Gilflite Esprit

Renown for their high-quality finish and luxurious appointments, Gilflite skiboats have been creating waves within the industry for many years. But perhaps none moreso than the flagship Esprit bowrider.

Designed and built by David Gil in Croydon (Vic), the original version was introduced around 10 years ago. Specifically designed for an outboard - not as an inboard with an outboard option - the craft has become the benchmark in outboard skiboats.

After recently experiencing the Esprit's inboard-like performance at the National Water Sports Centre at Carrum (Vic), it was a tough ask to give up the wheel and leave this one behind.

FIRST-CLASS
Aimed at the high-end of the skiboat market, the Gilflite Esprit bowrider has a comparatively expensive price tag. But at first glance, it's clear where every dollar lies. Immaculately finished, the craft earned an A+.

At 6.00m in length, 2.23m beam, with an 18° deadrise, the hull's solid, yet stylish, design has Australian Water Ski Association (AWSA) accreditation for trick, slalom and barefoot skiing.

Like several other craft on the market, there is no timber in the hull and floor construction, rendering the boat rot-free. The only timber used is in the transom (36mm ply), where it has been heavily encased in fibreglass, while a composite fibreglass laminated deck is permanently bonded to the strong multi-strake hull.

Finished with a blue metalflake design that glittered brightly against the brilliant white gelcoat of the hull, the Esprit testboat looked 'a million dollars'.

Onboard, the spacious layout and premium-grade vinyl and velour upholstery continued the classy theme.

Beginning at the helm, a fully height and travel adjustable driver's bucket seat would allow anyone to drive the boat with unobstructed visibility and within full reach of the controls. Steering away from the traditional seven-gauge layout (which is common on most skiboats), two Yamaha digital gauges were flush-mounted in the dash. To fill in the empty white space, two 'dial' gauges had been fitted as extras, as had a remote control for the four-speaker Clarion CD player mounted in the passenger/observer forward bulkhead. The keyed ignition was easy to reach, with the hand throttle and trim adjustment located on the starboard side.

Identical to the comfortable driver's seat, the passenger/observer seat was solid mounted with a 360° swivel, providing the option for the passenger to face forward if not observing a skier.

Both the driver and passenger were protected by a strong, rolled-top, tinted acrylic wraparound windscreen, which contributed to the boat's very modern and stylish appearance. A removable centre walk-through panel in the windscreen enabled access to the open bow.

The bow cockpit provided seating for up to three people, with the comfortable cushions lifting to reveal storage compartments beneath.

Back in the cockpit proper, the roomy carpeted floor was flanked by large padded coamings, with deep and lined sidepockets running almost the full length of the boat. Several sets of skis, ropes and other items could be easily accommodated.

Further aft, a full-width rear lounge provided further seating, as well as space behind to store a wakeboard. In a clever design feature, a bimini top is permanently mounted on the boat but can be quickly and neatly folded away beneath the lounge when not required.

Drained storage compartments (moulded into the rear deck in each transom corner) could be filled with ice and used as drink coolers for those long days on the water.

Grab handles on the non-slip boarding platform would also make boarding easy.

HIGH-PRESSURE POWER
While inboard skiboats dominate the recreational and tournament skiing sectors, after a run in the Esprit even the most hard-core inboard devotee could be converted.

Suited to an outboard within the 150-200hp range, the testboat was fitted with the latest Yamaha HPDI (High Pressure Direct Injection) 200hp outboard.

The engine quietly purred to life with a quick turn of the keyed ignition and we were quickly sitting on the plane at around 2200rpm.

At a reasonable wakeboarding speed of around 21mph (34kmh), with three people onboard, the Esprit was putting out a decent wash with smooth ramps and a nice flat table in between. Added weight would no doubt create even steeper ramps for more experienced boarders.

Contrastingly, at ski speed of around 36mph (58kmh), the boat's wake was flat, proving itself as an all round performer.

Spinning the standard 21-inch prop on the Yamaha HPDI, at 5700rpm the Esprit's top speed was a GPS-recorded 96.9kmh.

It rose onto the plane quickly with the trim adjusted at almost any angle. Throwing the boat into corners at speed, the boat also sat very flat - similar to an inboard - and showed no hint of cavitation.

Hydraulic steering (fitted as standard) made driving even easier and not the typical battle with the wheel as is experienced on some outboard skiboats. However, it took several rotations of the wheel to turn the boat - something which takes a little getting used to coming from an inboard.

VERSATILITY PLUS
The Esprit's outboard configuration also has the advantage of being suitable for fresh or saltwater. Its efficient hull handled chop well, which would again add to its attractiveness as an open-water skiboat.

As a family skiboat, it could also be utilised for a spot of fishing with the kids on a calm day.

As mentioned, the Gilflite Esprit sits at the high-end of the skiboat market, with a price tag to match. But you get what you pay for!

Overall, it was an excellent all-round skiboat and would be capable of handling anything the owner decides to throw at it. It's also a winner in the versatility stakes.

Indeed, the nonconformist Gilflite Esprit might just precipitate an 'esprit de corps' among the skiboat fraternity.