The Alexander 520 and 540 Pilothouse are basically the same boat—the 520 has a conventional transom and the 540 has a Eurostyle reverse transom which adds some pizzazz to her appearance. They’re built on a modified-V hull with cored hullsides, moderate beam, and a shallow keel for directional stability. Several floorplans were available in the 520/540 over the years. The original three-stateroom interior has the master suite forward, and an alternate two-stateroom layout (available in more recent models) has the master stateroom amidships. Either way, the galley is forward in the salon, and the raised pilothouse is arranged with a centerline helm, direct flybridge access, and port and starboard deck doors. The cockpit of the 520/540—partially shaded by a bridge overhang—is large enough for casual entertaining and comes with a transom door for easy water access. Additional features include a huge flybridge with dinghy storage, wide side decks, well-crafted teak interior woodwork, and excellent storage. Among several engine options, twin 425hp Cats (or 440hp Yanmar) diesels cruise at 15–16 knots and reach a top speed of just under 20 knots.