Altima 45 Euro Sedan
Every boat we test leaves an impression in our minds, sort of mental reference points like the labels on a file folder. “Oh, yeah, that was the boat with the extra-large shower,” or “I know, that’s the one with the unique galley.”
In the case of the Altima 45 Euro Sedan, I have three reference tabs as reminders: a huge upper deck, gracefully curving stairs from the cockpit to the bridge, and the engineroom. Let’s take a look at the engineroom first, because that really surprised me. With a hull length of 45 feet, the Altima doesn’t seem unusually tall, which is the way that many builders create a spacious engineroom. But the fact is, the 4 feet, 4 inches of headroom and easy accessibility to the engines, generator, and systems blew me away. Service technicians will love this boat.
Push a button in the cockpit, and a big hatch rises on electric lifts, and stairs lead you to the commodious lazarette. From there, you have access to the Sea- Star steering hydraulics and the rudder posts, as well as the standard Glendinning Cablemaster and its 70 feet of 50-amp shore cord. On each side of this space is a water tank, with sight gauge, and just forward past a bulkhead, is the engineroom. The space between the two 425-horsepower Cummins diesels (upgraded from the standard 380s) is wide, which makes routine checks easy. The 11.4 kW Onan genset is forward in a sound box, and the Marine Air compressors are to port. Fuel and seawater filters are within easy reach, and the entire compartment is finished in either white gelcoat or aluminum sound panels. Soft panels in the saloon sole allow the engines to be removed easily, leaving the rest of the teak-and-holly sole undisturbed.
Altima is the pride of Frank Sciortino, who builds the yachts to his demanding specs at the Activa yard near Shanghai, and each reflects his years of experience on the water. I saw some of that wisdom in the curving stairs that lead from the cockpit to the upper deck. Not only are they protected with welded stainless steel rails, they are the right spacing and height to make them comfortable, even in a seaway. I’m uncompromising when it comes to stairs because I have ancient knees, but too many builders don’t pay attention to this important detail.
On the upper deck, you’ll find enough room to throw a party, and because it spans the full beam over the side decks below (providing sun and rain protection), the boat deck can carry a tender up to 12 feet, launched and retrieved via the optional Steelhead davit. The living area forward around the helm is equipped with Tracy pedestal chairs, an L-shape settee and table, plus an outdoor galley with sink, fridge, and grill. Our test boat had a soft-top with full Strataglass enclosure (a fiberglass hardtop is available), because it was designed to make the Great Loop passage under bridges. This soft top lets the electronics arch hinge forward for low bridges, eliminating long waits on many canals.
The Altima 45 is fairly beamy at 15 feet, 2 inches, and that width has permitted the design team to provide wide side decks without shrinking the saloon and galley. High bulwarks, capped by oval stainless steel rails, add to the margin of safety as guests and crew move forward and aft. I liked the oversized combination hawse pipe/cleats, which are recessed.
Inside the saloon, an L-shape settee on the port side faces the pop-up 30-inch TV. If this were my boat, I’d put the TV inside the cabinet in the after starboard corner, which would free up stowage beneath the counter. The galley has overhead lockers, lots of drawers, pantry, and separate freezer and refrigerator, which ought to stow everything a cruising family needs for a week, or two, on the water. The flush-mounted three-burner Princess ceramic cooktop doesn’t take up much space, and the convection oven is standard. Our test boat had the optional lower helm, which is a good choice for any owner/skipper who likes to be part of the activity in the saloon when the boat is underway. A sliding pilothouse door opens to the side deck for easy access.
A number of layouts are offered but, as Sciortino notes, “We’re a semi-custom builder,” so anything a customer might desire, within reason, is available. On our test boat, the layout put the master stateroom and its private head forward. The master cabin is pleasantly wrapped in African mahogany, a warm wood sometimes mistaken for teak, and features a raised queen-size berth with stowage beneath and in eye-level lockers around the cabin. The spacious head has a large shower, mirrored overhead, and a Techma quiet-flush toilet.
The second stateroom can be fitted with twin berths or a double, but it has more flexibility when it’s equipped with the settee/ berth as it was on our test boat. The settee can pull out to become a berth, or it can be used with a desk as an office. Either way, the roomy head doubles as a day-head.
Powered by the optional 425-horsepower Cummins, the Altima 45 topped out just shy of 20 knots and, at 10 knots, she sips fuel at about one nautical mile per gallon.
The standard equipment list is surprising, particularly when you consider that you’re going to get back change from $600,000 on a well-equipped Altima 45. Bow and stern thrusters from Sidepower, a Lewmar windlass and all-chain rode, a Bose entertainment system, and a Xantrex 3 kW inverter are just some of the standard items.
Good-looking, well built, and comprehensively equipped, the Altima 45 offers buyers a lot of boat. She’s an honest and straightforward yacht that doesn’t rely on gimmicks or tricks to catch your attention. She’s an exceptional value.
LOA: 45′
LWL: 40’10”
Beam: 15’2″
Draft: 3’11”
Displ.: 39,000 lb.
Fuel: 625 gal.
Water: 250 gal.
Deadrise: 12 degrees
Engine Options: 2 x 380-hp Cummins diesels; 2 x 500-hp Cummins diesels
Engines Tested: 2 x 425-hp Cummins diesels
Base Price: $550,000(approx.)
Altima Yachts, (954) 547-1011; www.altimayachts.com
