Silverton 330 Sport Bridge

Silverton makes no pretension about its place in the overall scheme of things. As part of the Luhrs Marine Group in America, its mission statement might say something along the lines of: "We will include all the comforts of home." Indeed, comforts and amenities are the hallmark of Silverton.

The trend was set in the early days when it first made lapstrake skiffs for cruising off the Jersey coast. Decades on the brief has been maintained in its conventional-looking convertibles, avant-garde liveaboards and sportscruiser models.

Driven by customer feedback and considerable R&D, Silverton embraces the include-the-kitchen-sink and turnkey approach to boatbuilding. For confirmation of this, take a trip down below on the 330 Sport Bridge.

The extraordinary high-volume interior has all the mod cons built-in at factory level.

Furthermore, all Silverton boats are fitted with something called a Marine Pac. This comprises fenders, dock lines, safety gear, ground tackle and boat hook. Meanwhile, engineering isn't compromised in the desire to provide space and creature comforts.

Among the details worth noting are one-piece stainless bowrails, tempered safety glass windows, dripless shaft seals, marine-ply bulkheads encapsulated in glass and bonded to the hull, and enginerooms that are well insulated and accessible.

All this makes for a big 33ft cruiser that can ply your favourite waterways for weeks at a time. Rather than crossing oceans, Silverton understands that there are people out there who want to be mollycoddled while ambling around in search of the perfect lunch spot.

PURPOSE-BUILT CRUISER
This wholesome approach to powerboating is no more evident than in the 330 Sport Bridge. A comfortable motorcruiser, it provides a level of comfort and a range of amenities you won't find on more single-minded boats.

The finish, in particular, is just like a modern apartment. Benchtops are covered in Corian a high-quality granite substitute with neutral colour schemes preferred. Solid cherrywood timber is used for the walls and panelling, while longlasting marine vinyl covers the lounges and there is lots of plush Stainmaster carpet.

As you step down in the saloon of the 330 Sport Bridge, you get the feeling you're in a much bigger boat. As the saloon is set down, the ceiling can be raised without affecting stability.

Down below you can't help notice the big surrounding windows offering a terrific view outside. Tailor-made blinds and curtains can be drawn for privacy at night or while parked in the marina, while plush furniture calls hither from the peripheries.

The warm hospitality is extended to the designer fabrics. There are lots of chic scatter cushions, smart bedspreads, soft head-and-wall liners, and downlighting that adds considerably to the ambience.

Architecturally, the Euro-styled interior works. Headroom is a handy 1.96m and the emphasis has gone on providing living space rather than room for a family of boat people.

CRUISING AMENITIES
To port, beside the sliding door leading from the cockpit, is a galley; perhaps better described as a domestic kitchen. Running longitudinally, the generous L-shaped Corian benchtops are surrounded by a dozen or so cherrywood drawers and cupboards.

Features include a two-burner electric stove, microwave oven, 110V-12V fridge/freezer, and big sink with single-action tap. Off the forward edge is a raised platform for mounting a television and VCR.

Coffee-makers are standard equipment on other Silvertons, and you're not short-changed with the 330 either. A bar area with two stools is incorporated in the galley, and there is a CD player and a variety of electrical plugs for things like telephones.

Opposite the galley is a wardrobe for hanging your Sunday best.

Alongside is the boat's only head, but it's convenient for guests and owners. Moulded and fully-lined for ease of cleaning, it comes with an electric loo, useful vanity, room to move and, unusually for a boat of this length, a separate shower stall with full headroom.

As the 330 Sport Bridge has just one helm station, the lounge area behind the windscreen gains in size. To port is a settee that can seat three people alongside drinks tables. Warm timber walls with framed paintings surround the sitting area.. just like home.

On the starboard-side is a sizeable L-shaped lounge and dinette made from solid cherrywood, surrounded by curios like those you might come across in a hotel lobby. The dinette converts to an impromptu double berth, though the 330's accommodation is built with permanents in mind.

The single cabin is designed in such a way that a couple or at most a family with small children can liveaboard comfortably. Nestled in the bow, the single cabin is set behind a sliding door and is surprisingly roomy thanks to its transverse or offset double bed with inner-spring mattress.

Niceties include an overhead hatch, lots of scatter cushions, full-length hanging locker, drawers for storing personals, oval mirror and, of course, headroom. There is space to mount a television and options including a linen package and, if you must, a lower helm station.

DAYTIME DECKS
Naturally, days on the 330 will be shared with the outdoors. To this end, the boat has a useful cockpit protected by a small overhang in which you could dine alfresco or park yourself on a folding chair while dangling a line for a bream.

Among the things you'll find in the cockpit are non-skid floor, mooring cleats, storage lockers, transom door, boarding platform with folding ladder, and a transom shower. From here, a moulded stairwell leads to the bridge.

Silverton don't call it a Sport Bridge for nothing. In keeping with Euro trends, the bridge is a lifestyle centre with plenty of built-in creature comforts, lots of seating, sunpads, and innovative moulded walkways leading down to the foredeck.

The bridge has an adjustable two-person helmseat set behind a functional, tinted windshield and a big console high on walnut facias and chrome-rimmed gauges. There's room to flush-mount electronics and navigation aids and a great view of the road ahead, as though you're driving a big runabout.

Alongside the helm is a sexy U-shaped lounge that can seat up to four people, with another transverse lounge behind and a sunpad further aft again. I'm not sure how many people waterways authorities will let you carry here, but there's room for at least 10.

Catering for the expected crowd is a wonderful moulded wetbar with drinks fridge or optional icemaker, glass holders, cutting board, and a sink with hot and cold water. Water capacity is a useful 393lt, fuel around 700lt, and serious cruising types should consider fitting a windless and perhaps a genset.

The optional radar arch helps streamline the boat's lines, but it's also a useful mounting spot for a bimini top and clears. This way, you can still cruise in comfort in poor weather. A spotlight would also be useful for finding those all-too-rare public mooring buoys at night.

SWEET CHARIOT
Standard with twin 5.7lt, 290hp Crusader petrol engines, the testboat had an upgrade to twin 4.2lt, 240hp Mercruiser D-tronic diesel donks. With shaftdrives, the boat should stay in control when parking in strong crosswinds, while also being lower maintenance than a cruiser with sterndrive legs.

As it was, there wasn't even a zephyr blowing at Blakehurst Marina on Sydney's Georges River just a few jellyfish, a speed-restriction zone, some winding channels and finally a light sea breeze to contend with on expansive Botany Bay.

As to be expected, the 330 Sport Bridge is more chariot than dragboat. The twin direct-injection inboards provided a top-end speed somewhere in the mid-20kt. Low-speed planing speed came in at around 2500rpm, where the Raytheon Tridata said we were doing 16kt.

In between the two, around 3000rpm, the boat and crew were doing around 20kt. At this speed, the wind ruffles the hair but the eyes aren't quite watering, allowing you to kick back on a lounge, carry on a conversation and take in the view.

The Silverton 330 Sport Bridge would be a useful touring wagon for the Gippsland Lakes, Hawkesbury, Port Stephens and the Gold Coast to Moreton Island. Having recognised that not everyone enjoys bulldozing their way out to sea and going green around the gills, the boat comes loaded with more features than most.

And when you stop to think about it, there's something to be said for taking this option. Imagine cruising upriver or along the coast for a short while, pulling up a mooring or sending the anchor down in a clandestine bay I can see myself kicking back on a lounge, periodically looking up at the view, engrossed in a good book, with the wetbar close at hand.