TEST Sirena 48, the classy and “compact” long cruise boat (15 m)

We tested the Sirena 48, the owner-friendly cruising boat. Here is the classy trawler that takes you anywhere, even without a crew, with the comforts of home.

Sirena 48: what it looks like

If you could take a year for yourself, no, a month – that’s more realistic – and leave the harbor behind to go to new destinations again and again, which boat would you choose? I, having tried the Sirena 48, would definitely keep this boat in mind. To take on a good, long cruise there are so many aspects to consider, and it seemed to me that the smallest trawler ever made by Sirena is really well thought out. First of all, it is category B. It is not the highest level, that is, A, but unless you have extreme crossings and attached storms in mind you can sail in waves up to 4 meters. Then it is compact.

Outmost approaches 16 meters with aft platform and anchor, but the hull is under 13.79 meters. This makes her manageable to a family-at the berth first and foremost-without the need for a crew although a sailor cabin can be added upon request. The small size, after all, does not sacrifice anything on board, and the result is a large living area on the deck, three double cabins, and two bathrooms with separate shower stalls. The owner’s cabin is amidships, while the VIP is in the bow. Both enjoy significant surface area, but mostly volumes to live in and to stow the necessities for a long stay on board. In this sense, the care of the environment is also important starting with the furniture.

How this cruising boat sails

The Sirena 48 is the smallest in the range, but from a yard that has been building high-end yachts for some time, Sirena Marine. This standard of luxury has evidently been declined on this model as well, which comes with something more than other 48-footers on the market today. In addition to safety, compactness, and indoor/outdoor livability, there is another key factor: performance and fuel consumption.

Fast trawler is an oxymoron, and that of the Sirena 48 is certainly not a racing hull. This 50-foot boat, however, is efficient. The firm that took care of the living work, as well as the exteriors, is that of German Frers, a holy monster in boat design, whether sail or power. Imagine that you have a massive motor yacht, which is close to 24 tons when fully loaded, and with a high center of gravity given by the flybridge: how to make the hull suitable for all kinds of seas?

Sirena 48. Our onboard test

The solution is a semi-displacement hull that is in fact super “echo” at low rpm, but capable of running over 20 knots when the need arises. We tested the standard, i.e., less powerful, model with two Cummins of 550 horsepower each and axle line with V-drive transmission. At 8.1 knots, with flat water and a northerly breeze, we had a consumption of just 26 liters per hour total.

When you sail a lot, speed matters relatively; what matters most is fuel economy. Pushing between 10 and 11 knots, close to planing entry, the engines consume far more and it takes between 65 and 85 liters per hour total to move. When there is a need to go faster, the engines still have plenty to say: bottom throttles allow them to touch 22.5 knots even though the fuel needed here is quite a lot: 220 liters per hour. Alternatively, two 670HP Volvo Penta D11s can also be installed.

On the seaworthiness of this hull, having tried it in calm water, not much more can be said. In any case, the waves we created for ourselves by making 8s passed them without blinking. This shows good structure and a focus on soundness. As an additional comfort tool for the Mediterranean, the Seakeeper 6 is recommended. What about ocean navigation? There is Seakeeper 9. In fact, there are three distinct outdoor areas to fully experience the sea, but not only that.

The aft cockpit is ideal as a convivial area while the bow is dominated by a large sundeck. Right next to the windlass you can also have a small sofa with a small table. The flybridge outside is another trump card for gaining additional livable space for both sailing and relaxing. It is perhaps the most complete area of the boat since it combines the helm station, wet-bar, C-shaped sofa with a table in the stern and a decidedly very large sundeck in the bow all covered by a hard-top with a central pillar thanks to which you have a 360-degree view around the entire boat.

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The navigation board