Schaefer Yachts 450 Fly (2023)

Brief Summary

The Schaefer Yachts 450 Fly is the latest launch from the Brazilian yard.  It’s an owner/operator’s yacht that consists of two staterooms and two heads.  There’s an additional crew’s space but that serves as an added stateroom as there will rarely be crew on this yacht. She’s powered by either IPS or sterndrives with a triple 600-hp outboard application already in the works. 

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	45' 13.66 m
Beam	14' 4.26 m
Dry Weight	34,800 lbs 15,785 kg
Tested Weight	36,812 lbs 16,698 kg
Person Capacity	14 (day) 4+1 (night)
Fuel Capacity	317 gal 1200 L
Water Capacity	132 gal 500 L
Total Weight	36,812 lbs 16,698 kg

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane	8.1 seconds
0 to 30	27.3 seconds
Load	3 persons; 234.58 gal. fuel; 50 lbs. gear
Climate	68 deg., 40 humid; wind: 15-20, seas: 1

Engine Options

Std. Power	2 x 480-hp Volvo Penta D6 IPS650

Captain's Report

Schaefer Yachts 450 Fly

Captain’s Report by Capt. Steve

Mission

Schaefer Yachts had a large gap in the model range between the 40 and the 510.  As a response to customer demand, and to satisfy the loyal customer base, the 450 Fly was created to fill the gap and expand the model offerings.    

Major Features

• Spacious crew cabin
• IPS, sterndrive… outboard coming soon.
• Master is full beam with sofa to one side.
• Spacious cockpit, with more space than the next larger Schaefer model.
• L-shaped galley located aft.
• Flying bridge takes up nearly half the boat’s length. 
• Drop-down starboard side balcony
• Single piece windshield

Boat Inspection

Flybridge

Being that “fly” is right in the model’s name, we’ll start our tour there.  We access the flying bridge from a set of stairs to the starboard cockpit.  A smoked glass hatch is at the top of the stairs so ensure that it’s opened before speeding up the steps.  A stainless-steel railing surrounds the stairs and protects from accidental falls.  Once on the upper deck, guests are gathering around a spacious L-shaped sofa wrapping around a solid wood, expandable, table on a fixed pedestal.  Storage is under all the seats. All decking is teak.  Ahead and to starboard is a refreshment center with a sink, an icebox, and a hatch concealing a trash receptacle to aft side. 

The helm is mounted to the port side forward on the deck.  There’s a double-wide seat and a flip back would allow it to join the seating at the table.  The console has a single 12” (30.48 cm) display, (with multiple options up to twin 16" 40.64 cm) and an engine display.  The compass is in line with the wheel, which is mounted to a tilt base. 

Cockpit

Schaefer did a good job of creating a roomy cockpit, comparable to the 510 in our opinion.  It consists of L-seating wrapping around a solid wood, expandable, table on a fixed pedestal.  All decking is teak.  At the forward end of the seating there’s a teak covered step to the side deck.  There’s no storage under the cockpit seating as there are accommodations to the swim platform, which we’ll get to shortly in this report. 

A drop-down balcony is to the starboard side.  It’s surrounded by stainless-steel stanchions supporting lifelines across the top and middle.  They have dedicated storage in a hatch at the balcony deck.  Right alongside there’s a space for a third command station.  The steps to the flying bridge are to one side of this command station, and steps to the side deck are to the other.     

 

Swim platform

The teak swim platform is accessed from stairs to the starboard side of the aft deck.  It’s a hydraulic platform with a 1323 lb. (600 kg) lift capacity allowing it to serve as a place to store and launch a tender, in addition to creating a private beach.  Stairs to the starboard side auto deploy as the platform is lowered. Schaefer's platform hydraulics are unique as they move nearly vertically, as opposed to those that move outward and down.  This design reduces the hazardous gap between the stern and the platform considerably.

At the transom, there’s an electrically actuated slide-out grilling station, and this explains why there’s no storage under the cockpit seating.  It’s taken up with this stored unit, and that is certainly a fair tradeoff.  The station includes an electric grill under a hatch that is supported with a gas assist strut.  We’re happy to see that a power cutoff switch is provided adding a measure of safety when the lid over the grill is closed.  There’s a working surface in the Silestone counter next to the grill and then a single basin recessed sink to the starboard side.  Beverage holders are to both sides of the entire station.  Silestone cutting surface.  Crew cabin access to the port side of the transom. 

 

Galley

We move to the interior through a set of stainless-steel framed glass bi-fold doors.  The galley is to the port side and aft making it the central focus between the cockpit and the salon. 

It’s fully featured with all the requisite appliances expected in this class of yacht.  With the doors fully open, there’s a pass through to the cockpit making serving that area a natural occasion.  There’s plenty of storage with all cabinetry and doors having the familiar Schaefer button to unlatch each with ease.  There’s a vent over cooktop with a window just above.  A convection microwave is below.  Counters are all Silestone with raised edges, but Schaefer Yachts also added a stainless-steel rail around the side and aft edge.  We’d remove that as it just seems to take up counter space.

Salon

The salon is just ahead and Schaefer went with an opposing seating layout by placing an L-shaped sofa to port and a loveseat to starboard.  Two ottomans add to the seating and/or comfort level.  A solid wood expandable table is on a hi/lo pedestal.  Choose from manually actuated or electrically.  There’s plenty of light from the surrounding windows, and especially the front single-piece windshield.  The deck is on a single level from the cockpit to the forward bulkhead.    Surrounding cabinetry is fabricated from laminated marine plywood.   

Helm

The lower helm features a panel that can house dual 12” (30.48 cm) displays and there's room for dual 16" (40.64cm).  A storage cubby is below and just alongside the electrical switches.  The wheel is mounted to a tilt base.  The engine controls are to the right of the wheel and to a subpanel to starboard we find the IPS joystick, VHF radio, air conditioning vent, trim tab controls and electrical switches. 

The helm seat is a single hi-rise with flip armrests.  It adjusts fore and aft and includes a recline feature, all electrically actuated.  An opening side window can supplement or replace the air conditioning.  Visibility is through a massive single piece windshield. 

Master

The master is located in the center of the boat and it’s full beam.  There’s standing headroom all around but there is a need to stoop when moving across the front of the berth to not hit the dip in the ceiling to accommodate the companionway just above.  A chest of drawers is to the starboard side and a settee is to the port, both being under hullside windows with integrated opening portlights. 

At the forward end of the stateroom there is a hanging locker for additional storage.  A flat screen is mounted to the bulkhead adjacent to the entrance.  Below the TV is a vanity. 

 

VIP

The VIP stateroom is forward, and Schaefer Yachts went with a scissor berth that can easily accommodate guests in two separate berths or a single larger one.  We’re always happy to see when a builder utilized what would otherwise be dead space over the side windows for storage.  Additional storage is under the berths. 

Head

There are two heads on the 450 Fly, and each is a mirror image of the other.  The shower is in an enclosed section that is shared with the porcelain toilet and a flip down seat allows for showering while underway.  One head has a private entrance to the master stateroom, the other is a shared head serving double duty as a day head.  Both include a hullside window, vessel sink, a mirrored cabinet and storage both above and below the sink.  A bidet feature is provided adjacent to the toilet. 

Engine Room

The engine room is accessed from a hatch in the cockpit deck and it’s orderly and well laid out.  There is plenty of room to move about and access all sides of both engines making service and daily checks a breeze.  Thru-hulls and sea strainers are neatly arranged to the port side.  Removable deck plates allow access to the bilge areas.  Schaefer provides a fixed firefighting system.  A small washer/drier is also provided but it’s really for small loads, such as bathing suits etc…. A 9kW Onan genset provides for the electrical demands. 

 

 

 

Optional Equipment and Pricing

• 2x Volvo Penta D6-440 EVC DPI Sterndrives $1,097,000
• 2x Volvo Penta IPS 650 D6 $1,092,900
• 1 x GPS Axiom 9 on Flybridge and Salon + Plotter + Sonar + VHF + Antenna + engine display $18,384
•  1 x GPS Axiom 12 on Flybridge and Salon + Plotter + Sonar + VHF + Antenna + engine display $23,703
• 2 x GPS Axiom 12 on Flybridge and Salon + Plotter + Sonar + VHF + Antenna + engine display 2 x Volvo Glass Cockpit 12" on Flybridge and Salon + Plotter + Sonar + VHF + Antenna $33,460
• Marine radar $5637
• Hydraulic Swim platform $32,193
• Hull painting $38,900
• Deck edge painting $8570
• Anti Fouling $14,424
• Teak on Flybridge $11,020
• Underwater lights Seablaze Set of 2 - Blue/White $2285
• Underwater lights Seablaze Set of 2 – RGB $4143
• Manual Awning (Stobag) $2361
• Electric Awning (Stobag) $3812
• RIB support $1101
• Icemaker $3651
• 32" LED TV in VIP Cabin $1016
• Curtains in Head and Cabin $2313
• Coffee Machine $252
• Dishes and Cutlery $660
• Remote controlled search light $1338
• Safety pack + galvanized anchor $3030

Observations

Typically, when we see a model that is filling a gap in a builder’s lineup, the result can be a scaled down version of the larger model with everything so crammed in that space is compromised.  That’s not the case with this new 450 Fly.  In fact, it’s more of a practical version of the larger than we would expect.  Hats off to the Schaefer Yachts design team for making a difficult task work so well.