Ensign 50

Australia Day is usually kept pretty free in my household. The weather is great at that time of year in Melbourne and we like to make the most of it. It's the time of Geelong Race Week and for the past few years we've competed in the Passage Race at the very least. If we don't do that, we might go for a cruise. Then there's the beach, a picnic, or just a day at home having a barbie.

But this year I found myself at the airport at a most unreasonable hour of the morning boarding a flight to the Gold Coast and leaving a steadily-rising mercury and rock-solid barometer. My boat was one of the few left in the marina.

The reason for this apparent folly was a meeting I had organised with the guys from Ensign to test their new 50-footer.

I mused on the flight up that spending the day on the Broadwater with a cruise out to sea on a new 50ft motoryacht wasn't really a bad way to spend Australia Day and if one did indeed have to work, then this was the way to do it.

As photographer Lou Martin and I picked our way passed the roadies setting up the band for the celebrations at Fisherman's Wharf we spotted the Ensign 50 sitting high and mighty above the marina.

The Ensign 50 is probably best described as a stately, comfortable, luxury motoryacht.

Its lines are traditional, penned by Bob Harris in the US. In fact many have been sold in the States as Jeffersons.

Built at Hershine's new facility in China, the big aft-cabin 50-footer is stable, fast and big on volume.

Ensign Yacht Brokers has been operating for some 20 years, so it knows what it's about when it comes to marketing a good boat for the discerning boater. And its first foray into the new boat market looks like it's already a success, with three boats sold and many more interested parties.

Stepping aboard onto the (extended) swim platform, the feeling of size is immediately apparent. There are a few steps up to the aft deck, which in this case was home to a six-seater outdoor setting.

The ability for this area to be fully enclosed would be a boon in winter, and the shade was certainly handy on a warm Gold Coast day in summer.

Wing doors on either side lead to broad walk-around decks which are safe passages, even for kids, to the foredeck. The broad expanse of the foredeck is perfect for lazing in the sun or having a cool drink in the evening.

The huge anchor well can house two anchors, plus warps and fenders. I was curious as to why the owner had added a large box which looked like it didn't belong.

"We tried to talk him out of it," said one of the guys from Ensign.

 Stepping inside the fully air-conditioned saloon, there was once again a feeling of space. A perfect boat for the claustrophobic, the Ensign seems much larger than its 50ft overall length and 15ft beam.

The test boat was a galley-down version, which offers even more space in the saloon than the galley-up. The saloon is dominated by the big settee to starboard and entertainment unit to port, which included a large TV, DVD player, a stereo, and full surround sound. The ducting for the air-con is cleverly hidden behind teak panelling along the roofline, and there are built-in wine racks and stacks of storage.

There's a lower helm station, too, which was fully equipped but seemed a little out of place in these teak-walled surroundings. Perhaps it just needed a chair... I don't know, but it felt odd.

Down three stairs, heading forward, is the galley on port. It's fully-equipped, too, with everything from the full-height domestic fridge/freezer, to the convection microwave and three-plate electric cooktop.

Storage abounded in the galley, as it did throughout the boat. Opposite on starboard was the dinette for four. Perfect for brekkie or an intimate dinner for two.

This area can be converted to another cabin with double bunks for those requiring more than two cabins.

Forward is the guests' cabin. It's a roomy affair with a couch and queen-size bed.

It featured its own stereo, separate air-con (air-conditioning on the Ensign 50 is four-zone) plasma screen TV, and a voluminous ensuite, which would double as the day head. I also noticed opening ports and a large opening hatch.

The ensuite had an electric head and a big, separate shower with a seat.

OWNER'S OWN
The owner's cabin aft was obviously full width and dominated by the queen-size island bed. The ensuite featured a shower and bath, yes, a bath on a 50-footer!

Once again, an electric loo and room to move besides. The bathroom was adorned with monogrammed towels and linen, right down to the monogrammed his and hers bath robes - a luxurious touch indeed.

Again the owner's cabin featured a big plasma screen, stereo, intercom to the bridge, forward cabin, galley and saloon, and master controls for the stereo upstairs so the kids can't get too loud after you've gone to bed.

There was an abundance of storage for clothes and all the necessities for a true live-aboard boat, as this vessel was obviously designed for.

The robes are lined with camphor wood to keep your clothes smelling fresh, even on a long voyage.

The aft cabin has its own separate air-conditioner. In fact, there were three air-conditioning units supplying four zones so, even in the tropics, you'll be as cool as you like.

The owner's cabin also has opening ports and a large transom hatch for fresh air.

Under the bed are the water tanks and easy access to the steering for inspection and maintenance.

 Also in the owner's cabin, neatly tucked away were the washer and dryer.

The owner had optioned this boat with larger engines, which provide more grunt and surprisingly, better fuel economy, according to Ensign.

The standard engines are 490hp Cummins, but this boat was fitted with D9 Volvos rated at 575hp each. The big Volvos sit snugly in the engine room, which is accessed via a hatch under the stairs connecting the saloon to the galley.

The engine room is tight, but there's reasonable access to the engines for minor services and to the double Racor filters, the strainers, the genset and air-con units.

Two huge aluminium fuel tanks flank the engines. With a total of 1590lt, they offer a substantial range for true bluewater cruising.

The tanks have sight gauges as well as the standard electric gauges, so you can always be sure of the fuel load.

There is an oil exchange pump for the engines and the generator, and an automatic fire extinguisher system for the engine room.

For major work, the saloon carpet can be rolled back and the floor lifted for full walk-around access to the engines.

UP AND AWAY
As we prepared for departure, I climbed the stairs to the bridge. Not surprisingly, space, again, is the feeling. The lounge to port is complimented by the L-shaped lounge to starboard and triangular table for occasional eats and drinks.

There's no fridge on the flybridge, but it's only a short stroll down the stairs to the aft-deck amenities, which includes a fridge, ice-maker, sink, and storage.

Back on the bridge, the helm station features a fully adjustable chair with an adjustable cushion for standing at the helm. Full instruments, bowthruster, and electronics adorn the dash.

There's also an intercom, VHF, stereo, and a large-screen E-Series plotter/radar.

A full length bimini covers the bridge, while clears keep out the weather.

The view forward is commanding and the helmsman can quite easily see the foredeck for docking and/or anchoring.

The view aft, however, is obscured by the tender on the boat deck.

The standard tender is a 3.4m Swift with a 10hp four-stroke outboard. A davco crane is positioned on the port side for launching and retrieving.

The big Ensign left the marina easily, thanks to the 10hp thruster and a flick of the throttle.

We nudged out at six knots, with the engines barely audible from the bridge. The Broadwater was alive with boats of all kinds as people enjoyed the holiday.

We turned more than a few heads as we opened her up outside the six-knot zone.

As the turbos started to spin up, the 1700kg Ensign got out of the hole and up with ease.

In no time we were doing a spritely 20kt, with jetskis playing in our wake.

Still, there was hardly any noise from the engines, and we were carving the small chop out toward the open sea.

The Ensign is a lovely sea boat and the metre-plus slop chucked up by the out-going tide in the seaway hardly raised a movement. The flared bow took care of the spray and remained surprisingly dry on deck.

 We were soon cruising effortlessly straight into the sou'easter at 17 to 18kt at 2000rpm using 140lt/h. Certainly a comfortable and economical cruise.

We hit one big wave and, as we dropped off the top, the deep vee cleaved the sea and gave us a soft, smooth landing. Peter Moloney of Ensign went below to see if anything was disturbed, finding that one candle had fallen over on the dining table - hardly a disaster.

We upped the ante into the breeze and measured 22.5kt SOG at 2330rpm. This was a little more bumpy but still quite a comfortable way to rack up some serious miles.

We turned for home and ran nicely with the seas, cruising again at about 18kt with a chicken sandwich in hand and a cool drink not far way.

The Ensign is a boat that'll certainly make a lovely and comfortable passage-maker.

According to Ensign's figures, this boat will do about 20kt at 2000rpm, using 121lt/h in relatively calm conditions. From the 1590lt of fuel, that should give a range of 240 nautical miles with a 20 per cent margin, which really isn't that far.

Back it down to 1200rpm, though, and the equation changes dramatically. At those revs you're doing 12kt and using 37lt/hr which will give you a range in excess of 550 nautical miles.

As one of my learned colleagues mentioned, it's a boat that you would be well suited to getting quickly between ports, such as Sydney and Pittwater, then taking a leisurely cruise with the feet up, spending a few nights, and then blasting either back home or to the next port.

But whichever way you cut it, the Ensign 50 is a big, comfortable motoryacht that can genuinely claim to be a 30kt boat.

You get a lot of boat for your money, a lot of room for a 50-footer, and it's a great boat on which to spend, say Australia Day, aboard.

HIGHS

LOWS