Overview

SeaVee’s 450Z is the result of a spare-no-expense mission to build the ultimate boat for live-bait fishing in all weather. We tested this beast in its natural habitat while kite-fishing with live goggle-eyes in 5-foot seas off Miami’s coastline. We wasted no time assembling kites at the fishing grounds thanks to the ready-to-fly kite compartment in the hardtop. Within 10 minutes of stopping, the first sailfish of the day was on.

Interior and Accessories

No one will ever accuse the SeaVee 450Z of being underplumbed or lacking in live-bait capability. There are twin 40-gallon transom tanks in the corners along with two 40-gallon in-deck livewells. A fifth optional livewell holding 60 gallons can be added in the bow, giving it a total capacity that equals four 55-gallon barrels. The system uses adjustable, proportional Groco valves that are programmed to pressurize livewells when traveling above 6 knots to prevent sloshing. When coming off plane, the pressurization abates for more convenient use while fishing.

Some tower supports resemble oil refineries with a host of vision-blocking, toe-stubbing pipes, but on the 450Z, there are no tubes below the hardtop. Instead, the structure itself provides the support, anchored by artfully sculpted, one-piece, no-seam ladders that don’t have handrails and instead employ curved recesses behind that fit hands perfectly and give just the right leverage to hoist yourself easily and safely. Heading down, rounded indentations on the narrower section below the hardtop guide feet, sight unseen, into the proper position onto SeaDek-padded steps.

Like the 450Z’s hull and deck, the one-piece center console is created by a vacuum-assisted, resin-transfer molding process. A total of 22 inserts are needed to build in the complexity of this console’s design, and while it only takes an hour to shoot the injection, it takes weeks to set up, cure, and take the mold apart. Its coolest feature is the cabin door that’s opened and closed with the same button.

Inside, you’ll find an air-conditioned oasis for catching some z’s or visiting the stand-up head with shower. An electrically actuated high-low teak table descends to form the filler section of the berth. The cabin also comes with a refrigerator and sink.

At the helm, the driver sits, stands or leans on the centerline for better visibility and perspective. The two rows of triple captain’s chairs on our test boat give everyone a skipper-worthy throne. Even those in the back row get an AC vent and have great forward vision thanks to the raised seats. At the helm, twin 24-inch Furuno displays anchor the command center, and there’s even a rear-facing screen built into the hardtop so the captain doesn’t have to constantly answer the question, “What’s the depth?” In front of the console is a wide chaise-style lounge seat that’s low enough to fit well below the gunwale for passenger security.

Great care was given by designer Rob Kaidy to allow this double-stepped Z-hull to run at the same angle of attack no matter the liquid load of the 110-gallon freshwater tank, 48-gallon diesel tank (for the genset), and triple gas tanks that hold 778 gallons.

The roomy fishing cockpit can be cleared even further thanks to the electrically actuated retractable cooler/rear-facing bench seat. A rigging station resides above the bench, and there’s a tackle locker that holds 14 Plano Edge-series waterproof boxes. Five fish boxes have a total capacity of 550 gallons, with the large, forward box giving owners the option of adding chiller plates to preserve ice.

At the end of the day, we made a quick move toward some diving birds and placed our rigged baits into tuna tubes to keep them lively for the short run. Just as we were about to head for home, one of the portside rods bowed over. We hooked what turned out to be a 36-pound blackfin tuna that took several laps around us to help illustrate the ease with which an angler can fight a fish from anywhere on this boat thanks to a level deck, moderate gunwale heights and recessed toe kicks all around. Even when the tuna got close to the stern, the quad Mercs were near enough to the transom—thanks to the lack of an engine well—to guide the fish around. Had it been a big yellowfin, we could have used one of two side doors, which open inward on industrial-strength hinges. A new, integrated fold-down dive ladder eliminates the need to manually attach a boarding ladder.

Engines

The 450Z displays amazing balance at any speed, and the driver doesn’t have to be a trim wizard to keep it running at a proper attitude. After launch, bumping the trim up about one bar on the indicator put the Z-hull at a perfect angle of attack to make easy work out of the 3- to 4-foot seas during the return trip to Haulover Inlet. Once on plane, our inclinometer never deviated from 4 to 5 degrees no matter the speed. Only when putting the whip to the quad Mercury Racing 450R outboards did we trim up to about three bars to reach its terminal speed of 64.4 mph despite our rigged-for-fishing payload.

Shopping? Sea-trial Everglades’ 455cc, a center-console flagship, priced at about $1.7 million with quad Yamaha 425 Offshore outboards.

How We Tested

• Engines: Quad Mercury Racing 450R
• Drive/Prop: Outboard 5.44 HD/Mercury Enertia ECO 20″ x 16″ outside, 21″ x 16″ inside
• Gear Ratio: 1.60:1 Fuel Load: 350 gal. Crew Weight: 750 lb.

High Points

• Requires little driver input to run at the proper attitude.
• Standards include a Seakeeper 6 gyrostabilizer and an Onan diesel generator.
• Flawless rigging and excellent service access.

Low Points

• Without the backrest cushion in place, you can whack yourself in the back with the grab rail on the rear-facing cockpit cooler/bench seat.
• AC vents for the second-row seats only cool crewmembers from the waist down.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

SeaVee Boats – Miami, Florida; 305-759-6419; seaveeboats.com

The post 2021 SeaVee 450Z appeared first on Boating Mag.

SeaVee adds to its acclaimed Z-hull line with the all-new 322Z, a center-console that caters to the avid fisherman while still accommodating the entire family. The twin-stepped hull, with 22 degrees of deadrise, is built using vacuum-assisted resin-transfer molding— VARTM, for short—which infuses the cored hull, stringers and bulkhead simultaneously.

If the 322Z performs as well as previous Z-iteration hulls, it will assuredly provide a smooth, high-performance ride that gets on plane easily and runs great. Many of the performance enhancements come courtesy of SeaVee’s augmented air ports, an induction system in the step hull, which utilizes an air reserve that produces and maintains the necessary airstream to keep the running surface free of drag. Crank into a turn, and you won’t feel any skipping or lurching, thanks to the integrated speed rails.

If you’ve been aboard previous versions of the Z-hulls, a new feature you’ll notice is more room aft of the cockpit, allowing for greater mobility when fishing or comfort when lounging. The rear-facing bench aft of the helm is a great addition to the 322Z’s livability, as well.

Port and starboard bow seats feature electronically actuated backrests for forward-facing passengers, who can get even cozier with the coaming bolsters that run throughout the boat. The optional side door is great for boarding convenience, as well as fishing, diving or just swimming at the sandbar. Other creature comforts available on the 322Z include a freshwater shower and head.

Fishability aboard the 322Z should prove marvelous, starting with the twin, 40-gallon transom livewells and large, fully insulated forward fish boxes.Rod holders are conveniently placed throughout; there is room for storing up to 34 rods.

The helm accommodates up to two 12-inch multifunction displays, plus room for a VHF or audio head unit.

A nicely angled bench provides the captain a cozy spot for sitting or standing and leaning against it, and there is plenty of room for the first mate without getting in the captain’s way.

High Points

⋅Twin-step Z-hull offers better performance without sacrificing control or safety.

⋅Front-opening head compartment leaves pathways clear for fishing.

⋅Unique livewell-pump system keeps bait alive by virtually eliminating aeration problem often found in twin-stepped hull designs.

⋅Dedicated transducer pad allows for flush-mounting large, commercially rated transducers.

Specs

LOA: 32′9″

Beam: 9′6″

Draft: 1′8″

Dry Weight: 6,900 lb. (without engines)

Fuel Capacity: 312 gal.

Seat/Weight Capacity: Yacht Certified.

Available Power: 1,000 hp (max)

Price: $223,800 (base)

More Information

SeaVee Boats – Miami, Florida; 305-759-6419; seaveeboats.com

The post 2020 SeaVee 322Z appeared first on Boating Mag.

Designed for those who want a capable offshore fishing boat that’s also relatively easy to trailer and store, SeaVee’s 290B features a redesigned interior and a hull built using vacuum-assisted resin-transfer molding, which infuses the cored hull, stringers and bulkhead simultaneously. This fabrication process cuts weight and increases the rigidity of the hull, which allows SeaVee to reduce the number of hull stringers from four to two. That, in turn, creates more space belowdecks for stowage and larger fuel tanks. The 290B features a 251-gallon fuel capacity, up by 19 gallons from the original 290 model.

The helm provides enough space to flush-mount twin Garmin GPSMap 7616xsv multifunction displays. Behind-the-helm rigging and cable routing is immaculate. The center console’s forward lift-up hatch grants easy access to a step-down console interior and its 6 feet 4 inches of headroom. A new option is the Coastal leaning post with a stylized backrest that incorporates a grab rail, rod holders, drink holders, plus a tackle cabinet and a slide-out cooler.

There is one large insulated fish box and two smaller stowage lockers forward. The heavy-duty deck hatches close with an authoritative thump. A pressurized 50-gallon livewell resides in the transom and is fed by a pump box. You can add more bait capacity with an additional transom livewell in the starboard quarter and/or a well below the aft deck. A heavy-duty transom door in the port quarter eases the task of landing a big tuna or swordfish.

Powered by twin Mercury Verado 350 outboards, the 290B displays crisp handling that makes it fun to be behind the wheel. The boat’s deep-V hull knifes smoothly through chop. Turning 21-inch-pitch four-blade stainless-steel Merc Revolution 4 propellers, the twin Verado 350s pushed the 290B onto plane in 4 seconds, reaching 30 mph in 6 seconds. Top speed was a pleasing 63 mph at 6,200 rpm. The 290B achieved its most efficient cruising speed at 4,000 rpm and 35.2 mph, where the outboards consumed 18.5 gph for 1.9 mpg — remarkably efficient for a boat of this size with 700 ponies on the transom.

High Points

• Advanced vacuum-assisted resin-infused construction cuts 600 pounds off the original model.
• The redesigned interior features molded trays along each inwale to hold recoilable washdown hoses.
• Want a highly capable offshore center console that’s relatively easy to trailer? This is it.
• The 290B carries 19 more gallons of fuel than the original model to give you greater range.

Price: $210,079 (as tested)

How We Tested
Engines: Twin Mercury Verado 350s
Drive/Props: Outboard/Mercury Revolution 4 14 5/8″ x 21″ 4-blade stainless steel
Gear Ratio: 1.75:1
Fuel Load: 140 gal.
Crew Weight: 700 lb.

SeaVee Boats – Miami, Florida; 305-759-6419; seaveeboats.com

The post 2019 SeaVee 290B appeared first on Boating Mag.

SeaVee’s new 290B appeals to boat owners seeking a capable offshore fishing boat that’s also easy to trailer.

SeaVee utilizes the ­vacuum-assisted resin-transfer molding technology (VARTM) that infuses the cored hull, stringers and bulkhead simultaneously. The center-console model is 600 pounds lighter than the previous 290. It is also more rigid, and that allowed SeaVee to reduce the number of stringers from four to two, creating more space belowdecks for larger ­epoxy-coated aluminum fuel tanks. The 290B features a 251-gallon fuel capacity, up by 19 gallons from the original model.

A heavy-duty transom door in the port quarter eases the task of landing a big tuna or swordfish. A new option is the Coastal leaning post with a stylized backrest that incorporates rod and drink holders and a grab rail, as well as a tackle cabinet and slide-out cooler. The helm provides enough space to flush-mount twin Garmin GPSMap 7616xsv multifunction displays. The center-console’s forward lift-up hatch grants easy access to a step-down interior and its 6 feet 4 inches of headroom. Quality construction is evident in the heavy-duty deck hatches, which close with an authoritative thump, and immaculate rigging and cable routing. Deep gutters around the level, self-bailing deck route water to scuppers in each corner of the aft cockpit.

A pressurized 50-gallon livewell resides in the transom and is fed by a pump box. You can add more bait capacity with a transom livewell in the starboard quarter and/or a deck well below the aft cockpit sole. Twin insulated forward fish lockers keep plenty of ice.

The 290B’s deep-V hull slices smoothly through chop. Powered by twin Mercury 350 Verado outboards, the boat displays crisp handling. Bow flare deflects spray down and away. Turning Mercury Revolution 4 21-inch-pitch four-blade stainless-steel propellers, the twin 350s pushed the 290B to plane in 4 seconds, reaching 30 mph in 6 seconds. Top speed was a pleasing 63 mph at 6,200 rpm. The 290B achieved its most efficient cruising speed at 4,000 rpm and 35.2 mph, consuming 18.5 gph for 1.9 mpg — remarkably efficient for a boat of this size with 700 ponies on the ­transom.

High Points

• Vacuum-assisted, resin-infused construction cuts 600 pounds off the original model.
• Want a highly capable offshore center-console that’s relatively easy to trailer? This is it.
• The 290B carries 19 more gallons of fuel than the original model to give you greater range.

Low Points

• When lifted up, the forward console door can block the view ahead from the helm.
• This is completely custom — don’t expect a lot of standard equipment.
• Opt for the clear polycarbonate wraparound windshield if you want maximum helm protection.

Toughest Competitor
Regulator’s 28 ($206,995 base with twin Yamaha F300s) also boasts a deep-V hull but features a bolt-on Armstrong bracket versus the 290B’s integrated engine bracket.

Price: $210,079 (as tested)

Available Power: Outboard

How We Tested
Engines: Twin 350 hp Mercury 350 Verados
Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Revolution 4 14 5/8″ x 21″ 4-blade stainless steel
Gear Ratio: 1.75:1
Fuel Load: 140 gal.
Crew Weight: 700 lb.

More Information
SeaVee Boats – Miami, Florida; 305-759-6419; seaveeboats.com

The post SeaVee 290B Boat Test appeared first on Boating Mag.

SeaVee’s new bay boat is a stretch — both figuratively and literally. At 27 feet in length, the 270Z Bay is the largest model in the category (also the smallest boat in SeaVee’s stable). Its sweeping sheer line stands in contrast to the low-profile foredecks associated with bay boats.

Yet the elevated casting platforms reflect the bay boat genre. Measuring 92 inches wide and 78 inches along the centerline, the foredeck is expansive. The aft casting platform measures 98 inches wide and 42 inches along the centerline. Diamond nonskid assures traction. There’s no motor splashwell; the outboard mounts on a SeaStar hydraulic jack plate.

All 17 hatches are resin-transfer-infused for a smooth underside finish. Among the lockers are fore and aft pressurized livewells (24 and 30 gallons), an anchor locker, a pair of 75-gallon fish boxes in the bow, two rod lockers that will accept 9-foot sticks, a 107-gallon forward dry storage compartment and a pair of 17-gallon release wells in the aft deck.

The helm leaning post will accommodate two, while two others can rest in a jump seat with a backrest that lifts up from the aft casting platform. A seat forward of the center-console has a 17-gallon cooler below.

The 31-inch helm panel on the center-console easily accommodated the flush-mount Simrad NSS16 evo2 display on my tester. A wraparound tempered-glass windshield protects a glove box on top of the console. Fiddled trays on either side are great for stowing tubes of sunscreen and sunglasses. A door at the front of the console offers access to helm rigging, battery switch and other accessories, but there’s no room to use this as a head compartment.

The 270Z features a cross-ventilated twin-step hull with a central air-reservoir unit that maintains the necessary air cavities to reduce drag at a wide range of speeds. It lifts nicely, planing at speeds as low as 15.5 mph.

Abrupt course changes at speed proved predictable thanks to a design that produces opposing pressure on the speed rails to prevent the hull from catching an edge.

The high prow and flaring bow knock down spray but also create more windage than you might expect with a bay boat. The hull draws just 15 inches of water.

Powered by Mercury’s new 350 Verado, the 270Z vaulted from 0 to 30 mph in 9.5 seconds en route to a top speed of 57.3 mph at 6,000 rpm.

Comparable Model: Pathfinder 2600 HPS

The post SeaVee 270Z Bay appeared first on Boating Mag.

SeaVee 390Z

SeaVee 390Z

SeaVee 390Z

SeaVee 390Z

SeaVee 390Z

SeaVee 390Z

SeaVee 390Z

SeaVee 390Z

SeaVee 390Z

SeaVee 390Z

SeaVee 390Z

SeaVee boats have long been heralded for their great-running conventional deep-V hulls. Now, the company has introduced a new series of step-hull boats called the SeaVee Z series in 32-, 34- and 39-foot lengths. I met with SeaVee’s design team aboard a 390Z, both on land and on water, to get to the truth behind these new double-step center-console boats. We discovered many things, most notably that, instead of following in the wake of others’ designs, SeaVee set its own course for a higher-performing, more efficient hull form.

The design is a collaboration between SeaVee Boats co-owner Ralph Torres and longtime SeaVee designer Robert Kaidy, a principal at Ocean5 naval architects. Upon a first quick glance at the boat from the side, experienced boaters might classify the steps as being quite large (guilty!). Large steps usually mean a boat that requires a lot of attention to the helm, needing trim and throttle to control.

Looks can be deceiving.

The Z models actually feature a pair of small, 2-inch-tall steps. The vents at the chines are what are oversized, the idea being that most step vents are too small. These big openings are intended to prevent the vents from clogging up and to allow more air to be fed to the hull, alleviating the “hitch” or “hesitation” — it’s an instantaneous loss of speed and stability, really — that many stepped hulls exhibit due to clogged vents. If you’ve driven a stepped hull or had one roar past you, you may have heard the chuff-chuff-chuff sound that accompanies this phenomena.

During my trial of the 390Z I can say that I did not experience this hesitation. I will also say that I have experienced it aboard other boats. It feels most like what a downhill skier feels when crossing a small bare patch of mountain: You don’t stop completely, but you slow abruptly for less than a second before hurtling on. So our sea trial confirmed the design principle behind the vents.

The second key feature incorporated into SeaVee’s Z series hulls are the so-called “speed rails.” Simply put, these are chines and strakes with 90-degree inside corners on them. Only the aft portion of the chines and strakes are speed rails; forward, the corner fades out and fairs into the bottom like a conventional chine or strake.

Speed rails keep the boat tracking true, particularly in turns. Many stepped-hull boats get “squirrelly” when turning. But I was able to haul the SeaVee 390Z through lock-to-lock turns at 40 mph. In so doing, I maintained as much confidence as I would when commanding a conventional V-hull boat. Confirmation by sea trial.

Finally, the Z series hulls feature a flat keel for most of the length of the underbody. This stays wet and allows installation of through-hull intakes and transducers to be successful, something always problematic for stepped-hull boats. Perhaps more importantly, the flat keel section provides more lift, easing the transition onto plane. Just as critical, it ensures that the boat does not exhibit excessive bow rise, a common flaw with many stepped hulls. Since Boating measures bow rise as part of our certified boat tests, I can say that the SeaVee 390Z does not exhibit excessive inclination (bow rise); the most I measured was 3 degrees.

In fact, during my test, the boat’s trim seemed “built in” to this, the stepped bottom holding it at almost the same angle of inclination regardless of speed or our direction relative to the seas. I was most pleased to find that, while running down-sea in the day’s 2- to 4-foot waves, the 390Z carried its bow well, refusing to stuff or plunge. Quirky, bow-heavy, down-sea handling is the bane of many stepped-hull boats, but apparently not this one.

I’ve used a lot of ink and space to describe the new SeaVee Z hull bottom. But SeaVee hasn’t stood still when it comes to features, outfitting, or topside design either.

The 390Z is a deeper boat than the original 390 and also features a salty rise in the sheer line lacking aboard its stablemate. The features combined to provide the optional electrically reclining bow seats with high, comfortable backrests in our test boat. In the head, accessed by swooshing it’s pneumatically actuated hatch aside, I discovered a pleasant space made bright by a port, functional by a sink and mirror, and ample with 6 feet 6 inches of headroom.

The tester’s T-top — like the bow seats, just one of many options this semicustom builder can provide — extended far enough to provide shade over part of the aft cockpit. That’s a good thing, since some cool seating slides out from the leaning posts and crew seated there will appreciate the shade. The helm seat is triple-wide, and the geometry of the helm panel is such that all controls, gauges and displays were easy to access while retaining excellent visibility whether seated or standing. The hull-side dive door will delight your crew.

Being a SeaVee, the tester didn’t lack for fishing gear, what with two livewells installed, Top Gun outriggers and more rod holders than most any other three boats you’d care to board. Those are just the highlights. Again, SeaVee outfits according to owner demands, rather than an equipment list.

My advice? If you’re a discerning boater in the market for a giga-size CC, you need to check out the SeaVee 390Z.

The post SeaVee Boats: The SeaVee 390Z appeared first on Boating Mag.

SeaVee 430 Sport Express

SeaVee 430 Sport Express

SeaVee 430 Sport Express

SeaVee 430 Sport Express

SeaVee 430 Sport Express Specs

What do blue tape and foam board have to do with building a hit new family-friendly fishboat? According to Robert Kaidy of Ocean5, the firm that designed the SeaVee 430 SE, almost everything. Kaidy used three rolls of tape to outline a full-sized accommodation plan on the floor of SeaVee headquarters. SeaVee kept the tape in place for months, living with the plan and tweaking it. Then a full-sized, foam-board mockup was built, which was followed by more tweaks and decisions regarding build processes, installations, and accessories. Finally a design was committed to tooling. The result is the fastest, most fishable cruiser I’ve ever tested. Ever.

This doesn’t mean it’s perfect. I’d change the tackle locker’s large single door. Smaller double doors are easier to manage in rough seas or at high speeds, scenarios in which the 430 SE will thrive. No surprise there, as SeaVee’s impeccable track record of building rugged, good-running boats proves. What’s surprising is how this renowned builder of center consoles turned out a cabin boat that rivals the best cruisers on the water.

Middle Management

The 430 SE was built so it runs right no matter which of its three power choices you opt for. In addition to the quadruple outboards powering my test boat, you can elect Volvo Penta’s IPS or choose conventional shaft inboards. Each choice changes the boat’s center of gravity (CG). To handle this, a sizable boat is required, such as the 430 SE. It must have enough hull bottom to handle the weight shift between, say, outboards on a bracket and inboards mounted in the bilge. If you order IPS, the engines sit directly in the CG. Placing weight on the CG has no effect on fore-and-aft trim. Order inboards or IPS, and SeaVee uses a different mold that pushes the transom wall aft, moving its weight with it (plus giving you a 2′ longer cockpit).

Each power option also has different requirements for water flowing off the hull to feed the props. If you were to see all three iterations of the 430 SE out of the water, side-by-side, you would need a keen eye to be able to see the subtle differences. Suffice to say that, just like the cockpit mold, by using mold inserts, or “modular tooling,” SeaVee ensures the wheels get the water they need at all speeds, regardless of power. I haven’t run the other versions of the 430 SE yet, but I did run a pair of SeaVee 390s, one powered with IPS and the other with outboards, and both boats ran fine. So SeaVee has proved to me that they know how to do this.

I’m a fan of outboards in big boats such as the 430 SE and Intrepid’s 430 Sport Yacht ($506,136 with triple 350-hp Yamaha outboards). Why? Performance, for one. Grab the throttles. The 430 SE shoots onto plane with little inclination, never exceeding three degrees. Most express boats this size leave the skipper blind climbing out of the hole. Trim out and hammer down. In a flash you’re at full throttle, the rev limiters are chirping, and the boat is hustling along at 54 mph. The ocean off Miami was pulsing with three-footers on test day, and the 430 SE would have comfortably carried us to the Bahamas and back at that speed.

At a more moderate 30 mph, your crew can move about the boat. Plus, the 430 SE’s range extends to 420 miles. IPS will provide even greater range, but it costs about $80,000 more. With the quad setup, back down, oppose each pair of engines, and they deliver the same torque and maneuverability as do conventional inboards. One gripe: The key switches hit my knees, but SeaVee assured me that it was changing the ignition to a pushbutton unit.

I also like outboards because they take up no space in the boat. You can check the number and size of the 430 SE’s cockpit hatches to verify this, but for a real stowage treat, lift the bridgedeck steps. This “day hatch” to the engine room for an inboard or IPS becomes a huge utility room if you power with outboards. There’s space for rods, coolers, beach chairs, bicycles-you name it. The deck lifts on rams for wide open access. Just forward of the helm is another room that houses the water heater, electronics modules, air conditioning, and other machinery. Keeping this stuff out of the cabin keeps the air cleaner.

I also like outboards because they’re as maintenance-free as marine engines get. Service access to systems is easy. And they trim up, allowing your boat to cross shoals. You can take your 40-footer to the beach, too, plus you won’t have to worry about corrosion while it’s docked.

Social Skills

From the helm seat, several feet aft of the cabin bulkhead, you have command of your course. You also get access and great sightlines to the cockpit, plus you’re at the center of the party. To port is an L-lounge that seats five. Just forward of the helm is a solid-surface wetbar with sink. Another faux-stone counter is under the windshield, just beside the companionway, and there’s a built-in drink cooler, too. Fiddles here would help, but even so, snacks and drinks are close at hand.

Step down into the cabin onto the wide-plank teak sole. Aft and to port is the master stateroom with its queen-sized berth and flat-screen TV. To starboard is huge head, big enough for a couple to share, with a shower stall complete with a seat. Some might balk at a head this big, which intrudes on the salon. But in my opinion, the head is so important, it should be giant-sized.

In the galley, you’ll find a large sink and a stove that slides out of cabinetry. The refrigerator is a stainless-steel drawer. Forward is the convertible dinette, another great innovation. With light streaming in via skylights and hullside windows, accentuating the texture of the ostrich-hide bulkhead coverings, guests sit on a richly upholstered lounge. When a table is required, hit a switch and one rises from the sole, complete with top installed. Ingenious.

SeaVee has a well-earned reputation for ingenuity, as anyone who has ever run its center console boats can confirm. After my test of the 430 SE, I can say that boatbuilding with that attitude works just as well for express boats. ****

MSRP: $556,750

Contact: 305-759-6419 www.seaveeboats.com

The post SeaVee 430 Sport Express appeared first on Boating Mag.

The 390 IPS delivers hold-on holeshot, gobs of midrange torque for managing boisterous seas, and a 50.6-mph top speed. I was impressed by efficiency that yielded a 600-mile range at 30 mph. That calculates to 1.6 mpg throughout the cruising range compared to the 1 mpg typically delivered by outboard boats of this size and type.

Maneuverability is unreal, thanks to IPS’ sportfish mode, which delivers more splay to the drives than a typical IPS joystick, thus allowing me to back, spin, and generally juke around better than any other boat I’ve ever driven. During multiple hook-ups it’ll cool the hottest fish.

Naval architect Robert Kaidy drew this deep-V with IPS in mind, and SeaVee built it just right . The convexity in the forward hull adds buoyancy, prevents plunging, and maintains a bow-up attitude of 2 to 3 degrees underway. That’s important because the IPS engine installation moves the center of gravity forward, the benefits of which include a reduced tendency to hang the bow off waves. It also produces a more comfortable drift: With the CG closer to the center of the boat, the rocking isn’t accompanied by fore-and-aft pitching.

I can hear the naysayers cawing about the space lost to inboards. Get on the boat. You get 3′ more cockpit room aft of the leaning post because there’s no integrated motor bracket. The engines, installed beneath the leaning post, take the space outboard power’s larger fuel tanks would occupy, so little is lost there. Engine access? Great overall, although reaching the fuel transfer valves is tough. Fuel shutoffs, Racors, and the oil exchange pump are located in a separate compartment to starboard.

Pressurized livewells, hatches finished on both sides, and preinstalled backing plates prove that attention to detail runs rampant. The 390 IPS is that rare boat that even the most jaded captain will find himself walking around, looking distracted, while lightly stroking every surface and accessory with his fingertips.

The post SeaVee 390 IPS appeared first on Boating Mag.