When it comes to design, the Italian shipyards are right at the top of the ranking list. This can also be seen in our test boat, the Absolute 56 Fly. The shipyard itself calls it the "Absolute Charisma". At first glance, I found it to be a very elegant appearance with a certain chic that runs through the entire boat.
TheYacht from the outside
We drove the test boat on the Mediterranean off Varazze. As is usually the case in the south, I enter the boat via the stern, where the bathing platform makes access easier. I can then easily reach the cockpit via two side entrances with doors. A modular arrangement is possible in the cockpit: free-standing furniture that can be set up and put together in different ways. To ensure that the furniture remains in place in rough seas, non-slip rubber pads are attached to the feet - a practical feature.
Back to the platform again: from there, you can access the two-person crew cabin, while the bathing ladder and stern shower provide a pleasant bathing experience. A sunbed can also be positioned aft for sunbathing - again freestanding. Additional open-air seating can be found on the seating/lounger unit on the foredeck and on the flybridge. In the aft section of the flybridge there is again space for the modular arrangement, and further forward there is a spacious seating area with a table. Opposite it is a galley and at the very front there is another seating/lounger unit and the driving position.
Interior of theAbsolute 56 Fly
One floor below, you enter the saloon through glass doors. The central and fully equipped galley is located on the port side. Further forward is a seating area. A good solution: The saloon can be easily ventilated via the large, opening windows. To starboard is the helm station, which also has a large door to the side deck. On the other side of the helm station, the cabins are located one floor below, and here you will find the stylishly furnished owner's cabin in the bow, which gets plenty of light into the interior through large side windows. The double berth has a high-quality mattress that offers super comfort.
At the very front of the bow, the designer placed the toilet, washbasin and shower. The other cabins, which are arranged in the centre of the boat, also have their own heads, whereby the head in the first cabin is also suitable as a day toilet. The cabin opposite is equipped with two single berths. The VIP suite is different: it offers a double bed, extends across the entire width of the boat and has a separate shower and toilet room. All cabins have good storage facilities. The walk-in wardrobe in the owner's cabin is particularly noteworthy.
Regarding the helm stations on the fly and in the saloon: the installed monitors are easy to read and the controls are within easy reach. The Volvo Penta joystick system and the levers for the bow thruster are available at both helm stations for manoeuvring. This allows the Absolute to be safely moored and unmoored. A practical arrangement is the side door on the lower helm station, the skipper can stand on the side deck (for good communication with the crew) and still operate the joystick and bow thruster easily via the open door.
TheAbsolute 56 Fly on the move
The Volvo Penta electronic gearstick is used for normal driving. Both levers slightly forwards means 600 rpm and a speed of a good 4 knots. At around 1000 rpm, Absolute pushes through the water at around 7 knots (consumption a good 2 l/sm) and has a pleasant noise level of 54 dB/A at the saloon driving position - with the doors closed. This increases to a maximum of 72 dB/A at full throttle and 28.5 knots. In this situation, 8.6 litres/sm run through the diesel line. At economic planing speed (approx. 17 knots), it is 7.92 l/sm, which with the tank capacity of 2600 l minus 15% reserve gives a range of just under 280 nm. This is a sufficient value for this size of boat.
If you turn the rudder of the Absolute fully at high speed and sail in a circle, the hull only leans slightly to one side thanks to the automatic trim system and turns its laps without any restrictions. When transitioning from displacement to planing, the Absolute trims only slightly and glides well from around 17 knots.
The necessary power is provided by two D8-IPS-800 engines, which are housed in a neatly installed engine compartment. The boat also boasts a high level of workmanship and a high safety standard, including a fire extinguishing system, double diesel filters per engine and a complete bilge system.
CONCLUSION
The Absolute 56 Fly impresses with its stylish appearance and offers six people a comfortable life on board. It is well finished, solidly constructed and has pleasant handling characteristics. The latter are due to the two Volvo IPS 800 drives and interceptors, which are well matched to the boat.
Technical data of theAbsolute 56 Fly
The boat
- Shipyard:Absolute/I
- Type:56 Fly
- CE category: B/14 persons
- Hull and deck:Plastic
- Length over everything:17,64 m
- Width:4,79 m
- Weight:31 730 kg
- Depth: 1,32 m
- Clearance height: k.A.
- Fuel tank:2600 l
- Water tank:650 l
- Holding tank:k.A.
- Cabins:3 + 1 + Salon
- Berths:6 + 2
- possible motorisation:2x D8-IPS800, 2x 441 kW (600 hp)
- Test motorisation:2x Volvo Penta D8-IPS800, 441 kW (600 hp) each
- Price (standard version): 1.725.500 €
- Shipyard:Absolute S. p. A., Via F. Petrarca 4, Loc. I Casoni - Gariga, I-29027 Podenzano (PC), www.absoluteyachts.com
The motor
- Manufacturer: Volvo Penta
- Type: D8-IPS800
- Performance: 441 kW (600 hp)
- Rated speed: 3000 rpm
- Cylinder:6 in series
- cubic capacity: 7,7 l
- Fuel:Diesel
- Cooling:Water/double circuit
- Gear ratio: 1,84 : 1
- Test propeller: N2
