Andy McCutcheonHershine 50' - Review
September 7th 2007 01:02
Ensign 50
Ensign 50’
Ensign 50’
A beautiful sunny Sunday morning at Marina Mirage on Queenslands Gold Coast is always the perfect backdrop for testing a boat, but is this most recent Australian import really dressed to impress?
This newest addition to the smorgasbord of 50’ plus boats now available on our shores is the undertaking of Ensign Ship Brokers and as such the vessel is being marketed under the namesake of its Australasian distributors as the Ensign 50’.
When Tony Ross and his crew first asked me to come aboard for an independent review of the vessel, it was still in transit on a container ship from China and admittedly, when I heard the words “Chinese” and “boat” in the same sentence, I couldn’t help the next word association that seemed to instinctively pop into my head.
Not having seen a photo or line drawing of the vessel prior, I walked towards the jetty with reserved enthusiasm and as I rounded the corner and she came into view, to be honest I quickly looked to see if I was on the correct jetty? As I got closer to the vessel to admire her clean lines I spotted Tony and blurted out, “this boat was made in China”?
The Aft Deck:
As I boarded the yet un-named vessel one of the first things I noticed was the massive swim platform that I was told had been extended for the new owner’s family who were keen fisho’s. Relocate able stainless rails are also a nice feature that allows the area to pull double duty as jet-ski storage and having both shower and wash down facilities right there on the transom meant that whether you were cleaning fish or rinsing off toys you were able to confine it to that area of the boat. On the starboard side of the swim platform is an ergonomically molded set of steps leading to the aft deck.
The raised aft deck area is really one of the highlights of this vessel. I am a firm believer in form always following function and its simplicity in design translates into functional space, which on most boats even in the 50’ range is at a premium.
The boat at the time of testing was not fitted with clears, but it was easy to visualize how the extended flybridge that formed the aft deck overhang would be enclosed by a set of clears, adjoining a unique combination of stainless railings and FRP panels and completely protected from the weather. In an effort to further protect this space while underway, the boat comes standard with lockable port and starboard companionway wind doors that when opened provide access to the walk around decks.
Adjacent to the starboard wind door is a large fixed cabinet that houses bottled beverage storage, an icemaker, a stainless sink with pressurized fresh water and heaps of storage space.
Next to this molded service area is an access door to the main saloon area.
The Main Saloon:
The main saloon area is both spacious and functional mirroring what I had seen of the boat thus far. On the starboard side there were matte finished, scratch resistant teak walls and an “L” shaped leather settee that wrapped around a moveable polished teak table. When not in use, this space easily converts to queen sized berthing.
Ahead of the settee is a flush mounted electrical control panel that blends into the lower helm station. It should be noted at this point that several optional or customized layouts are available for the saloon and in my opinion you could easily do away with the redundant lower helm station and opt for a larger “U” shaped formal dining area.
Across from the dining area to port was a long wall of windows and storage below with built in wine racks and such that dovetailed nicely with the entertainment unit housing a flat screen TV, DVD player and stereo. Flooring in the main saloon is carpet over teak while a more traditional teak and holly sole is available in lieu.
The Galley:
Between the entertainment unit and the lower helm is a set of 3 dual-purpose steps that lead to the galley on the port side and a secondary dining area to starboard.
As a master of all things epicurean, I may be one of the few blokes that look at galley space from the perspective of the people who actually use it. Of prime consideration therefore is the availability of both work and storage space.
The full sized stainless LG refrigerator goes along way to making extended cruising a reality and use of a combination stainless microwave and convection oven negates the use of an otherwise bulky full sized oven.
One negative point for me personally is that the stainless double sink and tap is located adjacent to the fridge. Most architects will tell you that a sink, stove and refrigerator should form a triangle to maximize the useful space of a galley and on that point I tend to agree. Having said that, there would appear no problem in relocating the sinks to the far port countertop if that were something that bothered you and even the addition of a dishwasher in that location would not make a dent in the masses of available storage space.
On the plus side the galley is very well lit surrounded with overhead windows from the main saloon and the cultured marble countertops form a lasting functional work surface that is easy to maintain.
One point of debate that ensued over discussion of the galley was that the boat as tested has a galley down configuration and wouldn’t allow the cook to focus on a point of reference while underway. For those times that you are actually preparing food at sea there could be an argument made that this design may compromise your cooks intestinal fortitude and seasickness could soon follow. On the other hand those not afflicted with seasickness will enjoy the convenience of the galley down design and the fact that the boat will always look tidy upon entry even if you haven’t quite had the time to tidy up yet.
If the galley down design is something you have experienced personally and it simply isn’t for the cook amongst your crew, design flexibility allows for a galley up design and extended pantry opposite the formal dining area in the main saloon.
Directly across from the galley in the boat as tested on the starboard side is a functional informal meals area that would comfortably seat 6 adult males. The space when not being used by hungry crewmembers converts to a generous queen sized berth space that is open on one side, but still maintains a degree of privacy. Additionally, the entire meals area can be scrapped altogether and converted into a double bunk enclosed cabin and perhaps a better option if electing to go with the galley up design.
Guest Cabin:
Forward of the galley and informal meals area is a nicely appointed guest cabin and ensuite head. The guest berthing arrangement includes an angled double berth and opposing settee with storage in the form of slide out drawers. It was well lit with brass reading lamps as well as a mid-cabin escape hatch that afforded good natural lighting during the day. The ensuite head was roomy and functional and featured both extractor fans as well as air conditioning.
Engine Room:
Moving aft from the guest cabin adjacent to the galley are the stairs leading up to the main saloon. Lifting the stairs reveals a walk down into the engine room showcasing the twin 575Hp turbocharged Volvo D9’s. While standing headroom is at a premium for the average male, it is surprisingly well laid out and accessible to the generator, batteries, fuel filters and for general engine maintenance. The ceiling of the engine room that doubles as the floor of the saloon area is well insulated and dampens noise as much as can be expected and when the stairs come engine room access are closed, operation of the generator while the boat is moored is barely audible.
Owners Cabin:
Moving across the main saloon along the port side provides access down several steps to the owners cabin.
The owners cabin straddles the 15’ beam of the boat and is generously appointed with teak and camphor wood lined hanging lockers, drawers and storage space along with a roomy ensuite head.
A generous dressing table and extensive use of mirrors will ensure that you are properly turned out for any event avoiding fashion faux pas. Layout of the head is also well thought out utilizing the space with inclusion of a bathtub and creative storage for towels and other creature comforts.
The main carpeted cabin area features a queen sized island bed with a 6” deep poly foam mattress that will prevent sore body parts if you are limited to a rolling anchorage for several days.
If watching your favorite movie is on the agenda, positioning of the TV/ DVD is flush mounted in the opposing wall as is the combination washer/dryer camouflaged behind teak cabinetry and an undisclosed valuables safe.
All lights including floor and ceiling accent lighting are on dimmer switches allowing you to create those special moments and lasting memories. The entire fit and finish of this boat is what I would describe as subtle opulence. Going back to my earlier comment that “form should always follow function”, this boat is not a “gin palace” but rather a boat that clearly epitomizes a vessel that can be used and enjoyed with confidence and represents practical boating for family and friends.
It’s easy to keep spills and mess to a minimum while tied to the jetty but how did she fare at sea?
Flybridge:
As I made my way to the flybridge it was spacious and airy providing good visibility over the bow while affording comfortable seating for 12. The flybridge extension housed a Davco single arm davit and inflatable tender and is capable of sustaining 600lbs of additional weight.
Gordon, our skipper for the day had been warming up the engines and as the mooring lines were cast off he effortlessly used one engine and the bow thruster to move us off the jetty with a beam on wind.
As we made our way north from Marina Mirage at tick over revs, the GPS recorded a speed of 6kts at 630rpm consuming only 14.5L/ph. After activating engine synchronization at 800rpm Gordon advised passengers to place their trays in the upright position and prepare for takeoff. As the throttles were eased forward the distinctive whine of the turbochargers sounded like a Learjet at the threshold of a runway and I was nearly dumped overboard as the 37,700lb vessel launched itself out of the water and onto the plane.
Passing the last navigation marker out of the Southport seaway, we were on an incoming tide with a SSE wind recorded at 37kts gusting to 41kts and I could visibly see large waves and whitecaps at the heads.
When we were finally outside it was blowing a gale and I copped a small amount of wind driven spray that was immediately corrected by adjusting the boats trim. Gordon steered the boat directly into the wind, adjusted the throttles and engaged the Raymarine autopilot. Despite the wind, rolling swell and 1.8m waves the boat tracked flawlessly and punched through each set of waves effortlessly maintaining a cruise speed of 15kts while consuming 92L/ph. Turning back towards the seaway we tested the boat in a following sea and in absence of the headwind there were no signs of the boat slewing and she was still able to maintain her course picking up several knots of speed over ground.
After ducking back inside the protection of the Broadwater, the vessel was brought to a complete stop by simply engaging both engines into reverse and I was given an opportunity to take the helm. Being 6’ tall, I found the lower position of the wheel to be a bit uncomfortable from the standing position, but seated in the bolstered helm chair was fine. All the information I required to operate this vessel was clearly displayed on the Raymarine E120 and the electronic fly by wire throttle technology literally afforded me fingertip control. As I eased one engine into forward and the other into reverse the vessel pivoted on its own axis and the stability and maneuverability of this boat would make even a novice boater look good.
I pointed the Ensign 50’ down the Broadwater towards Marina Mirage and eased both throttles forward. In the time it took my right hand to firmly grasp the wheel from moving the throttles it was already on the plane and climbing towards 26kts. I eased the throttles back and found the sweet spot which to me seemed around 1900rpm producing a comfortable cruise speed of 21kts while sipping a mere 110L/ph.
Traffic in the Broadwater forced me to test the agility of the boat and for a vessel of that size and volume it is surprisingly nimble responding immediately to the slightest movement of the wheel. Docking the vessel proved equally simplistic as the wheel was placed in the neutral position and Gordon negotiated his way back to the jetty with only the use of the throttle controls.
At the end of the day while there were a few things I may have considered altering if I owned the boat personally, overall I was extremely impressed. The lines of the boat, the practical interior layout and finish alongside the handling, low maintenance characteristics and operational economy make it an ideal boat for the Gold Coast market and with a price tag as tested at $953,000.00 it certainly represents excellent value for dollar in the competitive range of 50’ boats. I wish Tony and his crew at Ensign all the best in marketing this newcomer to Australian waters and I’m sure we’ll see several more Ensign 50’s in the water in the coming months.
Andy McCutcheon
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