Belize 54 Daybridge: Modern Motor Yacht With a Classic Aura
A new model from a company with plenty of bluewater yachting experience.
August 13, 2014
If you read our review of the Belize 54 Sedan, you already know about this design’s throwback good looks. But what you may not know is that there’s a flybridge version: the Belize 54 Daybridge. It's for the owner who wants to feel the wind and spray on their face, and be able to climb up and out of the confines of a single-level sedan boat.
The Belize 54 Daybridge has elegant and sweeping lines and a full compliment of modern motor yacht amenities.
The Belize 54 design is a flashback of sorts. With a sheer line that remains flat until it gently rises at the bow, and the reverse curve of a tumblehome at the transom, it has the lines of a boat that was built for elegant travel in the 1920s or 1930s. Only this boat, with its warped-plane hull designed specifically for a pair of Zeus pod drives, was engineered and constructed for modern day offshore cruising. So while it has the aura of a classic, it’s really a brand-new build from a company with a lot of saltwater travel in its wake.
The 54 is the first model in what could become a full line of semi-custom gentleman’s yachts from Belize Motoryachts. The boat, originally conceived as a 52, was drawn in 2011 by Wes Moxey, who had worked at Riviera Yachts for years before striking out on his own. He was then courted and brought back into the fold, along with his new design, which is now part of Riviera’s portfolio of motor yacht boats sold under the Belize name.
Space Shuttle? Nope, this is the lower helm on the Belize 54 Daybridge, replete with full Raymarine instrumentation, Zeus joystick control, and Skyhook dynamic positioning panel.
Belize says many of its owners were sailors in another bluewater lifetime. They discovered the 54 when they went looking for a powerboat that coupled a traditional feel with a contemporary edge. The Zeus pod drives bring modern performance to the package. They’re powered by twin 600-horsepower Cummins diesels that should drive the boat to a 30-knot top end. The builder reports that cruising range can exceed 440 nautical miles with the installation of a long-range fuel tank.
On the Daybridge model, the captain pilots the boat from one of two helms. At the primary helm below, there’s a joystick control, Smartcraft digital tachometers, Raymarine multifunction glass screens, and a Treben Italian electric helm seat. These goodies add European panache to a boat that, while built in Taiwan, is engineered with what Riviera calls Australian practicality. Up on the flybridge you'll still find joystick controls and instrumentation, but less in the way of glass multifunction displays and fancy seating.
The Belize 54 Daybridge has a spacious main salon with the galley set aft for easy cockpit entertaining.
There’s proof of that in some of the details on board. In the salon, for instance, where walnut and teak woodwork abounds, a table lowers to form a daybed with the starboard-side settee. But the table isn’t electric or hydraulic. It lowers on a sturdy hand crank that will please old salts with a hankering for a luxurious interior that has a dash of seafaring tradition.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Length | 54'1" |
| Beam | 16'6" |
| Draft (hull) | 3'6" |
| Deadrise | 12 degrees |
| Displacement | 41,884 lbs |
| Fuel capacity | 634 gal. |
| Water capacity | 184 gal. |
Not as traditional is the placement of the galley, which is in the aft port corner of the salon, conveniently positioned close to the cockpit for entertaining. A beautiful curved-glass door leads out to the deck, where there’s a lounge, table, and wet bar. On the accommodations level, there are three cabins and two heads, including a full-beam master stateroom. Nice deck features include a hydraulic swim platform and a tender garage with electric winch.
It’s a nice package overall, but remember the Belize 54 is a semi-custom build (“bespoke” in the modern industry parlance). That means you can make it even nicer with a little imagination and extra cash.
Other Choices: For other motor yachts of this type in the 50-foot range, consider the Belize 52, Sealine T50, or Tiara 50 Coupe. If you're looking for a boat this size with Downeast flair, check out the Sabre 54 Salon Express.
See all Belize 54 listings.
For more information, visit Belize Motor Yachts.
