Absolute Navetta 53 Reviewed

When it comes to boating, I can look at horizons all day long. But I’m also pragmatic enough to appreciate getting a move on, especially when things are on the turn. Maybe it’s incoming weather or frustrating guests. Maybe it’s simply getting up late on a Sunday afternoon. People like me are attracted to semidisplacement yachting. Our mantra should be 20 knots is plenty, and 10 is zen.

In that respect, the Absolute Yachts Navetta 53 is my kind of yacht. It’s an evolution of one of Absolute’s bestsellers, the Navetta 52, which was introduced in 2015 and refreshed in 2019. About 110 hulls were built through last year.

The Navetta 53 takes design cues from Absolute’s newer Navettas: vertical bridge windows, sculpted topsides with fretted bulwarks on the quarters, near-plumb bows, and a chopped transom. Outdoor space is enhanced, with three distinct chill zones on deck. There’s more open cockpit for freestanding furniture, along with a glazed stern rail. The same setup is on the after third of the flybridge, while forward are built-in booths and a wet bar beneath a hardtop. There’s also a superb foredeck terrace with another dinette and a sun pad.

Inside, the salon has all-around glazing and side views maximized by rebated gunwales. The vibe is contemporary with mostly oak veneers, from the laminated sole to light and dark joinery. This space is tri-zone too: a galley aft (with Bosch appliances); an amidships lounge with a dinette to port and a lounge to starboard; and a two-seat lower helm forward with a side-deck door.

As on other newer Absolute yachts, the salon has sizable drop-down windows on each side for fresh breezes. Opening those windows, as well as all doors during the day, should allow the air conditioning to be left off, which means the engines and generator can be off too. Solar panels on the hardtop contribute 1.35 kilowatts of peak power to cover all the basic hotel loads.

Belowdecks accommodations are accessed from centerline stairs. There are three staterooms and two heads off a central lobby with a space for a washer-dryer. The owner’s stateroom is amidships aft and occupies the full 15-foot-3-inch beam. It is en suite with a forward-facing queen-size berth. Forward is a VIP with a queen-size berth on the diagonal and a headboard beneath a picture window, which means guests can lie in bed and enjoy views out. The VIP also has a walk-in closet, which is unusual on boats of this size. Its head is a Jack-and-Jill setup for sharing with the guest stateroom amidships to starboard. (It has forward-facing twin berths.)

As with quite a few other midsize Absolutes, there’s also a lazarette aft that can be specified with a single transverse bunk, a head-shower compartment and a closet. It would be a crew cabin on a larger boat, but is more likely to be used for an extra guest aboard a 53-footer. It’s accessed via a glass pantograph-style door and a half-hatch on the aft deck.

Propulsion is a pair of 480 hp Volvo Penta IPS650 diesels—the only engine option. I found driving this yacht a pleasure, with comfortable upper and lower helm stations. Off the coast of Varazze, Italy, we had slight seas and a gentle breeze. At approximately half-load with those diesels at their maximum 3,720 rpm, the Navetta 53 managed just over 24 knots consistently with the Trim Assist on and the optional Seakeeper 6 off. At 20 knots and 3,400 rpm, the diesels burned 40 gallons of diesel per hour, for a range of 265 nautical miles or an easy 200 nm with a cautious reserve of 25 percent. At my zen speed of 10 knots, range is more like 400 nm. At zen minus 1, it’s about 475 nm.

Whether you choose to jog the Absolute Navetta 53 or gently stroll down the coast, this is a yacht that offers flexibility for cruising itineraries. Combined with a shippy profile, stout fiberglass construction—the internal grid system is glassed to the hull—and a family-friendly layout with customizable spaces, this yacht is an eminently cruise-worthy craft.  

Inbound Investment

Absolute Yachts offers models from 47 to 75 feet across its Coupe, Fly and Navetta ranges, and is expected to build 90 to 100 boats this year. Wise Equity recently announced that it is acquiring a controlling interest in the company, after entering and exiting Italian yacht builder Cantiere del Pardo, which is responsible for the Pardo, VanDutch and Grand Soleil brands. The move could eventually help Absolute move into larger vessels.

Function and Form

Absolute’s management team started in the small-boat sector with the Italian sportboat brand Gobbi, which Azimut Yachts acquired and turned into Atlantis. The common thread is packing as much functionality as possible into a given space. All of Absolute’s models have Volvo Penta IPS installations for reliability and performance, and to help optimize lower-deck space for accommodations. For similar reasons, Absolute uses pocket doors rather than the hinged variety.

Take the next step: absoluteyachts.com

The post Absolute Navetta 53 Reviewed appeared first on Yachting.