Like most custom boats, the Buddy Davis 52 poses a simple question: How badly do you want exactly what you want? From cockpit layout to stateroom arrangements to spice-rack design, Buddy Davis and his crew will build anything you want within this 52-foot fiberglass envelope at a price that's comparable to many similar-size production boats. But you may have to wait a year or more to get one.

For the owner of the fourth 52 to roll out of the Wanchese, North Carolina, factory, it was a year well spent. He has just taken delivery of a boat designed to meet his specific needs and built with the quality, prestige, and tradition that are inherent in a Buddy Davis boat. He also has 1,100hp MAN engines, powerplants that are once again revolutionizing performance standards for large sportfishermen.

We've seen these 12ylinder engines push the ACY58 ("Freedom's Fancy," June 1994) and the Viking 50C ("Act Five, Scene Two," March 1995, "Mail Drop," April 1995) to 35-knot cruising speeds, up from the 30-knot standard that emerged only a few years ago. Now MAN has tweaked the compact engines to 1,200-hp, ensuring even more speed and prompting a response from the competition.

Although the Buddy Davis 52's 2-knot cruise with a 447-mile range and 35-knot top end don't quite match those other boats, it's with good reason. With the deep forefoot, sharp entry, and wide bow flare that create the renowned "Carolina bow," the 52 has a little more wetted surface than other sportfishermen and therefore a little less speed. But when it's time to punch through notoriously rough inlets like Oregon, Ocracoke, and Hatteras, such features are essential. "It's built for performance in head-to seas," says Davis. It became the typical design around here because what's the use of having all that speed if you can't get through the inlet to use it?" The full-length skeg also slows her down a bit, but it protects the running gear and keeps her steady when its time to surf home with the sea following you through those same harrowing inlets.

Buddy Davis willingly sacrifices a few knots for better seakeeping ability, and a better ride was the goal when he extended the well-known Buddy Davis 47 into the 52. That's why he contracted naval architect Don Blount to reassess the laminate schedule and weight distribution. Blount recommended a few extra transverse supports in the stringer system, a slightly different layup, and redistributed the weight. The results are dramatic.

With Blount's changes the 52 has more integral support and, with the same engines, actually weighs 1,000 pounds less than the old 47. The longitudinal center of gravity (LCG) is proportionately further aft on the 52, somewhere abaft the saloon bulkhead. The reduced weight and new LCG allow the hull, especially the bow, to ride higher in tube water, to which Buddy Davis attributes not only her stable ride but her ability to plane at 1300 rpm and 15 knots. "The 47 could get a little squirrelly in a following sea because the low-riding bow would get submerged and steer her a bit," he says. "But this one doesn't do that. She rides prouder in the bow."

Another feature that helps in any sea state is the Hynautic power-assist steering. The system provides smooth, one-finger turning and allowed the boat to bank through a series of hard turns without a problem during our test. Meanwhile, single-lever Panish controls with a neutral lockout make docking and backing down an easy, one-step process for the person perched at the 52's teak raised-pod helm.

For those who don't ply North Carolina's Outer Banks, the 52's roughwater capabilities and deft handling may not be a necessity, but they're definitely a comfort. And best of all they don't cost you anything extra. Buddy Davis establishes a base price for his boats by calculating a certain allowance for all parts and systems. The estimate allows you to vary equipment and materials without changing the price.

For instance, you can swap the Corian counters for teak and order a teak toe rail, teak trim on the bridge, and teak covering boards without an extra charge, but a teak sole in the cockpit costs more. If you're willing to pay extra you can upgrade, and if you want to build her for less you can strip the boat down. Buddy Davis's baseline package is pretty well equipped, including some items you would normally consider optional like the power steering and single-lever controls (Parish or Mathers Microcommanders), along with a cockpit freezer, 15kW Onan genset, engine synchronizer, retractable shore power cord, four separate Cruisair air conditioners for zoned cooling, and top-grade fixtures throughout.

All this translates into personalized comfort, and since stretching the 47 entailed more than just adding a few feet to the cockpit, there's more usable living space. The 52 is a totally new boat with two more feet in the cockpit, one and-a-half in the saloon, and one-and a-half forward. The bridge is two-and-a half feet longer, with three lounges that each have stowage below, including an insulated cooler in one. An electronics console recesses into the helm and lifts on an electric actuator. It provides an easy-to-see, flush-mounted display while you're running and tucks away securely while you're ashore.

In the cockpit a crushed-ice maker pumps ice to both the forward cooler and six-foot in-sole fishbox with macerator, while a transom fishbox provides even more insulated stowage. Inwale lockers house washdowns, shore connections, and fishing rods, and the lockers have fold-up covers for a clean, uncluttered look. Unique corner hawse pipes make it easy to tie up forward or aft.

These kinds of special touches are what set the Buddy Davis apart, and to make sure the 52 maintains its distinct flavor the company has added some other unique features. All the over board drains and pumps feed into a central drain line that empties aft via a single through-hull fitting, eliminating the unattractive bevy of through hulls along the hull sides. In a similar attempt to eliminate through hulls in the bottom, Buddy Davis intends to install sea chests in all future 52s. The engine room certainly has enough space for them, and Buddy Davis feels they aid performance by reducing drag and ease maintenance by centralizing all the through hulls

Inside, the 52 is an open book, limited by little other than your needs and imagination. Buddy Davis's working layout includes three staterooms, two heads with electric toilets and separate showers, washer/dryer, central vacuum, and full galley up, but give Buddy Davis a year and he'll give you whatever you'd like.
All in a 52-foot hull that was born among some of
the country's toughest sea conditions and has been proven all over the world.

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