Made in Italy might as well be plastered all over the new Absolute Navetta 48, because in style, she inherits everything from her predecessors 52 and 58. On top of that, the new model boasts an efficient hull, spacious interiors and excellent value for money
After launching successful models Navetta 58 and 52, Italian builder Absolute smartly continued in the same direction and added another Navetta to their catalogue. Debuted in Cannes Yachting Festival, Navetta 48 is soon to be the smallest in the series and poised for equal success.
Absolute Navetta 48 design
Excellent design focused on a super-efficient hull that allows impressive range with reasonable fuel consumption, spacious interiors and exteriors, and great value for money – what more can one want? The Navetta series turned out to be a turning point for Absolute, a success that in just a few years topped popularity of their other series.
The latest Absolute model was designed to fit into – and dominate – the 50 feet market, and judging by what we’ve seen, she’s ready to rule. Continuation of the series in every aspect, the new Navetta 48 is tall: the hull is tall, the superstructure is tall, the windows are tall… you get the picture. The fly bridge is large and wide, and covers the roof almost aft to bow, and is itself covered by a hard top.
Cosy places
On the hull, two black trapezoids – on on the bow and one in the middle – cover cabin windows and serve as a visual reminder this is absolutely an Absolute. Navetta 48 has a submersible aft platform that doubles as a tender parking space, seeing how the space below deck usually used for tender storage is here used a lovely skipper’s cabin with a private head.
From the aft, on the main deck opens with a little salon with a table and three seats almost entirely covered by the fly bridge, just one of several cozy places on the model. On the bow, in front of the windshield there is more than enough space for a sunbed, easily accessible via safe and wide side passages, which, as they’re expected to be on a Navetta, are additionally protected by narrow roof stretching from the superstructure and safe even on rough seas.
Spacious and comfortable yacht
The fly bridge on the 48 is as large as the salon under it, and on the unit we tested was protected by a hard top stretching from the back of the cockpit to the command console and leaving the sunbed free. The entire aft part of the fly bridge is designed as an al fresco dining room, furnished with a table and a C-shaped sofa. Left on the fly bridge there is a bar with a sink, a fridge and an electric grill, all easily accessible and arranged into perfect order to allow easy entertaining.
The command console stands in the middle of the fly bridge for better visibility during navigation, and is flanked by small sofas ideal for those who wish to chit chat with the skipper. Inside on the main deck, the salon is easily accessible from the aft, and divided into the salon proper and the galley. The galley is portside, very spacious, while the fridge and a small wine cooler are starboard.
The salon proper is cozy and comfortable, with the dining space on a slightly higher level furnished with a dining table, a C-shaped sofa and another smaller sofa, a storage element and an LCD TV. The interior command post is starboard and enjoys excellent visibility, but we still advise installation of an aft camera for docking.
Navetta with two large cabins
The layout below deck is smart and the use of space optimized to perfection. Absolute Navetta 48 has two large cabins; the master cabin in the bow and the VIP aft, both with queen size beds, as well as another smaller double cabin and two heads. The master is easily recognizable as such, being larger than all others and enjoying the view stretching through the mentioned large windows in the hull.
Just like on previous models, the master cabin on Navetta 48 has the bedhead placed to the right, which frees up space on both sides of the bed, and is large enough for a small desk and a wardrobe. The VIP cabin uses the space just as smartly, and also boasts a desk and a wardrobe, but shares the head – luxurious and with plenty of white marble – with the third cabin.
Absolute Navetta 48 range
As for performance, Absolute Navetta 48 is more than anything easy to handle, primarily due to the presence of the Volvo IPS and joystick combo. The model comes equipped with a bow thruster, but we found we didn’t really need it. During our test, the Navetta 48 demonstrated all the good qualities expected from a unit her size and type, on top of being very stable and using fuel sparingly. Powered by two Volvo Penta D6 IPS 600 435-hp engines, our unit cruised breezily at 1200 rpm, at 6 knots of speed – using mere 7.6 liters of fuel per hour.
Ferretti Yachts 450
Ferretti Yachts 450 has elegant, dynamic lines that give this 47-foot yacht a sporty character.
Optimal cruising speed according to the builder is 10 knots (40 liters of fuel per hour), and planning is achieved at 3000 rpm and 18 knots of speed. We managed to reach top speed of 27 knots at 3650 rpm, using commendable 170 liters of fuel per hour. At all times during the test Absolute Navetta 48 remained stable and calm, handling turns with little or no leaning, and slicing waves with determination.
With the latest addition to the popular Navetta line, Absolute have continued to create excellent, sturdy, comfortable ships that will surely attract many an owner in the Adriatic and the Mediterranean.
Text Mlađan Marušić
Photos Absolute Yachts / Alberto Cocchi Video Adriatic Wave
