48
The VanDutch 56 is a 55-foot luxury dayboat that was launched by the iconic Netherlands-based yacht-building firm VanDutch in 2018. Replacing the popular 55 model, this boat features the same super-sleek lines, monolithic form and ultra-contemporary style that have become a VanDutch signature in recent years. Available as an entirely open boat or with an option to install a lightweight T-top over the cockpit, this boat marries bullet-like looks to bullet-like speeds, boasts main-deck lounge areas with a minimalist flair and also features a surprising amount of lower-deck space for overnight voyages.
An automated bathing platform to stern activated by the touch of a button offers guests the perfect place to set off on swimming adventures, while a transom locker nearby providers plenty of room to keep snorkeling gear and other toys. A couple of steps up will lead you to a vast triple-width sunpad in your choice of sophisticated Silvertex upholstery, where you can lie back in the sun for hours on end listening to the music piped through the boat’s integrated speaker system. The main-deck cockpit, lined in waterproof, teak-effect Esthec, hosts a pair of swanky L-shaped sofas and a transom sofa so that up to ten guests can congregate around a bespoke coffee table with integrated cup-holders and even a hidden wine chiller.
Up front there is a wet-bar station to starboard with a high-capacity fridge, an icemaker, bottle storage, a hidden sink and an optional outdoor grill, while to port there is a twin-seat with backrests facing the modern helm station. The Glass Cockpit dashboard features amenities like a Volvo Skyhook positioning system, a pair of Garmin touch-screen monitors, joystick handling, bow and stern thruster controls, a high-speed compass, a steering wheel and the option for wireless control of your vessel. This area sits deftly behind a wrap-around windscreen and can be covered by a Bimini top, while the hard-top edition of this boat features a sleek T-top roof with glazed skylights. Though not fitted as standard, there is even an option on the broad foredeck to install a forward sunpad with actuating backrests for marina-facing sunbathing.
Though the VanDutch 56 is very much a dayboat, this is also a vessel with enough room on the lower deck to turn it into a genuine weekend cruiser. Sparkling white surrounds, recessed strip lighting with a golden hue, plenty of skylights and a pale Esthec sole keep the feel down here clean and contemporary. Owners can pick between a pair of layouts on this level, with a lounge setup featuring a U-shaped dining sofa and table by the bow and a couple of L-shaped sofas elsewhere. Alternatively, you can exchange the dining sofa for a queen-sized double cabin with storage and find space for another double bed amidship. Either way you will find a well-stocked open galley with solid countertops, a sink, an oven, a hob and refrigerated storage, along with a main head with a backlit mirror, a rounded ceramic sink and an enclosed shower stall.
A pair of Volvo Penta D11-IPS800 625HP diesel engines fire this yacht to top speeds of around 38 knots with consistent cruising speeds of approximately 34 knots. A composite hull with an axe-style bow entry and side-rails to aft is the work of naval architect Frank Mulder, and enhances agility and efficiency in coastal waters.
