8/3/2019 Aicon 56-Boat, Yacht, Luxury Gulet, Bareboat, Catamaran

1/4

With the success mainstream Italian yacht builders have found on ourshores, I suppose it was only a matter of time before a young Italian

upstart would shake things up a bit.

For the past 15 years, Aicon has been building interiors for otherItalian yacht builders and, in the process, become familiar with the

demands of the American market. The company began building boats

just 21/2 years ago, and recently established a beachhead in the UnitedStates with Aicon USA. Its first offering, a 56-footer, is targeted atyachtsmen moving up from express cruisers who favor style and

performance but want the added interior amenities a motoryachtdesign allows.

All models shipped to the United States will be fitted with 800 hpCaterpillar 3406Es. During our sea trial, I recorded a maximum speed

of 27.6 knots at 2200 rpm. This is 100 turns short of what Catrecommends. According to Aicon, sea trials of the same boat in Italy

yielded the missing turns and a few more knots. This is not anuncommon phenomenon, as the hot South Florida summer robshorsepower.

Reducing the pitch or moderating the cup on the wheels will bring

back the turns and may add a bit of speed, as well. When the 56 isdialed in, Aicon expects a 31-knot maximum speed with a 27-knot

cruise.

With 22.4 degrees of deadrise amidships and 16.8 degrees at the

transom, the 56 is well suited for offshore service. While seaconditions were mild during our test, several stout wakes gave me thesense that the 56 will deliver a soft, dry ride. She is responsive to the

throttle, accelerates evenly and is predictable in high-speed turns,however, her power steering did not operate properly during our sea

trial (the problem turned out to be a spent hydraulic pump).

Sound levels were quite reasonable, although her underwater exhaustmusters a throaty grumble at transition speed, as the boat climbs to

plane. This is not uncommon, however, Aicon plans to incorporate a

muffler in the design.

8/3/2019 Aicon 56-Boat, Yacht, Luxury Gulet, Bareboat, Catamaran

2/4

Sight lines from the flying bridge and the interior helm are excellent,

and a bow thruster is provided for wiggling out of tight spots.

Styling and interior design are not taken lightly in Italy, and if yourtaste in yachts is not encumbered by tradition, you will find the 56 a

comfortable fit. Her exterior lines are a familiar refinement of whatAmerican yachtsmen seem to favor in the breed. Her rakishsuperstructure is accented with a low-slung arch. It is thoughtfully

fitted with an extension that positions the radar above the captain's

cap. Her slight reverse sheer terminates in a reverse transom thatborders an integral swim/tender platform.

Rail gates are fitted on the side decks, and our test boat was equippedfor boarding astern (European style) with a hydraulic passerelle that

can be retracted or deployed from shore by remote control. Aicon saysthe passerelle is designed to serve as a tender crane, as well, but thiswas not demonstrated during our test.

The teak-covered afterdeck has built-in seating, and a sunpad tops the56's raised trunk forward. Warping windlasses are fitted aft, and awindlass/wildcat controls a plow-style anchor with 330 feet of chain.

Molded-in stairs on the afterdeck lead to the flying bridge, where

curved seating is aft and an island helm and raised sunpad areforward. This is a rather clever arrangement, as positioning the sunpad

forward of the helm allows for additional interior headroom in themain cabin forward. As a result, there is less nip and tuck in the

belowdecks overhead and sole, creating a more sophisticated, big boatfeel.

The flying bridge's helm bench seating is one with an integral console

with a wet bar and space for a barbecue grill. I would ask aboutincreasing the size of the helm seat, as it is a bit of a squeeze for two

average-size Americans.

An impressive, polished, stainless-steel framed sliding glass door onthe afterdeck leads to the main cabin. Almost all the stainless steelaboard the 56 is fabricated at the yard. Aicon also crafts its own

8/3/2019 Aicon 56-Boat, Yacht, Luxury Gulet, Bareboat, Catamaran

3/4

interiors, and the 56's high-gloss cherry joinery has the detail and

luster Italian yacht builders are famous for.

The split-level main cabin has a built-in curved seating area aft and anopen galley area opposite a curved dinette forward. A partition can be

closed to segregate the chef. With the exception of a dual-voltagerefrigerator, all appliances are familiar brands. There is a fair amountof stowage, including drawers designed to accommodate the custom

tableware.

A built-in washer/dryer is positioned conveniently in the passageway

that leads belowdecks. The master stateroom, with a queen islandberth, is amidships. A forward stateroom with a queen island berth hasa private head. A second guest stateroom has two single berths. A

third head without a shower is accessible from the passageway and isconvenient as a day head.

The 56's construction follows European production yacht practice,

with a solid bottom supported by a closely spaced network oftransverse and longitudinal fiberglass stiffeners. The hull laminate iscomposed of alternating plies of woven roving and mat, and end-grain

balsa coring is used to stiffen the topsides, superstructure and decks.

The engineroom is accessible from the afterdeck and, unlike someenginerooms on European designs, is quite spacious and thoughtfully

laid out. Machinery installations seem neat and tidy, and servicepoints on the main engines and auxiliary systems appear to be within

easy reach. Fuel is carried in two stainless-steel wing tanks thatgravity feed a day tank on centerline. An 11kW generator with a

sound shield is abaft the engines.

A small compartment abaft the machinery space is designated ascrew's quarters on the arrangement plan, however, Aicon USA offers

this as an option. Those interested in cruising the Bahamas would bebetter off using the space for spare parts, a freezer and a watermaker.The lazarette is accessible from the swim platform and is segregated

with a watertight bulkhead.

8/3/2019 Aicon 56-Boat, Yacht, Luxury Gulet, Bareboat, Catamaran

4/4

In a relatively short time, Aicon has assembled more than 250

employees and set up three production facilities in Sicily with 276,000

square feet of production space under cover. By year's end, thecompany expects to be producing two 56s a month. A 52 and a 64 are

scheduled to be introduced in the United States in 2003.For one of the first boats out of the box from a new builder, our test 56had a surprisingly few pre-delivery loose ends. This is truly an

achievement. It suggests the builder has corralled the right talent and

is committed to building a quality boat. Aicon seems a seriouscompetitor, and the 56 is worth a serious look.

Boat & Yacht | Turkey

Boat & Yacht Magazine | Turkey

Turkish YachtYacht Charter Turkey

Boat, Yacht, Luxury Gulet, Bareboat, Catamaran Charters Turkey

Boats for Sale - New and Used Boat Sales

Motor Boat & Yachting

Exceutive Boat & Yacht Brokerage

www.perfectyachts.com