Fifty-Two Feet of Innovative Design and Luxury.
Boat Test #1505
Sea Ray’s newest sport yacht, the Fly 520, has once again brought innovation and design to the forefront.
The swim platform is a two-piece unit, with an aft section that submerges below the water. Integrated stairs deploy, allowing easy egress from the water. The upper section allows for easy boarding from the dock while the lower section is deployed.
This flexible innovation continues forward in the aft cockpit. Lowering the hydraulic table allows for the aft forward-facing bench to slide ahead, changing the cockpit seating configu-ration to a rear-facing setup. The table can be used in either position, allowing greater flex-ibility. Opposite the L-shaped seating area is another sette.
There’s access from the cockpit to the walk-ways on either side of the boat. They lead all the way forward to the bow area, which features integrated sun pads for up to four people. The backrests can be raised to create a forward-facing seating area. There’s a sun-shade that can be deployed to offer added protection.
For a boat created with the slogan ‘leverag-ing the power of light’, Sea Ray has worked to keep direct sunlight as an option. In addition to the deployable shade over the bow area, the upper deck has two separate shades that can be used to control the amount of sunlight reaching the passengers. The first is a canopy that extends off the back of the hardtop. It covers the upper aft seating area and can be retracted to let in more light. Considering the aft bench pulls out to form a large sun pad, having access to the sun is essential, but it’s nice to be able to shade the seating area when needed. The hardtop covers the remain-der of the flybridge but is also equipped with a retractable sun shade in the center section.
Back on the main deck, plenty of sunlight finds its way into the main salon. The walls around the stairway to the flybridge are glass. It improves visibility from the lower helm, and along with the spacious windows and light interior colors, makes for a bright and spa-cious interior.
The galley is full-beam and features book-matched cabinetry, which is also applied to the appliances, so the fridge and optional wine cooler blend seamlessly into the rest of the design.
Just forward of the galley is the main salon area. It’s laid out with opposing seating and a flexible ottoman with padded cushions on one side for your feet, and wood panels on the opposite for your drinks. The cabinet behind the starboard settee hides a retractable 50” LCD television.
Below deck, the Fly 520 features three staterooms. The guest room is outfitted with a pair of twin beds. However, unlike traditional designs which use bulky filler cushions to create a single bed, these two beds slide together into a queen sleeping area.
The forward VIP cabin has a queen-sized island bed and dual hanging wardrobes. The aft stateroom is full-beam, with large hull-side windows that sit just above the waterline. They let in plenty of light and offer a spectacular view of the water. The queen bed is mounted at an angle, opening the center of the room, while still allowing access on either side.
Standard power for the Sea Ray Fly 520 is a pair of 574hp Cummins QSB 8.3-liter diesel engines with Zeus pod drives.
By Steve Sansford