38-40 Atlantique

Called the Atlantique 38 until the addition of an extended swim platform in 1998 made her a 40-footer, the Atlantique 40 is a sleek European motor yacht whose luxury accommodations are very much in the Italian tradition of elegance and comfort. She’s built on a soft-riding deep-V hull and, like many European yachts, she incorporates propeller tunnels to reduce shaft angles—a particularly necessary feature in the Atlantique since the engines are so aft in the hull. Her two-stateroom interior is arranged with a mid-level galley, opposite the elevated lower helm and hidden from the salon. The master stateroom is forward, and the guest cabin is fitted with twin berths that extend under the helm console. A sliding glass door opens to the Atlantique’s cockpit with its built-in lounge seating, transom door and molded bridge access steps. A sun pad is aft of the helm on the flybridge and a bridge overhang shades the cockpit. Engine access is a little awkward; the motors are located under the aft part of the salon and the gearboxes are under the cockpit. A popular model in the U.S. market, twin 370hp Volvo diesels cruise the Atlantique 40 in the mid 20s (about 30 knots top).