Silverton 372 Motor Yacht

I'm a big fan of aft-cabin cruisers and I say this with some authority on the subject.

I lived aboard a 45ft aft-cabin cruiser for 11 months.

A true home-away-from-home kind of boat, the only problem was the queen-sized bed. The beauty beckoning in the aft cabin was always occupied by the owner.

Moi? I had the forward cabin, which had its own ensuite. I shared the remaining and rather generous living spaces with one other. Thankfully, in aft-cabin boats there's plenty of space to go round.

In fact, aft-cabin cruisers are especially good boats in which to dwell. The saloon and living areas are amidships where there is little rock and roll, and the sofas and lounges and TV and CD are all positioned on the same level, near what is always a generous galley.

Having so many comforts at hand is important when you are living aboard, as you are either sleeping, eating, playing music, watching the TV or doing all four at the same time.

When the sun shines, however, aft-cabins still have a number of tiered decks, like balconies on a terrace, from which you can take in the outside world. The aft deck is the place to head for al fresco dining; the flybridge for some social cruising; and the foredeck? Well, it's just perfect for your daily exercise.

THE CRUISEY WAY
The Silverton 372 Motoryacht is an aft-cabin boat with these virtues and a few refreshing twists on the side.

Made by Silverton Marine Corporation, an American powerboat marque which is looking to go places, this 37-footer has packed more inside it than many Paddington terraces or go-get-'em gameboats commanding twice the price.

The downside is that in order to fit Silverton's had to build up. Windage and weight mean performance is far from sporty, so this boat should appeal to those happier with a cruisey lifestyle.

THE INSIDE STORY
The first place to head is below, down a number of big broad steps from the aft deck, into the heart of what is a handy cruising couple's boat.

Headroom is good and finish typically high-class American, with cherrywood, plush jade-coloured carpet and coffee-coloured Corian bench tops. The luxurious leatherette lounges call back with the word 'r-e-c-l-i-n-e'.

There is plenty which is refreshing - for example, the bow cabin has a transverse rather than a fore-and-aft island double berth. The bed is a beauty, with an inner-spring mattress and room for a couple to stay snug, providing the boat's not anchored in a wildly pitching sea.

There is handy headroom and room to dress, cherrywood lockers with hanging space for the navy blazer, a mirror, a sliding door and another door leading into the ensuite which doubles as a day head for guests.

Two couples can sleep in the 372 in absolute privacy at either end of the boat. Each have their own bathrooms which include full-height shower compartments, and they're divided by a communal saloon and big galley.

COOKING UP A STORM
The galley on the starboard side has a three-burner stainless steel Princess stove and lamb-roast sized oven, a microwave and a homely two-door fridge/freezer.

The L-shaped benchtops are long enough to carve and serve the roast. But storage is the smartest feature - there are cupboards for every day of the week, including one with a carousel, another with a recess for washing-up gear and yet another with separate slide-out fruit and vegie cages.

Opposite is the place to gorge on the chef's handiwork. The dinette has a curved lounge which can seat four - or five with the portable stool which floats around the saloon pulled up.

Step up again and you're in the saloon, which runs the full-width of the boat. This is the place to hang out and watch the box or listen to the Titanic soundtrack spinning in the entertainment system nearby. If it doesn't rock you to sleep, the lounge will. With a few judicious tugs, it converts to a sofa bed.

In fact, the dinette also converts to a berth, giving this boat the potential to sleep eight. There is also room underfloor for the hangers-on, though the bulk of it is taken up by engines and a 8kVa Kohler generator.

TIME FOR BED
If it's sleep you want, I recommend you oust the owner and claim that aft cabin for yourself.

Down two steps, it has a big transverse queen-sized bed with a jade and coffee-coloured swirling cover, cherrywood drawers underneath, lined hanging lockers either side of the bed head, a dressing area, and a private bathroom with at least 185cm of headroom.

Best of all, the aft-cabin has a huge - and I mean huge - aft-facing window with the best waterfront view going. You could lie in bed here, a line tied to your big toe, and drag breakfast (if not a mermaid) aboard.

OUTDOOR LIVING
The good days are best spent outdoors and on the aft deck you can breakfast above the water, then wander down four steps and dive off into the cool blue Pacific. Up top you can take over the helm and sit with up to five others on big lounges as you cruise for new frontiers. And the foredeck is just a walk down a cleverly moulded companionway away.

We puttered around and cruised around, but didn't fly around the Harbour on the 372. Top speed with twin 3116TA Caterpillar engines was a modest 18.2kt at 2450 rpm. But more pleasant cruising was enjoyed at 2100 rpm, where the planing hull did 14.68kt.

The 372 is an easy boat to drive, with a big view ahead and a window so you can see the corner of the marlin board behind. The Sydney agents even fitted a bow thruster to counter the boat's exciting windage when you arrive back at the marina.

This aft-cabin cruiser is the type of boat to live aboard in my mind. Hopefully, one day, I'll secure that giant bed with the waterfront view in the owner's aft cabin. If not, I foretell a serious mutiny. God damnit, I've waited long enough!