Reliant Yachts’ most recent launch, the Commuter 40, joins seven other Reliant power boats, including a 43, 50 and 60 express; and a 50, 60, 75 and 93 motoryacht (Reliant also has a full line of sailing yachts). While each boat is different – every owner has great leeway on layout and configuration – all share common traits: craftsmanship, attention to detail, and performance. “The owner works with the entire team from day one in the building process. There is a special relationship that forms throughout, right up to the launch and christening. It’s quite meaningful for everybody,” explains Jim Ewing, who along with partner David MacFarlane (they previously worked together at Alden Yachts) formed Reliant in 2015.

The new Commuter 40 exemplifies Reliant Yachts’ commitment to a standard of excellence in the tradition of MacFarlane and Ewing’s collaboration at Alden. “We paid a great deal of attention to scale and proportion, which is a pre-condition to any quality design. From the relationship of the cabin house to the amount of freeboard, the size of the foredeck, the roof overhangs, and the rake of the windshield, nothing is by chance,” states Ewing. “It is our overriding philosophy that every build will be treated with the attention of a custom yacht, yet the price point will remain competitive with many production yachts.”

Though the Commuter 40 is the smallest in the Reliant fleet, care was taken to provide comfortable, if not suprisingly large, living space. There is a full centerline queen master stateroom forward with a full bulkhead and door – no V-berths open to the saloon here. Next aft and to port is a full galley with marble counters, electric stove, a high gloss stainless steel sink with ample storage outboard, and convection microwave oven. Refrigeration and pantry storage is opposite along the midship bulkhead, with room for a full height refrigerator if desired by the customer. Next to starboard is the head – and perhaps no space on the boat has received more comments – with marble counters, high gloss stainless steel sink, fresh water electric flush toilet, and a very large, full height, full width, human-sized shower with seating and a glass door. This is a proper shower, not a closet with a sprayer and a drain.