ENGINE ROOM PERFECTION
I’ve saved the engine room for dessert, because
this is where cruising skippers are going to do
their “oohs” and “aahs.” It is, quite simply, superb.
First, there is ample space between the twin Cat
C-9s to walk on the nonskid decking, and more of
the stainless steel rails protect you against hot or
moving parts. Every possible maintenance point is
readily accessible, and it’s clear that (unlike most
automobiles) this engine room was laid out by
someone who has actually worked on engines. The
twin Northern Lights 20k W gensets (standard are
16k W and 8k W) are tucked aft in sound boxes, but
these are also readily accessed without problems. This
is an engine room where your service technicians may
try to kiss you, so be prepared.
Several items particularly impressed me for their
thoughtfulness. First, the dual fuel filters for the main
and the genset filter were grouped together for easy
access, and each used identical filters, so the number
of required spares is reduced. The fuel manifold
system was a masterpiece of both careful labeling
and intuitive layout, so there should be no wondering
which valve to open or close. This particular 70
had an additional 650-gallon belly tank under the
master stateroom for a total of 2,350 gallons (in 6061
aluminum tanks), including the two saddle tanks, and
a combination fuel polisher and transfer pump allows
the tanks to be balanced. Normally, I would expect the
engines and gensets to draw from the saddle tank on
each side, leaving the belly tank as a reserve that would
also lower the center of gravity.
A long list of standard equipment includes quality
systems from TRAC stabilizers to Kahlenberg horns,
and Glendinning Cablemasters to the Maxwell windlass
with CQR anchor.
The Cat C-9s of 503hp are the standard engine,
and I can’t imagine why you would want to opt for a
pair of C-12s of 705hp because you’d just be pushing
more water, burning more fuel, and in the end, you’d
only move the hammers-down-flat-out top speed from
13. 8 knots to 14 knots as shown on Outer Reef’s own
performance curves. Every owner needs to find his
own “sweet spot” that balances how fast he wants to
get somewhere with what he’s willing to spend, but an
Outer Reef 70 like Good Times (with the added tank) will
take you nearly 4,300nm at a bit under 6 knots, or about
2,600nm at nearly 8 knots. Your call.
Solidly built, comfortably arranged, and thoughtfully
outfitted, the Outer Reef 70 should clearly be on your
short list even if you’re looking for a smaller offshore
cruising yacht because, after all, size matters.
