2000 Maxum 4600 SCB

A2000 Maxim 4600 SCB with twin Cummins 8.3-liter diesels is a pretty compelling combination, particularly if you're thinking about it as a cruising boat rather than a performance boat.

The twin Cummins 8.3 is the 6CTA8.3, a 505-cubic-inch inline-six turbocharged diesel with 450hp and appx 1300hrs 

The 8.3 is a big, relatively simple mechanical-era Cummins diesel. It's an inline six and these engines have an excellent reputation for durability.

The big advantage is torque. You're moving a large, heavy 46-foot boat, and the Cummins is much better suited to pushing that weight for long periods than a pair of high-strung gasoline engines.

The boat has two private staterooms and two heads, with the galley and main living space on the main level. The design gives you unusually good separation between the living and sleeping areas.

Up in the salon, you've got a large C- or L-shaped seating area, lots of big windows, and a raised dinette. That raised dinette is a neat feature because you get a good view outside while sitting at the table. The galley is also up in the salon, rather than being buried downstairs.

The master is forward. It's a proper walk-around island queen, with storage underneath, hanging lockers and an en-suite head. And here's a nice surprise for a 46-footer of this vintage: the master head has a tub/shower arrangement.

The guest cabin is to starboard, with two side-by-side single berths that can convert to a queen. There's a second head across the passageway, with its own separate shower stall.

And the interior finish on these boats is pretty nice for a 2000. Cherry wood, Corian countertops, hardwood flooring, recessed lighting, and fairly substantial storage. It's definitely more "yacht" than "weekend cruiser."

One thing I particularly like about the layout: the galley is upstairs and near the salon, so whoever's cooking isn't isolated from everybody else. That's a big deal when you're actually living aboard rather than just showing the boat at the dock.

The dimensions also help: it's about 46 feet long, 14'4" beam, and 30,400 pounds dry, so there's a lot of volume inside.