Salthouse 60 Pacific Motor Yacht Magazine - Home Page Halcyon ...

BOAT REVIEW
The Art of
Enlightenment
Nirvana is the first
Sovereign 60 to be
sold in New Zealand and
is the second to incorporate
an internal staircase and alfresco
dining area. Until now these were
found only in the Sovereign 65, but
Salthouse Marine Group has successfully
redesigned the 60, the fourth to be launched, to
take on the appearance and attributes of the larger 65.
Main Photo: Nirvana looks distinctive with its
dark blue hull and cream superstructure.
W
When the new owner of Nirvana went shopping
for a replacement for his Genesis 400, he was
looking for something that was not only a lot
bigger, but also a boat that he could put his
personal stamp on. The Salthouse Sovereign provided
him the capability to take a stock GRP
production hull that was well proven and then
semi customise the layout, without losing the
distinctive style of the Sovereign range. He also
remarked that the boat represented excellent
value for money and the feedback from previous
customers of Salthouse Marine Group was nothing
but favourable.
“We like to give every owner the opportunity to
individualise not only the way the boat is presented
and the final detailing but also in creating
a layout that is both suitable and practical for
their needs”, said Rob Salthouse.
Nirvana has a number of unique features that are
a first for the builders, not only in the 60 but also
for the Sovereign range. “We learnt a lot from
the previous Sovereign 60s, Ranger 1 and Ranger
2, both of which were sold to the USA and
Madam Rouge which is in Australia.
“Nirvana is an amalgam of a lot of the ideas from
those three boats plus the 65”, said Salthouse.
When you step aboard Nirvana the most obvious
difference is the alfresco dining area in the cock-
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Salthouse Sovereign 60
Text by Barry Thompson
Photos by Chris Lewis (aerial)
geoff osborne (interiors)
The alfresco dining area is a new feature for the Sovereign 60.
The fully enclosed helm features customised Salthouse Marine Group seats
and a Nobletech software system linked through Raytheon electronics.
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BOAT REVIEW Salthouse Sovereign 60
The enclosed flybridge is exactly the same
dimensions as found on the 65.
pit. Due to space constraints the seating isn’t full
wrap-around like the 65, but it does still offer a
spacious area for guests. It’s under cover, out of
the sun and lets those aboard still feel very much
part of the cockpit activity such as fishing, diving
or swimming. Like the 65, an entire rear glass
panel retracts to provide a wide-open space
between the galley and the dining area, giving
the boat a total indoor/outdoor living aspect.
While some builders would say that an internal
staircase on a boat this size is too much of an
imposition on space, in Nirvana it’s just the
opposite. There is the obvious extra area in the
cockpit now available for the alfresco dining and
the spiral staircase has been cleverly incorporated
into the layout. Areas around the staircase
have been used for storage, an internal switch
panel and the large domestic-size fridge/freezer.
“Nirvana is a step-up from the earlier 60s and
certainly more up-market both in layout and
appointments, which is something that we are
focusing on in all our boats”, said Salthouse.
He said that this also applies to the all new
Sovereign 57, due to be launched at the Sydney
Boat Show, which will feature an almost identical
internal staircase and cockpit layout to
Nirvana. The layout downstairs will be more suitable
for a double cabin design, although there is
a three-cabin option.
Salthouse added that owners love the fact that
the internal passage from the saloon to the flybridge
means you don’t have to go outside and
put your wet weather gear on if it’s raining and
it is a big plus if the boat is equipped with air
conditioning. “Our more senior owners also prefer
it to the traditional steep stainless ladder”.
The overall layout of the Sovereign 60 is somewhat
of a compact version of the 65. Salthouse
is keen to point out that in no way has the space
been compromised and in fact if anything it’s
even better.
Accommodation areas are forward with three or
two cabin layout options. Nirvana has three cab-
The owners’ cabin is large with the island
double berth surrounded by an abundance of
lockers and drawers.
ins with an owners’ stateroom forward with large
double berth and another double and two singles
in the guests’ cabins. Two en-suites service the
owner and guests and each is finished with large
circular shower cubicles and crushed marble
vanity tops and floors.
The owners’ cabin is large with the island double
berth surrounded by an abundance of lockers and
drawers. There’s a built-in TV and VCR system
and as in the rest of the accommodation areas,
overhead hatches and side ports provide the
necessary ventilation and natural lighting.
All the teak panelling and timber trim is finished
to a high gloss state, with the holly inlay theme
carried right through the interior joinery. The
detailing around the door handles is passed
through in the same manner with a black inlay
offset between the teak and holly. Foam padded
wall panels provide good sound insulation and
are finished in durable Alacantara fabric.
The port guests’ cabin is surprisingly large and
includes another large double berth with ample
The dining table in the main saloon drops to
floor level when not in use and is replaced
with a small ottoman.
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BOAT REVIEW
work areas around either side. Its en-suite is also
shared by the smaller guests’ cabin opposite. To
date all four Sovereign 60s sold have had the
twin single berth layout although there is the
option of making the space into an office or
considerably extending the owners’ en-suite.
“Being semi custom it’s in an area like this that
we can give the clients that little extra and they
can have the layout the way they want it, not
simply something that is forced on them in a
similar sized stock boat”, said Salthouse.
The saloon comprises three distinct areas, galley
aft, port side formal dining and entertainment
centre with lounge to starboard. The bar area
with glass racks is behind a sliding rattan door
with the TV, DVD, CD, and video above. The soft
leather settee alongside can be converted to a
reasonably sized double berth and the huge
U-shaped settee allows for 6-8 around the intricately
finished burl elm, holly and teak table.
At first glance there’s no dining table, just a small
ottoman in its place. The table is cleverly concealed
at floor level and raised into position by
means of an electric-hydraulic system when
required. The surrounding floor is on air rams so
it also rises to form a flush base when the table
is in the raised position. A first for Salthouse
Marine Group, it answers the conundrum of
space and provides a greatly enlarged entertainment
area in the saloon.
SMG has spared nothing when it comes to providing
a not inconsiderable area for the galley.
A wide U-shaped Trezzini vanity features an
abundance of storage space, with trash compactor,
F&P dish drawer, stove and oven. There’s
a convection microwave above and fridge/
freezer, customised with teak outside cladding,
opposite.
A spiral staircase leads up to the enclosed flybridge,
which has exactly the same dimensions
as found on the 65. It is set up with a forward
console with a second docking and fishing control
console outside in the lower cockpit. Set into
the centre of the full width helm console is a
Nobletec computer software screen with a secondary
fishfinder and plotting system and radar
either side. “The owners wanted to be able to use
the boat in any weather if necessary and so it
was important that the electronics and navigational
equipment aboard was not only compatible
but easy to read”, said Salthouse.
A special feature of the bridge is the pair of
Salthouse designed and built custom helm seats.
To port is a wet bar and sun lounge with coffee
table and large sliding doors open to the upper
deck with its full width seating and solid teak
sole. The internal staircase, encapsulated with a
storage unit has a burl elm and holly surface that
adds a touch of richness to the bridge.
In sea trials Nirvana pulled close to 32 knots and
has a comfortable cruise around 26 knots. Power
is a pair of the latest Volvo D12 / 700hp engines,
which according to Salthouse is the most power
they have installed in a Sovereign 60, It’s a hull
that could certainly take more.
For a number of years now Salthouse Marine
Group has utilised the same mould for their 50
- 62 Sovereign range. A new mould has been
built which is both wider and longer and destined
to produce the new generation Sovereigns from
18.3 m - 19.8 m.
Building on the successful design formula of the
Salthouse Sovereign the new mould offers not
The saloon comprises three distinct
areas, galley aft, port side
formal dining and entertainment
centre with lounge to
starboard.
With no external staircase
there is wide access either
side and a day head alongside
the alfresco dining
area.
only a beamier boat - 5.5 m (18ft) - but has also
been tweaked a little at the bow with finer forward
sections and a deeper forefoot. It’s higher,
wider and offers a lot more volume. Construction
will still remain a well-engineered mix of endgrain
balsa core and GRP, built to Lloyd’s survey,
something that has been part of all Salthouse
Marine Group boats for many years.
Nirvana is the 25th Sovereign to be launched by
Salthouse Marine and with a further four in build
Boat Name
Design Name
Builder
Nirvana
Salthouse
Sovereign 60
Salthouse
Marine Group
Bob Salthouse
Designer
Interior Designer Maritime
Interiors
Year Launched 2003
LOA
Beam
Draft
Displacement
Max Speed
Cruise Speed
18.9 m
5 m
1.4 m
25 tonnes
31.5 knots
26 knots
Fuel Cap 3000 litres
Water Cap 1200 litres
Construction End Grain
Balsa-cored GRP
Engines Volvo D12 700
HP
Gearboxes ZF
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Propellers Henley’s 4
Blade
Equipoise
Generator Onan 11 kVA
Inverter Mastervolt
3000
Watermaker Sea Recovery
3200 litres/hour
Lighting Cantalupi
Deck Windlass Muir Atlantic
3500
Anchors Manson S/S
Steering Sea Star
Controls Volvo EDC
Wipers Exalto
Paint (Topsides) Glasurite
Paint (Antifouling) International
Long Life
Hatches Lewmar
Windscreens Taylor Made Ltd
Heads
Techma
Veneer/Plywood Gibsons
- three export and one local - it has unquestionably
proven to be one of New Zealand’s most
successful luxury mid range motoryachts. With
Sovereigns now in Australia and the USA as well
as New Zealand, the dedicated and focused local
and international marketing has certainly paid
off for one of New Zealand’s longest established
semi production boatbuilders.
Bow Thruster Sidepower 15HP
Davit Crane Davco Trifold
350
Tender Zodiac Projet
Stainless Steel Marine
Installation
Services
Trim Tabs Bennett
Batteries HCB
Entertainment System ONKYO /
Atlantic Audio
ELECTRONICS
Autopilot Raytheon ST
7000
GPS/Plotter Raytheon G3201
Depth Sounder Raytheon
L1250 RC
Radar
Raytheon RL70
VHF Raytheon 53
Wind Instruments Raytheon ST 60
Software System Nobletech
Switch Panel BEP Marine
Price (Approx.) $NZ2.4 million
Contact: Salthouse Marine Group. Ph New Zealand (09) 837 3364, Australia (03) 5979 7684, USA (410) 2950081
www.salthousemarine.com
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