Beyond Basic: Even with mild power, Sleekcraft Powerboats' 30 Heritage separates itself from standard single-engine sport boats.

One of the company's best-selling models, especially in the open-bow configuration, Sleekcraft Powerboats' 30 Heritage is an across-the-board competitor in the sport-boat market. And it's easy to see why.

The twin-stepped V-bottom that we tested in Parker, Ariz., for the Performance Trials was not only well built but it had crisp handling and looked good in the process.

It had been a while since we'd tested a 30 Heritage—the smallest boat in the Heritage lineup that includes a 32- and 34-footer—but after evaluating the V-bottom, we hope Sleekcraft doesn't wait too long to bring us another one. Although next time we're hoping it'll be one with a larger engine so we can see how the hull handles the extra horsepower.

PERFORMANCE

Rocket-like is by no means a way to describe the 30 Heritage, but for the power—a 425-hp MerCruiser 496 Mag HO engine—the boat was up to par. Churning a Bravo One X drive with a 1.5:1 gear ratio, the boat reached a top speed of 61.1 mph at 4,750 rpm.

With the 24"-pitch Bravo One propeller hooked up and turning to the right, the V-bottom came on plane in 6.4 seconds and had a minimum planing speed of 22 mph. From a standing start on the glassy Colorado River, the 30-footer reached 40 mph in 10 seconds and 55 mph in 20 seconds.

Midrange acceleration was acceptable considering the engine's horsepower. The 5,300-pound boat needed 8.4 seconds to complete the 30-to-50-mph drill.

With its steps about 6 feet and 9 feet from the transom and its inside strakes terminating at the first step, the V-bottom tracked well at mid and high speeds. At low speeds, particularly at idle, the boat wandered a bit.

Lead test driver Bob Teague also noticed that the boat had a minor hop when turning. It was nothing excessive—Teague found the tendency more of an annoyance than anything else. Both Teague and test driver John Tomlinson pointed out that the 30-footer, which was equipped with the basic power-assist, cable-style steering, responded well without any steering wheel torque.

Both test drivers commended the boat's on-plane visibility while running it downriver, although they were indifferent to the black wraparound windshield because it served little purpose to see through or deflect wind.

Another strong attribute of the boat was that the engine choice was ideal for fuel economy. At 50 mph, with the engines turning 4,000 rpm, the 30 Heritage was getting 2.3 mpg. And at wide-open throttle, the boat still got 1.8 mpg. With that kind of consumption and a 68-gallon fuel capacity, a family can spend a day on the water without breaking the bank.

INTERIOR

When it came to designing the interior for the 30 Heritage, families were the primary concern.

"My favorite part is that there is plenty of room for everyone in the family," said Bob Miller, a representative for Sleekcraft, which is located in Lake Havasu City, Ariz. "We love building boats for the family and for family entertainment."

The first thing that made the V-bottom family friendly, was the deep open bow that offered plenty of security when riding up front at speed. Adding to the comfort was the U-shape lounge's well-cushioned upholstery and an elliptical handrail installed atop each gunwale.

The midcabin of the 30-footer offered a nice place to escape the heat during unbearable days on Arizona's Lake Havasu or any of the other Colorado River lakes. Inside were two facing lounges with stowage beneath the cushions and behind the backrests.

In the cockpit, there was even more stowage with an in-floor locker between the electric dropout bolsters and separate compartments under the three cushions for the rear bench. The two outer compartments were carpeted and the center section was a fiberglass tub that could serve as a cooler since it was fully insulated and featured a built-in drain.

Sleekcraft did provide two separate coolers in recessed wells that were part of molded inserts, which pulled double duty as footrests for the driver and co-pilot. The coolers had padded vinyl lids with the Sleekcraft logo embroidered in them.

At the helm, the builder installed a Mercury Zero Effort throttle and shifter on an extension from the gunwale. Lined up nicely ahead of the controls was a curved panel with white rocker switches for the accessories. A tilt helm was on the dash below a full set of Livorsi Marine gauges in chrome bezels. Two oversized gauges for the speedometer and tachometer were mounted on a section above six smaller gauges in angled bezels facing the driver.

WORKMANSHIP

A neat feature that Sleekcraft applies to all of its boats is the wraparound fiberglass panel on each bolster seat that matches the boat's gelcoat graphics. This time, the panels were tiger-striped in red, black and yellow giving the boat that extra custom touch.

Overall, the gelcoat work was executed nicely as was the boat's mold work. To keep the graphics looking good, the builder installed a white vinyl rubrail with an aluminum insert. All of the hardware on the boat, including the six Accon Pop-Up cleats and the PERKO navigation light on the bow, was stainless steel. Also a cool feature, both fuel fills were located on the port side of the 30 Heritage to make filling the boat more convenient.

Rigging in the engine compartment was properly executed besides a few wires needing better support. The 496 Mag HO was secured using standard Mercury motor mounts. Access to minor services was first-rate and the hatch cover, which opened to a vertical position, was perfectly finished from the French stitching of the upholstery to the stainless screw jacks.

OVERALL

The latest 30 Heritage from Sleekcraft impressed our Test Team, especially with all the quality components included for the $119,000 as-tested price. But as usual, we'd like to see a little more power in the V-bottom—we believe it can handle it. As is, the performance will still bring a smile to a family's faces.

Click to enlarge.