Some yachts are born of evolution, while others are created to fill a niche. The Apollonian 52 Pilothouse, which is the brainchild of Pacific Northwest yacht designer Howard Apollonio and Seattle-based yacht dealer Vic Parcells, falls in the latter category. Apollonio and Parcells saw a dearth of raised pilothouse boats in the 50-foot range, so they designed the Apollonian 52 for owners who want to enjoy longer cruises or live aboard.
The yacht is a vacuum-infused fiberglass build with closed-cell foam coring and vinylester resin, produced in a two-part mold. The hull has double chines, a traditionally styled bow, and a flybridge with plenty of room for the single helm seat and settee that’s offset to port. (The setup allows a helmsperson and a first mate to stand watch together comfortably.)
Stepping aboard, I noticed a flowing layout. The salon is a half-deck below the galley, which leads to the pilothouse helm. A day head is just abaft the helm. The galley and helm have a traditional teak-and-holly sole, while the salon and staterooms have easy-to-maintain laminate soles.
Belowdecks, the yacht has three staterooms. The fo’c’sle stateroom has a berth that’s just shy of queen status, stowage for extended cruises and a full head. The other guest stateroom has stacked bunks and a cedar-lined hanging closet. The full-beam master stateroom has a queen-size berth, an en suite head and shower, and portholes for cross ventilation.
All lighting is LED, all cabinetry is built with dovetail joints, and all appliances on board are condominium-grade. The cherrywood has a satin finish for vertical surfaces, as well as glossy treatment for rails and trim. Book-matched burl on the countertops and helm is a nice touch.
Parcells says the Apollonian 52 Pilothouse’s design brief called for simplicity, redundancy and cruising capability, not a mile-long options list. Would-be owners can, for example, upgrade from the standard dual 425 hp Cummins diesels to dual 485 hp Cummins engines. Larger engines are also available on request. The engines are housed in a well-lit engine room where I found everything—including the powerplants, fuel filters and sea strainers—easily accessible.
The Apollonian 52 Pilothouse carries 500 gallons of diesel and, according to the manufacturer, has a range of 250 nautical miles at 12 knots. Its tankage also includes 240 gallons of fresh water, 80 gallons of gray water and 80 gallons of black water. We ran the yacht on Seattle’s Lake Washington on flat waters, and it handled well. There was no trouble executing maneuvers at moderate speeds.
Apollonian Yachts has delivered a turnkey craft sized for couples or cruising families. The 52 Pilothouse comes with a comprehensive list of standard features and has a design that provides the comforts of home.
Take the next step: apoyachts.com
