Dialed In: DCB left nothing to chance with its immaculate 28 Extreme.

If your priority is wringing out every bit of speed from your new sport boat, a closed-deck model is the way to go. No argument there. But if you're willing to give up a few ticks - and we mean a few - on the speedometer, you might want to consider going the open-bow, midcabin route. The trade-off - a little top speed for a lot of utility - could be well worth it.

Frankly, we'd have a hard time ordering the DCB 28 Extreme, which we tested last fall in Parker, Ariz., without an open bow and a center cabin. The bow was uncommonly deep and comfortable. The cabin presented exceptional headroom and was loaded with features. And of course, per DCB standards, the 28-footer was built to the highest West Coast custom quality and delivered strong performance.

PERFORMANCE
The 28 Extreme's hull had two steps, which created three running surfaces. Strakes were aligned in the fore and aft running sections - there were no strakes in the middle section.

A 600-horsepower Mercury Racing HP600SCi engine was under the hatch, and handling the power was a Bravo One XR drive with a 1.5:1 gear ratio and a 30"-pitch four-blade Bravo One propeller. Though the boat can be ordered with more horsepower, the supplied propulsion package was ideal for a performance boat slated for family use.

With its engine turning 5,600 rpm, the 28 Extreme topped out at 84 mph. At that speed, the 28-footer felt light on its keel, yet still retained a comfortable connection to the water and never wandered from its course. Plus, in our view, 80-plus-mph is fast enough for a family oriented model.

Standing start and midrange acceleration performances were strong. With its trim tabs down, the V-bottom came on plane in 3.9 seconds and reached 70 mph in 20 seconds. It ran from 30 to 50 mph in 5.9 seconds and from 40 to 60 mph in 7 seconds.

From both our test teams, the boat earned top marks for handling. It whipped through slaloms without grabbing, and it carved deeply in circle turns at cruising and upper speeds. Whipped up by boats and 15- to 20-mph wind gusts, river chop was no match for the deep-V-bottom, which produced a soft ride.

WORKMANSHIP
DCB outdid itself with the 28 Extreme's tooling - and that's saying something considering the company's track record for sky-high levels of craftsmanship. Mold work was as good as it gets. In eliminating all but a narrow stainless-steel strip from the 28-footer's rubrail and capping the hull-and-deck seam, the builder demonstrated how precise and careful it can be. In their vibrancy and precision, the boat's in-gelcoat graphics and fairing installation were up to the same lofty standards.

Lamination materials included vinylester resin and multidirectional fiberglass. Marine-grade plywood was used in the bulkheads and balsa coring provided extra strength in select areas.

Not wanting to spoil the boat's pristine lines, DCB used pushpin receptacles rather than cleats. Other upscale pieces of hardware included LED navigation lights and billet grab handles.

A pair of screw jacks raised the fiberglass engine hatch, which was mirrored on the underside. To keep the bimini top out of harm's way, the builder designed it to fold discreetly below the engine hatch.

As expected, engine compartment rigging was superb. DCB used custom fabricated engine mounts through-bolted to the stringers to secure the big-block power plant.

The bilge was covered with white gelcoat that had been worked to a smooth finish, and everything used to secure the parallel runs of wiring, from tie-wraps to stainless-steel cushion clamps, was evenly spaced. Nothing in the rigging appeared rushed or unplanned.

INTERIOR
In the 28 Extreme's carpeted open bow, there were two comfortable facing lounges with stowage lockers under the bottom cushions. More impressive than the substantial comfort of the lounges, however, was the depth of the bow area.

"In this one, you definitely feel like you're riding ‘in' the boat instead of ‘on' it," said one member of our test team.

One of the biggest and most pleasant surprises of the relatively low-profile 28 Extreme was the headroom in its cabin. A 6-foot adult could easily sit on either of the two facing lounges without having to slouch. Looking from the outside at the sleek deck over the cabin, we would have never guessed it had so much vertical space.

Also of note were cabin amenities, an area in which DCB has always been adequate but never outstanding. Key features included a cabinet with mirrored doors, a cooler in a dedicated vinyl-upholstered recess, a Sony MP3 player, four spotlights and a couple of mirrored glove-box-size lockers. Like that of the open bow, the carpet in the cabin was dedicated and expertly installed.

Wisely, the builder used removable snap-in carpet in the cockpit, where wet feet are more than likely to tread. Seating consisted of a four-person bench seat and two high-back buckets.

For cockpit stowage space, there were gunwale trays, as well as a locker under the bottom cushion for the bench. There was no glove box in the co-pilot's dash to port - as noted there were two in the nearby cabin - but there was a billet grab handle. DCB did include two small map pockets for the driver and co-pilot in each gunwale.

The builder outfitted the 28 Extreme's command center with high-end fare, including an IMCO tilt helm, a Latham Marine throttle-and-shifter unit and Livorsi Marine gauges with silver rims and bezels.

OVERALL
The 28 Extreme presented yet another example of the type of quality that Dave's Custom Boats can produce. The boat topped 80 mph, handled sweetly and was smartly proportioned. You can buy the 28-footer with a closed deck - we're just not sure why you would.

TEST RESULTS

TEST CONDITIONS

HULL INFORMATION

PRICING INFORMATION

ENGINE & PROPELLER

OPTIONS ON TEST BOAT
Upgrade to Mercury Racing HP600SCi engine ($38,000), open bow ($4,750), hydraulic tabs with indicators ($3,950), dual ram hydraulic steering ($3,450), Gatling mufflers ($2,195), full hydraulic to helm ($1,650), stainless tilt helm ($1,000), fiberglass hardback seats ($800) and billet LED navigation lights ($695).

ACCELERATION

MIDRANGE ACCELERATION

RPM VS. MPH

TOP SPEED AT RPM

PLANING

FUEL ECONOMY

FUEL CAPACITY
80 gallons

TEST CONDUCTED AT
Parker, AZ

MANUFACTURER
Dave's Custom Boats, Dept. PB, 1468 N. Magnolia Lane, El Cajon, CA 92020, 619-442-0300, www.dcbracing.com

Click to enlarge.