INVICTUS 370GT
With burnt-orange textured fabrics and natural teak, there’s no question that this sportsboat’s got style – but does it go the distance out in the chop?
Like Axopar, Invictus has been one of the rare success stories of the last few years. Designed by Christian Grande (the man behind many of Sessa’s most successful craft) and built in Italy, this relative newcomer has managed to carve out a sizeable niche in the market as a manufacturer of modern, stylish but still very practical sportsboats.
The original 280GT sterndrive sportscuddy and more recent outboard powered 240FX centre console both impressed us on test with their classy detailing and well-thought-out cockpit designs, but this new 370GT flagship needs to raise the bar even higher. With a starting price of € 370,000 including VAT, it’s competing with a diverse set of rivals that spans everything from the cuttingedge Axopar 37 to the more retro-oriented Chris-craft Launch 36.
The Invictus falls somewhere between the two, promising 40-knot performance from a pair of 370hp Mercruiser diesels and a large open cockpit but also enough accommodation to sleep four in reasonable comfort. It certainly looks the part with its reverseangled bow, sculpted topsides and two-tone paint job. The cockpit reinforces these first impressions with a rich mix of burnt-orange leather, linen textured fabrics, highly polished stainless steel and
natural teak. Liberally scattered with Invictus branding and crusader shield logos, it screams designer chic from every last stitch.
The layout also works extremely well for the kind of dayboating it’s intended for. A sociable spread of seating around the folding cockpit table, an outdoor galley right next to it and a walkaround centre console with sunbeds at both ends ensures it ticks all the boxes for lazy days at anchor.
Three heavily bolstered helm chairs hold you firmly in place underway, while two short extensions to the console bring the throttles and joystick within easy reach of the skipper. An all-digital dash housing twin Raymarine MFDS with a 7in Mercruiser Vesselview monitor stacked above them displays all the critical engine information in a clear, logical format. The final flourish of a see-through roll indicator looks impressive but falls rather flat when you realise it’s nothing more sophisticated than a printed piece of Perspex.
With 740hp on tap from a pair of 4.2-litre V8 turbodiesels, there’s no shortage of power. These are the same engines which started life under the bonnet of Audi’s A8 and Q7 cars among others, so they should be pretty civilised too. Low down the rev range, they never feel quite as punchy as Volvo’s supercharged D6s (at 2,500rpm the Invictus is still labouring at 12 knots) but as soon as the revs sweep
past 2,800rpm, the turbos spool up and deliver a hefty shove in the back. At 3,000rpm, it’s yomping along at 26 knots and carries on accelerating all the way to a top speed of 41.3 knots.
The steering is light and sensitive, enabling us to pick our way through the lumpy swell off Cannes. The boat feels solid and secure under foot but every now and then, it comes off a wave with a jarring bang. The conditions are quite challenging and we’re pushing it harder and faster than most owners would choose to do in these seas but to its credit, the cockpit stays dry and other than one of the stainlesssteel grab-handles working its way loose, the boat seems to cope fine.
Judging from this experience, the 370GT will be most at home in a sun-blessed Mallorcan cala with juicy prawns sizzling on the cockpit griddle and a chilled Sauvignon blanc on the table. And when the sun dips below the horizon, you can either blast back home or make use of the generous double bed (or convertible dinette) in the open-plan cuddy and two guest berths in the separate mid cabin under the cockpit. Headroom is understandably limited in the latter but it’s just as smart and beautifully finished as every other aspect of this handsome newcomer. A sizeable day heads with a proper walk-in shower cubicle completes the layout below decks.
In summary, the 370GT is the consummate Med weekender with the looks, performance, layout and detailing to satisfy all but the most demanding drivers. The hull doesn’t lend itself quite so well to cutting through the rough stuff as an Axopar 37 but then with diesel power and more extensive accommodation, it’s a different kind of craft that will appeal to a different type of owner.