QUICKSILVER 855 WEEKEND

BUILT 2016 PRICE £94,450

When I arrived in Rapallo to test the 855 Weekend at its launch in 2013, I discovered the marketing manager glaring at the rain from inside the cabin – she’d held the event there because you can normally guarantee sunshine in southern Italy. In fact the weather was ideal for proving just what a great all-weather boat this is.

INTERIOR It’s larger than you’d expect from Quicksilver and the interior is about as clever as you’ll find on a boat of this size. Close it all up and you’ve got big windows and a great view out. But with opening aft doors, a side door, a sliding side window and opening roof hatch you can let the weather in if it promises to behave. There are two cabins and remarkable headroom through most of the accommodation. But the saloon seating is the real party trick. Two double seats face each other across a table. But you can lose the table, flip up a centre section, drop in a cushion and you’ve got a comfortable C-shaped lounging area. Or slide the forward section back on its runners, reverse the backrest and you’ve got a double seat next to the helm plus forward-facing seating for a further two behind.

EXTERIOR Asymmetric decks create great access forward on the starboard side and the cockpit is a decent size.

PERFORMANCE Quicksilver offered this boat with single or twin outboard engines, it will do 40 knots with the largest twin 225hp option! This single Mercruiser 260hp diesel is the alternative; it gives the boat about 30 knots flat- out and far lower fuel bills.

SEA-KEEPING The other thing that grotty day in Rapallo gave us was a bit of chop to test the boat in. I concluded: “Ultimately the boat goes and handles exactly as you’d expect from looking at it. No disappointments, but no surprises either.”

Length 28ft 0in (8.5m) Beam 9ft 10in (3.0m Draught 2ft 4in (0.7m) Displacement 3.2 tonnes Fuel capacity 400 litres Engine Mercruiser 260hp diesel

FOR SALE Precious Marine www.preciousmarine.co.uk