Sealine C490/F490

For those of us who boat in more temperate climes, the classic Med runabout offers limited appeal – style and looks go so far, but practicality for the off-season months is more important. After all, why should any of us limit our boating pleasure to a handful of weeks in the peak of summer?

British builder Sealine celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2013, and with recent new management come several new models, two of which in particular have caught our eye. First is Sealine’s big coupe, the C490, and hot on its heels is a flybridge version, the F490.

Originally developed as the C48 coupe (based on the proven hull of the SC47), Sealine introduced the original version in 2011 at the same time as the SC42 (also based on the same hull but shortened), but then took the C48 back to the drawing board to make some design changes.

The new version was launched in 2012 as the C48 and was recently rebadged the C490 to better reflect the overall length of the yacht – both the C490 and F490 come in at 15.06m (49ft 6in) for the standard versions, or 15.44m (50ft 8in) with the optional Hi-Lo swim platform fitted.

The two new models offer year-round cruising in an intelligent package. Add to that some impressive build quality and fine finishing, and it is easy to see why Sealine hopes the C490 and F490 will appeal to a broad range of boaters in a broad range of markets. No Med special here.

I joined the Sealine team in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for a sea trial of both the C490 and the F490. The premise of the designs soon becomes clear as I step aboard each model. The C490, for example, may lack some of the outside space that the flybridge F490 offers, but a large electric sunroof over the main saloon and vast windows mean an instant connection with the outside, reinforced by a large sliding door to the aft cockpit, which is set on the same level as the saloon.

The prime differences between the C490 and F490 that I trialled, aside from the flybridge, were the engine packages (the C490 uses IPS drives linked to Volvo 600 engines, the F490 has Zeus pods linked to Cummins 480hp or 600hp power plants), and the interior layouts – useful for comparing the different options available for either model as the basic interior form and layout options are exactly the same for both.

Cruising along the Florida coast under bright blue skies and with the temperature considerably more conducive to boating than that I’d left in the UK certainly put a positive spin on the trials, but there is enough substance to both these boats to make any positive impressions more than just weather-related…

The test yachts also had various options fitted which pushed the price up further: the C490 also had the optional upper dinette (US$8,200) and lower office (US$3,100), AwlGrip painted hull (US$28,000), high-low hydraulic swim platform (US$26,000), retractable electric cockpit canopy (US$17,000), and around US$70,000 of assorted upgrades to AV, helm and engine room equipment, upholstery, cockpit docking station, and domestic equipment such as a wine chiller and dishwasher.

The F490 had similar upgrades, including the painted hull, a hydraulic bimini with lights for the flybridge (US$25,500), and other equipment and furniture upgrades totalling around US$100,000.

That said, the quality of finish throughout is excellent and as with everything in life, you get what you pay for. There is a distinct impression that these boats will hold together over many rough passages, meaning that when it comes to sell you should still be able to realise a premium resale price.

While up close, the styling of the C490 and F490 might appear somewhat boxy, from a little further away the lines look good and well proportioned. Moreover, if you are in the market for this sort of boat you need to be thinking more about the view looking out than the view looking in, and this is where both models deliver a killer blow.

Steps from the platform to port take you to the aft cockpit, which features an aft bench settee, the option of loose teak chairs and table, an optional aft cockpit helm/joystick to port and a grill/drinks fridge to starboard. Stowage under the main seat – accessible both from the cockpit and from the swim platform – is good, and the ideal spot for a liferaft and lifejackets.

A couple of steps from either side of the cockpit lead forward along the sidedecks, which have high bulwarks and easy handrails along the high coachroof inboard. Fuel tank fillers are under the aft sidedeck steps.

There is no opening side gate for side boarding, although this is something that Sealine will likely look at for future builds as the topsides themselves are quite high – not manageable from your average dock or pontoon.

The foredeck sunpads are a great spot, particularly when moored stern-to if you want a bit of privacy, while the anchor – launched through the stem – is easily controlled by foot switches to the windlass. Mooring cleats are in abundance, with three on the nose, a further two on each sidedeck, and two more aft.

The F490 follows much the same layout, the main difference being steps to port from the cockpit up to the flybridge.

The test F490 also had the standard, smaller swim platform; seeing the two side by side, and quite apart from the advantages for swimming and tender stowage launching that the hi-lo platform offers, the hi-lo is definitely an option worth specifying.

The flybridge itself offers a forward port helm station, and seating/sunpads and dining to starboard – a great social area with grand views to boot. Considering the relatively small size of superstructure the flybridge has to work with, the area is well proportioned.

Our test C490 featured a starboard aft saloon seating area with an L-shaped settee serviced by a coffee table facing a portside sideboard which contained the optional pop-up TV.

Up a couple of steps, the helm to starboard offered excellent all-round vision and a comfortable chair from which to pilot the vessel, while to port the C490 featured the optional upper dinette – a really superb spot for eating, enjoying a drink or just sitting and talking with the helm.

The open-plan nature of the layout, and the fact that the aft deck is on the same level as the saloon, makes for an interior that feels roomy and airy while retaining a degree of intimacy.

Wide steps lead down to the lower deck, which featured the well-specced galley to port, and to starboard a seating area that cleverly converts to a third temporary cabin with a Pullman berth and pull-down screens for privacy. Moreover, pull the insert from the aft end of the settee, drop the large desk from the aft bulkhead, and you have a comfortable office-cum-nav station that works exceptionally well.

The F490 featured the standard layout of two forward-facing seats in place of the upper dinette – comfortable for short bursts, but with nowhere to put your legs down, not ideal – and a lower dinette in place of the office/temp cabin on the C490.

In both cases, the layout options on the C490 worked far better for me in spite of the additional cost – after all, with such vast windows, why would anyone want to sit on the lower deck to enjoy dinner? If privacy is a concern, then the standard lower dinette might appeal. For everyone else, the upper dinette and lower seating/office area makes far more sense.

The test boats both featured fairly traditional interior finishes, designed to appeal to the US market – whites and creams mixed with mahogany. Even so, the ambiance was pleasant and the standard of finish – even in the hidden areas at the back of drawers – was excellent.

These really are boats that you can dig into corners and still find joinery that fits properly with no rough cuts. A variety of interior styles and finishes are available from Sealine.

The forward cabin on both models was a standard island berth with hanging lockers aft to either side, and overhead lockers running up both sides of the bed. With the beam carried well into the bow, there is no sense of claustrophobia here and, perhaps more importantly, no chance of braining yourself on overheads if you sit up suddenly in the middle of the night.

There is a compartment with sink and head to starboard, with a separate door to the saloon area, and a sit-in shower to port.

The master cabin, set beneath the main saloon sole, is large and, being at the midpoint of the hull, benefits from a kindly motion even when underway. Forward bulkhead TV and settees to port and starboard make this a pleasant place to be, even if the large double bed itself is limited to seated headroom. The longitudinal head to port is well fitted-out and offers enough space to shower and use the facilities comfortably.

One thing that was apparent was the thought that has gone into convenience in the interior. There are plenty of plug sockets in the galley; the space under the companionway steps has been utilised for the pull-out twin bin; there is a drawer dishwasher concealed beneath the step to the raised starboard lower saloon area.

Moreover, as we nitpicked our way through the only things we could find complaint for (the aft cabin TV mount, for example, not being swivelled to allow for watching from the outboard settees, or the press studs in the lower saloon floor that hold the privacy blinds in place being raised and therefore painful on bare feet) the guys from Sealine took notes and promised to address the issues on future builds.

Perhaps the one thing that was noticeable, however, was the difference in space in the engine room between the two versions. Both were highly equipped with extras including a Kohler 17kW genset, Mastervolt inverter/charger, Glendinning shorepower system, Halyard exhaust separator and other bits and pieces, but the smaller IPS units on the C490 made for easy access not only to engine servicing points, but also to the rear-end of the compartment and to the IPS pods themselves. The much larger Cummins units on the F490 made aft access a lot harder – particular after a run when various components are very hot.

From the helm, both systems offer easy driving and docking through joystick control, with dynamic positioning an option for the IPS and Skyhook an option for the Zeus. For delicate manoeuvring, the controls for the Zeus system probably just took the edge, but there wasn’t much in it.

General equipment levels are reasonable as standard, and with the various upgrade options (including, on the C490, the lower nav station/office) there is everything you could need for safe, long-distance cruising with high-end AV added for good measure.

The C490 accelerated from stop to full speed in 30 seconds, and came to a full stop from wide open throttle in around 50 metres. The comfortable cruise speed was around 23.5 knots at 3,200rpm, at which point the upper saloon was blissfully quiet – even with the large sunroof open to the Floridian blue skies. Down below, there was a little noise in the galley/lower saloon area as this is the forward plane point of the hull, and there was the expected minor vibration in the master cabin at higher rpm.

The hull rides smoothly, and remains manoeuvrable at all speeds, turning in keenly with a little lean and holding course through the turn comfortably. Speed bleed on hard turns was minor, and when we did find some wash to play in the ride was smooth and comfortable and predictable.

The F490 was similarly competent, with a little more bleed in hard turns (down to 2,900rpm and around 19 knots speed) but otherwise performance was similar to the C490, with cruise speed at 3,200rpm of 24 knots, or a more efficient 20-knot cruise at 2,800rpm for a fuel consumption of around 140 litres per hour.

The C490 will appeal to those who like Targa-style cruising with the large, opening sunroof, while the F490 offers more outside space for those who like to soak up the sun in a social flybridge configuration.

Our pick of the layout options would definitely be for the upper dinette and lower saloon-cum-office as seen on the C490 tested – it is a well thought out configuration that works superbly.

Our other pick from the options list would be for the larger, more versatile hi-lo bathing platform, which not only allows for easy swimming but also makes for easy tender stowage and launching.

The finish and attention to detail is first class on both boats, and Sealine has thought of everything – from sensibly placed handrails throughout to emergency boarding ladders concealed in the aft edge of the swim platforms.

While the price will rise to around AUD $1 million with all the cool options selected, these two models both represent good value for money alongside other premium Brit builds such as the Squadron 50 or the new Sunseeker San Remo 48. And while our test in Florida was a joy, there’s no reason to think that these boats won’t be equally at home in either a Northern European autumn or an Aussie winter.