Maxum 3300 Suncruiser

In case you missed the boat, the past 12 months have been kind of choppy. There's been September 11, the war in Afghanistan, the biggest businesses in the US going bust, the Dow's sudden nosedives and rebounds, conflict in Israel and Palestine, India and Pakistan.

These are exactly the scenarios we leisure boaties try to escape. But run as we might, these things have caught up with the boating industry. Locally, confidence is still very much behind our markets ? Australia is like an island in a tidal stream ? but in the US, marine players have had a tough time of things.

One of the hardest hit sections of the industry is inboard-powered boats. A slump in sales of inboard boats has seen major American boatbuilders head back to the drawing board in an effort to turn things around.

Maxum is one brand to recently announce a new marketing strategy. Owned by the world's biggest boatbuilder, US giant Brunswick Corporation (which went against the trend and reported better than expected sales for the year), Maxum has decided to refocus its range, based on market research which revealed many more young boaties buying Maxums than the company realised.

Maxum models for 2003 will have a new, youthful look in the interior, including a metallic dash, and new colour schemes. The express cruising models will get the biggest makeover.

Not that Maxums have ever been staid. Some unique design features are apparent on the Euro-styled Maxum 3300 Suncruiser, the flagship of the range, which I drove for this boat review one sunny day around Southport. The boat isn't boring; nor does it have a cookie-cutter conformist approach to things.

UNCONVENTIONAL COCKPIT
The boat's oversized full-length boarding platform is a beauty on which you can sit and plonk a deckchair in still water. It is fronted by an unconventional centre marlin door, which means you don't get a transverse lounge across the transom.

Guests are seated in the cockpit longitudinally, which isn't the best way to travel at sea. There is a two-person cockpit lounge to port facing a three-person lounge opposite, and another small aft-facing lounge behind the co-pilot seat alongside the skipper.

Maxum has fitted a flip-down aluminium footrest to help you stay contained on this aft-facing lounge. Problem is, the footrest self-deploys and sits proud of the lounge base, waiting like a tiger snake to strike unsuspecting legs.

Our photographer, not expecting such traps as she sauntered about the cockpit, inadvertently struck the footrest with her shins. Suffice to say, she was none too happy. The footrest needs a locking device. Right now!

The underfloor engine bay, accessed via two flip-back floor panels that lift on gas struts, has room for an 8kva Westerbeke generator and air-conditioning units. There is storage room inside for the boat's outdoor table, which can be fitted in two separate positions in the cockpit. Add some loose chairs and you get a lunch setting for four.

There are two fender lockers built into the transom, shorepower connection with a mains trip, deck shower with hot and cold water, nice handrails to help you up after your swim, and easily accessible deck cleats on which to throw the mooring lines.

In typical US fashion, the boat has lots of courtesy lights, plenty of storage in cockpit lockers, and day-boating features such as a small icebox behind the helmseat.

A moulded amenities centre to port contains a sink, cold water, and a small black-ice Corian counter top. However, the boat didn't have an outdoor barbecue like some Aussie-made competitors.

DECKED OUT
I like the boat's broad walkaround decks, backed by a bowrail (better if it was split so you could take passengers onboard via the bow more easily), with moulded toerails and a good grade of non-skid.

If this roundabout route doesn't take your fancy, there are moulded steps alongside the dash and a centre-opening section in the five-piece wrap-around windscreen, through which you can reach the foredeck.

Up front, the Maxum has a deck recess that, with cushions, can host a couple of bronzed Aussies. There are deckrails to hold onto, three circular Euro-style hatches, moulded bowsprit, spotlight, recessed roller, single rope/chain locker, but the windlass is a factory extra.

A windlass remote was just about the only thing missing from the dash at the sociable steering station, which has room for three people behind a low-glare beige helm module with walnut inserts.

The 3300 SCR has a full spread of trendy Faria engine gauges for everything from boat speed and engine revs to water temp and oil pressure, a tilt sports wheel, big switch panels, JVC stereo remote for the optional CD stacker, and room for GPS and radar screens.

While the helm bench seat is set right behind the wheel, it isn't adjustable fore or aft. The canopy running off the groovy reverse-raked targa arch was baggy and needed adjustment.

HIDING INSIDE
Full marks for the big companionway to port, leading down into the cabin and accommodation. Shame about the lack of locking device on the bifold door, which rattled if left open.

Inside is a Euro-styled interior with camel-coloured carpet, cherrywood print veneers, gold-toned door fittings, circular hatches, latte-coloured soft-touch liners, and an open plan layout.

The galley to port is a generous moulded module with sand-coloured Corian counters, lots of mock cherrywood veneered cupboards, 12/240V fridge/freezer, a square sink with pull-out pot scrubber nozzle, but no dedicated cutlery drawer. Cooking amenities include a 240V/alcohol stove and microwave oven.

Opposite is the dinette, which can convert to a double berth. There is room for four people on the lounge, which had roughly finished storage space beneath. There is lots of headroom when seated or sauntering down the centreline.

The bathroom is conveniently located near the companionway, handy for guests and owners. It has a handheld shower with curtain on tracks, stainless steel sink, Vacuflush loo, big mirror, storage compartments and room to tub. There is an opening porthole, but no extractor fan.

Intelligence is evident in the open plan aft cabin which, when needed as sleeping space, converts into a second double bed. As presented with a table and two lounges, it makes a neat card den or reading nook.

The master cabin in the bow, left open until its privacy curtain is drawn, increases the boat's interior lounging space and apparent size. The offset double bed is a nice place to kick back while someone is making breakfast.

The bed was topped with a gold and black bedspread, the overhead hatch frosted for privacy, and there was ample storage space in a hanging locker with shelves for the Sunday best.

A television can be mounted alongside the galley and I liked the hanging locker near the companionway for wet-weather attire. Handy in case the weather turns turtle and you finally need to surface.

RUN AROUND
Fitted with twin 350 MAG MPI MerCruiser V-eight inboards with Bravo II sterndrive legs, which give good manoeuvrability, the Maxum 3300 SCR was a darn sporty drive.

Measuring 35ft 7in overall, the boat turned more like a 28ft bowrider, with only the odd thump on the chines when I dropped it into the troughs while not on an even keel.

The Gold Coast Seaway was busy with surfers paddling across the channel to catch a tube at Stradbroke Island. Thankfully, there was good vision at the helm and the hull responded immediately to trim tabs.

There was no risk of running over the grommets, in fact the blighters cheekily asked for a tow across the waterway. Shame I had no ropes as the Maxum 3300 SCR has a youthful top end speed of 46mph. Hold on, kiddies!

A fast getaway machine, this boat can escape the worries of the world. But where the Maxum gains over other brands is with economies of scale. The fleet-footed 30-something sportscruiser is well-priced for a US import at $282,000 as tested.

HIGHS

LOWS