_**Click here for a gallery of the Cruisers Yachts 48 Cantius in action.**_
Express cruisers or coupes can be either too stuffy and confining or not protected enough. But when I stepped through the cockpit aboard the Cruisers Yachts 48 Cantius on a rotten rainy day, a sliding glass wall gave entry to the completely enclosed helm deck area, and instead of feeling the effect of being in a plastic tent, I was invited to a panoramic view of the waters around me. In a few paces over the Wenge wood sole, I was at the helm, enjoying a spectacularly commanding view. A glance downward revealed a wide-open overlook to the lower salon, with galley, dual dinette tables and dinette lounge/hide-a-bed below. I turned aft and could easily make eye contact with imagined guests on the transom lounge. But for the rain on the glossy finish, I could visualize hands curled ’round frosty refreshments or steaming coffee.
Every gathering area was open to every other, yet each offered its own intimacy — exactly the effect intended in the 48 Cantius’ blueprint.
Incredible entertaining options abound on the 48 Cantius, thanks to the open layout. But would it feel confining on a summer day? Not with the cabin door slid aside, making two-thirds of the width of the helm deck open to the cockpit. Also, the 71-inch sunroof retracts 31 inches, and a windshield door window opens to improve ventilation and the airy feel. So it’s 110 degrees outside, with 99 percent humidity? Close all the doors and sunroof and turn on the air-conditioner and, thanks to the glass all around, I could still be a participant in the outside environment, not an observer from on high.
Rich furnishings of Wenge wood including the end table and cocktail table in the helm deck and similar accents below were complimented by light tones in upholsteries and fabrics.
For comfortable cruising, the head and glass-front shower were large, not claustrophobic, and our tester also featured a frontloading washer/dryer combo, giving long-range runs homelike comforts.
The 48 Cantius is named for Cantius Stock, founder of Cruisers Yachts’ parent company, and is a fitting tribute to a Midwestern work ethic and the quest for perfection that Stock instilled in the Cruisers Yachts heritage.
Comparable model: Sea Ray 470 Sundancer
