Alaska 46 Sedan

We first tested the Alaska 45 Sedan almost five years ago. The new incarnation, the 46, has grown a leg or, rather, an extra foot, gained 90-more horsepower in standard guise, and become noticeably more refined by way of improved fit and finish. But the bits we liked in the first place - the efficiency of the warped-plane hull, the seaworthiness for passagemaking, and big interior - remain firmly in place. Viva la evolution.

The refinements come courtesy of the Queensland Leigh-Smith family who import Alaska Motor Yachts, among other brands, via its eponymous Queensland-based boat business and Gold Coast City Marina. Built by Double Happiness Yacht Company (DHS) in Shanghai, China, from Italian designs, the Alaska cruisers have - since 2003 when the first 42 was launched - carved a niche for themselves.

Besides the abovementioned qualities, value for money counts for plenty, too. Priced from $790,000 with twin QSB 5.9 425hp engines and drive-away as tested for $849,000 with upgraded QSB5.9 440hp engines, the Alaska 46 is a good deal of boat for your brass. The specifications list is long and detailed, with nothing left wanting but a tender and davit on the hardtop, a barbecue on the rail, and a rod in the holder. Pretty much all this stuff is listed as optional.

HIDDEN TREASURE
Though traditional or classic looking, the Alaska 46 Sedan hides a lot of new technology. It starts with the twin Cummins QSB fully electronic common-rail diesel engines with DTS electronic gearshifts, which are just delightful to use and include synchrony, single-lever and troll modes. Meantime, the SmartCraft engine-monitoring panel mid-dash supplies a myriad of data including fuel consumption.

Inboard engine vents and recessed deck fillers make sense, although for environmental reasons excess fuel (should you spill some) during fill-up drains to the bilge. Back aft, meanwhile, the new Euro-style transom and deep boarding platform with safety rail can be used for fishing, diving, showering and cooking the barbecue. The teak deck on this boat is vacuum-bagged for a tight fit, we’re told.

Underfloor, the separate lazarette has room to store a table, chairs, fishing and cruising gear. Back inside the boat, below the galley floor, is a huge larder for toting provisions. Up front, below the main bed, is another big storage area. Indeed, footloose couples have a lot of reasons to load this boat and go explore the coast.

The watertight engineroom is accessed by a cockpit hatch; with soft panels in the saloon floor in case you have to crane a block back out. The generator is aft and, with the engines well forward, there is oodles of servicing room. Owners might need to crouch, but they won’t have trouble accessing the engineering.

Underwater exhausts are standard, the sea strainers have clear-glass inspection tubes, with paired oil dipsticks on the centreline, and Racor fuel filters up front.

Despite the Chinese build, all the fittings are big-brand stuff, easily serviced and backed locally, while the seacocks are labelled and have ball valves. Then there are the Leigh-Smiths who have sold countless boats over the years. Owners get a direct line to service. And the hull and foam-cored deck are built to RINA and CE approval.

MARINA LIFE
Berthing is assisted by a standard issue Sidepower bowthruster - with the sternthruster optional - and an obliging, sliding starboardside door alongside the internal helm station. Step outside and you can still reach the controls. In fact, you could berth the Alaska 46 Sedan singlehandedly. The non-skid walkaround decks, semi-bulwarks, extended bowrail with lifelines, and elliptical grabrails make the decks crew friendly, too.

A clever stainless steel ladder detaches from the leading edge of the hardtop and snaps in place to grant access up top to where you might carry the tender. The cockpit, meanwhile, is big enough to host lunch in the shade of that same extended hardtop. There’s a built-in transom lounge with a eutectic fridge/freezer in its base, a timber table, moulded sink and second top-loading fridge/freezer.

Of course, the boat has a generator, a 7kW Onan, and air-conditioning by way of 16,000btu and 24,000btu Marine Air units. But there was also a 3000W Victron inverter/charger for silent-ship mode that operates the microwave oven, icemaker, fridges, AC lights and a galley powerpoint for, say, the cappuccino machine. LED lighting reduces the DC draw to a trickle. From 30amps with the old lights blazing, the boat now draws just 8amp with LEDs.

The Onan start button, inverter control and Tankwatch (holding tank) gauge were on the dash and, thus, handier than a below-deck location, while a new rocker-switch panel included wiper controls with freshwater washes. Among the suite of optional Raymarine electronics is a C120W widescreen (I would want radar for passagemaking), with the autopilot yet to be fitted.

The chain counter is for a reliable Australian-made Muir windlass and 20kg stainless steel anchor with 50m of 10mm chain. With a spare windlass capstan and dual bowrollers you can carry a reef pick or a second anchor on a longer chain-and-rope rode. The anchor locking pins, saltwater anchor wash, external galley garbage bin, insect screens on all the portlights, new flush windows and solar vent on the head are among the nice touches.

ONE-LEVEL LIVING
The appeal of the Sedan is its one-level living. You sweep though the wide stainless-framed doors and enter the warm cherrywood saloon, with a Macro Suede-upholstered L-shaped lounge to port, set around a dinette, opposite a second long lounge that doubles as a pullman double berth. You can easily seat eight people indoors in air-conditioned comfort while enjoying the views out the windows. Lift-out carpet over the teak and holly flooring was welcome underfoot, as were the overhead ceiling rails in a seaway.

The boat is fitted with one of those excellent Grundig TVs, a combo fridge/icemaker, storage cupboards for carrying the crockery, and drawers under the lounges. The U-shaped galley up front is traced by white Corian counters, and being on the same level as the saloon, it’s great for serving a crowd. The overhead cupboards also hold the microwave oven, with a bench-height fridge and narrow freezer below. But the boat has two outdoor fridge/freezers as well and, should you want to cruise, there is scope to fit extra freezers below decks.

The two-cabin layout under the foam-insulated foredeck includes a communal bathroom immediately to starboard, opposite the guest’s midships cabin with twin single beds and hanging space, but it misses out on a separate shower stall. Owners score an island double berth in the bow, a dresser or quasi office area, and en suite with nice big shower.

There’s a salty feel in the cabins thanks to the detailed but not overpowering satin joinery, the abundant opening portlights, and great headroom. New soft white liners enhance the natural light, while the soft furnishings are fittingly nautically styled. And space isn’t in short supply on the Alaska 46 Sedan.

But it’s underway that the boat impressed the most during our sea trials off the Gold Coast. We didn’t hold back, with our camerawoman flying above in a helicopter. The flat run aft of the warped-plane hull means the boat is eager to get out of the water. She planes willingly, rips around excitedly off the wheel, and maintains an upright and flat attitude throughout the turns.

The official sea trial figures in the specifications panel hereabouts is for the standard-issue 425hp QSB5.9s. At 17.5 to 20kts, your range is about 400nm, according to the official data. With 756lt of water as standard, absolutely abundant storage, and great vision (the upright matt dash should also reduce glare at night), the Alaska 46 Sedan is more than just a weekender. She’s more an all-season’s cruising boat.

Proving as much, we’re aware of five dedicated offshore Alaska owners in Queensland, but also some seven boats in Tassie, where they have gained a real following, and four more in Sydney. Owners tend to be grey nomads and/or baby boomers, but we’re told a few younger families are jumping aboard for the sake of the Alaska’s unquestionable practicality.

Top speed of 25kts is quoted with the standard 425hp QSB 5.9s, which is about as fast as you need to go these days, and with their roots going back to the proven 6BTA5.9 these are reliable engines. But another nice aspect of the Alaska 46 Sedan is that she travels in fine fettle at 9.5kts or hull speed for about 30lt/h and a range of more than 700nm. Fast or slow, the call is yours.

OPTIONS FITTED
Raymarine electronics package, covers, sternthruster, and more