Hull number one of Hunt Yachts’ new 54 Express is just getting out of the test tank in Taiwan and is almost ready to ship. The smallest yacht in Hunt’s Ocean Series, which goes up to 84 feet, the new 54 Express carries all of Hunt’s legendary craftsmanship, elegant, clean lines, and the deep-V hull that has defined superior offshore performance for more than half a century.
The new 54 has the same low profile, long sheer and classic looks that have made Hunts easily recognizable around the world. The first in this new series has a foam-green-colored hull, which distinguishes it from Hunt’s traditional flag blue. But the 54 has all the attention to detail that earned the larger Hunt 72 the Best New Powerboat award at the Newport International Boat Show in 2016. And it too was designed by C. Raymond Hunt Associates of New Bedford, Massachusetts.
You step on the 54 Express from a beautifully curved, teak swim platform through a starboard side transom door into the cockpit, which has a large aft settee and a teak deck. Large glass doors lead to the salon, which is filled with light from large side windows, the front windshield and two overhead hatches forward. Visibility from the helm, with a two-person seat, is excellent all around. A single passenger seat is opposite the helm on the port side. A large L-shaped sofa and teak table are on the starboard side; two easy chairs flank an entertainment center to port.
The U-shaped galley is below to port, with large countertops and storage areas meant to make cruising easy. An L-shaped dinette settee is to starboard. The full-beam master stateroom is midships, with lots of walking around room and storage and an en suite head and shower. A large VIP stateroom is in the bow with a raised walkaround berth and en suite head and shower.
Powered by twin 725-hp Volvo diesels, the Hunt 54 Express tops out at 31 knots and cruises at 27 knots. The forward-facing IPS950 pod drives provide quiet, fuel-efficient performance; the IPS joystick at the helm makes docking and low-speed maneuvering fingertip easy.
Specs.: LOA: 57’4”; Beam: 15’8:; Draft: 4’6”; Disp.: 54,000 lbs.; Fuel: 700 gals.; Water: 165 gals.; Power: 2×725-hp Volvo IPS950s. For more: http://huntyachts.com
