Introduced in 1986, the Australian-built Southern Cross 53 is a traditional flush-deck motoryacht with a practical deckhouse layout and comfortable accommodations. Cockpits add great versatility to any motor yacht, and the spacious open-air aft deck and wide walkaround side decks of the Southern Cross only add to her appeal. The double-deck layout is arranged with the galley completely open to the salon, and there are port and starboard deck access doors in the wheelhouse. The open aft deck is weather-protected with a bridge overhang and wing doors. Note that the engine room is well aft (very unusual), and all three staterooms have private heads with stall showers. Additional features include teak decks, exceptional lower helm visibility, underwater exhausts, a fully cored hull, and an attractive silver ash interior. On the downside, there’s not much headroom in the engine room. With just 435hp 6V71 diesels (certainly not among GMs most popular engines), the cruising speed is 15–16 knots and the top speed is close to 20 knots. Optional 540hp 6V92s cruise at 18–19 knots. A total of nine of these boats were sold into the U.S. market during her production years.