Penthouse Sweet | The Ocean Alexander 112 delivers big-boat space in one tasty package.

By Chris Caswell

At 112 feet (34.1 meters), Ocean Alexander’s latest offering seems a floating contradiction. She’s just a smidgeon below the popularly accepted LOA for the label of “superyacht” (35 meters), but she feels every bit as “super.” She may be the smallest of Ocean Alexander’s line of superyachts, which stretches to 155 feet, but there’s no question about her lineage or her claim to the superyacht tag. Whatever you call her, she is a most delightful confection.

Evan K. Marshall brought the 112 to life, thanks in part to his reputation for penning designs hundreds of feet longer. He brought large-yacht thinking to bear, giving the 112 five staterooms to accommodate a party of 10, as well as plenty of finer details.

Marshall was the first to design the split-level master suite on production yachts, and he’s brought that concept to the 112 with a full-beam on-deck owner’s stateroom. It has an area two steps down that feels more Golden Door Spa Resort than bathroom, from the whirlpool tub surrounded by marble to the oversized shower, twin sinks and heated granite floors. The master’s two walk-in closets (with inner-lit drawers) would qualify as guest cabins on many yachts. A compact head compartment tucked just to port of the master berth adds a thoughtful designer’s touch for those nocturnal trips.

Ocean Alexander has always created joinerwork that begs comparison to that of the finest Dutch yards, and the 112 is no different. It seems to have been decreed that no corner go unrounded on this yacht. From bulkheads to nightstands, every corner is gently curved and flawless. In fact, throughout the boat, my eye was constantly drawn to the woodwork, and I consistently thought to myself, How did they do that?

In the salon, which can be customized for each owner, large windows drop behind the couch allowing light to pour into the area. This particular 112 sports a lounge area aft with an L-shaped sofa and loose chairs around a coffee table, while the formal dining is just forward of a low divider. Seating is for eight around an oval table, with a wine chiller within reach to starboard. A cantilevered terrace, which folds out next to the dining area, is perfect for guests to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail, or perhaps the owners will stake it out later for a private moment away from the crowd.

The saying “happy crew, happy owner” rings true on the 112, and will undoubtedly include a happy chef. Set to port, the galley combines restaurant quality with yacht standards and includes a door to the side deck for loading provisions. The dinette, probably intended for the crew, may also attract owners with a gourmet bent. Granite counters and backsplashes, and a marble sole, are luxe touches, and the chef gets a Wolf 36-inch induction cooktop, a Wolf oven, a Sub-Zero fridge with drawers and a window that allows good natural light.

The lower deck contains four comfortable staterooms. Two mirrored VIP suites are aft, each with such niceties as built-in couches and walk-in closets. Forward along the companionway are two more mirrored staterooms, each with twin berths and ensuite facilities. The amount of floor space in each cabin is a delight.

Crew have their own quarters aft, with access from a door just off the cockpit. The captain has his own cabin with double berth, private head, shower and desk. Two more cabins have bunks and share a Jack-and-Jill head, while the crew mess easily seats six and has a mini-galley. A dedicated laundry area is in the lazarette, with commercial washer/dryers at shoulder height (no bending!) and a pull-down ironing board. The other side of the lazarette sports a workshop with a stainless steel counter and built-in Snap-on tool chest.

What’s a superyacht without a proper sky lounge? Ocean Alexander may call it the bridge deck on this 112—which is technically correct—but it’s finished like a true sky lounge, with a card table for bridge (or poker, as the case may be), loose chairs, built-in couch, day head and mega flat-screen TV, all surrounded by warm woods and marble counters like at a British men’s club.

Outside through a sliding door, the aft deck is big enough to handle a large tender or a covey of personal watercraft, with a 3,000-pound crane. Once the watercraft are launched, the chaise lounges come out, turning this deck into a sun worshiper’s paradise. Tucked under the overhang of the cabin top is a shaded settee with folding table to starboard and a wet bar to port. It has a granite top and three built-in stools, plus a 32-inch Electri-Chef grill perfect for barbecued hors d’oeuvres.

Forward on this deck is the pilothouse, with an electric Stidd Admiral-series chair centered abaft the kind of intelligently arranged dashboard and instrument panel that would please even the discriminating tastes of Kirk and Spock. Off-watch crew have a raised settee to port and a desk opposite for writing up the log. Just forward of the pilothouse on the Portuguese bridge is a built-in settee with table—perfect for a morning croissant.

With so many unexpected layers, the 112 might be described as as a giant wedding cake. And under that analogy, the cake topper is the sky deck—clearly designed with pure hedonism in mind. It has a Jacuzzi spa surrounded by sunpads and shaded by a hardtop.

Power for the 112 is a pair of 2,600-hp MTU 16V 2000 M94s, which push her to a top speed of 26 knots with a cruise of 17. Dropping back to trawler speeds allows a whopping 7,500 nautical-mile range.

Ocean Alexander knows what skippers and owners want and need, which is why the list of standard equipment includes twin 65 kW Kohler gensets; ABT-Trac at-anchor stabilizers, and bow and stern thrusters; and a Garmin electronics package plus TracVision.

Clearly, I’m enchanted with the Ocean Alexander 112. With all her trimmings, she’s a true superyacht at heart, and those who might be looking for something 25 feet longer would be remiss not to have a look. She may just surprise you. True to the builder’s claim, every 112 is delivered with all linens, dinner china (down to the salt shakers), flatware and glassware. Even the fuel tanks arrive full. Just bring your toothbrush.

For more information: 800 940 3554, oceanalexander.com

GALLERY

SPECS

LOA: 112ft. (34.1m)
BEAM: 24ft. 6in. (7.47m)
DRAFT: 6ft. 3 in. (1.9m)
CONSTRUCTION: composite
DISPLACEMENT: 132.5 tons
ENGINES: 2 x 2,600-hp MTU 16V 2000 M94
FUEL: 5,500 gal. (28,820L)
WATER: 1,060 gal. (4,012L)
SPEED (max.): 26 knots
SPEED (cruising): 17 knots
GENERATORS: 2 x 65 kW Kohler
STABILIZERS: ABT-Trac at-anchor
CLASSIFICATION: RINA
NAVAL ARCHITECTURE:
Evan K. Marshall
INTERIOR DESIGN:
Evan K. Marshall
YEAR: 2016

Backstory | Humble Roots

Ocean Alexander was born out of the kindness of Alex Chueh, an entrepreneur in Taipei who loaned money to a friend. When the friend couldn’t repay him in cash, he accepted a boatyard as payment. Suddenly, Chueh was a boatbuilder.

It wasn’t until he met Pacific Northwest naval architect Ed Monk, Jr. that Ocean Alexander was set on its course. Their first boat, the 50-foot Mark I Classic, was a true pilothouse trawler yacht with Portuguese bridge, high bow, hard chine and covered side decks—and, most important, solid construction and impeccable woodwork. As a testament to her offshore abilities, the Classic remains a hot commodity on the brokerage market after nearly four decades.

Growing up in his father’s boatyard set Chueh’s son, Johnny, on a course to skipper Ocean Alexander into the 21st century. While many builders have drifted into full production line construction, Ocean Alexander has remained on its original course: a semi-custom builder that allows clients to tailor each yacht to their own needs.