How could you not like the look of the latest powerboat from Cherubini Yachts? The 255 Sport Cruiser caught my eye at the Palm Beach International Boat Show in March, with its straight sheer, lots of tumblehome aft and elliptical transom above a curved teak swim platform.
Brightwork lovers will be drawn to the mahogany decks, helm dash and engine cover, but the semicustom boat can be built without wood, as well, says David R. Cherubini, president and CEO of Cherubini Yachts.
“Her intended use is a megayacht tender or your basic take-me-to-dinner boat, whether you just want to cruise around the Intracoastal for the day or blast offshore,” says Cherubini. “And if you get caught up in nasty, snotty seas, the boat handles beautifully and is predictable and provides a dry ride.”
The 255 made its debut at the Palm Beach show — a long way from Cherubini headquarters in Delran, N.J. “This show caters to the clientele that are attracted to this type of boat,” says Cherubini. The four-generation family boatbuilder’s fleet also includes 44- and 48-foot sailboats and the Eric Sponberg-designed Classic 20 runabout. The 255 and Classic 24 are both based on the Sponberg 20-footer, which was also shown at the Palm Beach show.
There are clever design features scattered about the 255 Sport Cruiser, such as the circular vents with sliding covers between the forward part of the hardtop and the windshield, and the VHF compartment with a hinged lid. The optional head arrangement is neat, too, with its adjustable mirror and mahogany compartment top that stays open with a wooden cog in the hinge joint. A forward cuddy holds a berth, and two identical inboard-facing settees and a full-length transom seat fill the cockpit.
With a 425-hp MerCruiser 496 HO and Bravo 3 drive, top speed is 56 mph and she cruises at 42 mph. Cherubini says the boat doesn’t need that many horses, so he offers it with a 300-hp MerCruiser 350 as standard power. MerCruiser no longer offers the 496, and the boat hasn’t been tested with the 350 or optional 430-hp MerCruiser 502 CID. Cherubini can also power the boat with a straight inboard diesel or a diesel with waterjet drive. An outboard — hidden in a well — is also an option, he says.
SPECIFICATIONS
LOA: 25 feet, 6 inches
BEAM: 7 feet, 4 inches
DRAFT: 1 foot, 7 inches
DISPLACEMENT: 4,600 pounds
HULL TYPE: deep-vee
TANKAGE: 80 gallons fuel, 12 gallons water, 6 gallons waste
POWER: 300-hp MerCruiser 350 with Bravo 1 (standard); 430-hp MerCruiser 502 CID 8.2-liter MAG HO with Bravo 1, 2 or 3 drive (optional)
PRICE: $277,000 (standard power)
CONTACT: Cherubini Yachts, (856) 764-5319.
This article originally appeared in the June 2012 issue.
