Carolina Classic 25
The Carolina Classic 25 is as American as apple pie,- Diesel safety, longevity and economy
- Huge self-draining deck
- Hardtop with clears
- Dash layout and equipment selection
- Plumbing and wiring
- Serviceability
- Bowthruster
- Vision forward slightly impaired by compass
- Recommend a quick window in front clears
I am pleased to say, however, that Carolina Classic Boats has. Testing the Classic 25 confirmed my beliefs to the point where I consider it one of the most appealing offshore packages in a highly competitive market.
The mid-mount shaftdrive setup blends well with a heavier, fuel-efficient diesel, and having the engine weight forward and low in the hull creates an opportunity to incorporate the smooth-riding benefits of a much deeper 24-degree vee. This amount of deadrise is reminiscent of the famous offshore racers like Cigarette, Formula and Scarab. But unlike finely-balanced raceboats, the length-to-beam ratio of the Carolina Classic hull combined with the engine placement offers excellent stability at rest.
Topping all this off is one of the nicest looking Carolina flared bows and a gorgeous dropping sheerline. Put simply, it’s one of the sweetest hulls we've seen.
And although the model we tested is a basic white boat with minimal graphics or bling, she presents with a truly superior demeanour.
The transom has three massive enclosed tanks that can all be plumbed for live bait -- in this case one was plumbed, another was for a big baitbox/Esky-type cooler while the last one was a kill tank.
There are plenty of stainless-steel rodholders and the gunwale hawsepipes leading to recessed bollards are a nice touch for a 25-footer. The demo boat was conveniently fitted with a series of mounting points on the cockpit sides for gaffs, boat hooks etc.
Other engine options include an 8.1-litre petrol V8, Yanmar 315 or 8LV diesel and twin-rig outboards. I was more than happy with the performance of the D4, which gave a top-end speed of 28 knots (51.8km/h) at 3600rpm and 57 litres per hour, and a satisfying fast cruise of 25.4 knots (47.0km/h) at 3360rpm for a miserly 48 litres per shour. As you would expect with a diesel, she’s a little bit slow off the starting blocks but any serious seaman will look well past this.
In the helm area are extended fibreglass seat boxes either side. The helm is protected from the weather by a canvas cabin divider with clears and a zippered walkway. In addition to the pedestal seat, the portside box has a handy set of drawers and storage compartments for knickknacks.
The starboard driver’s seat box has storage under, and a large icebox to keep refreshments cool. Both seat boxes have removable cushions at the rear, allowing seating for four people. The helm seats are comfortable, nicely upholstered and feature adjustable fold-up armrests, plus a rear stainless steel handle for passengers.
The dashboard is, quite simply, a beauty. It has plenty of room for big electronics that face directly at you for convenient access to information and navigation. This one was fitted with a Furuno NavNet MFD12 colour multifunction display as well as an MFD8 that we used primarily for the depthsounder. There is also a Volvo Penta electronic display for instantaneous engine readouts and diagnostics.
I really liked the feel of the single binnacle control and found all other instruments, including the trim tab and bowthruster controls, were conveniently laid out, although the top-mounted compass obstructed vision through the safety-glass windscreen just a little. The driving position is comfortable seated or standing, and the big dashboard has plenty of room.
Overhead is a welcome and extremely solid fibreglass hardtop, supported by a strong, fully-welded aluminium tube frame that didn’t move, shake or vibrate no matter the speed or sea conditions. The hardtop was fitted with a good set of detachable clears to the front and sides, as well as the cockpit divider. The hardtop also supplied the mountings for the outriggers, teaser reels, rocket launcher and aerials.
In front of the navigator seat is the companionway to the cabin. The cabin entry, via a lockable door, is reasonably large and the fibreglass steps lead down to the deep vee-berth area, where there is plenty of room for an overnighter, as well as a stack of storage. To keep the head disguised, the Carolina Classic has an ingenious swing-out toilet that resides behind a bulkhead hatch, under the cockpit sole when not in use.
A strong stainless-steel bowrail encloses the large, flat foredeck and our demo boat was fitted with an optional winch and bow fitting for the plough anchor. It’s also nice to see a Yankee boat with a reasonably-sized anchor well and plenty of large mooring cleats.
With five people onboard, we quickly and comfortably travelled the long run from the Yarra River across Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay to Queenscliff. Quite noticeable was the way there was virtually no bow rise and minimal transition to plane when we planted the throttle on this big deep-vee. Hull noise was also extremely low through the thick fibreglass.
Such is the nature of shaftdriven boats -- they take off evenly with the lower prop angle.
For the Carolina Classic it was like a walk in the park, confirming its credible offshore capabilities to all. I must say it’s a funny feeling leaving the water on the back of a wave in a shaftdriven boat -- not that it happened often but we certainly got some air in the steeper swells.
Back inside the bay, we encountered 18-knot southerly winds as we came past Fawkner Beacon, so I nosed her into the metre-high slop to see how she handled these nasty conditions. To my amazement, the handling was nearly as smooth and dry as it was when travelling in a following sea.
The only real drawback with a shaftdrive boat is the minimal manoeuvrability in reverse -- it requires a different approach. However, the bowthruster helps the boat and the operator, as well as being a great aid in positioning while fighting and tracing a big fish. I loved being able to reposition the boat’s angle without engaging the drive.
The Classics also come with automatic fire suppression systems, fully sealed cockpit and forward cabins, airtight chambers and a long list of standard items and options.
In my opinion the Carolina Classic 25 is exceptionally good value for money; in fact, it will make many Aussie competitors feel like trading in their chopper guns! Springsteen’s song Glory Days is all about enjoying life before it passes you by -- you will certainly enjoy your life with a Carolina Classic 25.
Options fitted: Rocket launcher, Lee’s Outriggers, battery charger, shorepower, ducted heating cockpit and cabin, windlass with bowroller, power steering, stereo with four speakers and remote, bowthruster, Furuno Nav Net MFD12 and MFD8 multifunction displays
Priced from: $135,000
Material: Fibreglass
Type: Deep-vee monohull
Length: 7.67m
Beam: 2.59m
Weight (BMT): 3500kg (dry)
Deadrise: 24 degrees
People: 12
Rec. HP: 300
Rec. Max HP: 700 (twin outboards)
Fuel: 625 litres
Water: 87 litres
ENGINE
Make/model: Volvo Penta D4-300
Type: Four-cylinder turbo-diesel with common-rail fuel-injection
Weight: 559kg
Displacement: 3.7 litres
Gearbox (make/ratio): ZF/2.04
Propeller: Acme
North Carolina, United States
Web: www.carolinaclassicboats.com
1a Salisbury Ave
Moonee Ponds, Vic, 3039
Tel: (03) 9370 4835
Web: www.carolinaclassicboats.com.au
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