The ECLIPSE 505 Shadow steps out into the sun.
Snuggled in a corner dwarfed by large yachts at the outer edge of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the new ECLIPSE 505 wasn’t in a shadow, but boldly shining in the day’s sunlight. Her sleek profile caught the eye of all those walking by who slowed their pace to take a closer look. Sitting still, she has the lines of a shark in motion, and looking into the interior, she is simple and clean, but so much hides inside.
“The big thing was, in the express cruiser segment, everything’s a bit aged. …We wanted to bring speed, performance, and design it from a blank sheet,” says Dave Jirikovic, brand manager at HMY Yachts, the exclusive dealer for Eclipse Yachts. “This boat has no similarity to anything else. It was not taken from anywhere else. It was not borrowed. This was base drawings and concepts from several hundred years of people in the marine industry saying this is what we need to do. Let’s build a performance, well-put together, spare-no-expense package, and deliver the customer all the way to the end, an excellent customer experience.”
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The Eclipse 505 Shadow Design
As a result, the ECLIPSE 505 Shadow combines luxury with avant-garde interior appointments along with engineering and design elements that deliver not only powerful elegance, but also a minimalist approach where the design stands alone without the need for fluff. That doesn’t mean the yacht is stripped of its persona or its capabilities.
“All the design work was done by Michael Peters Yacht Design, the exterior, construct, etc.,” says Jirikovic. “Interiors were done by Design Unlimited of the UK, and Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing of Cape Town, South Africa, executed the build.” It’s a who’s who of the yacht design industry.
The ECLIPSE features Peters’ patented Stepped-Vee Ventilated Tunnel (SVVT) hull that has revolutionized hull design through its reduced wetted surface, vertical sidewall tunnel, and shallow tunnel that has, among other benefits, less drag, efficient fuel consumption, directional stability, and a smoother, stable ride than many other hull designs.
Design Unlimited has a superyacht and residential background with a reputation for excellence in both interior design and exterior styling. For example, the interior is dominated by rich Alpi Italian Walnut wood and an expansive, power moonroof (because of its tinted glass construction) that allows for more fresh air and natural light. The craftsmanship in the cabinetry and the flooring gives the yacht an upscale residential feel.
Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing specializes in crafting custom and semi-custom power and sailing catamarans, power boats, and offshore rescue craft from 27 to 150 feet. Extensive testing is performed before final molds are completed because the sea conditions around Cape Town are challenging, to say the least.
On Deck
The ECLIPSE 505 Shadow is primarily known as a one-deck boat, meaning all the social activities as well as the helm are located on the main deck, no flybridge or towers. “We as a design team wanted to make sure we could keep the boat as step-free as we could on the main level while keeping the boat low-slung for the look,” says Jirikovic.
Although there is one step up to the helm and a few steps down to the accommodations, with the moonroof, salon cabin door, and the galley window fully open, the deck is a friends and family entertainment center, even more so when the cockpit bulwark folds down into a terrace and adds an extra four feet in width. Then add the wide deck behind the transom that allows plenty of room to walk around the outboards, and with two swim ladders, it’s easy to launch the water toys, go swimming, or just dangle your feet off the side.
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The cockpit has a nice L-shaped settee that acts as the transom with a beautiful high-gloss folding table handcrafted by BlueWater Chairs. While we’re in the cockpit, there is a feature that is unseen on most boats—the cockpit door opens and folds into the deck completely hidden away for easy boarding without the hassle of opening the door to the side in or out. It also allows for the cockpit settee to extend to the edge.
A heavy-duty glass door provides access to the interior, and what makes this door special is the way it opens. “I didn’t want a hinge up or a mullion in between, or bi-fold in poor weather conditions,” says Jirikovic. “You want to be able to come in and out without restriction, without Isinglass, without zippers, and if your hands are wet and slippery, the last thing you want to deal with is a bi-fold door.” One side of the two window doors slides open over the other and locks. Then the inside door is released so both doors swing out and lock into place along the cabin wall extension into the cockpit.
Next to the door is a large window between the galley and the two-seat cockpit counter that electronically slides down into the counter. With the doors and the window open, the main deck from the engines to the helm become that large entertainment space.
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In the galley, “all the appliances are Thermador, from the convection microwave oven to the cooktop to the fridge/freezer drawers,” says Jirikovic. Having the fridge/freezer in drawers eliminates the typical stand-up fridge so there is more useful counterspace in its place. Owners have the choice of how to setup the four drawers, whether two freezers and two fridges or any combination desired.
The port-side salon U-shaped settee area with a hi-lo table has multiple functions from a dining area to a game table to an extra bunk. One special feature is the mate seat which is closest to the helm. With the push of a button, the seat lifts and spins around to face forward. The helm seat also raises and lowers for better viewing.
At the helm, twin 16-inch Garmin displays headline the dash along with the Side-Power variable-speed thruster control, which is tied in with the Mercury joystick located on the right sidearm along with the Mercury Premier binnacle set which has the engine information available on its screen. It’s a nice backup to the NMEA system that allows the displays to show all electronic information, including the Garmin Surround View system. “The Surround View Camera system by Garmin comes with the Shadow package for the 505.” Says Jirikovic. “It’s three-hundred-sixty visibility, just like your car has. People may think it’s gimmicky or not functional, but it’s not. Every one of these boats is calibrated. They come in set, all six points of the boat, and calibrate it before they’ll release the boat and switch on the software.” Another option on the boat is the Humphree Interceptor Trim Tabs, and the steering wheel tab controls, just like on your car, is one more option in the Shadow package.
Up on the bow, beside the anchor and chain locker, a rumble-style seat has your feet in a recessed deck and tilts up to store the backrest for a clean underway look without the need for cushion storage space.
The Cabin Below
The Eclipse 505 Shadow offers a true two-stateroom, two-head layout. Leather-wrapped handles and grab rails leading down the steps to the vestibule add to the sophistication of the design and comfort level along with the Alpi Italian Walnut treatments. The forward ensuite master cabin has a centerline modified queen berth with storage beneath, large side windows with accordion shades, and the above hatch allows for plenty of light as does the ambient lighting throughout the boat.
One of the more challenging design features is the twin berths in the second ensuite cabin. “The power twin set of beds split or comes together,” says Jirikovic. “It’s just slightly larger than a queen with a filler, so there’s no hump in between. It’s nice and smooth.” The berths align with the beam (not bow to stern) and because it’s a full-beam cabin, there’s room for a cozy couch along the port wall. Again, plenty of light with side windows and ambient lighting.
With flush-deck entertaining spaces typically found only on larger yachts, the ECLIPSE 505 Shadow’s owner-centric design ensures it stands alone in the express cruiser realm. Enhanced with surround-view cameras, stunning fabrics and touchpoints, Starlink connectivity, and 1,800 horsepower, the ECLIPSE 505 Shadow is art on-the-water and gives an experience like no other.
-by Steve Davis
Eclipse 505 Shadow Specifications
LOA: 50′ 8″
Beam: 14′ 8″
Draft: 2′ 6″
Displacement (w/Seakeeper 6): 30,141 lbs.
Fuel/Water: 650/120 U.S. gals.
Power: 3x Mercury V12 @ 600-hp
Range: 350 nm @ 40 mph
Contact: HMY Yachts
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