The Luxury Portal: Lifestyle Articles, Homes, Yachts, Auto, Jets

  

Sea Sonic Centaur: Parts the Waters

Classic Boats:Luxury Boats: In Greek mythology, a centaur is a wild creature with the head, arms, and torso of a man joined to the body of a horse at its neck. In boating circles, the Sea Sonic Centaur is redefining the expectations of runabouts. Its stunning appearance and performance make for one heck of a hull. The Centaur's hydraulic steering system and two rudders provide extraordinary smooth handling. The Centaur cruising speed is 30 mph, but it is capable of maximum speeds between 50 and 65 mph, depending upon the engine. There are three twin-engine options from which to select. The length of the boat is 28.5 feet, and its beam is 8.5 feet.

There is sufficient space for eight passengers with six upholstered seats and two spaces on the aft deck's large sunning pad. The chrome handrails of the stepped transom allows for easy access to the water. There is even a hot or cold freshwater shower in the stern. State-of-the-art stereo systems are standard equipment on Centaurs. The below-deck V-berth provides both respite from the sun and storage capabilities, while a glass deck hatch allows air and light to enter. A wet bar, which includes a fridge and a sink, is located on deck. For entertaining purposes, a very convenient table rises from the floor with the push of a button.

The deep-V hull is solid mahogany throughout, with multi-layered mahogany-marine plywood attached to the outside. To reinforce its hull and transom, Kevlar is laminated between the two layers of plywood for added strength. Canadian maple wood is inlaid in the mahogany fore and aft decks along with sturdy chrome hardware. The rigid construction of the Centaur allows 14 coats of epoxy and four coats of polyurethane to be applied over it. The end result is a shiny high-gloss finish that is watertight and resistant to weather conditions and saltwater. It is as close to being maintenance-free as it gets.

This is the runabout that everyone is talking about! Even as it blurrily cuts across the water at 65 mph, the unmistakable beauty of the Sea Sonic Centaur remains clearly in focus.

For LxM James Rothaar