Bavaria Motor Boats 330 Sport

There is a misconception that Melbourne doesn't lend itself to boating. Weather's too grim, air's too cold, water's too rough, nowhere to park your craft. I've heard every excuse under the sun and clouds.

Well, I proved the detractors wrong. And not in a Huon pine pilothouse cruiser with a pot belly stove, but aboard a 30-something sportscruiser designed expressly for the great outdoors and basking in the sun.

My journey of discovery took place on a typical Melbourne day that was brisk rather than boiling. The wind had sprung up, as it does on Port Phillip Bay, the fingers went kind of numb, and a rosy hue spread across the cheeks. But were we having fun? You betcha.

Melbourne has more unrealised boating potential than anywhere else at the foot of a major Australian city. The conditions are as welcoming as you'll find in parts of Europe where sportsboating is well and truly on the move.

The reason I mention this is that the BMB 330 Sport, from German boatbuilding company Bavaria Yachtbau, took to the task of touring Port Phillip Bay like a duck to water. While German sportscars are a dollar-a-dozen on the streets these days, this is the first German sportsboat to arrive Down Under.

BAVARIAN CRUISING
Launched at the Dusseldorf Boat Show in 2000, the BMB 330 Sport should be set for a bright future. After all, the German builder has been spreading like a waistline during a beer and herring fest.

In its first year, Bavaria made 250 boats, in its second year it did 500 boats, and this year it turned out around 1000 boats. The aim is to build 2000 boats by the end of 2003. Bavaria is shipping more than one new motorboat a day.

While by far the majority of Bavaria's boats are yachts, the company has big plans for its new powerboat range. It currently has four cruisers, from 27 to 38ft, on offer, with a 43-footer on the drawing board and plans for a 51ft flybridge cruiser.

Just four years ago, local Bavaria importer, Ralph Hogg was sitting on his first Bavaria yacht. Since then, he has sold well over 150 of these boats. Hogg now holds high hopes for the new Bavaria sportscruiser range.

"We're certainly committed to making powerboat sales follow the yachts," he said. "Bavaria is now the second biggest yachtbuilder in Europe. The company is aiming for a similar position in the powerboat market."

GERMAN BUILT
What do you get in a German-made sportscruiser? Bavaria distinguishes itself in two ways: with its hull integrity and its interior charm. I might also add that the 330 Sport has terrific handling, but more on this later.

Bound to be likened to a Benz or BMW, the BMB 330 Sport is up against stiff competition in a hotly contested market. The choice has never been wider in the 30ft sportscruiser range, with brands from America, England, Australia and now Germany.

But by virtue of its heritage, the BMB 330 Sport is unique. It differs from the customary American sportsboats in a number of ways. The hull, for example, is a lot more solid than you will find on some production boats, but not necessarily any heavier.

Built to Lloyd's register in Category B, which means the construction is scrutinised independently, the boat has a hand-laid GRP hull with foam-sandwich coring and longitudinal strengthening in the form of galvanised girders or stringers. This is similar to how the company builds its yachts.

Computer-controlled routers are used to cut materials, and the mouldings are quite rakish and modern. Conversely, mahogany bulkheads and leather upholstery create an almost classical ambience down below. The boat feels a bit like an old Merc.

Admittedly, a loose bulkhead on the testboat created an annoying creak that undermined what should have been a very sound hull. But the factory has since taken on board Trade-A-Boat's concerns - our comments got back to Germany - and is now glassing the top of the bulkheads to the deck.

After revisiting the boat in Sydney (we held back on the story till we were satisfied everything was fixed), I came away with the impression the BMB 330 Sport is indeed a stiff and sporty boat.

This conclusion came after a testing offshore run in quite lumpy seas. The Sydney conditions were certainly much rougher than those encountered on Port Phillip, which only reinforced my view that Melbourne is underrated as a boating destination.

VOLUME-PLUS
The BMB 330 Sport is not a Scarab-style sportsboat, but more a high-speed weekender. It has the 'oomph' to high-tail it to an anchorage and the volume for a family or couple to camp aboard for a night or three.

The hull is wide amidships and flared on the topsides, with a huge chine forward and big strakes below. Evidence of its Continental ancestry hangs off the deck, which is topped with stainless rails, solid but staid deck gear, circular Euro-style hatches and inhouse-designed cleats.

A sunpad with three drinkholders graces the foredeck, which can be accessed reasonably well along the sidedecks, which are backed by a low rail. Up front, there is also a windlass and bowsprit with a rubber roller that will, it must be said, get chewed-out in time.

The big aft boarding platform is high off the water, but equipped with a ladder to help you down. There is a hot water deck shower (hot water is supplied at four points on this boat) and aft grabrails around the platform to keep you contained while peeling the prawns.

The teak-lined cockpit is a highlight, with room to pack 10 people aboard various lounges, plus the amenities to keep everyone happy. A moulded unit to starboard contains a sink, hot and cold water, fridge and top-quality blue Corian benchtops.

The targa arch, from which you might swing a canopy, can be folded down so you can sneak under low bridges. This little detail will come in handy for places like the Gold Coast.

The helm, meanwhile, stands out with its Porsche-like metallic silver paint. The driver's seat has a lift-up base and fronts a wooden sports wheel. The dash has a raised brow for gauges and room for electronics, but no CD remote for controlling the music.

The five-piece windscreen offers protection when standing and driving. For what it's worth, I counted 18 drinkholders aboard this floating Bavarian beer-hall, dotted everywhere from the saloon to the cockpit.

Cockpit seating consists of a U-shaped lounge, with a pop-in table for al fresco lunches (kept in a locker to port). It also has a fold-down backrest so you can create an additional sunpad. There is a separate lounge opposite the helmseat. Push a button and the cockpit floor lifts to reveal the Volvo engines.

Underfloor is a surfeit of servicing room, space to mount a genset and air-conditioning units, plenty of sound insulation, a fuel tank access hatch, 10amp battery charger, hot water heater and separate house and engine batteries. However, the engine bay is rough in parts and the Bavaria lacks 'above-floor' fuel cut-offs.

INDOOR LIVING
Conceived by J&J Design in Slovenia, which penned the Bavaria range of yachts, the BMB 330 Sport shows evidence of its lineage down below. It has a traditional interior, timber bulkheads and less white fibreglass than your archetypal American sportsboat.

Mahogany and birdseye maple veneers, white wall and ceiling liners, blue laminex benchtops, mock teak-and-holly flooring and pleated leather upholstery create a lordly manor. Headroom is also lofty: at least 1.90m in the saloon.

Five people can sit around the saloon lounge to starboard, flanked by opening portholes for fresh air, leaning on the dinette, which has folding leaves just like a yacht. Underfloor hatches reveal seacocks, the water pump and bilges.

Timber lockers flank the saloon, which is dotted with big German downlights and drapes for privacy. I thought the timber galley was a refreshing twist, what with its fridge with mahogany facia, alcohol stove and room for a microwave.

Accommodation is generous in fore and aft cabins, each with double berths. The head to port doubles as an ensuite for the owner's cabin. It has handheld shower, manual loo (electric would be better) and a deep sink.

The owner's cabin features an offset double berth, which was topped in a chic blue and white bedspread. There was a hanging locker (without a light inside) and a small dressing table. Natural light streams through the deck hatches.

The aft cabin is even better for overnighting. It has two single berths with an infill to create a double, a settee, cross-flow ventilation, hanging lockers, shelves and drawers, and room to stand and dress near the door.

DRIVE TIME
From Pier 35, we sauntered upstream to the shadows of Melbourne city, where waterfront projects and marina berths are earmarked for development, before running down the mighty Yarra, past vagrants in humpies and anglers lined up along the hot water power station outlet.

Never mind the fact these anglers were wearing balaclavas, we had blue skies and nary a ripple on Port Phillip Bay. Only time prevented me spending all day on the bay. And a little Southern Ocean breeze...

But honouring its German heritage, the BMB 330 Sport delivered perky performance from twin 315hp Volvo petrol motors with legs (there are diesel options). Top speed was 40.7kt and cruise came in at a slippery 30kt. The engine set-up was quiet and vibration-free.

The boat turned on a pretzel and had impressive straight-line blitz. As always, the Duoprops are reluctant to let go, allowing you to rip into - and power out of - really tight turns. Handling is the single most impressive feature of this boat, which is also pleasantly dry.

While the German-made cold climate sportscruiser was a handy thing in Melbourne, I have since enjoyed driving the boat on Pittwater. Given the success of Bavaria's yachts in Australia, expect to see more Bavaria motorboats around our waterways in coming summers and winters.