Galeon 400 FLY (2021-)

Brief Summary

The smallest model offered by Galeon Yachts with fold-out balconies, the 400 Fly takes some of the features found in the manufacturer’s larger offerings and scales them down to work in a smaller flying bridge yacht. She sleeps four and has open flow between the aft cockpit and salon.

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	41' 0" 12.50 m
Beam	13' 1" 4 m
Draft	3' 9" 1.02 m
Bridge Clearance	15'10" 4.82 m
Fuel Capacity	264 gallons 1,000 L
Water Capacity	132 gallons 500 L

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane	6.2 seconds
0 to 30	16.9 seconds
Load	3 persons; 98 gal. fuel; 50 lbs. gear
Climate	82 deg.; 69 humid.; winds: 0-5; seas: 0

Engine Options

Tested Engine	2 x 435-hp Volvo Penta D6
Std. Power	2 x 435-hp Volvo Penta D6

Captain's Report

By Eric Colby

Mission Statement

With the 400 Fly, Galeon Yachts and its exclusive dealer MarineMax wanted to offer some of the features like fold-out balconies, an open connection between the salon and cockpit and a large flying bridge and put them in a smaller yacht. She could be ideal for a couple or small family stepping into its first flying bridge yacht. The same goes for a pair of experienced cruisers who want to step down to a smaller model but want the quality and materials for which Galeon is known. She’s also a good size for an owner to put on a large river or lake as well as the ocean.

Galeon 400 Fly Major Features

• Large flying bridge shaded by a bimini top
• Fold-out bulwarks/balconies expand the cockpit
• Convertible lounge between salon and cockpit
• Rudder stops
• Upper and lower helm stations
• Sleeps four

Galeon Yachts 400 Fly Features Inspection

The Flying Bridge. Stairs to port in the cockpit lead up to the 400 Fly’s flying bridge that is fully sheltered by a bimini top that’s 13 ½’ (4.11 m) long and has 6’11” (2.11 m) of headroom underneath it. A lounge starts immediately adjacent to the stairs and wraps all the way around an expandable table to starboard. It ends alongside the upper helm, so a guest can keep the captain company during a cruise.

The upper helm seat is 33” (83.82 cm) wide and has a fixed wraparound backrest. There is a refrigerated drawer in the seat base. The helm station has a single Raymarine display ahead of the steering wheel that’s positioned to port. A smaller Volvo Penta screen and the autopilot are to starboard. Accessory switches are to the left of the wheel with the digital engine controls just aft and the trim-tab buttons and position indicators just aft. A joystick for the bow thruster and the VHF radio are to starboard.

The Bow. Back down the flying bridge stairs, from the cockpit, we step up 10” to the side decks. The bulwarks come up 23” (58.42 cm) and the rails add 8” (20.32 cm). At about adjacent to the helm station, we ascend two more 10” (25.4 cm) steps for the foredeck area. The trunk cabin is covered in a three-across sunpad. Front and center is a smaller sunlounge-style lounge. All the way forward, the Quick windlass is beneath a pair of hinged hatches and the roller for the plow-style anchor is recessed into the toerail. To starboard is a self-draining shallower storage box that could be good for dock lines, while to port is the deeper access to the rode. There’s a cleat for securing the anchor in the raised position.

Galeon Yachts 400 Fly Main Deck

The Stern. Symmetrical side decks lead aft from the bow to the cockpit. At the stern, it’s a 9 ½” (24.13 cm) step down to the 400 Fly’s swim platform. Our test boat had the standard fixed version but a hydraulic upgrade is available. Again following a trend we’ve seen on larger boats, the transom has two hatches that open to reveal a galley with counter space to port, a grill, a sink and a drop-in cooler. Gates slide out of the sides of the bar to close the passage to the cockpit.

The Cockpit. The 400 Fly’s cockpit has an L-shaped lounge with a table on twin pedestals. Sections of the table fold out to double its size. To expand the cockpit on each side, the bulwarks fold out to create what Galeon calls “balconies.” And the backrest for the port-side lounge can be lowered to create a larger sunlounge.

The Salon. Triple salon doors made of glass and an aluminum frame fold in to port to open the salon to the cockpit. With the salon doors open, there’s 17” (43.18 cm) of passable space when the aft salon lounge is set to face forward. Galeon helps open the passage by making the lounge pivot outboard to port, creating seating all the way from the cockpit into the salon. The backrest for this seat can also be positioned for aft-facing. There’s another table in the salon with a smaller opposing lounge to starboard. The salon has 6’5” (1.96 m) of headroom and some of the tallest windows we’ve seen. The TV is outboard of the smaller starboard lounge and raises electrically. The electrical distribution panel is to port at the salon entry.

The Galley. As we step up 6” (15.24 cm) to the galley, we notice the quality of the materials on the 400 Fly, including a high-gloss finish on the wood and upholstered highlights on vertical supports. The overhead is finished in Alcantara suede. The galley is to port with a double-basin stainless-steel sink recessed into the Corian counter. The sink and the wastebasket in the aft port corner have removable covers. There’s also a two-burner stove, a Samsung microwave/convection oven and a refrigerator. There’s a rack for condiment storage between the backsplash and the opening window.

The Lower Helm. Across from the galley, the lower helm has two 12” (30.48 cm) multifunction displays with accessory switches to port in a single row. Just below are the autopilot and bow thruster joystick with a 7” (17.78 cm) Volvo Penta engine display alongside the fixed steering wheel. The shift-throttle controls are to starboard with the trim-tab panel with built-in position indicator just aft. The helm seat is 44” (111.76 cm) wide with armrests on both sides. It slides fore and aft and has stainless-steel footrests. One of our favorite features on this boat is the sliding door to starboard that opens to the side deck. This gives the captain access to the amidships cleat for short- or single-handed operation.

Galeon Yachts 400 Fly Accommodations Deck

The Master Stateroom. Stairs lead down to the 400 Fly’s accommodations deck and aft is the master stateroom that spans the yacht’s beam. There’s variable overhead height ranging from 3’8” (1.11 m) above the berth to 5’11” (1.80 m). Mounted on the centerline, the berth measures 79” x 61” (200.66 cm x 154.94 cm) and there’s a 32” (81.28 cm) TV forward to port. Large windows on both sides of the hull let in ample natural light and the headboard has the same upscale treatments that we saw in the salon and galley. There’s a vanity with a stool to starboard and throughout the cabin, we noted the high-gloss walnut. There’s a hanging locker aft plus additional storage to port and aft. Just to starboard abaft the stateroom entrance is the door to the en suite that has a separate shower stall, a vessel sink and a hullside window with an opening port.

VIP Cabin. Forward in the 400 Fly’s bow has split berths that can be put together to create a single that measures 68” x 78” (172.72 cm x 198.12 cm). For storage, there are two hanging lockers and additional drawers in the berth base. There’s a private entry to the head that is aft to port and has another door from the companionway. The head has a shower, but it’s not separate.

Crew Quarters. The crew quarters have a single berth, a hanging locker with a full-length mirror and a wet head.

Engine Compartment. A hatch in the cockpit deck opens to provide access to the 400 Fly’s twin 440-hp Volvo Penta D6-440 diesel inboards. The shorepower cord reel is aft and outboard to starboard and the 12kW generator is in good reach. Fuel tanks are forward with filters directly mounted on the aft end. Engine batteries are to port. The fire suppression system is aft where we also noticed a detail we don’t always see on larger yachts. Each rudder shaft has vertical stops mounted on each side. These prevent the rudder from swinging all the way around and hitting the props in the event of a malfunction.

Handling. Mechanical issues prevented us from being able to gather a complete set of performance numbers, but Capt. Steve still got a pretty good feel for how the 400 Fly handles. He said she is comfortable and fun to drive. One thing worth noting is the effect the trim tabs have on the boat. She likes a lot of negative tab to improve the overall running attitude. Additionally, when starting out, go ahead and lower them to reduce bow rise and improve the captain’s view, especially at the lower helm.

Observations

We could definitely see the 400 Fly being the first flying bridge yacht for a couple or young family to step up to. She has convertible, flexible gathering areas that could accommodate two families during a day on the water. She can also sleep four below and probably a single person on the lounge in the salon.

But with the quality of build materials and systems that we’re used to from Galeon, we could also see this yacht appealing to an experienced cruising couple who’s looking to downsize. The door alongside the lower helm, the grill on the stern and the rudder stops are all assets found on larger yachts and they give peace of mind to an owner who appreciates their implementation.