Access More Boat Tests
Already have an account? Login
Price
See the price by becoming
a BoatTEST member.
Members Must Log In
Brief Summary
The Ocean Alexander 85 Motoryacht is a serious cruising motoryacht, not a flashy imitation of the real thing designed for ICW ditch digging and cocktails at the dock. Not that she can't be a superb entertaining platform -- she is that as well -- but as for standard equipment she comes with all of the systems necessary to take her owners and guests nearly anywhere they want in comfort and luxury as good as it gets in class. Virtually all of her systems are what we would call "best practices".
Key Features
- Two Kohler 32 kW generators with 5-year warranty
- Keypower 25-hp bow and stern thrusters with proportional control
- 2 Keypower hydraulic stabilizers with a monitor in the pilothouse
- 1,750-lb. hydraulic davit
- CruisAir reverse-cycle central air conditioning rated for extreme tropical climates
- N2KView Safety and Security Monitoring system
- LCD 46’’ TV in salon and master stateroom with professional A/V system
- King-sized berth in master stateroom
- Sun pad on forward deck
- Teak decks
Specifications
Length Overall | 85’ 9.125'' / 26.14 m |
---|---|
Beam |
20’ 1'' 6.12 m |
Dry Weight |
171,600 lbs. 77,837 kg |
Draft |
5’ 11'' 1.80 m |
Deadrise/Transom | N/A |
Max Headroom | N/A |
Bridge Clearance | N/A |
Fuel Capacity |
2,500 gal. 9,464 L |
Water Capacity |
350 gal. 1,325 L |
Engine Options
Tested Engine |
Currently no test numbers |
---|---|
Std. Power |
2 x 1622-hp Caterpillar C32 ACERT |
Opt. Power |
Not Available |
Captain's Report
Overview
Ocean Alexander made some noteworthy upgrades on its 85 Motoryacht in 2014 that significantly enhance the experience aboard. For example, larger windows let in more natural light and provide better views; storage capacity that was increased in key areas is always welcome. For entertaining, the 85 Motoryacht has all the accouterments one would expect on this size motoryacht including a large salon, a wet bar and seating on the aft deck, and yet even more amenities on the flying bridge which can be used for all sorts of activities. Below decks there are four staterooms with en suite heads, plus one of the largest crew cabins we have seen in this size vessel.
General Construction
Surface Coating.
The 85 Motoryacht is built from fiberglass coated with Alexseal professional-grade polyurethane paint and epoxy-based primers. This provides a high-gloss finish and ensures longer color retention because it reduces maintenance and eliminates oxidation that comes with gelcoat.
Modern, High-Tech Lamination.
Ocean Alexander builds the boat with solid fiberglass in the bottom and high-density foam coring in the stringers, hull sides and deck, using infusion technology that insures a maximum glass to weight ratio. The foam used provides high temperature resistivity as well as acoustic insulation.
New for 2014 on the 85 Motoryacht, vinylester resin is infused throughout the laminate to ensure even saturation, eliminate voids, and stop any possibility of water intrusion through the glass. The use of vinylester throughout the laminate is rather unusual for boats of any size and is definitely the preferred construction method because it stops water osmosis no matter from where it may try to come. Typically builders of large motoryachts use from one to three coats of vinylester resin below the waterline, with the rest of the resin being the far less expensive polyester.
Carbon Fiber.
Cross-knit directional carbon fiber is used in high-stress areas for improved structural integrity and increased strength. This material is expensive and difficult to use and only a few builders use it.
To enhance seaworthiness, the 85 Motoryacht has a reinforced and water-tight collision bulkhead in the forepeak and all bulkheads are said to be weather-proof. Also part of the effort to keep out water, all windows are frameless.
Aluminum Beams.
Providing increased rigidity and structural support, Ocean Alexander uses marine-grade aluminum beams for the decks and bulkheads. The manufacturer says the use of these monolithic aluminum structure eliminates “creaking” sounds when the boat is running in rough water, in addition to providing rigid support with minimum weight.
Sound and Vibration Dampening.
The manufacturer uses a variety of techniques to reduce sound and vibration, including insulation barriers and sound-absorbing and dampening materials, air pockets and flexible/isolation mounts. Ocean Alexander claims that these techniques lead the industry and exceed ISO-6954 requirements.
Systems and Maintenance
Dry Bilge Ventilation.
New in 2014 -- to improve air quality throughout the boat, which has become a big issue recently in the charter world -- the 85 Motoryacht has Ocean Alexander’s proprietary “dry bilge ventilation system” that has dedicated bilge exhaust to the outside. The builder says this provides constant airflow to keep the bilge dry and free of mildew. Again, this is a system that is not widely used in motoryachts of this size, or in any size.
Engine Room Ventilation.
Here we find a design that we rarely find in motoryachts below 125' (38.1 m) or so: Both air intakes and exhausts for the engine room are located high in the superstructer of the boat rather than in the hull sides. This minimizes the amount of salt water and salt spray getting into the air which is sucked into the engine room and engine.
Delta-T Demisters.
Further, Ocean Alexander uses Delta-T intake/exhaust fans and demisters to take any remaining salt spray out of the air and drain it to the bilge. By keeping salt spray out of the engine room corrosion is reduced and the electrical system is further protected. This is state-of-the-art motoryacht construction "best practices".
Fuel Systems.
Dual Racor fuel/water separators per engine help ensure that they will be fed clean diesel and they’re located front and center in the engine compartment so there’s no excuse for not checking and maintaining them. Also new last year, the fuel system has integrated flame arrestors to prevent the ignition of fumes during fueling.
Air Conditioning/Heating.
The CruisAir system utilizes air conditioning exits in the overhead, usually hidden behind valances or moldings wherever possible. Ocean Alexander says this shortens ducting runs, improves efficiency, more evenly distributes the treated air, reduces noise output, and speeds cooling by as much as 20%.
Hydraulic Systems.
Ocean Alexander eschews the lower-cost and higher-risk electric bow thruster and anchor windlass systems. By harnessing the ship's engines with power take-offs the builder is able to provide reliable and durable energy to both the bow thruster and anchor windlass, thus obviating concern about tripped breakers, over-heated or shorted-out motors just in the middle of a critical ship evolution. Both the bow and stern thrusters are 25-hp Keypower units, and the hydraulic windlass is a VR4000 model.
The ship's stabilizers are also Keypower hydraulic units that have 9 sq. ft. of blade surfaces each. The 1,750-lb davit is also powered by hydrualics.
Features Inspection
Main Deck
The 85 Motoryacht’s aft deck, salon and dining area are all on one level, which provides ease of passage from one area to the next and gives the overall impression of a much larger boat. The cockpit has standard teak decking with steps on each side that lead down to the large swim step. (The side decks and fore deck are also teak as standard.)
For safety, there are four large horseshoe shaped rails on the platform’s trailing edge, and for rinsing off a shower is on the aft deck. For convenient boarding, there are opening gates on each side of the aft deck. Side decks have appropriate height bulwarks and 2" oval-shaped elliptical 316 stainless-steel rails which are classy-looking, form-fit to the human hand and enhance security.
On the bow
, there’s a VR 4000 vertical hydraulic windlass and the new-for-2014 chain-wash system that cleans the anchor chain during operation. The yacht comes standard with a 125-lb stainless steel plow-type anchor and 300' of 3/8" HT chain. There is also a standard chain counter, something that comes in quite handy at night.
Salon and Dining
The combination of an open floor plan and extra-large windows creates a spacious feel in the salon. This is helped by the boat's 20'1" (6.12 m) beam, which is greater than some boats this size. Designer Evan K. Marshall smartly put the salon, dinette and galley on virtually the same level with just a 4" step up to the wood deck for the galley and helm. Stairs at the head of this area lead down to the forward guest stateroom, while another set amidships to port abaft the helm seat lead up to the flying bridge.
The salon
is entered from the aft deck via power sliding doors and to keep flying critters (and pollen) out while letting in fresh air, the 85 Motoryacht has a "phantom screen" that fills in the opening. All lighting on the boat is provided by LEDs that Ocean Alexander says will last for more than 100,000 hours. (No worries about hot, dangerous Halogen lights.)
To port, the wet bar and TV cabinet have a granite countertop and there’s a 14” wine cooler hidden in a cabinet. Forward to starboard, the formal dining area has seating for eight around a large table and there’s welcome additional cold stowage in a concealed freezer. Using a mirror at the front of the dining area enhances the spacious feel.
Galley
The galley has ample space for cooks to prepare a gourmet meal on either a granite or marble countertop (owner’s choice). An update for 2014, there’s large cabinet stowage beneath the stairs to the flying bridge. There are two Elkay stainless-steel sinks. Most of the appliances are Jenn-Air, including a full-sized, stand-up 36” refrigerator. The garbage disposal and 15” trash compactor are Whirlpool and the dishwasher is a Fisher & Paykel dishwasher. Using well-known names ensures that repairs can be made anywhere. For easy cleanups, the galley flooring is wood.
Helm
Marshall designed the lower helm with a “floating” pod that displays engine functions and navigation information on eye-level screens in a matching wood and Ultraleather console. A Stidd seat provides a comfortable perch during long runs. This lower station will most likely only be used during inclement weather or at night. For more casual dining, there’s an L-shaped lounge and table forward adjacent to the lower helm. This lounge will also serve as a convenient co-pilot’s seat during long cruises when the captain prefers to run the boat from indoors. It can also be a large navigation table for those still using paper charts -- which are recommended in many areas.
Flying Bridge
A fiberglass staircase goes from the aft deck to the flying bridge. To starboard on the flybridge is a large lounge with the forward part shaded by the hardtop and the aft section open for those who want to work on their tans. To port, there are five stools at the flybridge bar, which has a granite countertop and a stainless-steel barbecue. The majority of the driving of this boat will be done at the flying bridge helm, which has two Stidd seats so the captain won’t be lonely while he’s running the boat.
Optional Skylounge
An enclosed optional Skylounge ($248,000) is available instead of the open flybridge. It has two stainless aft hatches that open to create an al fresco dining experience, plus a day head. A day head in a sky lounge on an 85’ (25.9 m) yacht of any type is almost unheard of and its utility is obvious. In lieu of the bar and lounge on the flybridge, the Skylounge has a settee that should seat four around a table and there’s a hideaway 32” flatscreen TV. The helm has three Stidd seats compared to two with the flybridge. Abaft the skylounge there’s still a large deck area and stairs that descend to the cockpit.
As can be seen in the drawing below, in the Skylounge configuration there is an entertainment counter that is ideal for a grill, refrigerator and other amenities. With the tender launched there is even more room for cocktail parties and sunning.
Accommodations Deck
Descend a set of stairs between the lower helm and forward dinette and arrive in what Ocean Alexander refers to as the "lower hall". Passageways are finished in soft fabric trimmed in varnished wood for a warm appearance.
Head Compartments
Each stateroom on the 85 Motoryacht has an en suite head. The compartments have wood bulkheads and owners have a choice of Granite or Marble countertops with China sinks. The manufacturer uses Planus toilets. All heads have separate shower stalls made of seamless fiberglass that keeps water from getting behind bulkheads and causing trouble.
Shower doors
are “crystal clear” glass custom-made for Ocean Alexander in a granite or marble frame. The boat manufacturer’s “minimalist and transparent water strips” accent the doors’ appearance, creating Ocean Alexander’s proprietary “Crystal Shower.’’ Extraction fans exhaust air to the outside. All head floors are granite.
Master Stateroom
The king-sized berth is positioned on the boat’s centerline so owners will be minimally affected by any movement of the vessel when they’re asleep. The stateroom is entered through a single door and there are matching hanging lockers on each side of the door. The 46” LCD TV is over a cabinet with a granite countertop. There’s a built-in vanity to port with a sofa to starboard and the windows engineered from “sandwiched glass” with support from aluminum beams provide 28 percent greater visibility because of narrow mullions, according to Ocean Alexander.
In the master head
, a “his and hers arrangement with private commodes and sinks separated by a common shower, is popular. Alternatively, one of the heads can be turned into a large walk-in closet if that is preferred. Ocean Alexander uses the same window engineering in this head to provide more visibility than the previous port window. The company gives owners a generous décor allowance for carpet, bed spreads and soft goods.
VIP Stateroom
In the 85 Motoryacht’s bow, the VIP stateroom has a queen sized berth with dedicated large-item stowage in the base for accessories like golf clubs and rigid suit cases brought by guests. Entertainment is provided by a 24” LCD flatscreen TV/DVD player with a satellite receiver. There are twin cedar-lined hanging lockers with automatic lighting. Positioned abaft the berth and entry door, the head has a standup shower stall.
Guest Staterooms
Located between the master and VIP staterooms are the guest staterooms. The quarters to port have two individual berths while to starboard is a full-sized berth. Each stateroom has its own hanging locker and LCD TV and en suite head with its own shower stall.
Crew Accommodations
Crew quarters on the 85 Motoryacht are located astern and there are accommodations for three people in two cabins. Each area has a 24” LCD TV with a DVD player and satellite receiver. There are hanging lockers and drawers beneath the bunks. A Snap-On tool chest is cleverly integrated into a workbench/Pullman berth and the lazarette space has been increased by 28% from previous models under the aft deck seating. The kitchenette has a sink, microwave oven and refrigerator/freezer.
The crew quarters are extremely large
and well-equipped for this size boat. For owner/operators who do not have a captain, or at least not one while underway, this cabin can be another guest stateroom -- more like a suite. Also, owners with large families or grandchildren will find that they will love being berthed in the crew cabin.
Turn Key Delivery
A new concept for Ocean Alexander in 2014 is its Turn Key Delivery program. The boat is delivered with a 14’ tender with a 60-hp outboard and 10-man life raft in a bag. The fuel tanks are full and owners get a first-aid kit, and an impressive list of spare parts, plus a wheel puller in case propellers need to be changed.
Owners get an extra bilge pump, LED light, Pencil Zinc, fuel/water separator filter, wiper blade, touch-up paint, fuses, spare-part kits for the engines and generators and more. Interior goodies include two sets of bed linens on all berths, plus towels, complete dinner china and flat ware, pots and pans and a toaster, an electric mixer, coffee machine and a full complement of utensils.
Power and Performance
We have not tested the boat, but Ocean Alexander has run it with the 1622-hp CAT C-32 Acerts and the manufacturer claims a top speed of 23 knots with a projected range of 377 nautical miles at that speed. At 10 knots, estimated range is 2,050 nautical miles. Upgrade to the 1925-hp versions of the engines for an extra $381,500 and the estimated top speed is 24 knots. The engines are installed on vibration dampening steel mounts. Standard bow and stern thrusters will help with getting the boat into a slip when there are strong cross currents.
Price
Turn Key MSRP Price: $6,100,000 including freight, duties, commissioning and décor.
Observations
The recent upgrades made to the 85 Motoryacht have a common theme -- to enhance comfort aboard. Whether it’s the improved air system or the larger windows to let in more light, even when “inside” the boat, owners and guests will always feel connected to the environment.
In our opinion, the Ocean Alexander 85 Motoryacht is built as well as any motoryacht on the market in class and better than many. For that reason, her owners need not put any restriction on their cruising horizons -- other than those imposed by her 2,000-mile range at 10 knots. (and at 8 knots she'll go a lot farther.) One advantage of this design, while she is seaworthy, she also is a very attractive vessel.
Those wishing to simply use her for coastal cruising with friends or day-jaunts out to nearby islands with a load of club members or clients, should find the 85 Motoryacht both comfortable and roomy.
Finally, because she has four en suite staterooms and large crew quarters we think that she will be easy to charter both in the Mediterranean and in the Western Hemisphere.