De Antonio D50 boat test

Quite simply, the De Antonio D50 Coupe was born to delight a crowd and stand out from the flock with tall, flat topsides, bold angles, sharp corners, and an equally modern, plumb-bowed, deep-vee, twin-stepped hull form. Hidden, meanwhile, are dual 600hp Mercury outboards, or up to four 400s.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the design emanates from Spain – the nation famous for flamenco dancing and sangria. De Antonio Yachts itself was founded 12 years ago in Barcelona and is represented here by Perth-based BoatingCo and Alexander Marine handles the East Coast. 

Stepping aboard, the D50’s aft boarding platform is a two-piece, high-low arrangement with concertina steps to starboard. As with all de Antonios, the outboards are concealed beneath a vast padded sunlounge, which affords the major benefits of inboard engines coupled with the efficiency, quietness, shallow draft and servicing advantages of outboards.

The sizeable V12 powerheads have generous tilt room while also being mounted relatively wide apart to assist with low-speed dexterity. The sunpad also conceals a large lateral lazarette holding a 2.2m tender and Torqeedo outboard.

In the test boat’s case, a very cool reason to head forward was an optional 2.5m jacuzzi. As dusk descends, imagine switching on the spa lights and partying late to the beats emanating from eight speakers throughout the boat. The same foredeck moulding doubles as a three-person sunpad when underway.

The anchoring arrangement is elegantly concealed by a recessed track and finishes with a protruding sprit and roller from which the pick is deployed. 

The term ‘Coupe’ refers to the all-weather enclosure atop the D50’s hull, distinguishing the model from its T-topped Open brethren. It can be closed off in inclement conditions or running offshore, and cooled by air-conditioning during the peak of summer.

The cockpit is an entertainer’s delight, the alfresco dinette having space on twin drop-leaf pedestal tables for six to eight dinner settings, utilising a C-shaped settee and portable seats that stow within the settee arms.

There’s an adjacent outdoor galley located to starboard, with electric barbecue, sink, 85lt under-bench fridge and storage cupboards. To port is a preparation bench and second fridge, with a walkway left between the two mouldings to access the helm. 

The helm itself is set to starboard and faced by twin slide-adjustable pedestal seats with high backs and bolsters. There are two more bucket seats to port, beautifully stitched.

The all-black dash is attractively trimmed with carbonfibre. It looks sensational, especially with the integration of twin 12" Simrad NSX-12 MFDs. The layout places the throttles perfectly under your right hand and joystick under the left, book-ending the wheel. 

Multiple layout options are available, depending on usage. The test boat’s vee cabin was enclosed as it had a private shower to port and head compartment to starboard. Large topside windows come into their own here as there’s no overhead hatch.

The day head is to starboard in the main atrium, featuring a separate hand basin and walk-in shower/toilet cubicle. A sliding door encloses it.

The mid cabin occupies the full beam, again with hull windows both sides. Having good sitting, the space is devoted to a saloon lounge/guest suite. 

The first thing you notice about the twin Mercury 600 outboards is how quiet they are, especially with the sunpad’s sound insulation. Even at full cruise speed there’s just 80DB of noise at the helm, and no vibration commonly found with diesel shaft and pod installations.

Spinning 24.5in pitch props, time to plane is a mere seven seconds. There’s no turbo-lag, of course, and the two-speed gearbox works imperceptibly, other than when decelerating.

The D50’s happy place is relatively broad, ranging either side of 4000rpm for 25 to 30 knots (46-55.5km/h). At 23 knots (42.6km/h) the motors burn 180lt in total, rising to 250lt at 30 knots. At WOT we saw 43 knots (79.6km/h) as the motors began hitting their rev limit. 

Price correct as of April 20

• $2.25 million as tested

• LOA: 14.9m
• Beam: 4.4m
• Draft: 0.7m
• Displacement: 11.5t
• Fuel capacity: 1500lt
• Power: 1600hp max
  
  

A FULL REVIEW OF THE DE ANTONIO D50 RAN IN THE APRIL-MAY (VOLUME 39.2) ISSUE OF CLUB MARINE MAGAZINE.

Visit BOATINGCO or ALEXANDER MARINE FOR MORE INFORMATION