Classique XL20

Designed and built by Phil Morison of Bendigo Ski Boat Centre (Vic), the original Classique XL20 (Series I) first hit the water in 1994.

The boat ran quite successfully in the entry-level skiboat market for a couple of seasons before Morison made a number of refinements to the craft, which subsequently resulted in the Series II.

Aimed at the more affordable end of the tournament skiboat market, the Classique XL20 Series II is also doing well.

Boasting quality similar to more high-profile brands, easy-to-handle characteristics, value for money and reliable after-sales service are strong indications the Series II is likely to continue to excel.

ALL THE ESSENTIALS
Forgetting the comparatively inexpensive price tag for a moment, the first impression of the XL20 is quality.

Built under contract by world jet sprint boat champion Tony Ellis, of Graphic Fibres, Coolaroo (Vic), the hull is of fully hand-laid fibreglass construction, creating a strong boat that isn't afraid of the frequently rougher open water conditions of our inland lakes. With an LOA of 6.0m, 2.0m beam and 21° deadrise, the relatively deep-vee hull can handle it too. Carving up the tranquil water of Lake Eppalock (Vic), the XL20 gave a very smooth and dry ride as we charged through our own wake - the only rough water to be found on a perfect test day.

The craft is packed with all the features one would expect to find on a tournament-oriented skiboat. Items of note are a dark-tinted windscreen (on a functional angle which provided good driver protection) and a large integrated boarding platform similar to those which are usually only found on boats at the higher end of the market.

The testboat's jade green metalflake finish in the glossy gelcoat design, on the brilliant white hull, sparkled against the tea-coloured water of the lake. Onboard, the nicely appointed two-tone charcoal grey velour interior was trimmed in accent piping to match the exterior and seemed to exude comfort.

For a mid-mount, the cockpit was reasonably spacious too, with the full-width rear lounge capable of seating up to three people. Padded sidepockets on either side also provide somewhere to stow ropes, wetsuits, buoyancy vests and the like.

As is the case in most skiboat designs, great emphasis is placed on driver comfort. Seated in the accommodating driver's seat - one hand on the woodgrain sports steering wheel, the other on the matching wooden knob of the gear lever and foot on the accelerator - was like sitting in a sportscar. A quick turn of the key in the ignition and the 270hp MerCruiser healthily rumbled into life. Seven MerCruiser gauges (fitted as standard) displayed speed, revs, oil pressure, engine temperature, volt meter and other critical functions. Effectively flush-mounted in the stylish wraparound dash, all gauges were in view at any one time. Wallets, mobile phones, etc, could all be placed in a small padded pocket above the gear lever in the starboard bulkhead, or in a small glovebox installed in the dash (beside the two drinkholders) above the dual-observers seat.

Speaking of which, the wraparound dual-observers seat would fit two children adequately, but it could get a bit squeezy with two adults. Nonetheless, it was comfortable enough to sprawl out and kick back in the calm and warm weather.

Pulling back the observers seat revealed a spacious ski locker holding a couple of kneeboards! (The day was rather warm, so testing the XL20's wake was a must!)

NOT ALL SHOW...
Apart from the 270hp MerCruiser powerplant (standard is a 350 Chev) our testboat was pretty much standard. Running 12 x 16in Moritz blades, the low-end torque of the MerCruiser - neatly tucked away under the padded engine cover - powered the XL20 easily onto the plane, with only slight bow lift.

According to Morison, some refinements in the Series II design saw the bottom of the boat lengthened to give a bit more lift under running strakes, and ultimately a bit more speed.

Racing against our photo boat - one of the craft's siblings, the Sleekline Sportz - the XL20's top GPS-recorded speed was 79.4kmh at around 4300rpm. At a ski speed of 36mph (around 58kmh) the engine was purring at 2800rpm... Purring being the operative word, as the boat was very quiet while underway - attributed to the foam-filled buoyancy tanks which also dampened vibration.

Cutting up the mirror-like surface of the lake, pulling into turns at full revs, the XL20 showed no hint of cavitation.

While the XL20 has proven an ideal boat for skiing, Morison says its popularity among the wakeboarding fraternity has taken off in the past few years, due to the wake the craft creates.

Without having to make any radical design changes to the hull, the wake has a nice deep dish, which provides a good run-up for aerial manoeuvres yet has a nice flat table in between.

Spending some time on a kneeboard and experiencing this first-hand, it was easy to see why the craft has been popular in the family skiboat market. Apart from the price, reliability and room for the family or friends onboard, the boat lends itself well to all skiing applications.

Adding further to the XL20's list of attributes, after quite a few hours tearing around the water, the fuel gauge indicated we had hardly made a dent in the contents of the 82lt fueltank.

BUT WAIT... THERE'S MORE!
The XL20 has a traditional 12-month warranty on all manufactured components, in addition to a lifetime warranty on the hull (which is only limited by the 12 months on the gelcoat colours).

According to Morison, the craft (particularly the earlier models) have also proven to have a resale equal and even slightly higher than their original purchase price.

He used the example of two boats recently traded-in on newer models that had an original new purchase price of $14,990 in the mid-1990s. Following servicing and a general detail, they each sold for over $15,000 in 2001! Comparing that to the rapid depreciation of boats at the top-end of the market... Well, there's really no comparison.