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One of the sharpest-looking new midcabin cruisers is also one of the fastest: Campion's 50-plus-mph 925 Allante is a tour de force of line and form. Take this can-do Canadian for a test drive and you'll find exceptionally rugged construction, excellent performance, and amenities that exceed the standards of most boat manufacturers. That said, you may also conclude - as we did - that engine access is clumsy, standing at the helm is uncomfortable, and the stern cleats would prove more functional if they were positioned farther aft.
So if you're in the market for a 30' cruiser, should you take the 925 Allante for a ride? Without a doubt. You'll discover that all things considered, the 925 Allante shines brighter than many boats that have starred in this particular category.
LISTENING SKILLS. Let's talk intangibles - or at least invisibles. Sound levels underway are an important consideration when shopping for a cruiser. Too much noise is more than annoying. Once you're underway, it hinders conversation and irritates everyone onboard.
So keep your ears open as you demo ride the 925 Allante. At 3500 rpm, our test boat, which was powered by twin 250-hp Volvo Penta 5.0 Gi DuoProp stern drives ($6,677), produced a 33.5-mph nominal cruise speed and burned 17.8 gph. Those are some good numbers. But the more remarkable figure didn't come from our fuel-flow monitor or radar gun. It came from the sound meter. At 78 dB-A, the 925 Allante is quiet enough to let you cruise for 186 miles and enjoy the company of your guests without resorting to a bullhorn.
Credit the hushed ride to Campion's design, construction, and assembly. The 925 Allante's engine compartment is generously insulated. The motors themselves have cushioned mounts bolted to the Kevlar-reinforced stringers. Because the engines have been soft mounted to hard beds, only suppressed engine vibrations travel throughout the boat's structure. This, in turn, diminishes noise, especially those annoying, rpm-specific buzzes and rattles that can drive a captain crazy. Take a look from inside the engine compartment and you'll notice that the 925 Allante's hull and deck are joined by through-bolts. This method of joining the hull to the deck is normally reserved for go-fasts and offshore sportfisherman because it results in rugged, long-term durability - and it minimizes noise. How? Unlike boats in which the hull and deck are joined by screws, through-bolting reduces the amount of movement between the two as the boat "works" (flexes and tenses) while underway. Creaks and groans are significantly reduced.
THE HIGHS: Runs fast and handles well. Sexy, distinctive lines. Quiet enough that you can talk without screaming while cruising. More standard equipment than its competitors.
THE LOWS: Forward-hinged hatch hurts access to engine compartment. Not enough room between the helm and the seat's base to stand comfortably. Needs some additional cleats aft.
What you can't see is perhaps the most important noise-reduction feature. The meat that is sandwiched between the layers of fiberglass from which the 925 Allante is constructed is a product called Corecell. It's responsible for the 925 Allante's light weight (which we'd say is the reason for its speedy top end) in comparison with Regal's 2960 ($115,500 with twin 250-hp MerCruiser 5.0L EFI Bravo Three stern drives) or Wellcraft's 3000 Martinique ($115,520 powered as our test boat). This closed-cell foam also attenuates noise from both machinery and the hull as it cuts through the water. None of this will quiet the yells from your crew when you put this boat through its paces. The 925 Allante is a hoot and a half to run. Click the standard Gaffrig controls forward. These precise shifters - a costly option aboard many boats - stay where you put them. The 925 Allante takes off like a rocket. Cut the wheel. We threw the helm hardover at 4500 rpm and carved right around. Wakes? If waves were wheat, the 925 Allante would be a sickle.
