Absolute 64 STY (2013-)

Brief Summary

To our way of thinking the Absolute 64 STY symbolizes the gestalt of motoryacht building -- namely, she is a vessel that is greater than the sum of her parts. What is captured in the image above is the Romantic (Zen) aspect of the yacht in her element. What is not seen are the details and inner workings of this complex motoryacht that allow her to be so much more than fiberglass, engine iron, wood, fabric and electronics. When properly executed, the combination of components and craftsmanship give a motoryacht such as the Absolute 64 great value. Find out more in our snapshot review.

Key Features

• Bow seating with table & sunpads
• Teak cockpit, side-decks & platform
• Electric opening salon windows (4)
• Hydraulically actuated garage door
• Large hull and salon windows
• Touchscreen 15" ships monitor
• Hydraulic swim platform
• Opening sunroof with glass panels

Specifications

Length Overall	66' 10'' / 20.4 m
Beam	16' 11'' 5.15 m
Dry Weight	74,800 lbs. 37.4 t. (wet)
Draft	5' 7'' 1.7 m
Deadrise/Transom	N/A
Max Headroom	N/A
Bridge Clearance	N/A
Fuel Capacity	792 gal. 3,000 L
Water Capacity	172 gal. 650 L

Engine Options

Tested Engine	Currently no test numbers
Std. Power	2 x 900-hp Volvo Penta IPS1200
Opt. Power	Not Available

Our apologizes to Robert M Pirsig and the title of his 1974 book (Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance) inquiring into the nature of the quality of products and life in the modern age. When addressing the Absolute 64 STY the whole subject seems terribly relevant. A yacht is not transportation yet it moves us from one place to another. At the opposite extreme, a motoryacht is also not art, yet when well designed and executed in fiberglass, steel and wood it can be as captivating as a Brancusi sculpture. Here's our "Snap-Shot" of the Absolute 64 STY…

Mission Statement -- Absolute 64 STY

Make no mistake, the Absolute 64's first mission is to make a statement about the person who owns her. It is someone who has an eye for modern nautical lines and knows there is more to motoryacht ownership than simply how fast the boat goes and how many staterooms she has. This boat is about style, elegance, and gracious entertaining in a yacht that makes up in artfully-executed details what she doesn't have in sheer size when compared to the megayachts tied-up beside her in the Med.

Snapshot Review

The Absolute 64 STY is one of a half-dozen express motoryachts built in Europe in class that are all intended for pretty much the same thing -- hanging out on the French and Italian Riviera. They are all designed to maximize dockside eye-appeal because that is where they spend most of their time. Their range is limited because they can all go fast, but rarely travel more than a few miles down the coast to a cove or beach to drop anchor for the day.

So what sets the Absolute 64 STY apart, if anything?

The answer seems to be four things: 1) She is slightly larger than most of her competition; 2) Her builder was an early adapter of IPS and the IPS1200 is the only package available ; 3) She is a relative new-comer to the motoryacht business (12 years) and her designers have therefore surveyed the existing vessels and tried to improve on them all; and 4) She is the only boat in class that has a cocktail/dining table on the bow.

Designed for Entertaining.

Essentially this class of boat is intended primarily for use during the day and as such the Absolute 64 STY is designed to maximize the space and utility of her main deck. Forward there is not only the typical large sunning pad, but there is also a table that can be used for cocktails in one position, then opened up to serve six in al fresco dining.
As noted, the Absolute 64 is the only boat in class which offers this design and we like it for several reasons: first, it allows guests to gather in two different places on deck; second, it permits the host to seat twice as many people for al fresco dining at anchor or at the marina than would otherwise be possible; third, it is a very good use of space for all sorts of entertaining that simply goes to waste on many other boats in class.

Aft Deck.

We like the fact that Absolute has designed an asymmetrical aft deck. By having only one stairway from the swim platform to the aft deck Absolute is able to create more usable space on deck for sitting around the table which is offset to starboard. In fact, no boat in class can handle as many people on the aft deck as can the Absolute 64 STY. Her design also permits unimpeded traffic flow from the aft deck into the saloon.
Her main saloon is large and serves double duty as both a conversation area, sports bar when watching the TV, or with table up an inside dinning venue. Forward is the helm which is unobtrusive. The galley is down, which maximizes space on deck.

The Master Stateroom

Below Decks.

The Absolute 64 has three staterooms, each with its own en suite head -- and separate shower stall. This is another place where the Absolute shines vis a vis most of its competition. Her heads are generally larger and more functional. Some of this is due to the boat being slightly wider and longer, but most, we suspect, is because the Absolute designers had the advantage of seeing what came before, and simply improved on it.
Not only do three large heads with separate shower stalls make the cabins more comfortable for guests, but they also make the boat far more desirable in the charter trade. This little detail, along with the table on the bow, could well make the Absolute 64 worth several thousand dollars a week more in charter fees.

Cruising Amenities.

Any true cruising boat needs to have a tender and here the Absolute does not disappoint. She has a tender garage nestled under the aft deck. With rollers it can be easily launched and retrieved. When underway this arrangement provides a much more pleasing profile than having the tender perched on an elongated aft swim platform. The stern platform is hydraulically actuated to raise and lower.

Styling and Taste.

When spending several million dollars on something that no one really needs it is easy to get carried away with excess. Absolute's designers have resisted that urge and we find the exterior lines and the interior decor as tasteful as any in class. But since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, every boater will have to make his own decision on this subject. Following is a portfolio of photos that describe the boat better than we ever could--

The Main Deck

Below Decks