ON TEST. FERRETTI 450: A ROOMY FUNNY YACHT

What are her main strengths? First of all, handling. Despite her considerable displacement and generous volumes, the new Ferretti 450, suitable for a pure cruise, always ensures a funny steering. That was a little surprise to us since it is not usual on boats of this size and with this vocation (” for good family men/women”).

On the other hand, and this is the second source of surprise, the spaces available on board are really many. A 45-foot hull seems to host a 50-foot boat, especially “downstairs”, where the wow effect, for this 14-metre yacht, is absolutely guaranteed.

The Ferretti Yachts 450 is the outcome of the collaboration between Ferretti Group’s Product Strategic Committee, the Group’s Engineering Department – that supervised the technical and naval engineering – and Studio Zuccon International Project, which designed both exteriors and interiors. The yacht was built in the production site of Forlì, Italy, where also Ferretti 550, 650, 700 are produced while Ferretti 750, 850 and 960 are built in the establishment of Cattolica.

According to the data provided by the Engineering Department, the “invention” of the new Ferretti 450 took 9,000 hours (planning, industrialization and testing) while production took 6 weeks (plus the last test in Cattolica).

THE MAIN DECK

Let’s start from the stern. The swimming platform, equipped with a tender lift, can convert into a large walkable extension of the main deck or into a submerged area to use as a beach club or to move the tender (up to 2.80 m). Few stairs, on the left of the transom, connect it to the cockpit, featuring a classic design and equipped with an astern sofa and a central wooden table.

The interiors of the main deck are a streamlined open space. In particular, we always like the arrangement of the galley facing the cockpit especially when, thanks to a large three-element-hatch and with no stairs, the separation between the two areas is almost imperceptible.

The galley has everything one could desire at home. Stoves and sinks are on the left, while, on the starboard side, a leather upholstered cabinet contains a refrigerator and a freezer.

A rather high stair leads to the central living zone, decorated on the left with a sofa surrounding a lunch table and opposite which is another sofa against the wall. The helm station, one among the best areas of the boat, is always here but we’ll tell you about it later.

THE LOWER DECK
The lower deck can have two or three cabins. In both cases, everything revolves around the large full-beam master cabin  enhanced by the playful decorations of walnut, fabrics, lacquered surfaces and carpet in various shades of grey, as well as leather inserts in the furniture panels, framework and headboard.

The elegant cabin also features extraordinary volumes, not usual for a boat of this size: the central double bed is flanked by a sofa on the starboard side and several storage compartments and by two spacious wardrobes and other containers against the wall. There’s lot of space anywhere. Moreover, the cabin has a large and finely decorated en-suite bathroom with a separate shower.

A similar style distinguishes the fore guest suite featuring the traditional V-layout. The three-cabin version also includes an additional cabin with bunk beds on the starboard side; in this case, the fore suite has a smaller bathroom (with no separate shower) and its petineuse disappears (a perfectly acceptable lost considering that wardrobes always offer the same volumes).

There is a surprising amount of space outside, too, starting from the flybridge, equipped with a central table, an astern bar cabinet and a central pilot station. The compact size of the helm station, together with the storage of the life raft under the captain’s seat, helps to create space for a large fore sun pad. A retractable sun canopy shelters guests during the hottest hours of the day. The bow of the yacht is also a relaxation area thanks to a central sun pad on the deckhouse.

Sea trial

As already said, the Ferretti 450 (pushed by two Cummins QSB 6.7 550 HP engines) is large, spacious and funny. She offers no pure adrenaline, of course (but we don’t need it when we sail with our wife and children) but she never gives a feeling of heaviness or clumsiness at the helm, which is not rare on many other boats with the same size and usage vocation.  

The bottom is soft but precise and reactive. Turns are good, with minimal heel angles. Nose-up angle, too, is good and the passage from displacement to surfing (at 12 knots) is almost imperceptible. The internal helm station is comfortable and enjoys an excellent view (also towards the stern, thanks to the “thin” galley and a stainless – not fiberglass- stairway leading to the fly bridge).

 The maximum speed is 31 knots, in line with competitors. Worthy of note are the numbers concerning performances at fast cruising speed: 3,000 revolutions at little less than 27 knots with a consumption of 160 l/h. Sailing at an economical cruising speed, we register 2,700 revolutions at 22 knots with a consumption of just 130 l/h. Not bad, considering the 20-ton displacement of the boat.

Ferretti 450 – Technical specifications

Length Overall 14.20 m
Length waterline 11.39 m
Max Beam 4.30 m
Max Draft 1.25 m
Unladen displacement 16.30 tons
Laden displacement 19.30 tons
Engines 2 x CUMMINS QSB 6.7 550 hp/405 kW at 3.300 rev/min
Transmission: V-drive

Fuel Tank 1,400 l
Water Tank 600 l
Cabins 2/3
Manufacturer Ferretti Yachts
Interior and exterior Design– Studio Zuccon International Project
Hull and engineering – Product Strategic Committee, Ferretti Group’s Engineering Department

Design Category: B
People on board: 12
Manufacturer www.ferretti-yachts.com

Ferretti 450 – Sea trial