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DORAL
Alegria by
Doug Dawson
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Doral's
new flagship will certainly capture attention in 2004
with its exceptional performance and comfort.
 A
few years after Doral introduced its popular 360 SE
in the late 1990s, the Quebec-based builder realized
a demand from boaters looking for a larger cruiser to
further complement their boating lifestyle. Following
extensive research and development, production finally
began and the end-result was a 45-foot vessel that could
very well set a benchmark in cruiser design.
In August, during the company's dealer meeting at the
grand Hilton Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Quebec, media and
dealers traveled from across the globe to witness the
unveiling of Doral's 2004 Alegria Sport Yacht -- an
upscale model geared for knowledgeable boaters seeking
luxury, comfort and performance. The Alegria was such
a hit with dealers, the company reported orders for
over a year's production.
Sea Trials
During the sea trial, Doug Kelly, service technician
for Volvo Penta, had his laptop connected to the twin
480 hp P75 TAMD EDC Volvos to accurately record the
performance numbers. While these diesels are the only
power option available, they truly make the Alegria
dance with acceleration and top speed while greatly
reducing smoke and noise. The four-stroke engines are
straight six cylinders, direct-injected and turbo-charged
with aftercoolers. They are installed as direct drives
with the front of the engine forward to prevent losing
power as you would with a V-drive configuration.
Performance trials were conducted on the Ottawa River
near the Parliament Buildings and the Prime Minister's
residence. There were ten people aboard plus 300 gallons
of fuel and 100 gallons of water. While this may seem
like a full load, it's interesting to know I also drove
the Alegria with 20 people on board and her performance
was the same.
With the throttles set at exactly 900 rpm on Volvo's
computer, the GPS read 9.3 mph with each engine consuming
1.85 gallons per hour. The sound levels were an impressive
72 dB. I pushed the throttle to 1,500 rpm and we hit
13.9 mph, with each power plant using 6.87 gph. The
noise level was still low at 78 dB.
Then at 1,800 rpm, the speed increased to 19.5 mph.
Fuel consumption was 9.5 gph and the engines remained
fairly quiet at 80 dB. At 2,100 rpm, she was on plane
at 25.3 mph and I found an economical fuel consumption
of 13.49 gph. Sound levels were 81 dB. To really cover
the miles, we hit 2,400 rpm at 31.2 mph, and the engines
burned 16.66 gph. Sound levels were a little higher
at 83 dB. At wide open throttle of 2,720 rpm, we easily
broke 35 mph with each engine using 23.5 gph. The sound
levels were still quite impressive at 85 dB. The Alegria's
performance figures were so great we decided to test
her acceleration with a stopwatch. From a dead stop,
she hit 30 mph in just 19 seconds.
The Doral design team had previously tested the Alegria
in five-foot waves with a 30-knot wind and reported
exceptional stability and seaworthiness. The vessel
remained dry and the bow perfectly deflected the waves.
Despite the five-foot swell, they were able to maintain
a high cruising speed without discomfort. Covering over
260 miles of preliminary testing, the Alegria's behaviour
totally met their expectations. (Page
Top)
Design
This is an easy cruiser for experienced boaters to drive
and dock with confidence. The straight 12-degree shafts
deliver thrust to the rudders located under the very
aft edge of the swim platform, which is the real lower
transom. The upper transom is at the forward end of
the platform. This design extends the running surface
to the back of the platform, so it carries the boat's
weight, and doesn't add to it.
Handling
 A
feature that really offers easy handling are the Volvo
EDC (electronic digital controls). As the name implies,
the combined shift/throttle levers operate similar to
a joystick and transmit a signal back to the computer
on each motor. Slight (and I mean slight) movement of
the lever with my fingertips moved the control from
neutral to forward. An indent alerted me that I was
in gear. When docking after the sea trial, I simply
moved the two joystick shifters in and out of gear.
If there's a side wind, simply activate the bow thruster
to move the bow the way you want--not the way the wind
wants.
Exterior Features
Doral's design team has developed several very innovative,
never-seen-before features for cruisers. One of these
highlights is the center windshield section. No more
hinged gates to muscle open against the wind. Just push
a button on the dash and she lowers by an electrically-drawn
cable and a pair of small wheels on the aft edge under
a hinged deck hatch that lays flat on the forward deck.
Another Doral invention is a teak and stainless ladder
that folds out from the companionway door for easy deck
access. For the crew that prefers to use the side decks,
the walking surface is 12 inches wide. And here's a
gem - the overhead arch can be lowered to windshield
height, to conveniently cruise under low bridges.
In the Alegria's 15-foot cockpit, an aft lounge faces
a round teak table that can seat three or four. A second
lounge, located forward has a teak dining table and
can seat up to five. It's raised to offer a better view
of the scenery or to follow navigation. The starboard
lounge can accommodate eight or more. Just outside,
a four-foot wide platform offers standing room or provides
an ideal smoking section. Between the lounges is a cockpit
wet bar with an icemaker, fridge and electric barbecue.
The cockpit sole is step-free for passenger safety.
The helm is decorated with varnished mahogany panels
and is fully equipped with an array of gauges plus a
Raymarine radar, GPS and chart plotter with 10-inch
color display.
On the foredeck, a teak bow seat is mounted permanently
on the intermediate railing. This is the quietest, smoothest,
most desired place to sit while at the dock or slowly
underway. A lighting system built into the bow and side
rails offers additional illumination at night without
interfering with the captain's vision. Twin teak sun
lounges with tip-up back rests and foam pads offer all-day
comfort and there's even space on this 18-foot long
foredeck for over a dozen people to sit and stand.
Inside the extended running surface of the platform
is the standard 8 kW diesel generator and air conditioning
compressors, providing a quieter living area. At the
dock, sometimes we weren't sure which was running-the
generator or the Volvos-they were all so quiet!
The aft part of the cockpit, over the 14-foot long engine
room, is a separate module that was installed after
the motors. This section can be removed for motor removal
or to offer clients a choice of future cockpit designs.
The upper aft section of the hull sides curve inward,
tumble-home-style above the splash rail.
The hull, which is extra-strong and rigid, is made lighter,
quieter and cooler by using a balsa core sandwich-structure.
Her appearance is very sleek and the hull construction
is geared for performance.
The Alegria was completely developed on Doral's computer
platform that utilizes specialized software for robotics
management, stability studies and modeling. Most of
the patterns were produced through robotics. (Page
Top)
Interior Features
 The
interior is a tasteful blend of upscale materials. All
bulkheads and curved cabinets are crafted of Honduras
mahogany while the dinette table and companionway steps
are created of gorgeous cherry wood. Doral even incorporated
mahogany strips and light maple in the floor. All materials
and colors are traditional, yet the styling is very
modern.
Cooks of the day will love the U-shaped galley. It has
a black Karadon countertop where you'll find a stainless
steel coffee maker and microwave. Covers convert the
stove and sink into additional counter space and there's
no shortage of space for food in the deluxe stainless
fridge/freezer. If you overflow all the myriad of cupboards
above and below, a floor hatch opens to reveal a cavernous
space that stretches the full length of the salon -
it's larger than a bathtub. Also under the salon floor
is the freshwater tank constructed of sanitary plastic.
This keeps the center of gravity and water temperature
lower.
When your guests move down into the cabin, which measures
26 feet from the rope locker to engine bulkhead, the
starboard side lounge/dinette can easily seat six. There's
a plasma TV with DVD player plus flat-screen TV's located
forward and aft. Four independent AM/FM stereo CD players
are found throughout with state-of the-art sound systems
- watch for the water ripples when those monster subwoofers
kick in!
The forward head is divided on each side with a shower
stall to port and while a toilet and vanity are balanced
to starboard. The two entrances are located by the forward
stateroom door and can form an ensuite for the owners.
The berth is available with folding "Z-Bed" with an
integrated massaging system.
An ultra suede curtain draws around the door opening
to the midcabin, thus providing an ensuite for guests.
Appointments also include a desk that is large enough
to use as a computer workstation or a dresser/vanity.
The aft head, situated just behind the galley, is conveniently
located for on-board guests.
Conclusion
With its aggressive bow, smooth lines and an array of
impressive features, the Alegria will not only capture
the attention of those looking to upgrade to a larger
vessel, but will turn the heads of avid boaters looking
for a quality-built model for cruising enjoyment. Be
sure to look for the Alegria at a boat show near you
this winter.
Specifications
LOA: 45'3"/13.79 m
Beam: 13'10"/4.21 m
Hull Deadrise: 19 degrees
Draft: 3'10"/.9m
Approx Weight: 26,000 lbs/11,800 kg
Fuel Capacity: 200 gal (x2)/757 L
Fresh Water Capacity: 92 gal/348 L
Waste Water Tank: 74 gal/280 L
Hot Water Tank: 20 gal/76 L
Sleeps: 6
Prop Configuration: 25"x281/4" Four-bladed
Nibral medium cup
Maximum Horsepower: Twin Volvo 480 hp P75 TAMD EDC Volvos
EDC Direct Drive (only available engine)
Power as tested: Twin 480 hp Volvo P75 TAMD EDC Direct
Drive
Price as tested: $810,000 w/Twin 480 hp Volvo P75 TAMD
EDC Direct Drive
Price Supplied by
Doral Sales and Marketing
3482 9th Line, Innisfil, ON
(705) 431-7177, (888) 84-DORAL Fax: (705) 431-8284
www.doralboat.com (Page Top) |
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