KEY POINTS:
When one thinks of the great boat-building centres of New Zealand, Timaru does not usually spring to mind.
What's more, if one did think about boats being built in the South Canterbury town, they would almost certainly be "Southern" boats: big, strong, built for rough conditions and possibly a little rough around the edges, too.
There may, indeed, be boatbuilders of that type in Timaru. However, Fairview Fibreglass, with its sporty Barchetta range, is not one of them.
Barchetta is apparently the Italian word for "little boat" and, at just a fraction over 5m LOA, their new 502XR model is certainly that. Barchetta was also the name given to an Italian style of two-seater, open-topped sports car, designed primarily for racing. Again, the 502XR qualifies.
Its designer is none other than Scott Robson, a long-time and remarkably versatile designer of trailer boats and launches - and one who made his name in the rough and tumble world of offshore powerboat racing. Its builder (and the company's owner), Don Weir, is also an offshore powerboat racer and self-confessed "petrol head".
Like it's namesake, the 502XR is a sports boat. It is designed for fun, skiing and wakeboarding - and getting around quickly.
This particular model is powered by Mercury's new inboard Vazer engine (the previous model 502XC is outboard-powered). The Vazer is a 100hp single overhead cam, multi-point injection, alloy engine.
From a manufacturer's point of view, the Vazer has a number of advantages, especially for smaller boats like the Barchetta. The chief among these is its low-profile design, which offers more useable space and a lower centre of gravity than conventional stern drives.
Fairview has combined this design with an enormous 2.2m of beam (in a 5m boat) to create what really is a very big little boat.
All this interior space means plenty of seating for a boat of this size. There is a full-width aft lounger that easily accommodates three (four at a pinch).
There are also two bolster-style swivel seats that can swivel aft to create a cosy conversation area. Of course, the port seat will also swivel when towing a skier or wakeboarder.
The bolster seats can also run in two different "modes". Dropped down, they are below the airflow created by the windscreen. With the bolsters up, the breeze is literally "in your face" (nice on a hot day) and all-round visibility is excellent. Instrumentation is clearly visible from both positions.
The large-volume cockpit is fully carpeted right to the deluxe upholstered side panels with good-sized lined pockets. Other stowage areas include under the aft lounger seat, within the engine compartment, in the lockable glove box within the port dash console and two areas in the bow.
Access to the bow and anchor well is via a walk-through screen and opening deck hatch.
The XR pictured above is still a prototype and further features are planned for the transom and rear deck area. These include hinged seating and, to provide even more stowage, a hinged-top ski locker. Other options under consideration include a full-width boarding platform, a half-width platform and a retro bolt-on option with stainless rail and teak decking.
This last would certainly be in keeping with the XR's overall appearance, which is sporty with a touch of retro. The lines remain clean from bow to stern and, thanks to the low-profile Vazer sterndrive, even the transom has an uncluttered look.
With its Scott Robson pedigree, it would be a huge surprise if this little boat didn't do the business on the water. As with the outboard-powered XC, the XR features Robson's proven vacuum break step in the forward outer chine (designed for faster release of the hull when getting on to the plane). This is subtle and not as intrusive as a full step across the bottom.
The deadrise at the transom is a steep 21 degrees. This allows the relatively short waterline length to carve through a moderate chop while not compromising stability at rest. Wide, downturned strakes run parallel with a double chine, helping the XR to plane quickly and ensuring there is more boat in the water when stationary.
The result is a hull that handles well and is responsive. With a small amount of trim, it can safely be hooked hard into turns without slipping.
From a straight performance point of view, the 100hp Vazer in the engine locker is also okay, although full throttle is needed to get the XR on the plane. However, once there, there is plenty of zip. Top speed is just over 34 knots at 6500rpm and, at the more sedate 4500rpm, the XR will comfortably cruise at 25 knots.
That's not all bad for a boat measuring just 5.02m overall and costing just $42,000 (with almost everything included).
However, those who really like to rock may wish to consider spending just a little bit extra and replacing that 100hp with its bigger 135hp 3-litre cousin. So fitted, the Barchetta 502XR will really bogey out of the hole and happily hit a top speed of around 48 knots. In a 5m sports boat, that's really moving.
Of course, not everyone wants to go flat-out all the time and the 100hp-powered XR has several added advantages. It is, thanks to its wide beam, surprisingly spacious for such a small boat, yet weighs in at under 1000kg, making it easily towable behind an average family vehicle. That 100hp Vazer is also pretty economical: according to the integral SmartCraft engine management system, at 4000rpm the XR uses 16.8 lph and at 6000rpm, 31.2 lph.
* For a full review of the new Barchetta 502XR, see the September/October issue of Propeller magazine, or visit www.propellermagazine.co.nz
