A big hand for best 'little' boat

The Ocean 640. Photo / Supplied.

One of the most popular boats at this year's Sydney International Boat Show was not one of the largest. It was a 20m sports yacht by a company that, until now, has built nothing smaller than 33m plus superyachts.

The "trickle down" effect is often spoken about in various forms of high-performance racing. In yachting, it means new technologies developed for multimillion-dollar superyachts or America's Cup campaigns find their way into family cruiser/racers. In motorsport, the "lighter, stronger, faster" approach appears later in our family saloons.

It now appears that something similar is happening in the world of high-class power cruisers. Possibly fuelled by a tighter world economy, companies like the Taiwan-based New Ocean Yachts are taking the technology, the styling and the level of fit-out from their far larger vessels and repackaging those features into smaller and more affordable ones.

Of course, at this level of the market "affordable" is, for most of us, a somewhat moot concept. While the new New Ocean 640 Sports Yacht might be vastly cheaper than its superyacht siblings, at about A$2.5 million ($3.3 million) it's unlikely to grace too many of our local marinas.

Nevertheless, what New Ocean has done with its 640 is fascinating, especially for those of us used to a more Kiwi style of 20m craft.

Here, a boat of this size (68ft LOA and 64ft LWL) would traditionally be a blown up-version of a 12m or 13m sportsfisher. The cockpit would be at or close to water level and set up primarily for fishing and diving. There might be an entertainment area but probably not: al fresco dining would be on collapsible table and chairs. If there were a barbecue it would almost certainly be in the transom, possibly in a module that also included a bait station, sink, cockpit shower and washdown pump.

In other words, the cockpit would reflect our active lifestyle and the fact we usually go boating to do something. So prevalent here is this style of vessel, it's easy to forget that in many parts of the world, people often go boating to do very little at all (sometimes not even leaving the marina).

For those who look on boating as a chance to relax, entertain and impress friends, there's no need for a sports cockpit; the outside area is strictly for eating, drinking and partying. New Ocean's new 640 Sports Yacht is clearly designed to appeal to this type of owner.

The "active" section of the cockpit is limited to the admittedly-generous boarding platform, with its stylish pushpit sections, a couple of which do sport rod holders.

There is, however, a fair degree of separation between this area and the cockpit proper. Set high above the engine room and now-obligatory "garage", the 640's cockpit is what you'd expect to encounter on the poop deck of a far larger vessel.

Its focus is the aft-centred entertaining area with its large table, forward-facing settee and a trio of free-standing, aft-facing chairs.

From this high perch, the owner and guests can enjoy uninterrupted 180-degree views of their anchorage, as well as keeping an eye on anyone using that "active area" below.

Those preparing the refreshments would also not have too far to travel: there are handy modules on each side in the forward corners of the cockpit with such essentials as the electric barbecue, drinks fridge, icemaker, sink and plumbed hot and cold water. Should something more elaborate be required, the 640's galley proper is handily positioned at the rear of the open plan saloon.

With the cockpit raised to the same high level as the saloon, there's a mostly uninterrupted flow from the helm station through to the transom.

The finish and level of appointment are what you'd expect on superyachts - an American oak floor, walnut trim and dining table and impressive attention to detail. In the galley, utilitarian appliances such as the cook-top, sink, dishwasher, oven and microwave are all cleverly secreted away when not in use.

Even the window pillars and lapels blend into rather than detract from the overall look.

The helm station is just as pleasing, the latest electronics perfectly complemented by the surrounding walnut module.

The 640 on show in Sydney has a twin-stateroom layout with a third, smaller cabin featuring twin singles and a fourth acting as an office.

However, as with most vessels of this kind, accommodation layouts are a negotiable feature.

Given that this solid GRP, 20.85-metre LOA vessel boasts a 37-tonne displacement, it needs a dollop of power to live up to its racy styling. The 640 is powered by twin in-line 6-cylinder 18.1 litre 1015hp C18 Caterpillar diesels.

These run a pair of 33"D x 34.5"P Veem propellers through V-drive gearboxes and conventional shaft drives, giving top speed of 27 knots and a cruising speed of 22 knots.

Ocean 640

LOA: 20.85 metres

LWL: 19.48 metres

Beam: 5.33 metres

Draft: 1.68 metres

Displacement: 37,000 kg

Max Speed: 27 knots

Cruise Speed: 22 knots

Construction: GRP

Price: From A$2,305,800

Want to know more?
Check out the boat review on the New Ocean 640 Sports Yacht in the November/December issue of Pacific Motoryacht magazine