Wally will launch its new 48 day cruiser, with its elegant, clean, Euro-style looks and its fold-down bulwarks, at the Cannes Yachting Festival, starting Sept. 10. Powered by twin Volvo IPS650 pod drives, the new Wally tops out at 38 knots, and has a range of 305 nm at 24 knots.
The Wally 48 looks powerful and swift underway, but it comes into its own when it’s stopped, and you can fold out the aft bulwarks to expand the cockpit on both sides. In fact, when they’re down, you can walk all the way around the aft-facing sun lounges in the cockpit from the swim platform forward, to create a serious socializing and relaxing area. The aft seats also can be configured to face forward.
The foredeck also has a large sun lounge, and a special anchoring system that’s under a flush-fitting hatch on the bow. It can be operated at the touch of a button from the helm station. The helm itself has a three-person seat, and is protected under a hardtop. It has Volvo’s IPS joystick for fingertip control at slow speeds and docking. The galley is between the helm and the cockpit.
Although it’s every ounce of a day boat on top, the Wally 48 turns into a weekend cruiser below. It has a V-berth forward, and a head with separate shower.
The new boat is the first Wally model since the Ferretti Group took over the company, and it’s made in Forli, Italy. But it’s still true to its Wally heritage. “Ever since we entered the power market in 2001, the Wallytender has been a symbol of the pure joy of open-air boating,” says Luca Bassani, the Wally founder. “The new 48 Wallytender is proof positive that our very special design DNA continues to thrive under Ferretti ownership.”
With its unique design, the 48 crosses many lines. It’s an open dayboat, a luxurious runabout, an overnight or weekend cruiser, a megayacht tender. Take your pick. The one thing that’s consistent is its ability to turn heads.
I remember half a dozen years ago when, during the Monaco yacht show, I arrived at the Yacht Club de Monaco on a new Wally, an earlier iteration of this boat. And everyone eating lunch on the terrace stopped and looked up at the boat. It stole the scene.
The Wally 48 will make its U.S. debut at the Fort Lauderdale show, starting Oct. 30.
Specs.: LOA: 47’5”; Beam: 14’4”; Draft: 3’9”; Disp.: 25,353 lbs.; Fuel: 369 gals.; Water: 63 gals.; Power: 2×480-hp Volvo IPS650 pod drives.
