SURVEYOR’S REPORT

The stand out features of this boat are the space and ease of movement around the vessel, storage space, plus the benefits of the Air Step hull. In my experience, this really does work; the ease with which it gets on the plane is impressive and the feeling of riding on a cushion of air is discernible. I have achieved speeds of more than 34 knots on sea trial with a D4 300 engined craft and 28.7 knots at 3,000 rpm, making this a fun and fast cruiser.

Points to note when considering buying:

■ I have found that occasionally the GRP air tubes begin delaminate at the outlet end under the hull – probably due to forces exerted when in use. Not a big problem if found early, and easily solved when lifted.

■ Coloured gelcoats on these boats tend to fade badly though UV effect. Ideally, buy a white boat, otherwise considerable time will be spent compounding and polishing. A paint or vinyl wrap may be required.

■ Sliding roof’s gulleys, rollers and slides need to be kept clean and lubricated with a dry Teflon spray.

■ The swim platform is prone to minor impacts and the teak can lift and debond due to localised crushing. Light hammer testing will show if all is OK.

■ When using the joystick command be aware that the drive engagement can be harsh. If the clunking is excessive, ask for a Volvo engineer to check the system.

■ Some boats aren’t used regularly enough. Often, I find surface pitting on door handles, porthole trims, locker catches, and spores on soft linings, all due to insufficent ventilation when left unused for long periods.

Chris Olsen, Olsen Marine Surveying

Tel: +44 (0)7971 250105; www.olsenmarine.co.uk