A new species

With GC Marine and the Gulf Craft range of open leisure and fishing craft at the lower end, and the Majesty range of luxury yachts from 14 to 40 metres for the upper end of yachting, what was Ajman-based builder, Gulf Craft, thinking when it launched its new range, the Oryx?

Starting off as a development of the Ambassador series and launched at the Dubai International Boat Show two years ago, the burnt orange-hulled Oryx 40 was billed as a sporty cruiser, moving up a level in terms of style and quality to take on the increasing demand for stylish open cruisers.

“We wanted to make an instant impact with the first model, so chose a colour that looked really special on the azure waters of the Gulf,” explained Gulf Craft’s Executive Manager, Erwin Bamps And now, even two years later, the orange colour is very popular – you get noticed without paying European prices.”

Starting with the Oryx 40, the 36 followed shortly after, with both models offered with twin inboards or outboards, and a standard interior decked out in light maple and wenge to create a thoroughly modern finish – a step away from the traditional Majesty finish.

“With the popularity of the whole Majesty range, and responding to customer tastes for larger models finished to a higher degree, we saw we needed to fill the gap appearing between our sports range, and the entry-level Majesty. So we adapted the Oryx to become it’s own range, available as open or the new flybridge,” explained Erwin.

“Filling the gap with a fully-loaded production boat gives clients the choice: if you want a custom yacht, go for Majesty; if you want a less expensive, but fully kitted out yacht, then you go for Oryx.”

Walking around Gulf Craft’s Ajman building yard, which will soon be re-located to Umm Al Quwain with the residential development of Ajman taking over the previously commercial environment, lines of Oryx opens are now being joined by a new line of Oryx 40 Flys, with hull number four already out of the mould.

“We are under immense pressure to turn more and more units out,” sighed Erwin. “In fact, we sold four units before we even released the range.

Having done extensive testing on the first hull, we have now introduced a few aesthetic changes to subsequent models to anticipate customer requirements. As we are not typically a sportsboat builder, we have brought our knowledge of what GCC clients require from their boating experience to the Oryx series.

For instance, the sunpad is on the coachroof, freeing up the sheltered aft cockpit for seating or to fish from. No matter what size of boat we build, our clients always want to fish from it. So you have to think about where they can stand and how they can reach to the water.”

Obviously aiming for the slightly younger and more outwardly image conscious yacht owner, it was important for Erwin that the Oryx came fully fitted as standard, all down to the instruments and interior furnishings, leaving the buyer no ability to customise anything involved in the fit-out, meaning the units could be turned out quicker and more cost effectively.

“As well as being finished in a fresh and modern style, it is important for all the Oryx models to do well over 30 knots,” continued Erwin. “So for the flybridge models we went for sterndrives to maximise the amount of interior volume, which also opens up the possibility for Volvo’s IPS or Cummins’ Zeus propulsion systems to be specified, as it doesn’t require a re-working of the interior.”
Moving down to Gulf Craft’s waterside service facility in Ajman creek, lying beside the dock was the Oryx 40 Fly, hull number one. Continuing the sporty lines of the Oryx open, Gulf Craft has done a good job of blending the flybridge in, so that it doesn’t have a ‘stuck-on’ look to it.

Narrow side decks run from the aft cockpit to the foredeck, with a bulbous coachroof rising off the deck to both elevate the double sunpad, and increase the headroom in the forepeak cabin below.

Running around the coachroof, the narrow side deck leads to an inset windlass that controls the prow-mounted anchor. In terms of profile, there were many similarities in the bow profile to the Majesty beside her, with a stubby prow quickly filling out to the full beam under the high-placed guardrail.

Bow cleats are set back from the bow itself, ensuring the best leverage is to be gained from their position, while the thick rubber rubbing strake catches a glance, and with the deep outer chine below, sweeps the eye aft.

A half-metre wide teak bathing platform covers the twin sterndrives and offers a good step aboard, with a bespoke stainless transom gate to port, embossed with a ‘40′, guiding passage forward past the aft quarter cleats.

Though there is no transom storage, a built-in shower demonstrates the sporty nature the boat has been designed for. The open aft cockpit is kept simple, with an L-shaped bench curving around to starboard.

Lifting up the strut-assisted teak engine hatch in the cockpit floor, the twin 260hp Volvo Penta D4s were placed well back in the engine room, restricting all-round access, but leaving plenty of space to drop in to the space for checking batteries, filters and the generator.

From the teak soled cockpit, steps lead to the side deck to starboard by a mains socket, up to the flybridge to port and a sliding door opens to the interior.

Stepping inside, the interior immediately breaks away from other Gulf Craft ranges with a sea of light maple broken up by wenge and chocolate brown leather panels. Light drops in through the large twin-paned windscreen and teardrop-shaped side windows, which, combined with the good head height, further opens up the space.

To starboard, an L-shaped cream leather banquette curves around a freestanding maple and wenge table, facing the view out of the double aft doors and the flatscreen LG television built into a maple entertainments console in the port quarter. Also to port, a double cream leather banquette offers further seating, while under the striped cherry floor, there is access to the fuel tanks and a large storage locker.

Fabric concertina blinds regulate the amount of light filtering into the saloon, with halogen downlights set into the cream headlining when the light fades outside.

Moving forward, the helm station is positioned by two steps to starboard, providing a double bench seat to give the pilot an elevated view of the bow and side decks, though vision aft was somewhat obscured to port by the entertainments column.

Garmin and Navman electronics dot the simple and easily viewed dash console. Designed similar to a commercial truck outlay, the solid moulded dashboard worked very well – putting practicality over style.
Twin throttles to starboard are joined by the sterndrive and tab trim adjusters, with both the engine dials and readouts placed symmetrically on either side of the flat-fronted console, leaving a central space for the Garmin chartplotter.

In line with Erwin’s statement about keeping costs down, the helm is a standard Volvo Penta unit that is slightly tight to squeeze behind as it is not adjustable. The ubiquitous compass is also placed slightly too high to be effectively viewed, but is somewhat superseded by the well-placed chartplotter.

Maximising the feeling of space, the galley to port is lowered down a floor so anyone preparing food does not interrupt any activity in the saloon, or the view through the windows.

A Corian counter is broken by a single sink and double induction hob, with a microwave placed above the counter and fridge below. Draw and locker storage allow for plenty of supplies to be stored for longer trips, all built in with the standard maple wood finish, ensuring the galley is no dark den, with light dropping easily down to even illuminate the hull when looked at through the sole access panel.

Down another step, the accommodation is compacted through a small corridor, with a twin set to port benefiting from standing headroom by the hanging locker in the entrance, dropping over the beds, but rising slightly over the bed heads, to prevent the cabin becoming claustrophobic.

While light comes in from the porthole to lighten the area, I did find too many sharp corners and edges that could be caught by a guest in the dark or when a little dopey, though fortunately they are covered by soft panelling. Both the guest twins and forepeak double share the single head, placed to port.

Lacquered throughout so as to be easily cleaned, yet also provide a stylish finish, a separate shower with Italian faucet is joined by a WC and small moulded basin.

Entering the forepeak cabin, the door width is noticeably not too tight, with the deckhead rising with the coachroof overhead. With a centrally placed bed, the cabin offers a small hanging locker, with plenty of head-high storage provided by curved maple cabinets on both sides leading in to the mirrored headboard. Natural light drops into the cabin via a circular deckhead hatch and a porthole on either side, with the whole space making full use of the extra beam provided by the squat bow – as described earlier.

However, though useful at night, during the day, it is the flybridge where most would spend their time. Climbing the teak steps to the top deck with a firm rail for support, a large L-shaped banquette to starboard dominates the area. Deep and with a low backrest, it is a very inviting resting place for socialising and watching the world go by.

The aft area of the flybridge under the low flybridge offers space for a large sunpad and sunbathing, while the helm station is set forward to port and served by a single swivel seat.

Set a nice height off the water, the flybridge was certainly the place to ride when underway, with very little noise from the well-insulated engines. While it was quite blustery on this first model, the windshield is being re-made by Opacmare to be more effective in protecting guests when speeding along, which the Oryx does very well.

With only a little vibration around nine knots, the hull seemed to ride very softly, despite cutting through our wake with very little effort. Despite quickly getting up to speeds in the mid-30s with the sterndrives, the shallow hull meant at slower speeds she did tend to wander slightly, and there was not a lot of feeling in the helm. However, driving from the fly helm station was far more satisfying, particularly when flinging the Oryx into a tight curve.

Specifications

LOA:12.2 metres
Beam:3.81 metres
Draft:0.7 metres
Displacement:12 tons
Fuel capacity:1136 litres
Water capacity:284 litres
Engines:
Twin 350hp Volvo Penta D6
Twin 260hp Volvo Penta D4
Top speed:36 knots
Guide price:1,120,000 AED (Approx. US$ 306,850)
Gulf Craft boats are built in the UAE:www.gulfcraftinc.com

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Ex-Dubai:www.gulfcraftinc.com