Success Craft Pro 2000

First impressions often count for a lot. When the Success Craft Pro 2000 rolled into the parking lot at Melbourne's National Water Sports Centre crouched on a flash Easy Tow dual-axle trailer, it was hard not be impressed with its low, aggressive profile, metal flake paintjob and the suggestive bulge of its engine box. My initial impression of an eye-wateringly fast, high-performance fun machine was correct, but the Pro 2000 proved to be much more.

It pays to be a little wary of boats that claim to be able to do all things well. Ski Wake Boats' Peter Stevens, the Victorian agent for Success Craft and Nemesis boats, says this particular model was designed to satisfy a need for a boat that can ably tow tournament, slalom and social skiers - as well as keen wakeboarders. This is a big ask of any sports and performance boat, because the wake shapes needed to get the most from these two tow-sports are completely different. However, with an innovative hull shape and some ingenious features, the Pro 2000 manages to have a foot planted in both camps in what is a brilliant compromise.

Success Craft operates out of Toowoomba in SE Queensland. The company prides itself on being able to invest more time focusing on above-average construction and finish. In fact, Success Craft boats are among the few Aussie-built vessels to feature exclusively fibreglass construction in the sub floor and bearers. Nineteen millimetre marine ply is only used in the well-ventilated central floor sections covering the bilge. The wetted surface of the Pro 2000 is a whopping 18mm thick, with two layers of Coremat and bi-axial wovings in the sides of the hull, offering the owner peace of mind when travelling down log-strewn rivers at highway speeds. A rigid hull is also desirable in high-performance boats that are subjected to enormous pressure during tight turns and rapid acceleration. Likewise, there's no need to pussyfoot over the decks, as they are also built thick and strong.

COLOUR & SHAPE
The Pro 2000 features an interesting hull form. A chop-taming 21° deadrise at the fins is offset with sharply reversed chines that flatten towards the stern. This gives the hull tremendous grip in big G-force turns, contributes greatly to directional stability at speed and keeps the boat rock-solid at rest. These aggressive chines also help deflect spray away from the boat.

Our first test had to be cancelled at the last minute as Huey chose that day to end the drought, and round two brought hot 20-30kt gales. In these conditions you'd expect to be drenched in spray, especially travelling crosswind, but those chines really seem to do the job well, throwing the spray high and wide. The back seat was definitely damper than the helm position, but no skiboat could be completely dry on a day like that. Two reversed strakes complement those chunky chines.

The vee flattens to 15° at the transom, but the rear section of the boat is dominated by a wide 340mm running plank that's carried well forward. The running plank delivers a remarkably flat wake at speeds over 50kmh, with less bumpy "golf ball" bubbles, and also pops the boat onto the plane without a haughty nose-in-the-air attitude. Transition from idle to the plane is a very smooth, comfortable experience.

The boarding platform is attractively moulded into the stern and is topped with blue, non-skid marine carpet. Access from the platform into the cockpit was good, although treading on the rear lounge seat was necessary when moving forward.

The testboat hull was finished in striking metallic green paint with the usual go-fast graphics, but I noted that all the pin-striping and paint highlights were dead straight. No evidence of a rushed job here, and according to Stevens, the builder is fastidious about these details.

Two massive exhaust pipes - rivalling those often seen on souped-up Hyundais tooling about the suburbs - dump below the boarding platform. In this case, though, the pipes don't vent a poxy four, but instead resonate that unmistakable V8 rumble. When it comes to pulling power, there ain't no substitute for cubes.

INSIDE LINES
If you're planning to invite the governor and his entourage out for a pleasant afternoon of tea and scones, maybe think about a bigger boat. The engine box dominates the interior layout, and while access is ample around its sides, legroom is a little cramped when sitting on the middle of the rear lounge. You can, however, stretch your legs out either side of the engine box. Five adults would be about the most you'd want to carry in comfort, although the hull is rated to carry six. For a 20ft high-performance weapon, this is still very good. After all, how many people can you fit in a Porche Boxster?

The helm chair is a beauty. It's well padded and slides back and forward on rails. The rear-facing observer's seat is sold as being able to accommodate two adults. One person can spread out and loll in comfort, but two large people might find things a little intimate. The driver sits noticeably lower than the rear-facing observer, taking full advantage of the sexy tinted Perspex screen, which is concave to direct the slipstream up and over the cockpit.

The lounge, helm and observer seats - in fact, the entire interior - is upholstered in plush, velour-like marine-grade fabric with inserts and piping that certainly look and feel terrific.

It wouldn't last in a saltwater environment, but as this boat is intended for use on inland rivers like the Upper Hawkesbury and the Murray, as well as dams, keeping it clean shouldn't be a prob. Watch the mud when you climb aboard, though. With the bungs out, it's apparently no hassle to hose the boat out after a day on the water - the four stereo speakers are waterproof.

The engine box is upholstered, insulated, features a lifting lid and is locked in place with stainless fittings. The box is easily removed altogether for servicing, but the unit can also be tilted back for on-water access.

There was scant storage under the rear lounge. However, there is an enormous ski locker forward for the observer's lounge under the long deck, which is accessed by removing the lounge backrest. As well as skis and wakeboards, you could throw all your safety gear, a picnic lunch, jackets and all the rest in here out of the weather. Ropes and gloves are stashed in a purpose-built locker in the stern behind the lounge. Large mesh sidepockets are recessed in under the gunwales.

Car keys and wallet are best placed in the glove compartment on the passenger-side dash, which is accessed through a sealed flip-up plastic lid. Had to use the fingernails to open it, though, as there was no handle. The Clarion CD player lives here, safe and dry. No need to grope about every time you want to skip a track, because a second set of controls is installed on the dash.

There is a fibreglass sub-floor compartment with a bung for ice and drinks positioned between the driver and observer, and more room to stash lifejackets and suchlike forward of the driver's legs.

There are numerous options to choose from in terms of tow poles, from an offset slalom aluminium ski pole behind the driver to a rear-mounted alloy peg, or an extendable wakeboarding pole.

DOES THE JOB
The dashboard on the Pro 2000 is workmanlike. It has everything you need in the right place and it's finished neatly. The surface is covered in beige vinyl over fairly angular mouldings. MerCruiser gauges are fitted as standard and include a big speedo (fine increments to 45mph, although a 60mph model is an option), tacho, oil, volts, temp, and fuel. This particular boat had MerCruiser's nifty keypad ignition system for press-button starts and, as mentioned, the stereo controls.

A very small racing wheel is mated to a Sea Star mechanical steering system, which is brilliantly light. There was absolutely no feedback or prop torque at any stage, and you could be forgiven for thinking it was a hydraulic system. This is further evidence of a highly efficient hull shape. This boat is fitted with a foot throttle and side F/N/R gear shifter that delivers smooth pick-ups and take-offs. There were a couple of drinkholders on the dashboard.

Options include a wide rear vision mirror, canopy, hand throttle, and Air Guide speedometer, or dual speedos if required.

HOW IT WENT
This thing goes like a scalded cat, handles like a $200k sports car and is a pure delight to drive. And that's with the base 315hp V8 - they range up to 340hp.

Firstly, though, the wake. At 2200rpm and 38kmh, the Pro 2000 carves a fat, well-shaped wave with a curling lip, ideal for your air-hungry wakeboarder, and is ideal for normal wakeboarding rope lengths. Stamp on the throttle and it flattens right out at about 3000rpm and 59kmh; the lip softens and there is hardly any prop wash to speak of. The rooster tail you sometimes get with other hulls is non-existent. Slalom and tournament skiers' knees will appreciate this greatly. Wake shape is also affected by the prop - three or four-bladers are available to enhance skiing or wakeboarding performance.

But at this speed the V8 is mumbling lazily. Let's see what she can do. Pedal flat, the speedo needle pegged out at sunset. However, Stevens claims the boat will do 90kmh flat dick, and it sure seemed like it. Average use will see the 270hp MerCruiser suck 17lt/h, which is fine economy for the performance this hull delivers.

The Pro 2000 slingshots from a standstill to 70kmh in less than five seconds. Drive this for long enough and you'll develop strong neck muscles. But it’s the handling that really shines. Throw it into a full-lock turn at 60kmh and hang on, because this thing will go where you point it. It turns flat and feels incredibly safe and sure-footed.

DO THE MATHS
No one is claiming that the Pro 2000 is a top of the range floating penthouse, but then, have a look at the price tag. For a boat that can competently tow a serious skier or wakeboarder, deliver neck-snapping acceleration without enormous fuel bills, handle like a sports car and accommodate a maximum of six people - this rig represents excellent value for money.

For a family on a budget, it might mean the difference between owning your own bullet with butterfly wings, or resigning yourself to forever admiring other people's chariots from a distance.