Uniesse Exuma HTC5P Reviewed

Go far. Go fast. Go in style. The Uniesse Exuma HTC5p aims to change the outboard luxury cruiser game by letting owners do all three of those things at once. This 56-foot express cruiser with quad 600 hp Mercury Verado V-12s has details like impeccably welded stainless-steel hinges on the cockpit hull door and hand-stitched leather upholstery from Milanese leathersmiths. This is a tactile boat that invites guests to touch everything. There are bullnose-edged calacatta marble galley countertops, quarried in Tuscany since Roman times (and more exclusive than Carrara marble). There are mosaic-lined tile showers that subtly change sea tones. The anchor roller assembly is as rugged as what you’ll find on salvage tugs, but as beautiful as Tiffany jewelry. The leather-lined wheel lets owners feel the surge of those four V-12 outboards.

From outside, this yacht’s look is inspired by Italian race cars: swept-back hardtop with raked windscreen, swoopy side windows. This Uniesse is seemingly going 100 mph at anchor. Owners and guests step aboard through a cockpit side door or via the transom platform. Uniesse designed the HTC5p specifically for the Mercury motors, with all of the rigging hidden below the swim platform so everyone can walk from side to side safely. And the engines’ lower units tilt out of the water for corrosion protection without impinging on the transom space.

The cockpit has twin L-shaped settees with tables in the after corners for at-sea entertaining. A pair of consoles against the house conceal twin Elag ceramic grills, a sink, an ice maker and twin fridge drawers. A custom SureShade telescoping cockpit awning stretches to the stern for sun protection, and a clever Besenzoni passerelle under the cockpit door unfurls steps that lead down into the water for swimming, as well as up to dock level for easy boarding.

In the salon, there’s an average 6 feet, 5 inches of headroom, a wraparound windshield with no mullions, windows that extend from the overhead to the couch, and a sunroof with shades. This is clearly the primary entertaining area, with a U-shaped high-low dinette to port facing a pop-up TV that rises from the hand-stitched leather console.

The skipper and companion have ergonomic, adjustable seats with good side bolstering, set abaft a low, wide black dash that neither blocks the view nor reflects in the windshield. The HTC5p that I got aboard had a brace of 22-inch Garmin multifunction displays along with Yamaha system digital panels, and a Mercury joystick with Skyhook technology for holding station, a great feature when awaiting bridge openings.

The stairs next to the helm lead to a lower foyer, which serves as a galley with 24-inch-wide marble countertops, 6-foot-5-inch headroom and bright lacquered cabinetry. The Miele cooktop and convection oven are supported by a full-size fridge and a wine chiller.

Forward, the owner’s stateroom is a serene haven, with side windows and an overhead hatch for light above the 60-inch walk-around island berth. The private head has one of the mosaic-lined and book-matched marble showers, a glass vessel sink and an electric toilet.

Just abaft the galley to starboard is a guest stateroom, with twin berths that can be joined to form a double. The VIP is tucked aft to port, with 7-foot-6-inch headroom, an angled queen berth, and enough stowage for extended cruising. A day head is off the foyer and serves both guest staterooms, also with a mosaic-tiled shower and electric head.

The mold work on the Uniesse is impeccable, with the boat built to RINA Class A and US Coast Guard standards. One detail is particularly notable: The yacht’s fuel tanks are sealed from the rest of the boat. A separate hatch allows removal of the roto-molded tanks, which are held in place by custom Uniesse brackets. The compartment is fully ventilated overboard.

As for the boat’s model name, the small “p” after Exuma HTC5 should be a capitalized and underlined “P” for Performance. From the land of Ferrari and Lamborghini, this 44,000-pound Italian stallion simply hauls. Flat out at 6,400 rpm, this yacht hit 50.5 knots while I recorded just 72 decibels of sound. That’s quieter than Christmas morning at my house. Conversation in the salon was at normal levels (65 decibels), and the Mercury instruments said the V-12s were barely breathing hard.

I poked around belowdecks while the hammers were down and didn’t recognize the actual speed until I saw the long, white wake. The Exuma rises flat without vision-stealing bow rise, jumps onto plane at about 17 knots and never looks back. At a mile-eating 30 knots, the engines sip fuel at 80 gallons per hour, giving the HTC5p an easy 335-nautical-mile range. Even after a 45-knot hard turn, the Exuma rolled into a gentle bank that wouldn’t disturb even the most nervous guests.

This impressive import made me want to throw a linen jacket over my shoulder like an Italian film director, grab some friends and go have fun.  

Grade A

Registro Italiano Navale is a recognized independent standard that rates boats for safety, seaworthiness and construction. The RINA Class A rating means a yacht is self-sufficient and capable of extended voyages in winds over 40 knots and sea heights above 13 feet. 

Sizing Up

Uniesse has unveiled its next new model: the Raptor 112 Super Yacht. It’s a yacht with five staterooms, including an on-deck master with four en suite VIP staterooms belowdecks. There also are three crew cabins. Power will come from MTU, which the builder says should give the 230-gross-ton yacht a 25-knot top-end speed and a 21-knot cruise speed, with a range of 580 nautical miles at cruise. Uniesse says the Raptor 112 will also be built to class for unrestricted navigation.

Buttons to Boats

Dating back to 1940, Uniesse was once famous for making buttons. The Scaraburri family was a leading producer of wooden buttons in Europe. In 1987, the boat-loving brothers of the third generation decided to take their woodworking skills into boatbuilding. 

Power Play

Each of the four 600 hp Mercury Verado V-12s on this yacht has a steerable lower gear case (so the engine doesn’t move to turn) as well as service-friendly access to normal check and filler points atop the engine. The engines also tilt out of the water without moving the powerhead.

Take the next step: uniesse.com

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