With an uncommonly large 4.25-metre beam allied to head height of 2.1 metres on the main deck and 1.92 metres down below, the Atlantis 43 is not just designed to be affordable; it’s also designed to bully its way to the very top of the class for interior volume. That’s certainly evident on the main deck where, despite the provision of very decent external walkways, the saloon enjoys enough space for a proper external galley with sink, barbecue and fridge, plus a large wraparound dining area to starboard and a sun lounger at the co-pilot position.
It also features a very attractive combination of light and visibility, courtesy of large, obstacle-free window panels and a big roof section with electrically retractable soft-top. This roof structure is actually very large in terms of its surface area, extending all the way to the aft bench at the furthest extremity of the saloon, and yet with an impressively low profile allied to a soft top section that is able to retract for at least half of its length, the aesthetic remains very sporty and the headroom remains very generous. In the fully retracted position, it enables the big saloon to offer a very convincing flavour of the open boating experience.
Up at the helm, the visibility is as good as you would expect, but the proportions of the helm seat on this debut model look a bit off to me. It has plainly been conceived as a two-man bench, but the relative positions of the wheel and throttle place the helmsman right in the centre, making it difficult for a second person to perch alongside without getting in the way. A simple shift to starboard would be a useful improvement in this regard, freeing up some proper seating space for a second man and minimising any interference with the controls.
