gap for fresh air to flow in. Completing the weather integrity is a glass overhang that stops the water going
in but allows fresh air to circulate and the boat to breathe when it’s all locked up.

There is a touchscreen panel on the edge of the entertainment centre from where you can control and monitor nearly everything on the boat via the integrated CZone system – it’s a single brain for your boat.

 

STATEROOM

Powerplay 60 stateroom

Powered catamarans like the Powerplay 60 do offer a lot of living on one level. In this case it’s three,
as staying on the bridge deck we also find the owner’s stateroom forward. There’s no going below required – simply pass by the galley and enter the stateroom.

The wraparound views and the big space caters to long comfortable stays aboard. The queen berth is on the centreline and faces forward in a cabin that is the full-beam of the superstructure. The cabin is finished with good-quality cabinetry concealing plenty of handy storage; a small dresser either side of the cabin will suit his-and-hers personal effects, while the large pop-up flatscreen TV can entertain, inform or display.

The master stateroom has an equally good-sized bathroom that is well-ventilated by two large sliding windows. They provide a generous view and are high enough to offer privacy. The light-coloured wood floor laminate and white walls give a nice airy feel, with marble bench top and polished stainless steel fittings providing an elegant touch. The glass door shower provides some luxury with an overhead rain shower head and an additional and more practical wall-mounted handheld shower hose.

 

ACCOMMODATION

Powerplay 60 cabins

Moving off the bridge deck and into the port hull forward is the shared bathroom on the way to the first guest cabin. This larger cabin features a typical owner’s hull arrangement as found on other catamarans. An additional area of the cabin has a writing desk/dressing table, ample storage, while forward and opposite the opening oval portlights is the raised fore and aft double berth.

The aft cabin on the port side is not as big but it would have to be the most appealing guest cabin because of its view and lower height of the bed. Enormous vertical oblong portlights scoop the view in. From the outside they are dark and tinted and blend into the hull, from the inside they give a swathe of water views and light.

Entering the starboard hull the steps from the saloon are farther aft than on the port side. As a result you are greeted with the impressive view through one of the large oblong vertical portlights. Aft is the dayhead which is stunning – a wash bowl sits atop a marble cabinet top and is framed by the oversized vertical portlight. With the head opposite it really is “a loo with a view”. Even the shower gets its own dedicated view via the third portlight and you get the bonus of privacy from the outside world thanks to the dark tint.

Forward is the fourth cabin, a mirror image of the portside forward cabin, without the additional writing table/vanity area.

 

FLYBRIDGE

Flybridge on Powerplay 60

The staircase leading to the flybridge is user-friendly for all ages – with such a cavernous space for the saloon and dining areas, the designers were able to offer a much mellower incline by commandeering some of that space for the gradual ascent. At the top you are greeted by a surprisingly large space capable of holding an entirely separate cocktail party, with a bonus rear deck to take in the commanding views from a lofty height.

Inviting dual leather helm chairs sit behind the moulded freestanding helm station. It’s a big island module in the forward part of the space that you can freely walk around without interfering with the helm gear. It’s fitted with a Side Power bowthruster and electronic engine controls and dual Simrad screens integrated with the CZone system. The same function found on the CZone panel downstairs is networked with the Simrad screens allowing control and monitoring of a lot of equipment without leaving the helm. Access to the back of the helm’s electronics is excellent via full-size cupboard doors allowing you to get right in.

Forward of the helm station is seating below the windscreen, while at either end are oversized and adjustable retro-styled overhead vents providing cool air. To port is a marble-top wetbar and aft of the helm chairs on the starboard side is the second dining table.

Double doors open onto the rear deck where a table and chairs gain shade from the roof extension, presenting an inspiring breakfast setting or relaxing place to quench your thirst and survey your surrounds at the end of the day.

The dining capacity on the flybridge is equal to that of the main deck and the views are all-around. Fully enclosed, air-conditioned and comfortable, the flybridge offers extra entertaining space and can also meet the demands of the occasional overflow. The dining table lowers and could take an infill cushion converting it to another double or triple berth for the kids. The seats forward of the helm station offer another two berths, again increasing sleeping capacity without cluttering the saloon.

 

THE VERDICT

Powerplay 60 powercat at rest

The voluminous hulls are soled with svelte characteristics allowing a very efficient-looking entry at the bows; sharp chines slice into the hull volume and flow aft. A significant reduction in wetted surface is achieved below the waterline – add to this the modest weight of the 315hp engines in buoyant catamaran hulls and it combines to produce a very efficient hull design that slides through the water with little resistance.

With the 4700lt of fuel capacity this cat adds endurance to its quiver – travelling at a speed of 12kts it puts Fiji and even Tonga in range with plenty in reserve to avoid bad weather.

The Powerplay 60 can be handled by two – you get to live in a seaside abode that offers so much space that you could lose each other for half a day at a time. If you do share, you can share with many people at once, in multiple zones, without feeling crowded.

It’s economical to run and has the legs to go wherever you desire. The owner-occupier will appreciate the one-level living when spending a lot of time on board – it has the space and equipment to do it with ease.

 

HIGHS

• A manageable entertaining platform

• One-level living for the owner

• Enormous range

• Very usable foredeck

• Commanding flybridge

 

LOWS

• No foot rail in cockpit

• Needs bar stools at galley bench

• Hard mattresses

 

See the full version of this review in Trade-A-Boat #248, December 2014 / January 2015. Why not subscribe today?

 

POWERPLAY 60 SPECIFICATIONS

PRICE AS TESTED

Powerplay 60 price: $2,590,000

 

PRICED FROM

$1,930,000 (This ex-demo boat is available at $1,610,000)

 

GENERAL

MATERIAL GRP

TYPE Catamaran

LENGTH 18.28m

BEAM 7.6m

DRAFT 1.3m max

 

CAPACITIES

PEOPLE (NIGHT) 8+

FUEL 4700lt

WATER 1200lt

GENERATOR 14kW

 

ENGINE

MAKE 2 x Yanmar engines

TYPE Diesel shaftdrive engine

RATED HP 315 x 2

 

MORE INFORMATION

Ensign Ship Brokers (Jules Legge)

Shop 16, 60 Seaworld Drive

Main Beach, QLD, 4217

Phone +61 7 5532 1122

Web ensignbrokers.com.au

Photography: James Dumergue

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