Frauscher 747 Mirage

CAPRIO’S FIRST IMPRESSION: Far from being a mirage, this edgy, high-performance sport boat gets in your face and into your soul. Although Frauscher likens the design to a modern supercar, I’d rather think of her as a KTM 1290 Super Duke R motorcycle (also Austrian) for the water.

If you’re shy and retiring, this striking sport boat could change your life. Nothing about the 747 Mirage is subtle, as befits the builder’s strong racing heritage. KISKA Design, the Austrian studio run by Gerald Kiska, penned this attitude, just as it has done for KTM’s Super Duke motorcycle.

From the get-go, Frauscher’s characteristic Z-shape sheerline, accented by a bright eyebrow, smacks us in the face. Cheeky, to say the least, but it identifies the brand long before we notice the logo on the Mirage’s flanks. If that doesn’t get our attention, the nearly plumb stem, fine entry, and air-intake fins aft will—they feed oxygen to the panting engine.

KISKA also has taken cues from the runabouts of the mid-20th century. The Mirage’s vertical stem appeared on the Gold Cup boats and runabouts designed by George Crouch, John Hacker, and Gar Wood. The long, slightly crowned, flush foredeck also appeared on the speedboats of the early 1900s.

The after half of the Mirage is purely modern. Her one-piece curved windshield wouldn’t look out of place on a supercar—same goes for the highly bolstered helmsman’s chair. A quintet of round instruments lives line-ofsight on the curved dashboard. A flattish chair opposite the helm and an L-shaped bench aft lets her bring a handful of friends. The co-driver’s backrest folds to create a chaise longue.

Naval architect Harry Miesbauer has drawn a stepped deep-V bottom. Stepped bottoms first appeared in drawings more than 100 years ago, the idea being that ventilating the planing surface would reduce friction and increase speed. Stepping bottoms in those days required a bit of black magic to get it right, but now computational fluid dynamics software has turned their design into a science. The step in Mirage’s bottom, plus a 430-horsepower engine option, gives the 747 a top speed of 56 knots, according to the company.

Among the options are a Bluetooth audio system, bimini top, and a wide range of exterior and interior colors. None of which should slow you down at all. Frauscher Boats, 905-337-7777; www.frauscherboats.com 24'6" 8'2" 1'8" TO 2'10" 3,600 LB. (DRY) 64 GAL. 8.5 GAL. (OPTIONAL)

1/225-HP VOLVO PENTA D4 DIESEL STERN DRIVE

CHOICE OF THREE SINGLE MERCRUISER GASOLINE ENGINES UP TO 430-HP

35 KNOTS 56 KNOTS $149,031 (APPROX.)