Wellcraft Scarab 33 AVS

It's almost as fast as a speeding bullet, nearly as powerful as a locomotive, and able to leap tall waves in a single bound. Yep, says he with a vertical hairdo and white knuckles, the Scarab 33 AVS sportsboat is an impressive piece of ammunition.

For dayboating, the Scarab can do for you what Porsche can for a picnic. Cover the countryside in half the time, with twice the style, leaving behind an indelible image of plain good taste.

You see, the Scarab can speed to places where others can only reach if they leave before sunrise. Straight out of the box, the lithe dayboat does better than 60kt. No matter which way you look at it, it's fast.

But to milk the most from the Scarab 33 AVS you need to understand some fundamentals of high-performance boating which starts with wearing sunnies. Indeed, wraparound sunnies are more than just for show on a boat like this.

Without them your lids will peel back to your ears, your pupils will stream uncontrollably, and you'll see nothing much at all. And let me tell you, knowing where you are going is important in a boat in which distances soon become a fading memory.

From Port Melbourne to Point Lonsdale, Sydney Harbour to Pittwater, Marine Mirage to Tangalooma, your journey will be over in the blink of an eye. And what will you remember most?

No, not the wind in your hair, the watering eyes, the seagulls or the drink which went flying. What stands out about time travel in the Scarab 33AVS is just how comfortably you reel in the miles. Especially when you do it offshore.

Control is the best word to describe how it feels driving this fast dayboat. And in reality, there's very little to worry about behind the wheel of Wellcraft's lusty Scarab 33 AVS. The boat answers to the flick of a wrist, turns on its length, and crosses waves without so much as a shudder.

This may have something to do with the fact that the Scarab is fitted with the world's best Latham steering, twin 415hp MerCruiser motors with impressive running gear, and a high-tech hull with a unique aft-vented step system.

The combination of these elements inspires driver confidence and, ultimately, a new found freedom of expression on the water. Says Mark Chapman, Sydney Wellcraft importer and an avid sportsboater, the Scarab 33AVS is a stress-buster.

Collecting US Powerboat magazine's 1998 Offshore Boat of the Year award, the Scarab 33 AVS can carry five adults in an open-air cockpit for more than 300km before it needs a refill.

Thus, the performance is something you can share with your friends. And with wonderful body-hugging seats, a cabin with a compact galley, some seating in case it rains, a bed in case you get lucky, and a toilet, the possibilities present themselves for a big day out on the water.

But you're broken from the reverie once you turn the key. The gurgling V-eights explode into life and purr with a note that spells power. As you nervously advance the throttle, the hull seemingly glides on ice. And then the fun begins.

While driving at 50kt might sound kind of freaky, here it is actually a comfortable cruise speed. And after a few brief runs you will have gained enough certitude behind the wheel to feel the need for speed.

Acceleration is where this sportsboat really impresses. You can feel a jolt as the giant V-eight engines reel in the last 10-15kt. From a standing start, the boat launches straight out of the hole.

A greyhound on the water, the Scarab 33AVS offers little resistance to the water. This means the lithe hull doesn't so much bang and crash as fly from crest to crest. The ride is smooth and you can trim the legs of the motors with buttons located on the steering wheel. And as to be expected, there's a Clarion CD player with remote control on the dash.

While there's room for three guests on an aft lounge, the skipper and navigator get to sit behind a wind deflector on flash electrically-operated seats. Push a button and the seat bases retract to leave you standing in a body-hugging bolster.

This is the best way to travel offshore, taking the weight on your knees, and it's comfortable to be held so firmly. For the driver, a wondrous array of Gaffrig colour-matched gauges - including a liquid-filled speedo - and genuine high-performance, power-assisted hydraulic steering add to the sense of driving pleasure.

Meanwhile, the Scarab has an alter ego beneath its streamlined decks. The low-profile, fully-lined cabin has a toilet, sink, two bench seats and a cosy berth in the bow. Not only do you get headroom when seated, but room to overnight in a marina somewhere.

Storage is a high point, with lockers big enough to take everything from skis and wakeboards to personal items and even a change or two of clothes. The fridge has room for a couple of bottles of white, prawns and all the green salad you can eat.

For all this, however, the 33 AVS is unequivocally about driving pleasure. At $270,000, it costs more than the new Porsche 911, but offshore you won't find speed limits or hidden cameras. It's one of the last bastions of freedom in which you can cut loose.

Then, at the end of the day, when you have returned pleasantly de-stressed, if not a little dishevelled, you can pop the boat on one of those dry docks, pump out the water from the cradle with the push of a button, and lift the Scarab right out of the water.

Chapman Marine sells both the boat and the dock. He'll even thrown in some driving lessons and join you aboard till you're comfortable behind the wheel.

Indeed, with a top speed of 67kt, it's hard to imagine a better way of getting around for a day.