The Outback 50, designed by Michael Peters, has been on the scene for five years and still, in our estimation, occupies a unique niche among performance cruisers. It is a truly a boat that embraces the outdoor lifestyle.
The concept begins with what Outback calls the “Infinity deck” or the expansive after deck that is open on the sides but covered with a hard-top extension of the salon’s cabin top.
The sheer line has a step down as it runs aft and the cabin top, enclosing the flybridge and upper lounge, has a pleasant curve, so the straight hardtop aft visually ties it all together. The infinity deck has a small swim platform on the transom.
The infinity deck offers a huge utility space. It is big enough to carry a 10-foot dinghy; or, you can have a patio-style dinner table and chairs; or, you can even erect a ping-pong table.
The aft deck flows on one level forward through the salon so with the double doors open the whole living area becomes one indoor-outdoor space. The large salon windows enhance this effect.
The 50’s hull is comparatively narrow but that was by design to enhance efficiency through the water and thus performance. Powered by the standard Volvo 320-horsepower diesels, the boat will have a top end speed of 21 knots and a fast cruising speed of 18 knots. Upgrade to the 420-horsepower Cummins diesels and the top end speed goes up to 24 knots.
The easily-driven hull has been designed to plane quickly so it slides over the hump at just over 12 knots. Plus, the shallow draft that makes this possible also means the 50 can sneak into thin-water coves off limits to many 50-footers.
Accommodations below can be for three cabins and two heads or two-cabins and one head, with a utility room replacing the third cabin.
The Outback does many things well but having the most deck area of any boat in its class certainly sets it apart and explains the boat’s appeal to those who like to live and cruise in the great outdoors. Read more.
