Shearwater Venture PRICE £151,447 TOP SPEED 38 knots 0-40 KNOTS na
Where the Pascoe is fast, edgy, focussed and fi endishly expensive, the Shearwater is comfortable, civilised, family friendly and comparitively affordable. In this company it’s easy to get a bit blasé
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about performance and dismiss the Shearwater as something of a plodder but that would be horribly unfair. Sure, in this guise with this engine it ‘only’ managed 38 knots fl at out but by any normal standards this is still a rapid boat and there are a number of more powerful engine options available that will push it well past 40 knots. This particular boat was
n the understanding that the Pascoe SY10 sits at one extreme of the 10m RIB spectrum, the Shearwater Venture represents the other.
the nose into a wave, the solid bow section should withstand it far better than more vulnerable infl atable tubes. It does feel like a noticeably heavier boat
Comfortable, civilised and immensely
ordered by Bembridge Power Boat Training to use as a school boat and charter RIB (Tel: 01983 778077), so it’s hardly surprising that fuel effi ciency and all-day comfort were more important than outright pace. Judged by these standards it was the pick of the lot. The single 315hp 6-cylinder diesel Yanmar is a surprisingly smooth and willing companion with decent pick-up that will run all day at 36 knots and 4,000rpm without missing a beat. The hull is an equally good all-rounder
with a sharp 24° deadrise at the transom, plenty of freeboard and a tall bow giving a wonderfully soft, dry ride in almost any conditions. Even if you did manage to stuff
impervious to wind or waves
practical, it felt utterly
than any other in our group but the steering is surprisingly light and the upshot is a wonderful feeling of stability and security. It’s also immensely practical with masses of seating fore and aft, more lockers than a rugby team’s changing room and a decent cuddy with a proper sea toilet and convertible double berth. There are other niceties too such as an electric anchor windlass concealed in the bow and a bathing platform aft with integrated ladder, shower and stern anchor locker. The tall helm console and
cuddy moulding is offset to the starboard side of the boat to make a decent path forward round the port side but it does mean there is no access to starboard unless you hop along the tubes. What it does provide is exceptional
protection at the helm and an unbeatable feeling of security in any seas. Romping across the Solent, it felt utterly
impervious to wind, waves or the occasional smattering of rain, which on the quicker boats felt like you were being stabbed in the face by hundreds of tiny needles. It’s no surprise that this was the boat our two photographers felt most comfortable shooting from and the one they kept returning to whenever they could. Who needs a 50 or 60-knoter when the reality is that most of us will rarely venture beyond 40 knots? Hugo
Tall console provides excellent wind and weather protection
THE DATA SPECIFICATIONS
LENGTH 32ft 10in (10.0m) BEAM 9ft 2in (2.80m)
WEIGHT 2,500-3,100kg
FUEL CAPACITY 480 litres
ENGINE 315hp Yanmar 6LPA diesel sterndrive
TOP SPEED 38 knots
0-30 KNOTS 12.5sec
PRICE FROM £133,200 inc VAT
PRICE AS TESTED £151,447 inc VAT
CONTACT Bembridge Marine. Tel +44 (0)1983 872 817 web:
www.shearwaterribs.co.uk
Cuddy is big enough for overnighting
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