Which Alfastreet Model to Choose?

Our experienced experts at Passionautica will assist you in selecting the best match for your personal needs. We would here like to present some of the choices that you will have when selecting your vessel. At the same time, this list of choices shows just how versatile Alfastreet’s offer is giving you a wide degree of freedom to find the perfect boat.

LENGTH

Your first consideration will be how long the boat is that you are looking for. Lengths are traditionally expressed in feet (abbreviated with “ ’ ”) and inches (abbreviated with “ “ “) and you can choose from the following classes:

18-21 foot
23-25 foot
28-32 foot
36-40 foot

The longer a boat, the more room it offers (in both length and width). Longer boats are more stable on the water and are more seaworthy for usage in coastal areas. Longer boats, however, are also heavier and it is more difficult to transport them (typical trailers will allow only up to 3.500 kg). The longer and heavier a boat the higher the minimum water depth will be in which you can use it without the propeller blades hitting the ground. Shorter boats are more inexpensive, easier to maneuver and dock and can be readily transported on a trailer. They are also a better choice in shallower waters and when landing on a beach rather than a dock.

DECK LAYOUT

Based on how you plant to use the boat there will be a deck layout that is right for you:

Standard layout
Passenger Layout
Lounge layout

Larger boats will typically give the buyer an option whether it should be equipped with a cabin below deck (allowing for a restful retreat during the day or an option for overnight stay) or not. Boats without a cabin are lighter and are easier to get around on. Boats with a cabin are more luxurious and typically weigh more.

When looking at the top level of a yacht from above the seats / benches might be configured in the shape of a C with the C opening up to a table. The alternative to this is a U-configuration with two lines of benches opposite from a table and another seating option at the bottom of the table. C-configurations are most frequently found on smaller boats and offer a more intimate feeling for a family picknick. U-configurations are one of the differentiators of Alfastreet Marine, providing a much more luxurious ambiance known from bigger yachts, easier access to the boat and each bench can be used as a full-length sun lounge. Whether it’s C or U configuration that you prefer ultimately comes down to personal preference.

A the very front of the boat (the “bow”) there are commonly two options to choose from. One option is to have a sunken seating area in the front (boats with this style are often called “bowriders”). This means that 4-8 people can enjoy sitting in the front of the boat enjoying a view but also enjoying the boat’s performance at its most extreme. As the boats tip jumps up and down with each wave at high speeds it brings the adrenaline rush of excitement to the passengers. When the vessel is anchored it is simply a nice area to sit, sunbathe and carry on a conversation. The opposite of the bow seating configuration is the “deck” configuration. This means there is a smooth deck closing off the boat at the tip, allowing you to sit or lie on the tip. This is also a very popular configuration as it normally allows two full size adults to lie down side-by-side and enjoy the view. For those customers choosing a cabin configuration, the sundeck option is mandatory since the cabin will be situated below the sundeck.

ROOF SOLTION

Arguably one of the strongest selling points for Alfastreet Marine is its range of roof solutions:

Hydraulic Hardtop
T-Top
Open
Bimini
Spayhood Bimini

Alfastreet’s patented hydraulic hardtop is unique in that it can be raised and lowered within 30 seconds at the press of a remote control. When the top is up it provides shade and protection from sunburn or light showers in Spring and Fall. Should you want more sun then the hardtop also has a partially sliding roof which can be moved aside to open up the deck to more sun. When the top is down it closes off the boat completely eliminating the need to attach a plastic boat cover or canopy. On traditional boats, attaching and detaching a plastic boat cover in the marina frustratingly consumes your first and last half-hour of the day. With Alfastreet you can get on the water within one minute of arriving at your boat! The closed hydraulic hardtop is also a great safety solution preventing theft and vandalism. A closed hardtop is also helpful to preserve the boat over winter on the dock or in storage. The hydraulic hardtop is likely to be the number one reason for our customers to choose Alfastreet over competitor brands.

The T-Top is a small fixed roof above the center of the boat that lies between a full roof and an open configuration. It is lower cost than the hydraulic hardtop. The T-Top is stylish and a great solution for those that want to drive for long periods of time without getting a sunstroke or sunburn. For example a driver pulling a water-skier. Where owners have their own boathouse the T-Top is a good solution balancing sun and protection.

The Open configuration offers the most classical look of a boat but lacks the protection against the elements of the other two options. An open configuration puts you in raw contact with the elements and lets you feel the sun, wind and water spray in your face. For performance focused customers enjoying fast cruising and sunbathing this is a popular option. We find that younger customers tend to lean towards this option.

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HULL SHAPE

The hull shape significantly affects the way your boat will feel and handle on the water. It will also dictate the maximum speed that can be reached as well as energy consumption when cruising. For many of its models, Alfastreet offers three hull types to choose from:

Planing Hull
Semi-Displacement Hull
Displacement Hull

A planning hull is built for speed. Boats with this hull type will achieve the highest maximum speed. With the right propulsion your Alfastreet can hit up to a blazing 80 km/h. It is called a planning hull because the boat is “gliding” on the top of the water after it reaches a certain speed threshold (usually around 12 knots or 25 km/h). Once above the planning speed energy consumption is relatively efficient and the boat is agile and enjoyable. At speeds below the planning speed, the boats consume more energy and are a bit more “jittery”, meaning it takes more effort to keep them going in a straight line.

A displacement hull is built for comfort and economy. Displacement hulls are built for leisurely cruising up to about (9 knots or 20 km/h). Below that threshold they are marvelously efficient and carelessly easy to steer in a straight line. They are more stable in the waves and will also allow much greater storage space in the boat. However, with this type of hull the laws of physics make it is almost impossible to go faster than 20 km/h, no matter how many horsepower you add.

A semi-displacement hull is a compromise between a planning hull and a displacement hull. Semi-displacement hulls are perfect for those looking for a balance between speed and comfort. For example if you know that most of the time you will be leisurely cruising, but don’t want to limit yourself to a maximum speed of 20 km/h. Semi-displacement hulls will not let you go as fast as a planning hull, but with the right propulsion there is nothing to keep you from reaching 40-50 km/h.

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PROPULSION TYPE

Closely linked to the hull shape, the type of propulsion is an important consideration:

Electric Engine
Internal Combustion Engine
Hybrid Range Extender

Alfastreet is one of the first boatbuilders to offer electric propulsion options for larger boats. With an
electric motor and batteries, next to caring for the environment your boat will enjoy many advantages. It will be much quieter, smoke free, and can much more easily hold its position. Electric engines are cheap and hassle free almost never needing any service or maintenance. Electric boats can also be used on lakes and rivers where internal combustion engines are forbidden. The electric
option is perfect for the unstressed leisurely cruiser with the intent to sunbathe and sightsee. While electric engines are (still) more expensive than internal combustion engines to buy, charging a boat with electricity is much cheaper than using diesel.

Internal combustion engines typically run on diesel and have traditionally been the means of choice for most motor yachts. Performance oriented boat enthusiasts choose combustion engines because they allow them to reach high top speeds. It’s fun to plow through the water at high speeds and
perform turns while the boat elegantly leans to the side giving a sporty feeling. High speeds are also required in case you plan on participating in water skiing for example. Combustion engines have come a long way over the years in terms of reliability but will typically still require an annual service.

While electric engines are the future the current battery technology sets some range limitations on maximum cruising time, especially when driving quickly. Alfastreet offers a hybrid combination of an electric engine with an internal combustion engine as a range extender. Simply imagine that when the batteries are empty a small diesel engine on board will start up to provide enough power to continue the journey at low speeds. This option is good for customers requiring an electric engine but anxious about the maximum cruising time on the water.

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PROPULSION LOCATION

Once you have selected your propulsion, the choice of where to locate it is equally important:

Outboard Engine
Inboard Engine

Outboard engines are typically found on smaller boats and yachts. They have the advantage that the engine is contained in a nice “package” at the rear of the boat and can be detached for transport. The driveshaft and the propeller do not go through the hull of the boat. Outboard engines can also be tilted “up” and out of the water when the boat is at rest to prevent the buildup of marine plants. They are also easier to service than an inboard. While they are more convenient generally, they have disadvantages such as louder noise level, lower efficiency, lower degree of protection for swimmers and reduce the size of a potential bathing platform. Outboard engines also add to the exterior length of a boat. Many of our clients also find that they are less aesthetically pleasing than inboard engines.

Inboard engines are hidden on board of the boat, typically underneath the floor panels and the engine shaft goes through the hull into the water. This means that from the outside the clean boat silhouette is not interrupted by an outboard engine at the end. When talking about combustion engines, inboard engines have the advantage that they are quieter, slightly more efficient, and more pleasing to look at and enable shorter boat length overall. Inboards also do not require as much water depth to operate as outboards do. They also make space for a large and uninterrupted bathing platform where desired.

Which propulsion is right for you will depend on what you are looking for and where you will drive your yacht. As a rule of thumb, many customers on inland lakes will prefer inboard engines while customers on the coastal sea will choose outboard engines.

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BATHING PLATFORM

For its larger boats Alfastreet offers an optional bathing platform at the rear of yacht. Bathing platforms make it much easier to get in and out of the water for a swim. Bathing platform are also great places to sit and dip your legs into the water while the boat is anchored. In fact, Alfastreet offers a hydraulic bathing platform option which can be raised and sunk by about 50 cm. Sink it down into the water for even better access to the water when swimming. Bathing platform are also great in case you have tenders or toys such as skidoos and jetboards. Don’t want to lift your gear out of the water? Just park it above the sunk bathing platform and then raise the platform out of the water.