Hampton Motor Yachts – a genuine class act

by Dean Leigh-Smith on 2 Dec 2008 Dean Leigh-Smith returned last week from the renowned Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and while there he was able to evaluate one of the company’s latest creations, the Hampton Endurance 650.

During the last Sydney International Boat Show, Dean Leigh-Smith ‘kicked a goal’ when he sold one of Leigh-Smith’s Cruiser Sales magnificent Hampton Motor Yachts for a lazy $2.7 million.

To follow, his report on the Endurance 650.

The new vessel, hull #5 of which is destined for the Gold Coast, is a beautifully finished classically-inspired motor yacht with a modern twist.

I believe this new ‘hybrid’ hull is the shape of things to come in the motor yacht industry.

Essentially, the Endurance 650 hull is a semi-displacement style, but it features two distinct and separate chine lines.

This design provides the vessel with an even horizontal lift as horsepower is applied.

It certainly attracted attention at Fort Lauderdale; two boats were sold and another confirmed and that was solely by the company’s Florida dealership.

Further, another was sold to a Seattle buyer and yet another to a European dealer and I’m delighted to report one will soon be on its way to Australia.

During trials off Fort Lauderdale in five to seven-foot (1.5 to 2.1-metres) seas, the Hampton Endurance 650 proved to be very comfortable in both a head sea and a following sea.

It easily passed its toughest test, handling conditions beam on without a problem.

A 90’ (27.4-metre) high-performance motor yacht was in our area, ‘cruising’ at about 30 knots.

I steered the Endurance (making about 17 knots) into this vessel’s wake and was pleased to find she held her line superbly, with minimal yawing and remarkably little pitch.

The ride proved soft and effortless with a distinct feeling of being in control at all times.

Her classic lines are somewhat deceiving; she glides through the water with ease at 10 knots, but with only a slight increase in throttle pressure moves quickly to the plane (and feels most comfortable) at 17.5 knots.

The top end speed was a brisk 21.5 knots with half fuel aboard.

All the usual Hampton hallmarks we’ve come to expect are evident aboard the Endurance 650, with a few additional features to attract interest.

Exotic stone features in the floor, a hand-painted, old world map recessed into the ceiling above the main entrance to the master stateroom, all proved eye-catching attractions.

Accommodations aboard could only be termed impressive; three sumptuous staterooms including a full-beam master with a cedar-lined walk-in wardrobe and en-suite, another with side-by-side single berths, also with cedar-lined wardrobe and its own entertainment system and a forward guest VIP cabin with queen-sized berth.

The twin and queen cabins share a superbly appointed head and shower bathroom, with marble and Corian lining.

Aft, with access form the swim platform, are crew quarters with self-contained amenities.

Stone bench tops, marble bathrooms, Meile appliances, BOSE sound system, Samsung high-definition televisions, Grohe tap ware, Le Grande switches, Raymarine electronics, and Pompanette helm chairs show that Hampton Yachts opts only for the finest.

Another key Hampton feature is in the building process; two layers of Kevlar reinforce the hull at high-load areas while three layers are used for the collision zone forward.

In keeping with classic motor yacht tradition, the entire timber fit out is completed using the timber from one single tree!

This ensures that all timber veneers and hardwoods match, the company producing its own veneer in house that is rated at three times the thickness of the industry standard to ensure longevity in the varnish finish.

More than 60,000 man hours is devoted to the construction of a Hampton Endurance 650, with the focus being on quality control and finish.

A unique concept introduced by the Hampton yard sees allocated warranty funds that are not required for warranty are diverted back to the craftsmen and women involved.

Essentially, this means that every worker has become a quality control expert, all striving to improve the product every day.

The Hampton Endurance 650 is powered by dual C 18 Caterpillar diesels each generating 873hp.

These 18.1-litre engines with their relatively low horsepower and high displacement, allied with the hull design of this vessel, produce what we believe is the most fuel efficient combination on the market today.

Each Hampton Endurance 650 carries 6500-litres of fuel and four-bladed propellers operating through a semi-tunnel design to maximise top end speed and reduce draft.

The Hampton Endurance 650 destined for the Gold Coast will include dual Onan marine gensets, Wesmar 700 stabilisers, a 500kg hydraulic davit, an RIB with a 40hp four-stroke outboard, 20hp bow and stern thrusters and chilled water air conditioning.

It will be here in ’09 and priced at $3.2 million.

Don’t miss the opportunity to inspect this magnificent vessel at Leigh-Smith Cruiser Sales, Gold Coast City Marina, Coomera.