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By
DAVID LOCKWOOD
31 July 2006
Among the sportscruiser marques, Larson offers plenty of bang for your
buck. Part of the Genmar Group, the world's second largest multinational
boatbuilder in terms of units made, Larson has a nine-boat range of
sportscruisers from 22 to 37 feet. Each boat is backed by a lifetime
transferable hull warranty, priced to slot into a niche and, with some
deft selection of options, equipped with everything you need to getaway
for a weekend.
While the 310 Cabrio packed plenty of the
boating life's necessities aboard, it didn’t look top heavy or
wallow. The demo boat included an optional 5kW Kohler petrol
generator and reverse-cycle air-con, Shorepower, fire-suppression
system, cockpit fridge, windlass, holding tank, television with
DVD player, remote spotlight and cockpit table with filler
cushion.
Construction is nothing too high tech, all solid
GRP supported by glass-encapsulated stringers, with a
stainless-steel rub rail on the hull and deck join. The hull shape
is what Larson calls a Patented Duo Delta Conic with a deep 20
degrees of deadrise ranging back to a flat 14 degrees at the
transom. Keep the bow down for a smooth ride, use the flat aft
sections when cruising and for at-rest stability. Don't push the
boat too hard and you will travel comfortably.
I noted an adequate 606-litre fuel supply, just
174 litres of water and an okay 140-litre holding tank. Such
tankage will be just fine for weekends and quick transom showers -
hot/cold handheld provided - and brief showers indoors providing
you're careful with that water supply.
I was able to perform at-a-glance engine checks
and access the main servicing items on the motors. However, room
was tight outboard of the twin small-block 260hp 5.0-litre V8
MerCruiser MPI engines and it was a squeeze checking the oil on
the genset - a minor compromise for the convenience of 240V power.
Waterfront living was improved by the addition
of extended swim platform and swim ladder with handy grab rails. I
found the hot/cold handheld shower in the aft boot, along with
phone and television jacks, and room to stash fenders and ropes.
The aft cleats were easy to access, though all the cleats on
Larson Cabrio are too small for my liking.
Seating comes by way of a U-shaped lounge for
four (it converts to a sunpad with the optional infill) around a
moulded dinette that can be removed for extra floor space. There
is a portside co-pilot lounge for two that can be used as a
daybed, and a two-person helm seat with flip-down bolster for
extra driving space.
Drink holders are dotted about the cockpit,
there was an optional and welcome 12-volt fridge and sink, plus
lunch-prep space in the moulded amenities centre. Pull the canopy
across and you're lunch setting will be partially shaded from the
midday sun. Views from the seats ranged in all directions.
Moulded steps lead up the dash and through the
opening windscreen - a preferable route to the narrow walkaround
sidedecks leading from the cockpit - to the flat foredeck where a
sunpad was held in place by tracks. There were stainless steel
grab rails, but I would like to see an intermediate wire on the
bow rail to keep kiddies and crew contained. And the non-skid is a
bit lame.
There was up to 1.91 metres of headroom in the
saloon and plenty of elbowroom throughout the 3.20-metre wide
hull. You can sleep from two to six depending on your willingness
to convert the lounges. With the genset fitted, the interior is
(reverse-cycle) air conditioned.
The permanent bed is an offset owners' double in
the bow flanked by lined hanging space for weekend apparel. The
dinette amidships can be converted to a double bed, as can the
U-shaped lounge in the amidships cabin, which doubles as a lounge
room when the curtain isn't drawn.
The finish was in keeping with American
production-boat standards, with mock cherrywood laminated joinery,
Granulon moulded benchtops and dinette, and ruched soft-touch
vinyl upholstery on the lounges. The galley is one continuous
cabinet with abundant storage, a fridge, square sink, hot/cold
water, small Tappan microwave oven, two-burner electric stove
(alcohol/electric option should you not have a genie fitted),
opening port and grab/fiddle rail. There's even room for a
cappuccino machine on the bench!
A key selling point is the boat's big head with
headroom, electric loo and holding tank, mirror-backed vanity and
hatch for ventilation. The curtain on track created a decent
shower area, however, watch that water. And the holding-tank gauge
would be more useful if it showed incremental levels not just -
panic - full.
All in all, a comfortable and fast weekender
offering a 27 knots cruise and 32-34 knots top-end speed. Handling
was good, the ride dry in the calm conditions, and with the twin
motors at my beck and call I'd feel comfortable heading to sea and
ranging to a nearby port for the weekend.
lockwood@intercoast.com.au
AT-A-GLANCE
LARSON CABRIO 310
Price as Tested: $244,900 w/ MerCruiser 5.0L
260hp MPI petrol inboard motors, options and accessory packages.
Options Fitted: Upgraded motors, 5kW Kohler
genset, air-con, Shorepower and battery charger, spotlight, auto
fire-suppression system, cockpit fridge and table, covers,
dockside water connect, targa arch, flatscreen TV/DVD, windlass,
electric loo and holding tank, extended swim platform and more.
Base Price: About $222,000 standard boat w/twin
5.0-litre 220hp MerCruiser petrol inboard motors
Length Overall: 9.44 metres
Beam: 3.2 metres
Draft: 0.86 metres
Deadrise: 14 degrees at transom
Weight: 4,717kg dry w/ base motor
Berths: 4 + 2
Fuel: 606 litres
Water: 174 litres
Engines: MerCruiser 5.0-litre MPI 260hp petrol
V8 inboards
Drives: Bravo III sterndrive
Props: Duoprop
Details: See www.larsonboats.com
for a list of Australian dealers. Test boat from Webbe Marine, 541
Princess Highway, Kirrawee, NSW. Telephone (02) 9521 7944.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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