If there’s a single theme throughout the interior of the Galeon Yachts 520 Fly, it’s space. Headroom is 6 feet, 6 inches in the salon, and the hullside windows are 4 feet, 7 inches high. Furniture is low-profile, counters are sleek and the single-pane windshield adds to the exceptional visibility from stem to stern. The overall feeling is of being in a vast, open space, a notable design accomplishment in a boat that’s 56 feet, 5 inches length overall.
And that space is outfitted smartly. Galeon created the 520 Fly as an evolution of its 500 with plenty of owner and dealer input. The result is a smart layout and outfitting, with lots of meaningful features and design elements that don’t feel crowded.
Aft, there’s an oversized swim platform that leads up to a deck with a high-low dining table and plush settee, all uncluttered. There’s also an option for a rotating seat. Nearby, a staircase to the flybridge has double grabrails for safety.
Inside, the main deck has a U-shaped galley in the aft port corner with a full-size fridge/freezer, a four-burner flat cooktop and a microwave oven. Across is a sofa, keeping guests in close proximity to the chef.
Up two steps and to port is a dining table with a tapered corner to match the companionway design. The side windows slide open, allowing a breeze to flow throughout the space. The starboard window doubles as a door next to the helm, making quick work of accessing the deck to grab lines. To starboard, the floating helm has twin 19-inch Raymarine Axiom multifunction displays and a 7-inch Volvo Penta electronic vessel control display. Backlit pushbutton switches are mounted in the dash.
Unusual on a boat this size is the private entrance to the full-beam owner’s stateroom that’s located amidships and apart from the guest cabins forward. It features a king berth on centerline, a contoured lounge seat to port against the window, and a head with a shower stall that’s lined in veined marble. There’s stowage in this stateroom for extended trips, and the styling has panache, with a mirrored headboard, overhead cabinets, a satin wood finish, soft carpeting, a 42-inch TV and hullside windows.
A staircase forward of the master provides access to two guest staterooms: a VIP in the forepeak and a guest stateroom with twin berths to port. They share a head. Furnishings here are stylish as well, including the use of wood trim and leathers. And here, too, there’s a good sense of space because Galeon carries the boat’s maximum beam as far forward as possible.
Not that guests will be spending too much time indoors. Back on deck and at the bow is a big lounge for relaxation. There’s also a C-shaped settee just forward of the windshield with a table that rises from the deck and that can transform into a sun pad. Benches ring the forward corners of the bow, providing seating all around. Full walkaround side decks are 19 inches wide with high railings from amidships to the bow for safety, and with a rail that opens for side boarding.
Creature comforts also abound on the flybridge. Forward to starboard, the helm has a low-profile console with a Raymarine multifunction display and Volvo Penta engine display. Visibility is great all around. A second bolstered helm seat for a guest is next to the skipper’s seat, and two bucket seats are to port with their own multifunction display—perfect for extra eyes while cruising. There’s also a sunpad forward, located in a spot where passengers can take in views. A grill, fridge and icemaker are nearby for easy access. There’s also a sunroof overhead with a retractable soft fabric cover.
Aft on the flybridge is a C-shaped settee that flanks a dining table. The oversized hardtop shades this space, making midday meals comfortable even in bright sun. High safety rails and glass inserts should keep the littlest guests safely aboard. Recessed LED lights illuminate the flybridge after dark.
Those lights are one of many nice touches on the 520 Fly. There’s also 316 stainless for the railings, as well as opening portholes below, wood cabinetry, upscale window treatments, direct and indirect lighting and more. By combining the foundation of a time-tested previous model with forward-thinking engineering, the 520 Fly delivers a yacht that’s well-founded for cruising and entertaining.
Solid Performance
Twin 725 hp Volvo Penta D11 diesel engines coupled to straight drives got this 57,757-pound fiberglass hull up and going. We saw 29 knots wide open. Cruising at 2,100 rpm yielded a speed of about 22.5 knots, burning 48 gallons of fuel per hour, good for a 200-nautical-mile range with a 10 percent safety reserve. Dialing back to 15.5 knots gave us a more economical 41 gph. This was aboard Hull No. 1, so Galeon’s team may do some fine-tuning.
Up, Down, All Around
The cockpit has port and starboard side foldout terraces with safety rails. When they’re folded up, there’s still a view of the water via center cutout windows. When they’re down, to port, two stools fit into the deck, creating a bar with access to the galley. On both sides, the sofa backrests fold down to create seats with water views.
Silence and Comfort
On the day I got aboard, seas were pretty rough: choppy with waves above 6 feet. These conditions made the onboard silence impressive. The 520 Fly is a solid, well-constructed yacht with no creaking, slamming or pounding. And the hull’s motion was gentle, even with the Seakeeper turned off.
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