Our first go-round in Shockwave's 28 Deck Boat left a lasting impression with our Test Team.

During an interview at the docks in Parker, Ariz., a representative from Shockwave Custom Boats told one of Powerboat's editors that Shockwave was a great hidden secret on the West Coast.

"You get a good quality boat for a fair amount," he said, standing next to the company's catamaran-based 28 Deck Boat, a model the Corona, Calif., boatbuilder debuted in early 2007.

And based on our first evaluation of the $135,000 deck boat, you won't hear anyone on the Test Team disagree. In fact, lead test driver/inspector Bob Teague kept saying he was impressed when putting the boat through its paces and taking a closer look at its workmanship.

No doubt, the 28-footer was quite impressive, especially when it came to its handling and construction quality.

WORKMANSHIP

The main thing Teague noticed about the well-appointed 28 Deck Boat was that a lot of thought went into its design and production. Both swim platforms—one across the transom and another between the sponsons at the bow—were built into the deck and covered in nonskid.

For easy access into the boat from the water, the builder supplied two self-retracting ladders from Aqua Performance on the rear swim platform. Also included on the platform were three stainless-steel grab handles, one on each gunwale and a large handle centered on the transom with a tow-eye in the middle of it.

Other hardware on the 28-footer included Accon Pop-Up cleats in pewter bezels, cat-eye-style navigation lights, stainless connections for a bimini top and red elliptical handrails above the bow lounges.

To build the new boat, Shockwave employed Coremat and balsa core for the deck and hullsides. Lamination was done by hand using vinylester resins and tri- and quad-directional fiberglass.

The mold work on the deck boat was pretty good, as was the gelcoat and the paint job, which featured a tribal look in red, orange and blue with white pinstripes. A neatly installed white rubrail with a vinyl insert should preserve the paint job around the docks.

Lifting on a pair of hydraulic hinges from Dana Marine, the engine hatch provided adequate access to the Mercury Racing HP525EFI engine. The underside of the hatch was finished in orange gelcoat, while the top was upholstered to match the graphics and included three headrests for the rear bench.

The engine was secured using feet mounts through-bolted to the stringers on L-angles. The exhaust consisted of CMI sweepers connected to custom-built S-pipes that went straight down and then out through the transom below the swim platform. Wiring and hoses were well supported. The only critique our inspector had was that the bilge could have had a more finished appearance.

INTERIOR

According to our inspector, Shockwave used "cool stuff" within the 28 Deck Boat. All the accessories were billet, including the seat bases for the oversized bucket seats, the Xtreme Audio speaker covers and the glove box in front of the co-pilot spot.

The starboard-side helm was loaded with quality components. Auto Meter Pro-Comp Marine gauges in chrome bezels were installed ahead of the IMCO Marine tilt helm. The throttle-and-shifter unit from Livorsi Marine was mounted on an extension from the gunwale and the drive indicator was ahead of the controls. To the left of the wheel was an iPod hookup and mount with a cupholder above it.

Directly behind the driver's seat was a galley with a freshwater sink. A small L-shape lounge completed the cockpit seating, and two facing lounges provided places to sit in the bow. The upholstery in the deck boat was well padded and the entire floor was finished in white nonskid.

Typical of most deck boats, stowage in the 28-footer was abundant. Two in-sole lockers were in the center of the boat and a built-in ice chest was provided under the rear bench. Ahead of both consoles were two large compartments. The port-side compartment included a small berth, while the opposite space was carpeted and housed the stereo components along with a small glove box that opened for access to the gauge wiring. Worth noting was the heavy-duty billet hinges with gas struts on each hatch.

PERFORMANCE

By no means was the single-step catamaran a rocket, but it did get the most out of its 525-horsepower motor, which was hooked up to a Bravo One XR drive and a lab-finished 28"-pitch Bravo One propeller.

With the engine turning 5,400 rpm, the deck boat reached 81.2 mph on radar. While cruising at 3,500 rpm, it was running about 50 mph—at that speed the boat was getting 2.3 mpg.

The 28 Deck Boat was a little sluggish when it came to throttle response, but it still posted respectable acceleration numbers. In a standing-start drill, the boat hit 46 mph in 10 seconds and 67 mph in 20 seconds.

In midrange exercises, the deck boat ran from 30 to 50 mph in 5.3 seconds and from 40 to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds. Our test drivers noted that the 28-footer had a high bow rise, fortunately it didn't last long as the boat got on plane in 4.4 seconds.

Most importantly, the boat stood out when it came to handling drills. The full hydraulic steering from IMCO Marine was a great match. Teague gave the deck boat top grades in turns at cruise and full speed, and praised it for tracking perfectly straight. He and fellow test driver John Tomlinson mentioned that the ride was pretty windy and that additional wind protection would be beneficial.

OVERALL

Since this was the first time we'd seen a 28 Deck Boat from Shockwave Custom Boats, we didn't have any particular expectations. That won't be the case next time we test the 28-footer as the deck boat left a lasting impression with our Test Team, particularly because of its build quality and overall performance.

Click to enlarge.