A 700-hp engine lights a fire under Nordic's time-tested 28 Heat.

The Nordic 28 Heat is like an old friend to the Powerboat magazine crew. After all, we've practically tested every iteration of the 28-footer since it was introduced in 1995. In the ensuing 12 years, Nordic Boats has modified the boat's hull several times. The latest of these changes happened in 2002 when the Lake Havasu City, Ariz., builder added steps to the running surface.

For 2007, Nordic added an anchor locker to the deck, eliminated recessed cleats and replaced the extruded plastic rubrail with a stainless-steel version.

It takes a lot more than deck-and-hardware tweaks to impress us, but after logging a little time in the 28 Heat, impressed was exactly what we were. In fact, we've never been in one that's run better or been more fun—make that a kick in the pants—to drive.

The big difference, of course, was power. We'd never tested a 28 Heat with a 700-horsepower Ilmor Marine engine, and it proved to be an excellent choice for the closed-deck sport boat.

There are plenty of performance highlights for the 28 Heat, such as a top speed of 89 mph and a time to plane of 4.3 seconds with low bowrise. But, as the saying goes, the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. The nimble 28 Heat handled easily and predictably, and rode softly. It cruised at 64 mph with its engine turning a gentle 4,500 rpm. From a standing start, it hit 78 mph in 20 seconds, and it ran from 30 to 50 mph in 3.7 seconds.

"All things considered, this is the nicest Heat I've ever driven," said lead test driver Bob Teague.

In short, Nordic balanced the performance attributes of the 28-footer with the needs of its intended market. As a sport boat, it had to be lively enough to keep drivers engaged. That's where healthy top speed, spunky acceleration, sweet response at the tilt helm and Livorsi Marine gauges and controls came in. As a family boat, the 28 Heat needed to be safe, secure and comfortable. That's where stability, predictable handling, a soft ride and a slew of amenities came in.

Among those amenities in the cockpit were twin bolsters with manual dropout bottoms, a sculpted rear bench, snap-in carpet, a glove box at the co-pilot's station and an in-sole locker. For more stowage, there was a locker under the bench bottom cushion that, in a Nordic tradition we've always appreciated, was mounted on a two-position hinge for easy access.

The cabin featured facing lounges and a spacious V-berth for that of a 28-footer, along with an entertainment center and a cooler in a dedicated recess. Discreet light fixtures in the cabin augmented the natural light from the deck hatch.

It would be wrong to say there ever was a "missing piece" of the 28 Heat's puzzle. It's been a compelling model since it was introduced, and remains Nordic's biggest seller. But with the 700-hp engine adding a little spice to the 28-footer, the recipe is perfect.

The Basics
Engine: Ilmor Marine MV-10 710
Propeller: Mercury Bravo One 15 1/4" x 26"
Top speed: 89 mph at 6,100 rpm
Price as tested $236,260
Contact: 928-855-7420, www.nordicpowerboats.com

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