Cranchi Panama 24 is the last of the outboard-equipped models from the Italian boatyard. That’s why it has on the shoulders the responsibility of continuing a successful story.
Today Cranchi may bring to your mind flybridge yachts and hard-top cruisers, but it’s not always been like that. Many ports are crowded with more “normal” boats, daycruisers or weekenders, which carry the same crab-shaped logo. The company is part of the Italian boating history, so now that te product line has turned to much larger models this Panama is the only representative of that tradition with outboard motors.
Cranchi Panama 24: the test
I’m ready to sail off from the shores of Lake Maggiore, which has rarely been as calm as today. The engine is a Mercury Verado F250, not the maximum power allowed, but as soon as I push the lever the speed gain is quick and I reach 36 knots and 6000 rpm, while working on the trim is useless in this case. The propeller is a 16”, 3-blade steel Mercury Enertia: it seems a very good match with the boat and the motor as the fuel consumption doesn’t exceed 28 lph at 24 knots and drops to 11 liters at 9.5 knots (2200 revs), which is the minimum planing speed.
Beside the modern Mercury Verado F250, part of the merit goes to the hull, designed by Aldo Cranchi. It is efficient and safe, with a correct feedback in the quick maneuvers and the feeling of total control.
Cranchi Panama 24: more than a daycruiser
If you love extremely sporty boats this could not be your choice, and the structure of the awning doesn’t help. But try and step on board as you may change your mind. The cockpit is well organized and features a U-couch and a table. On the foredeck, a large solarium pleases the sun lovers taking almost all the available space, with a cushion at the bottom of the windshield which works as a seat back. All the rest is exactly how it should, with even a wet-bar – kitchenette under the piloting seat.
The small cabin below the deck is actually not small at all: behind the companionway a double berth leaves the dinette free for a couple, and there’s even room for a separate heads.
As for the finishing care and quality of materials, Cranchi Panama 24 can count on the experience and expertise that the boatyard has collected building large yachts. What else?
The numbers of Cranchi Panama 24
- Length overall 8.32 m (27ft 3in)
- Beam 2.50 m (8ft 2in)
- Draft 0.90 m (2ft 11in)
- Displacement 1870 Kg (without motor)
- Engine Mercury Verado 250
- Max engine output 300 HP
- Fuel reserve 270 l (71 US gal)
- Passengers 8
- CE design category B
Performance
rpm knots mph lph nm/l range* dB
- 600 2,8 3,2 1,7 1,65 356 50
- 1000 4,1 4,7 3,7 1,11 239 53
- 1500 7,1 8,2 6,2 1,15 247 58
- 2000 8,8 10,1 9,6 0,92 198 63
- 2500 10,0 11,5 15 0,67 144 66
- 3000 13,0 15,0 23 0,57 122 68
- 3500 24,0 27,6 28 0,86 185 69
- 4000 27,0 31,1 36 0,75 162 71
- 4500 28,0 32,2 46 0,61 131 73
- 5000 29,0 33,4 61 0,48 103 74
- 5500 30,0 34,5 95 0,32 68 75
- 6000 36,0 41,4 98 0,37 79 82
*(20% reserve)
Test conditions
- Calm water, clean hull, fuel 160 l (42 US gal), 2 passengers
Indicative price (VAT not included)
- Without engine € 52.300
If you want a larger Cranchi, of course you have to drop the outboard motor. Read our test of the Endurance 33.
