Silverton 42

A lake seems like a strange place to be driving a 42ft flybridge cruiser or 'convertible', as the Americans call them, yet that's exactly the kind of place you might find the Silverton 42.

Some interesting and price-competitive competition for Riviera, the US Silverton Convertible is designed for those who are partial to bluewater fishing, passagemaking and home-away-from-home boating. But it is also aimed at families who want the comforts of home in a comfortable setting.

The integrated deck mouldings suggest that this boat has been made with family in mind. For example, there is no ladder to the flybridge but rather a moulded stairwell. There also are moulded steps along the sidedecks, moulded toerails around the foredeck, and moulded amenities outdoors.

Indoors, the saloon is markedly different from anything I have seen before. Akin to a holiday flat, it gains privacy from high cabin or house sides, so you can kick back on the slinky sofa away from public eyes.

The accommodation plan, with twin cabins and a split WC and shower, is also different. With double beds in each cabin instead of bunks, the 42 Convertible is very much a boat for two couples.

The importers optioned boat to make it doubly competitive with Riviera's 42. There were upgraded twin Cummins 450C (430hp) diesel motors and Glendinning electronic controls. I noted an upgraded 9kVa generator so you can use the Bose Lifestyle system, air-con units and more at anchor, and must-have conveniences such as an icemaker and swim platform with ladder.

Interestingly, the Silverton sported a lot of optional factory-fitted fishing equipment by way of a Fish Pack. Anglers will welcome the tackle drawers, rod locker in the saloon, rocket launcher, padded coamings and optional fresh - and raw-water washdowns.

Packaged to fish or cruise with family and friends, the 42 was great value at $760,000. That's about $100,000 less than a Riviera 42. However, the boat has less horsepower and, well, it is considerably smaller at 13.44m LOA compared to the Riv's 15.50m.

Displacement is 11,940kg compared to 14,000kg; however, fuel and water capacities are actually greater on the Silverton than on the Riviera. For this, the boat merits consideration as a coastal passagemaker.

With just a lake journey up my sleeve, I can't comment on its sea-keeping ability. However, the dealer cruised south from Lake Macquarie into two-metre headseas and a 20kt southeaster. At 17–18kt, the boat didn't bang or emit vibration, he said.

THE SILVERTON STORY
As part of the Luhrs Marine Corporation, which builds Mainship trawlers and picnic boats and Hunter yachts, the Silvertons are certainly well supported. The company began building clinker-sided timber skiffs in 1969, but these days robotics and computer-controlled cutters are more common.

The fibreglass boat is stiffened with 'glass-encapsulated marine-ply stringers, bulkheads 'glassed to the hull and closed-cell foam packing in parts.

As expected, all tin-coated copper wiring is colour-coded and loomed; the hinged AC/DC panel provides excellent access to the wires. Deck gear is through-bolted, and backing plates are used behind fittings such as the cleats.

Along with the great deck mouldings, the soft-furnishing package is a highlight. The outdoor seating boasts high-density foam cushions and soft vinyl upholstery treated with an anti-mould material. Indoors, the two beds have innerspring mattresses.

The joinery includes solid cherrywood doors, drawer fronts and a dinette table; Corian counters and Stainmaster carpets; and supplied crockery and bedding.

On the downside, the boat has an awful lot of stark white fibreglass outdoors, so don't forget your sunnies. Also, some buyers might find the red hues of the cherrywood joinery and extensive timber panelling in the saloon a bit too heavy. Others might like the almost colonial look.

Any way you see it, the boat photographs well and looks beautifully proportioned on the water. 

GREAT OUTDOORS
Coming aboard, one notices a nice wide boarding platform for hanging out at anchor, and an accommodating cockpit topped in non-skid and traced by a stainless-steel rub rail. There is a handheld transom shower for post-swim rinses and water-saving showers.

The transom door opens inwards, which isn't ideal since it occupies valuable space. I found hawsepipes and recessed cleats in the corners, which are preferred by serious fishers, and padded coamings that offered toe-under support when leaning outboard.

Of course, there were twin heavy-duty shorepower connections, water connector, plus phone and TV cable inputs for USA marinas. A main circuit-breaker panel was located in the cockpit along with the optional saltwater/freshwater washdowns.

The boat is supplied with ropes, fenders and ground tackle, a cockpit sink and optional icemaker, tackle locker and 240V outlet for the aftermarket barbie. Safety equipment included a fire-fighting system, flares, fog bell, dual horns and lifejackets.

The underfloor fishbox and macerator pump will be handy for stowing wet stuff as well as the catch. A bayonet fitting on the plumbing lets you disconnect the outlet hose and carry the moulded bin ashore. All the hatches have nice big water drains around them.

The space under the fishbox - the lazarette - was occupied mainly by the boat's twin 991lt fuel tanks with fuel shutoffs. I noticed that the hull carries quite a bit of vee in its aft sections, which should equate to a smooth ride at sea. There was also an invertor on the boat, so you can use the microwave oven without the genset running.

DECKED ABOUT
This boat has what I consider very good access to its sidedecks via moulded steps in the cockpit and a clear passage through to the foredeck. There are moulded toerails, springer cleats, fender baskets, a big moulded bowsprit and a Maxwell windlass.

The moulded deck includes the stairs to the flybridge. The bridge and hardtop are shipped separately and attached with fasteners and Sikaflex locally. I waltzed up top without needing to use my hands and found a nice flybridge for entertaining and cruising, with abundant stainless grabrails, a moulded hardtop and clears to come.

The way the seat bases hinge is clever, though the loose hatch cover over the storage bin in the brow needed a hinge too. Also, there was no option for converting one of the C-shaped lounges into a bed. For long passages, nothing beats a bed in the bridge.

The lounges are accommodating of up to six people ahead of the bridge console, with pilot and navigator on pedestal seats. Storage came by way of a radio box above the console, storage pockets and hatches intended to hold personals - plus that space under the brow. I noted room for two 10in electronic screens on the console.

The Glendinning electronic controls include slow, warm, synchro and troll modes. I noted switches for the anchor winch, trim tabs, a separate stereo - also important for long trips - drinkholders, circuit breakers and a walnut dash with Faria engine gauges.

The helm bucket seats were beauties: seated, I had an excellent view aft to the corners of the boat. In other words, the rear awning wasn't too big for parking and fishing. Also, I could see some part of the bow when seated. Overall, it was a confidence-building boat to drive.

A hatch mid-cockpit and small ladder lead down to the engine bay. The freshwater supply is outboard of the Cummins motors, which are mounted well above the floor pan on steel girders.

There is plenty of room around all sides of these motors, good access to the Racor fuel filters back aft, and dripless shaft seals with what appear to be 2.5in shafts.

The motors have wet exhausts and are fed by a simple fuel system with sight gauge.

All through-hull fittings below the waterline have ball valves, and the battery system includes a parallel start switch. There was a freshwater tap in the engine room.

A utility space forward of the motors harbours the sea strainers, the boat's seven batteries, and the Kohler 9kVa genset (an Onan genset would have meant it could be serviced at the same time as the Cummins motors). The abundant sound insulation and inherently smooth Cummins motors made for a quiet boat underway. 

HOLIDAY APARTMENT
An inviting door opens into the saloon, which like most American boats is open plan and big on headroom. The safety-glass windows don't frame views when seated because the floor is set down low.

The lounge to starboard converts to a sofabed, and there was a handy hanging locker alongside for swinging the storm jackets, plus a coffee table.

The portside entertainment cabinet contained a 50cm TV and Bose Lifestyle 35 system, so you can watch DVDs or listen to CDs with oodles of volume and clarity. The cabinet alongside contained the main battery isolators, water and holding tank gauges where they aren't so easy to monitor, and aerial tuner. The boat's main AC/DC panel was here too.

On the same level, a separate dining area is located under the windscreen beside the set-down galley. The solid cherrywood table seats four to six, and the grog locker is within reach.

Step down and you will find a generous galley with plenty of Corian counters sans fiddle rails. Amenities include a two-burner electric stove (no fiddle) with exhaust fan, a bar fridge, a bench-height 12V/240V fridge and a narrow stand alone freezer. The sink is a decent size, and the Amtico flooring is hard wearing and practical.

The boat has plenty of 240V outlets and, according to the brochure at least, a supplied coffeemaker that I couldn't find. An annoying trait of more and more US boat manufacturers is the provision of a basic microwave oven in place of the convection microwave listed in the specifications and pictured in the brochure. We want convection microwaves Down Under please.

The Silverton certainly had loads of pantry space for the quick heat-and-eat meals of convenience that you can buy so readily these days. A simple two-level interior, the set-down galley was alongside the head - which had a decent gap under the door - and on the same floor as the accommodation.

At least the head had an extractor fan, albeit the noisy 12V type, and one of those excellent Vacuflush loos. The moulded compartment also had a Corian counter, sink and good vanity storage, plus a second door into the master suite forward.

The shower stall opposite had doors to both cabins but no separate fixed shower screen. Two curtains pull across the doors, and I suspect this area will stay wet for quite some time after showering. The gold/silver fittings were a nice touch.

Doubtless your guests will sleep well on this boat's amidships double bed. The guests' cabin has a cedar-lined hanging locker with light, port light but no separate reading lights, and second television. I did like the fitted bedspread with matching upholstered wall panels.

The master cabin's island double berth was doubly inviting, dressed with a gold-and-chocolate fitted bedspread. Again, there was no separate television; but hey, you could fit one of the trick 12V LCD Xeon numbers with built-in DVD without too much trouble. A reasonable amount of clothes storage existed in a hanging locker and two drawers.

CRUISING WEEKENDER
The performance figures on the flat water were very similar to what one might expect from Riviera's 42 running twin 480hp engines.

The Cummins 450Cs had a trolling speed at 1000rpm of 7.5kt, a low-speed plane at 1500rpm of 10.3kt, and a handy delivery speed for coastal cruising of 17kt at 2000rpm.

Advance the throttles and there's still no smoke to be seen. Engine noise remains low and the turbos still have plenty left in reserve. With half fuel and water and three adults, the light ship had a cruise speed of 20kt at 2250rpm and a fast cruise of 24.1kt at 2500rpm. Top speed was 28kt.

From saloon to cabins, the Silverton 42 Convertible is a flexible, comfortable, wide-beamed and accommodating boat. It's one of the all-rounders that should appeal to the Aussies looking for something a little different from the current crop of convertibles.

Range at 17kt/2000rpm, where Cummins says the two motors will consume about 80lt/h, will be more than 380nm or 22 hours-plus running, leaving 10 per cent of the fuel supply in reserve. With a huge water supply, think of it as a moveable weekender with long sea legs to take you well beyond the lake.

HIGHS

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