boat test

Destination St Kilda

Philip Hastain shares with PBR readers the tale of a trip with family and friends to the remote and mystical islands of St Kilda… My wife and I developed an interest in RIBs just over two years ago when we

Rodman Spirit 31 Outboard

The Spirit 31 is a tough boat, built in a similar vein to its larger commercial and military siblings.  It does a good job of combining subtle style with functional features …  … the two supercharged 200hp Verados mated to

Jeanneau MF1095

… you can’t help but be impressed when you step into the glasshouse-like saloon.  Like all Merry Fishers, this is a versatile boat built to perform as a fast fisher or a family cruiser.  She is built to a price,

Glastron GTD 200

I would happily use it to skip across the crests of a steep, messy Solent or to frolic among the Atlantic rollers of West Wales … I would also consider it pretty enough to hold its own among even the

Scarab 195 Open

This is great fun to drive, and something totally different to a conventional outboard-powered boat. You may either love it or simply find it is too specialised for what you need. At low speed you can spin the boat around

Parker 750 DC

 The most noticeable aspect of the Parker 750 DC is her build quality, which is still evident behind the scenes. The designers have managed to pack in plenty of features without burdening the boat with more than it realistically needs.

Jeanneau NC33

It has been well designed with a good attention to detail and with a particular eye to safety on deck. Living accommodation has been well thought out. Movement on deck is enhanced by the asymmetrical wheelhouse design …  Jeanneau NC33

Grand Golden Line 580

The Grand 580 is a very complete RIB, especially considering its size. It drives and handles well, making it perfectly suited as an all-round sports boat. Plenty of thought has gone into the detailing of the 580. Grand Golden Line

Mazu 38 Open

Below decks the design is just as striking as above.  With a 12ft beam, providing a triple sun pad on the foredeck was an obvious move. Mazu 38 Open Revealed at the Düsseldorf Boat Show for the first time, the

XO Explorer

Being an aluminium boat, it is relatively light at 4.6 tonnes with twin 350hp Verados. One of the most sensible features of the boat is its shock-absorbing seats, which look like motor cycle forks ... XO Explorer The intrepid Greg

Sunseeker Hawk 27

Should you be in any doubt as to the engines’ credibility, then consider having them rebuilt by an independent engineer with knowledge of these engines.  … if you are up for something a bit different, and cost-effective, that will always

Stingher 900GT

This Anglo-Italian RIB is a serious boat built for maximum appeal. Stingher manage this mix very well by building a boat that is fast and exciting to drive, while remaining safe in the process.  It suffers no handling quirks, and

Rodman SPIRIT 42 Coupé

Her stylish interior is in keeping with the popular concept that tends to dominate the industry – that of creating maximum interior space, often at the cost of extra displacement.  … this is a typically tough Rodman with an efficient

Quicksilver Activ 855 Weekend

The Quicksilver Activ 855 is a well-made boat, whose finish, particularly the joinery, does not smack of compromise. It has achieved a good blend of living accommodation and practicality, which is all too important in this size and type of

Prestige 680S

Prestige 680S If you want a flybridge cruiser that feels like a coupé, Prestige’s ingenious 680S might just be the way to go. Alex Smith reports.     It’s early in the morning - just a few minutes past sunrise

Jeanneau Leader 33

While the 30 and the 36 are quite striking examples of their type, the 33 looks like the best-judged Leader yet. … it achieves pretty much everything the larger boat does, but on a smaller, more affordable platform. Jeanneau Leader

Bella 600 BR

With impressive quality of build, clarity of design and purity of ergonomic arrangement, nothing here is allowed to spoil the drive or complicate the life of the owner.  It’s rapid as well as comfy, secure as well as spacious, versatile

Axopar 37 Sun-Top

Few boats offer such a smooth ride and such an easy point and shoot driving experience. It is cleverly designed and well thought out, with close attention to detail …  On the surface, it may appear to be just another

Seakeeper 2

Seakeeper 2 Seakeeper’s drive to expand their gyroscopic technology to an ever wider section of the boating population has taken a big leap with their launch of the Seakeeper 2. Making its debut at the Miami Boat Show, the Seakeeper

Mercury 150XS

Mercury 150XS Based on the standard Mercury 150, the 150hp Mercury 150 Pro XS outboard has been developed for those needing maximum punch from a 150hp engine. Building on the success of its smaller sibling, the 115 Pro XS, which

Mazu 52HT

It goes without saying that this boat is bespoke, so designs and colour schemes will vary. The cockpit is the focal point, with a gigantic sun pad flanked by walkways that run all the way up onto the foredeck without

BRABUS Shadow 800

BRABUS Shadow 800 The BRABUS Shadow 800 is the first in series of limited production, high performance Super yacht tenders. It has been built in conjunction with German high-performance car manufacturer BRABUS, of which at the moment only 20 will

Grand Golden Line 650 HGLF

I am entirely confident that it will do a very serviceable job for most leisure boaters in most conditions. It’s rapid, it’s entertaining, it’s good to look at, and it’s safe, secure and sociable to use. There’s no doubt that

 Fjord 36 Xpress

The dash arrangement is spot on – everything in its place and there’s a place for everything. It wrestles with being a superyacht tender and a weekender, while still being an exciting and practical sports boat.  With two 350hp Verados

Yamaha - The most exciting way to get from A to B campaign
Quarken 2023
Boatfolk May 2023

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