The Outer Reef 670 Azure Sport Yacht brings at-home comfort to your cruise.
I just love days that are sunny with a fresh breeze, low humidity, and require taking a boat ride. This was one of those days. And the latest S Class build in Outer Reef Yacht’s Classic Series, the Azure 670 Sport Yacht, was the perfect boat.
It was cool enough for me to keep on my sweater as I stood on the bow, but it was the only way I could feel how fast we were cruising. Inside at the helm, the instruments showed we were doing 18 knots at 2,300 rpm. Funny thing was, from that vantage point, it felt like we were barely moving and the chop with a mild swell had no effect whatsoever. The yacht moved along so smoothly that I was able to stand at the wheel hands-free without autopilot. Even when I turned the wheel hard over at 18 knots, she made the 360-degree turn as if we were on a stabilized platform, no lean, no tilt, no adverse push from the wake or the waves.
Please enjoy the video interview with the owner, specs, and gallery at the end of the story.
The Steady Ride
I speak of the handling first because no matter how luxurious the interior, it’s the boat ability to travel through water that sets the standard for comfort. The Azure 670 SY has the weight, the power, and the stability to make for an enjoyable ride. “I look for performance, stability, safety…safety’s my biggest concern,” says Capt. Randy Ives responding to what he looks for when buying a boat. “Knowing your boat, what it’s capable of doing, is key to any captain or boat owner when he leaves the dock. One thing about Outer Reef that I was impressed with was the ability for their boats to take you through a lot of pretty bad weather without any issues.”
The 670 SY is a semi-displacement hull weighing in at 99,000 pounds. “The wind and the current don’t affect handling until you really get moving with it,” adds Ives. “If you’re on top of what you’re doing, with these boats, you can pretty well do what you want.”
With twin 735-hp Caterpillar C12 engines, ABT thrusters, and her weight primarily below the waterline, there’s a lot of boat in the water, so maneuvering in tight places is easier than expected.
The yacht’s handling, stability, and power to get where you’re going are primary features owners love, and Outer Reef builds its boats to the their liking starting from scratch and going all the way through the build in Taiwan, where you can participate in the sea trials. The idea behind the Azure 670 SY is to give owners an exceptional long-range motoryacht designed for the outdoor enthusiast that enjoys alfresco living in a comfortably luxurious style.
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For the Family
From stem to stern, the 670 SY blends an active lifestyle with the comforts of home and entertainment areas worthy of private conversations or grand celebrations. Like most homes, the heart of family gatherings is in the spacious wide-open galley that transitions seamlessly to the aft deck. The drop-down window between the galley and the aft deck is equipped with a slide-out bar top that adds more seating and counter space.
A few steps up toward the helm is a comfortable salon area with an L-shaped couch to port and a twin settee to starboard. Behind the settee is a pop-up TV, and a freestanding teak coffee table. At the helm, a centerline settee on a raised platform sits next to the Stidd captain’s seat to starboard. Weathertight doors open to the side decks both port and starboard for quick access. Aft of the starboard door, a stainless steel floating staircase leads to the flybridge and forward of the port door, a curved stairway goes down to the accommodations.
The accommodations deck shows off a full-beam, midship master suite with a king berth, walk-in closet, hanging lockers, and ensuite head with shower. In the forepeak, the VIP stateroom has a queen berth and shares a head with the guest stateroom to port that has two bunk berths. The hallway between the cabins has plenty of storage, including room for an optional stackable washer and dryer, another feature with the benefits of home.
The full-beam flybridge, another popular gathering spot, has a roomy Stidd helm seat for the captain and two L-shaped settees all enclosed. The aft section of the upper deck has ample room for sun worshippers as well as a tender and the 1,000-pound davit.
Back down on the main deck, the cockpit steps down to a mid-level cockpit that works to cast a line or watch those water enthusiasts play from the state-of-the-art “sports” platform. It submerges into the water to make easy access for swimmers, snorkelers, divers, those pulling in their catch, and when launching water toys. It’s an integral part of the yacht’s outdoor package.
Lest we not forget the bow, or as Outer Reef calls it, the Serenity Foredeck Lounge, a spacious area with a centerline U-shaped settee to enjoy as a social spot or a quiet retreat.
“It’s a very owner-operator friendly boat,” says Ives. Outer Reef Yachts’ Azure 670 SY takes owners who appreciate life’s pleasures on a cruise of their dreams in a stable, safe vessel with comfortable luxury.
-by Steve Davis
Outer Reef 670 Azure Specs
SPECS
LOA: 67′ 6″
Beam: 17′ 2″
Draft: 5′
Displacement: 99,000 lbs.
Fuel/Water: 1,000/300 U.S. gals.
Power: 2x Caterpillar C12 @ 735-hp each
Cruising Speed: 10-11 knots
Max Speed: 18-20 knots
Range: 1,300 miles at cruise
Contact: Outer Reef Yachts • outerreefyachts.com
Gallery
Video Interview
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