washer and dryer for convenience, ensuring that you’ll
never have to hunt ashore for a laundry room. The huge
en-suite head, located in the forward starboard corner,
has a unique Roman tub and shower.
The second guest stateroom, located to port, was my
cabin for our journey up the Hudson River three years
ago. While this cabin can have twin berths, I particularly
liked the version that includes a desk along the
companionway wall and a sofa along the hull side that
pulls out to form a comfortably wide single berth. There’s
a cedar-lined locker and even a fold-down ironing board
for touching up clothes before going ashore.
THE SEA TRIAL
To reach the Atlantic Ocean from Altima Yachts’
offices at the New River Marina in Ft. Lauderdale, you
must wind your way carefully through several miles
of waterfront homes fronted with concrete walls and
bristling with docked boats of all descriptions, transiting
several bridge openings before you reach the turning
basin at Lake Mabel and Port Everglades. Frank
Sciortino took the upper helm on this leg of the test
while I checked out the spacious boat deck, the
comfortable seating just aft the helm, and the optional
Jenn-Air electric barbecue in the outdoor galley cabinet
to port. I admired the two large hatches with locking
dogs, one leading down to the pilothouse, the other to a
molded curved stairway to the aft deck. There were two
Devine pedestal helm seats on the flybridge, along with
a duplicate set of engine and thruster controls.
The entrance to the Atlantic was a roiling mess of
waves generated by the comings and goings of pilot
boats, large sportsfishermen, and other recreational
vessels. When it was safe, I eased the Glendinning
throttles forward, several detents by the feel of it, and
headed the Altima 61 out into an ocean of 3- to 4-foot
waves. Quartering the waves at a high cruise speed of
18. 5 knots and 2100 rpm (just shy of the top speed of
23 knots at 2300 rpm), the boat handled the choppy
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conditions without slamming or untoward pitching. I
pulled the throttles back to a speed of 12. 3 knots at 1500
rpm and the ride improved, while the fuel burn dropped
from 66gph to 24gph. For owners of full-displacement
vessels, that kind of consumption is hardly known, but it
is the price you pay when twin-engine convenience in a
semi-displacement hull is your preference.
At a speed of 8. 6 knots and 1000 rpm, I steered the
Altima 61 beam to the seas and felt her roll briefly,
which she did without snapping us off the flybridge,
then turned her down-wave and enjoyed the easy
tracking of Chang’s full-keel bottom. Fuel consumption
dropped to 7.6gph, giving the boat an approximate
range of 1, 200 nautical miles on 90 percent of her fuel
load. Better economy and greater range are available
with smaller engine offerings.
I took the Altima 61 all the way back to the New
River Marina and learned a few things along the way.
The newer, larger rudders were quick to respond to the
smooth Teleflex hydraulic steering, allowing me to make
the tightest turns without ever having to touch the
thrusters. At one turn in the river, however, we came
upon a barge installing pilings, a barge so wide that only
one lane of boats could get by. As luck would have it,
three large yachts entered the narrow passage as we
approached. I eased the 61 back down to a wider spot in
the river, then gingerly engaged the 13hp bow and stern
thrusters to hold us in place in the cross breeze, achingly
close to some boats tied stern-to.
With the excellent visibility from the flybridge, it was
all in a day’s work. If I had wanted, I could have moved
to an optional third station on the starboard side of the
aft deck, a wonderful feature that helps simplify backing
in. Next time.
Frank Sciortino is rightfully proud of his Altima 61
Pilothouse. The craftsmanship is top notch, the ride is
tremendous, and the boat embodies a fine blend of
American and European design, all rolled into one
comfortable, luxurious package.
