Salthouse 65Q

Don and Susan moved from a working-class inner city suburb to a fetching NSW coastal town before that became trendy. But their next move was a real sea change. The Salthouse 65Q was ordered as a two-hand operational serious coastal cruiser. He wanted an office aboard, she worked on the interior styling, while the Kiwi boatbuilder embarked on repowering its popular 65 -- released in 2004 with twin 1000hp C18s as standard -- with a whole new propulsion system.

The resulting 65Q, Halcyon VI, has surpassed everyone's expectations. But boat #9 is special for many other reasons. You see, the Q is short for quad and points to the four Volvo Penta IPS600s, each producing 435hp, that reside under the cockpit floor. Salthouse dropped the keel, changed the chine and worked with Volvo Penta to create a running surface ideally suited to the forward-facing steerable drives.

Julie Salthouse says her proud family company is focussed on designing and building performance hulls that are strong but light. The weight savings achieved through the quad IPS600 installation over the Caterpillar C18s are said to be about 1500kg. Salthouse builds its boats with composite construction, balsa-cored hull and decks, and things like foam-cored doors. The 65Q seen here displaces 32,000kg dry (just 1500kg more than a Riviera 61) and 37,000kg laden and ready to cruise.

While the boat isn't in survey -- something not possible with the Volvo Penta IPS drives unless you go to the IPS2 series -- the hull and deck are built to Lloyds standards. Of course, there are plenty of other Salthouse boats cruising the Pacific that are in survey if that is your charter.

When I catch up with the owners one stormy day on the Gold Coast they tell me they have seen more than 31kts on their fully laden Halcyon VI. That is, with 5600lt of fuel, 1000lt of water and 10 people aboard. As for consumption, the figures look good. During a recent coastal jaunt from Yamba to Southport, they averaged 20kts for 160lt/h or about 7.76lt per nautical mile.

These are much better figures than they were accustomed to on their previous boat, a Riviera 48 with twin 800hp Caterpillar engines that hit 32kts. Typically, they would be using 200lt/h at 20kts cruise. And the Salthouse 65Q is a bigger and heavier boat, so it's obviously more efficient. In fact, efficiency was cited as one of the drivers to go with IPS, Don says.

The other big advantage is in the layout department and the gains in cabin space. Don is semi-retired and therefore needed to operate his business aboard. "We wanted a floating apartment that could follow the sun. And the boat is executing this perfectly," he explains from the cosy enclosed flybridge, as a torrent of rain pours down the windscreen.

Because the four modestly-sized Volvo Penta D6 engines are located back aft under the cockpit sole, and the traditional engine room below the saloon is turned into a smaller utility room, the accommodation is enlarged. Don and Susan are thrilled at the size of the starboard-side cabin with twin single berths and office. They have also fitted a queen-sized bed longitudinally, with room around all sides, in the amidships stateroom to port. And while it mightn't be obvious, there are further gains in storage space, something you can never have too much of in a serious liveaboard boat.

"We have now been on the boat for the past 10 days," Susan says, "and we're extremely comfortable."

As for seaworthiness, we braved the elements and headed through the Gold Coast Seaway on a day better spent ensconced in your cabin with a good book. But the test of mettle was the delivery from New Zealand. Talk about a shakedown cruise.

TRANS-TASMAN CROSSING
Rather than ship their new boat to Australia, Don and Susan took delivery in New Zealand whereupon they embarked on a thorough handover with the Salthouse family. They explored the Bay of Islands, the Hauraki Gulf and, the highlight, Great Barrier Island, the biggest island in the Gulf, some 50 nautical miles from Auckland. I'll spare you from the stories about fresh fish, scallops and crayfish.

After they were familiar with their new boat's systems, Don and his mates embarked on a trans-Tasman crossing. They teamed up with another Salthouse, a new 57, which was also on show at Sanctuary Cove this year, and set off for Australia via Lord Howe Island.

"We didn't need to take on extra fuel," Don explains, "but we grabbed 2000lt at Lord Howe for peace of mind. We arrived in Newcastle with 3000lt aboard. We travelled at 1300rpm and 8kts before moving the throttles up a notch to 1600rpm and 10kts (roughly hull speed) for 45lt/h. And it was quiet operation all the way.

"That's one of the great things about this boat: we do a lot of cruising at 9.5 to 10kts, using 30lt/hr, and it's just so quiet," Don says.

Not yet done, Don and Susan took their new boat from their hometown of Port Stephens up the mighty Myall River and into the magnificent Myall Lakes. If you have done this, as this writer has in his 42-footer, you will appreciate the feat. The river has less than two metres of water in parts, is no wider than a suburban road, and some of the bends are real hairpins.

But with the IPS, the 65Q draws just 1.3m opposed to about 1.6m in their previous Riviera 48. And with the fly-by-wire steering and Joystick, the boat is incredibly manoeuvrable.

Next stop was Coffs Harbour, then Grafton on the Clarence River, where they called in to the historic river towns of Ulmarra and Maclean, having a beer in the local pubs while overlooking their boat anchored in the Big River. When we caught up with the intrepid couple at Southport Yacht Club, their new boat had 253 engine hours on the clock. The Whitsundays are next, then it's Tassie for the summer.

The boat has a 22kVa Onan plus a serious inverter than runs the fridges, AV systems, lights and AC outlets when in silent-ship mode at anchor. The power management side to their boat is described as "sensational" and there's yet to be a single low-battery alarm as had plagued them on their previous boat.

Reel back. The way a boat like this begins is with a relationship, whereby the prospective owners talk with the boatbuilders about what they want. Layouts are then put forward and the semi-custom Salthouse yard incorporates the owners' wishes.

On Halcyon VI, the owners made the saloon the primary lounging area much like you would find at home. The main dining area is the signature alfresco setting found on most Salthouse boats, that is outdoors but under the flybridge overhang and, with drop down aft clear curtains and powerful reverse-cycle air-conditioning, you retain climate control.

Of course, that other signature Salthouse feature, a big aft galley with electric window, feeds straight to the dinette. Opposite is a separate self-contained head and shower. So you can live outdoors as comfortably as indoors on this all-seasons floating home.

The décor was a collaborative effort between Susan, Julie Salthouse and her interior design team. Understated elegance was the theme. They picked a log of cherrywood for the joinery, but it was quarter sawn to produce a much tighter grain than usual. The flybridge has Amtico flooring, there is cherrywood and holly inlay in the galley floor, while the counters are solid.

"We wanted features and comforts. but clean lines and user friendliness. Casual elegance is the term," explains Susan, as we recline in the comfortable enclosed flybridge and comment on the torrential rain.

Halcyon VI is fitted with satellite communications and a wireless Internet network, with a printer in the bridge. There are HF, VHF and satphone, three Raymarine E120s wired to a CCTV system, infrared cameras on the bow and in the engineroom, wind gauge, and the latest Contour Zone networked power control and monitoring system from BEP.

BEP says C-Zone is "designed to intelligently integrate and simplify onboard electrical and mechanical systems for greater functionality and an improved boating experience. The intuitive Display Interface enables control of DC loads, tank levels, and a host of other functional features". And there goes the usual banks of switches.

The Raymarine autopilot has already been put to good use. Of course, there is a Joystick docking device that controls the four IPS 600s, but when berthing, the outdoor station with Joystick on the flybridge deck offers the best vantage point and views.

Otherwise, the enclosed bridge is the place to be, it takes advantage of the tropical-strength air-con system. There is also a demister function, opening hatches and windows, and an electric aft window for natural ventilation.

Seating comes by way of two extra-wide Salthouse helm chairs, a forward-facing lounge for two that lets one stretch their legs, and an L-shaped lounge that converts to a skipper's or mate's trundle bed. A fridge is nearby for holding refreshments and a bit to eat when you're on the hop. Elsewhere, I find binoculars and a personal satellite tracking system that lets the family know where mum and dad are heading. Anchoring gear is heavy-duty, with a stainless steel Ultra Anchor, spare Manson anchor, 50m of chain and 50m of warp, plus a 24V Lofrans windlass. At least the Davco davit is Australian made.

"It's an easy boat to dock. Susan holds station with the IPS, I do the lines and fenders, then I return to take control. It's all here, the boat is the complete package, and we only needed to add clothes and we're away," Don says.

Besides the aft station, the external bridgedeck contains a lounge for 10 that is upholstered in weatherproof leather. While cruising in the Clarence River, Don sat here with the remote for the autopilot and drove Halcyon VI upriver.

The generator is located well aft of living quarters, with splitter and underwater exhaust. The hot-water service is oversized to handle a big shower-loving family, and there are separate washing machine and drier. I also note an oil-change pump and the Sea Recovery Aquamatic 2500lt per day watermaker. The boat carries a not inconsiderable 1000lt of water in its tanks.

The fuel was shifted forward to the utility space in two wing tanks with a crossover valve. Here I spot the dive compressor and cylinder storage, the high-pressure gurney for washdown, rodholders, and tool kit, plus Salthouse-supplied spare hardware and fixings. All the sea strainers have glass inspection windows, the batteries are maintenance-free, and the boat has a central vacuuming system.

The compressed-air sealed hatches over the engineroom are more impressive again. Besides watertightness, the seals give security to the engineroom.

Don has named the four IPS 600s engines after his dogs: Clary, Bruno, Bo and Buddy. But there's not much by way on maintenance needed. Dip the oil, check the fuel filters -- there is a redundant filter for each engine -- look for leaks and go. A 24V blower system assists with ventilation, but it's all very simple, neat, logical, and well laid out.

DECKED OUT
Unlike a lot of Euro or American boats, the Salthouse has a big cockpit for the antipodean way of boating. There are storage hatches, a dive-bottle filler, the bowser for the two-stroke fuel, garbage bins, pressure-washer outlet and a terrific amenities centre mid-transom with slide-out 240V barbecue and twin fridges.

Meantime, the deep swim platform adds to the real estate and includes two wet wells with, I'm told, capacity to hold 24 crayfish.

There's a good sense of freeboard in the cockpit, too, while steps, wide sidedecks and a bowrail reaching a long way aft make the journey to the foredeck safe in a seaway. But the place to hangout on is unquestionably the alfresco dining setting behind the clears, which we zipped up during our foul-weather test. The U-shaped lounge can seat up to six and more with a couple of loose chairs.

At night, insect screens can be added, while the electric window announces the galley is open for business 24/7. Opposite the alfresco setting is a free-standing outdoor WC with shower.

The waterproof leather upholstery is top-notch stuff, while I'm told the high-gloss teak and Madrona burl timber dinette took three months to varnish. The LCD TV opposite and within clear view of the lounge is linked to Foxtel and a DVD player. It's just a great indoor/outdoor setting.

INTERIOR GLOSS
A series of small steps allow you to see from the bow to the stern of the 65 and waltz indoors with ease. Highlights of the U-shaped aft galley include timber joinery, custom cupboards, pull-out knife holder, pantry on slides, a lazy Susan or magic corner, and twin sinks. There was a four-burner cooktop, microwave and side-by-side built-in fridge opposite, with extra fridge and freezer space outdoors, all controlled by digital switching.

The central lounge room has a liveable vibe derived from the twin three-seater and the separate two-seater custom white lounges. A large timber storage area is forward, while the television is hooked to a Bose Lifestyle system, Playstation 3, and digital tuner. The wet bar is nearby and ducted air-con pours out overhead.

The 65 boasts a three cabin/two head layout, with the third head back outdoors. The stateroom has, as touched on, an island berth fitted longitudinally with more room around it thanks to the IPS installation. The en suite's highlight is a huge shower, while the Tecma heads are switchable to saltwater, and there's natural and fan-assisted ventilation.

Guests get the VIP cabin up front with second head as an en suite, but the starboardside third cabin with twin single beds is also generous, gaining in stature thanks to the aft engine layout. The desk and laptop effectively allow you to work on the water. And with that, it's time to cast the lines in the interests of completing this assignment.

A dolphin greets us off the Gold Coast in awful seas, as spray lashes the boat and wipers go overtime. But at 15 to 16kts the 65Q is quiet, comfortable and doesn't leap out of the water. At about 21kts, we enjoy a smooth cruise at 176lt/h. Top speed on the day is 30.1kts, but the acceleration is even more impressive.

At the same time I test Halcyon VI, which took more than 30,000 hours to build, Salthouse launches a new 68-footer based on the same hull. The yard also has a new 82-footer in concept stage, I'm told. Apparently, 70 to 80 per cent of its clients are Australians, and Don and Susan couldn't be happier about Halcyon VI.

WHAT WE LIKED
- A boat of real integrity with great engineering, quality mouldings, and finish
- Volvo Penta IPS quad installation and slippery hull offer terrific efficiency
- All the right kit for serious long-range cruising and living aboard
- Enlarged cabins compared with other 65s with shaft drives
- Brilliant alfresco dining and living area
- Onboard office appeals
- Turnkey custom boat; add clothes and go

Salthouse 65Q

Salthouse Marine Group Australia
Phone: 1300 720 076
Website: www.salthousemarine.com