Sensation Wake 1450

You might question, as I initially did, what the blazes we were doing in this waterborne convertible in mid-winter, a few days after the solstice, when the wind and water were anything but warm and welcoming.

As for the sun, it had as much punch as Clayton's and Coke. And while I had a model along for the shoot, I didn't dare ask her to strip down to her bikini. She offered, mind you.

But once clear of the no-wash zone, it did became obvious where this boat is coming from. The only outboard-powered "jetboat" in the country, the Sensation Wake 1450 has a lot of "oomph."

It loses surprisingly little to a real jet boat in maneuverability, even less in straight-line speed and it has more torque for towing the kids on boards, tubes or skis.

And compared with a real jetboat, the Sensation Wake enjoys a big price advantage. It is imported to Australia direct from South Africa where the exchange rate is kind.

The 4.35-metre sportsboat is very keenly priced from $21,000 on trailer with a 50hp outboard. While the factory warranties the boat for outboards to 90hp, the importer won't fit more than a 75.

Drive this boat and you will see why. Top speed is almost 50mph and, with a bit on out-trim, you can make this hull dance from chine to chine. Two-up it is flighty, one-up it needs to be driven.

But where the Sensation is made in South Africa, the altitude is such that there is a 13% loss of power. Upon hearing this from the boat's importer, the winter's day at sea level in Sydney seemed almost toasty.

Things were even more agreeable once I reached the western shore of Pittwater and moseyed into a protected beach. There, the Sensation showed that it's not just a toy but a boat in which you can pack a party and head off for a picnic somewhere.

DESIGNS ON SUMMER
The Sensation has a hand-laid solid GRP Sea-Doo like hull and deck, bonded and riveted together, with a five-year structural warranty. This particular boat was a demonstrator that had, it must be said, been put through its paces on a pretty hard test circuit.

The mouldings were really quite good, though the interior finish in areas such as the carpet lining in the underfloor lockers needed to be re-glued. Having said that, the hull felt nice and solid when driven hard through the chop.

The feeling of solidity probably has something to do with the fact that the hull is foam-filled and quite a bit or work went into its underwater shape. This is where the story gets kind of interesting.

What the South African R&D team did with the Sensation was take a Sea.Doo hull with twin jet motors and change it into an outboard-powered boat.

There were enough changes that, the importer says, one need not worry about patents or trademarks.

But what they didn't count on was that the hull would run on its side without the weight of the jet motors. So the R&D team went back to the drawing board and changed the running surface to something more conventional.

Despite being a wide-beam boat - 2.15m wide for its 4.35m LOA - the conventional V-hull works well. In fact, it works so well that the boat grips the water and has a nice cutting action without being wet or displacing too much water.

I judged the Sensation to be seaworthy enough to tackle a big estuary in a good summer blow with friends or family aboard. The boat doesn't pound and the Sea.Doo like top deck creates a deep cockpit and buoyant bow and stern to keep the water out.

DECK CHAIRS
With the Sensation pulled up to the beach - the fact you can trim the outboard leg out of the water makes it a great landing barge - we set about kicking back. The big moulded transom has steps either side of the outboard motor on which you can sit at rest quite safely, as the photos hereabouts no doubt attests.

Beneath the transom is a massive aft locker which formerly held the twin jet motors. This locker will have a moulded insert on future Sensations. You could fit all kinds of water toys and wakeboard inside, tubs with wet clothes, picnic baskets, you name it. As it was, it stored a 25lt fuel tank.

There is no bilge access, but the importers will fit a bilge pump and create a little sump in the rear storage hold should you desire. The cockpit is self-draining and, when you look into the aft locker, you will see twin plastic tubes leading through to aft skin fittings.

There is a separate underfloor ski locker in the centre of the cockpit that drains through to the bung. This would be the only ski locker in the jetboat. Jet engines out, you now have loads of storage. Plus there is a little lined locker up front that can be used as an icebox.

Seating on the Sensation is a highlight. Ergonomically designed, the moulded seats can carry up to five people.

There is a little bow seat, an aft-facing seat amidships seat, and groovy three-person bolster bench seat running across the transom.

The decks are non-skid and the upholstery seems to stand-up really well to wear and tear. I'd like to see a few more handrails about the boat - especially for passengers riding with a wheel jacker like me - and perhaps hydraulic or non-feedback steering as the wheel gets a tad heavy when you trim the motor out.

A ski pole comes standard, but the bimini top which we left rolled-up in a sock does not. Nor do navigation lights, which the importer fits in his Sydney boatyard. Convinced he has hit on a winner, the importer has big plans for future Sensations.

For now on, the transom will be topped with a padded rear sun lounge, the hatch will be on gas shocks with a liner inside, there will be a windscreen over the dash, a storage well for an anchor (needed) under the bow seat, a new hull and deck mould, as well as a liner for the ski locker.

DRIVE TO STAY ALIVE
But even on this early effort, the wheel and outboard throttle related well to the helm position. A moulded dash held four Mercury gauges - when will someone finally make a fog-free outboard gauge? - in a mock walnut panel.

There was a drinkholder nearby, plus a drinkholder on the passenger's side, otherwise what you see is what you get. Well, kind of.

As I said, performance was a surprise and I hit 48mph on the speedo at 5900rpm. Either the motor might was under-propped. the tacho was out, or my vision was blurred because Mercury say 5250rpm should pull this motor up.

Comfortable cruising came in around 4500rpm, faster than normal because this is a sportsboat and one that is hard to pull-up. And one that grips exceptionally well in the turns and is fast out of the hole.

It's a fun boat, a sportsboat, and a ski boat in one. It could also be commuter in which to take the family and friends to a quiet beach somewhere, more or less as we did.

The Sensation has been a big hit with summer lovers. A dozen have been sold in the last 12 months and there are another six are on the way for the silly season. Which is something I kicked off early. Vroom, Vroom.