Spanish yard De Antonio has made
a name for itself with its distinctive
range of outboard-powered craft,
but surely it would have to switch to
inboard diesel power for its latest 46ft
sportscruiser? Apparently not – lift
up that large rear sunpad and lurking
underneath are no less than four
Evinrude G2 outboard engines of
300hp each. I’ve never been strong
at maths but even I can work out that
adds up to 1,200hp in a boat weighing
less than 13 tonnes.We haven’t yet had the chance
to experience what this feels like
but judging from the wide-eyed
expression of the French journalist
I saw stepping off the D46 after
a quick spin, it clearly made an
impression. He kept muttering
something about a top speed
47 knots before stumbling off
in search of a double espresso.
Even when safely lashed to the
pontoons at the Palma Boat Show,
the D46 looked faintly unsettling.HIGHLIGHTS
● Four outboard engines
● Top speed of 47 knots
● Three good cabinsAT A GLANCE
Length 45ft 7in (13.9m)
Beam 14ft 5in (4.4m)
Engines Twin or quadruple
250-400hp petrol outboards
Top speed 47 knots
Price from €684,000 inc VATDe Antonio D46 Open
The topsides are so tall, so flat and
so vertical that they have a kind of
brutalist appeal that fans of modern
architecture will appreciate but
boating purists may shy away from.
Step on board and you can instantly
feel the benefits of retaining that
broad beam all the way down to the
waterline. The cockpit is set up for
sun-drenched day boating with four
large sunpads spread across the main
deck, although with no guardrails or
toerails on the sidedecks, the one onthe foredeck is best left to the sure-
footed. Venture below decks and you’ll
be amazed at how much space there
is. The show boat had three cabins
and two heads, including a full-beam
master amidships, but it can be
configured with two doubles and
a lower dinette, or even one master
with a vast open-plan saloon. Given
the edgy exterior looks, it was rather
nice to find plenty of wood down here,
adding some warmth to the straight
edges and stark lines that dominate
the exterior styling.
Those petrol engines mean it’s
unlikely to be chosen for its long-
range cruising abilities but if you’re
looking for something that offers the
pace of an Axopar, the style of a Fjord
and the overnight accommodation of
a Fairline, there’s very little to match it.
Contact De Antonio. Tel: +34 934 676The modern slab-sided design
succeeds in turning heads
as well as creating space for
three good cabins below decksNEW BOATSThe helm and cockpit
are well protected by
a tall windscreenThe outboards are
tucked beneath
the aft sunpadThe full-beam
master cabin is
a nice surprise