The Absolute Navetta 58 is 17.60 metres long and weighs 38 tonnes. In our test, the motor yacht demonstrates how it performs with two Volvo Penta D11 IPS950 engines, how much fuel it consumes and what range is possible. It also comes with a big surprise.
It is just after nine in the morning when we set sail from Varazze. The sun is already high over the Ligurian Sea; the water is almost as smooth as glass, with barely a breath of wind. It’s the perfect weather to take a closer look at Absolute’s new Navetta 58, even if the swell is rather subdued today. A slight swell from the last few days can still be seen further out, however. On board, alongside the skipper, are a few visitors; more than a handful of people are spread out across the cockpit and the flybridge.
The Navetta 58 measures 17.60 metres in length and 5.16 metres in width and is being built by the Absolute shipyard in Piacenza, northern Italy. A spacious boat, plenty of light and room for a family wishing to live on board for extended periods are just some of the features the boat is designed to offer. It is powered by two Volvo Penta D11-IPS950 engines, which achieved speeds of up to 27 knots during testing.
Stable and easy to handle: this is how the Navetta 58 sails
A watertight door leads directly from the aft garage into the engine room. You can stand upright in here, the engines are easily accessible, and the soundproofing works very well. On the test boat, a generator with an output of around 21.5 kilowatts provides electricity, whilst a Seakeeper 14 gyro stabiliser keeps the boat steady. This is certainly a nice extra, particularly given the tall superstructure. The test boat is powered by two Volvo Penta D11-IPS950 engines, each producing 553 kilowatts – a combined 1,500 PS – on two Pod drives. The standard for boats of this size Joystick control makes manoeuvring easier in harbours or in slightly narrower bays.
On the open water, the Navetta 58 proves to be very stable on course and easy to handle. Acceleration is moderate; clearly, weighing in at 38 tonnes, it is not exactly a sports boat. The steering is electric and easy to control.
Fuel consumption and range: a city runabout or a long-distance runner?
The semi-planing boat settles into its stride very gradually between 1,500 and 1,800 revolutions per minute and a speed of around 12 knots. A comfortable planing speed of around 21 knots is maintained at 2,200 revolutions per minute. This is also the most economical cruising range we measured. In our test, the boat consumed 217 litres with both engines running. Calculated this way, the range – including a 15 per cent reserve – is 233 nautical miles, with fuel consumption of just over ten litres per nautical mile. At top speed, the log shows a reading of 28 knots at 2,500 revolutions per minute. Fuel consumption at this speed totals 298 litres of diesel per hour. The cruising speed in particular is reasonable for a semi-planing boat of this size and weight. Cruising is significantly more economical in the displacement range between eight and eleven knots, where the range increases to well over 700 nautical miles, plus a 15 per cent reserve. This illustrates the character of the Navetta 58: a fast semi-planing craft when necessary, and an economical long-distance cruiser when time is no object.
Surprisingly sporty: cornering and noise levels
The boat’s handling in turns is surprising: despite the high flybridge, the Navetta 58 takes corners cleanly, feeling stable and significantly sportier than its bigger sister, the Navetta 62. Unfortunately, there were no strong waves on the day of our test. The boat also performed all other manoeuvres flawlessly and without any fuss. The noise level remained pleasantly low at all engine speeds.
Measurement results
| Speed (rpm) | Speed kn | Speed (km/h) | Consumption (l/h) | Range (sm) | Range (km) | Sound level dB(A) |
| 600 | 5.5 | 10.2 | 7.8 | 1,678 | 3,108 | 70 |
| 800 | 7.2 | 13.3 | 16 | 1,071 | 1,984 | 72 |
| 1,000 | 8.6 | 15.9 | 27 | 758 | 1,404 | 75 |
| 1,300 | 10.4 | 19.3 | 71 | 349 | 646 | 76 |
| 1,500 | 11.4 | 21.1 | 91 | 298 | 552 | 80 |
| 1,800 | 14.2 | 26.3 | 146 | 231 | 428 | 80 |
| 2,000 | 17.6 | 32.6 | 185 | 226 | 419 | 85 |
| 2,200* | 21.2 | 39.3 | 217 | 233 | 431 | 85 |
| 2,400 | 25.0 | 46.3 | 257 | 232 | 429 | 87 |
| 2,500 | 28.0 | 51.9 | 298 | 224 | 414 | 87 |
* Most economical cruising speed. Measured off Varazze in early May, with twelve people on board, virtually no swell, light to no wind. Range with a 15 per cent reserve. 100 per cent water.
The Absolute Navetta 58 in detail
Technical Specifications
- CE design category: B/16
- Total length: 17.60 m
- Width: 5.16 m
- Draught: 1.70 m
- Clearance height: 7.16 m
- Weight: 38,090 kg
- Engine: 2 × Volvo Penta IPS950, 725 PS each; fuel tank 2,800 l
- Water tank: 650 litres
- Waste tank: 208 l
- Hot water: 80 litres
- Batteries: 990 Ah
- Berths: 6 (+ crew)
- Kilograms per PS: 26.3
Sound pressure
At around 1,000 revolutions and 8.6 knots, the noise level is approximately 75 decibels(A). During economical planing (2,200 rpm, 21.2 knots), it rises to around 85 decibels(A). These figures are measured at the helm, at the driver’s ear.
Further dimensions
- Stern freeboard: 1.44 m
- Bow freeboard: 2.44 m
- Height of the railing: 1.01 m
- Decking: Teak
- Battery type: AGM
Standard equipment
Inverter air conditioning · 3,000-watt inverter · Fire-suppression system with NOVEC 1230 · Autopilot · VHF radio with DSC · Black water tank · Engine room soundproofing · Digital TV aerial · Furnishings · U-shaped sofa in the saloon · Side windows
Construction method
Absolute manufactures the fuselage and superstructure from GRP at its own factory in Piacenza. Development, prototyping and construction are all carried out in-house, without the involvement of any external designers. This ensures that quality standards can be maintained even during large-scale production runs.
Manoeuvring aids
Two Volvo Penta IPS pods with joystick control come as standard, along with a bow thruster. This allows the skipper to moor the 17.60-metre yacht with ease. Volvo Assisted Docking is available on request to assist with mooring.
Continuous deck
The deck runs seamlessly from the cockpit to the saloon without a single step. This provides plenty of freedom of movement across its 17-metre length – almost like in a spacious flat.
Adjustable driver’s seats
The driver’s seats on the main deck can be adjusted continuously for height and position forwards using a joystick. It’s child’s play
Book recommendations
Harbour manoeuvres step by step – with a motorboat explains mooring and unmooring manoeuvres using a series of bird’s-eye-view images. Christian Tiedt and Lars Bolle demonstrate the procedures for various types of propulsion, as well as for berths at the jetty, at the mooring line and in the berth. Supplementary chapters cover anchoring, turning, repositioning, towing and passing through locks. This allows readers to understand individual manoeuvres and prepare for them specifically before their next day at the harbour.
Boats - Logbook broadens the focus from individual harbour manoeuvres to the entire motorboat trip. Christian Tiedt covers rules of the road on inland waterways and at sea, navigation marks, lighting regulations, as well as marine radio and sound signals. It also covers weather, seamanship and how to behave in emergency situations. Concise texts and a colour-coded system make this pocket-sized guide easy to consult, whether you’re refreshing your knowledge from boating school or need to clarify a specific question about everyday life on board.
David Ingelfinger
Volontär