Here’s an innovative new model for Outer Reef, the respected builder of luxury cruising and expedition yachts. In league with their Dutch partners, the OR team has taken the proven 540 Adventure motor yacht and spiced it up with four, 12-cylinder, 500-horsepower Mercury outboards.
You might think an expedition quality aluminum cruising yacht being adapted for outboards was something of an oxymoron. But that would be missing the point. What OR is offering is a high-performance sport cruiser that is also a long range pasagemaker with a range of 2,000 miles or more.
Outboards can be quieter yet faster than inboard diesels. They can make the boat more maneuverable using Mercury’s joystick docking system. And, with no diesel engines in the engine room ample space is opened up for storing all types of water toys like paddle boards, SCUBA gear, underwater aqua-pods and more. Plus, there is a dinghy garage under the cockpit designed specifically for a Williams Jet.
The 540 Adventure sport is built in Holland in aluminum and finished to the famous Dutch superyacht quality. It is a three-cabin, two head cruiser so it will fit a family of four or more comfortably.
Emphasis has been placed on living closely with the marine environment. The open cockpit is huge and the swim platform between the outboards wide enough for swimming, mounting and demounting the dinghy and even SCUBA diving. The sides of the cockpit fold down to form balconies that add to the cockpit’s area and puts you even closer to the sea.
The cockpit has a U-shaped dinette facing forward with a table that will sea up to eight. Forward of that lies an aft-facing lounge of the same size as the dinette. You could easily entertain six of eight friends in this space.
The side decks leading to the foredeck lounge and sunning area have high bulwarks so even in bouncy weather adults and children alike will be able to more back and forth in safety. The forward lounge has a table for snacks and that can fold down to create a wide sunning bed.
The aft end of the salon has the large galley with a counter and sinks on the starboard side and the cook top and oven and two fridge/freezer drawers to starboard. There is a two-stool counter over the fridges that will be good for breakfasts or kids lunches.
The companionway to the sleeping cabins on the port side next to the single-seat helm. Nect to it is a proper couch or lounge with the TV and home entertainment center across from it.
This interior space joins the cockpit as one large living space with the cockpit doors wide open. Plus the salon is bathed in natural light through the huge side windows and windscreens forward.
The 540 Adventure Sport adds new meaning. To the concept of asport cruiser and is definitely going to appeal to younger, active families who love water sports and those who want it all, speed, efficiency, long range capability and a truly yacht-style interior.
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