Model of Consistency: Efficiency and quality are the hallmarks of Eliminator's 30 Daytona.

By Matt Trulio

It's a toss-up as to whether the deck-boat or sport-catamaran market on the West Coast is more saturated these days. Call it a draw, though the demand for both continues to grow. But any West Coast builder that doesn't have one or the other—or both—in its line is at a serious disadvantage.

Introduced several years ago, the 30 Daytona is Eliminator's third largest catamaran offering. It also is one of the company's most popular twin-engine offerings. Though the cat's hull has not changed since it was released, the builder has evolved its deck and features.

The model we tested in Parker, Ariz., for example, featured the company's Integrated Canopy System, meaning quarter-canopies for the driver and co-pilot. Those weren't available when the boat first hit the market.

Nor were the twin 625-horsepower Ilmor engines that were supplied in our test boat. With that reliable power package, the beautifully built 30 Daytona produced an impressive top speed and good midrange acceleration.

PERFORMANCE
Though each of the 30 Daytona's notched sponsons had two forward-vented steps, its center pod did not. Each sponson also had a single strake that continued through the first two running surfaces.

Managing the combined 1,250 hp was a pair of Teague Platinum XR drives with 1.35:1 gear ratios and lab-finished 34"-pitch Bravo One propellers from Mercury Racing. From his dryland evaluation, our lead inspector noted that the X dimension (height on the transom) for the drives was fairly aggressive.

That setup produced a heady top speed of 127.6 mph on GPS with the engines working at 5,700 rpm. But at that speed, the catamaran felt a bit light and slippery.

"Either the drives are too high or the gears are too high—something needs to go down a bit," said Bob Teague, our lead test driver.

Indicative of such an aggressive top-speed setup, time to plane was merely average at 5.4 seconds with the tabs down. Equally average was the boat's 0-to-20-second speed of 65 mph. But in the midrange, the 30 Daytona delivered good punch. It ran from 30 to 50 mph in 5.5 seconds, 40 to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds and 40 to 70 mph in 8.5 seconds.

High-speed turns felt a little loose thanks to propeller slip, something a lower X dimension would cure. But in the low-speed and middle-range turns, the 30 Daytona felt solidly connected and tracked well. Though we wouldn't describe the cat as "leaning into" turns, it did hold a level attitude and didn't pull to the outside sponson.

Teague and fellow test driver John Tomlinson, as well as their co-pilots, appreciated the job the canopies did keeping the wind out of their faces. All agreed, however, that their clarity could have been better.

WORKMANSHIP
From our first look at the 30 Daytona on the launch ramp, it was obvious that Eliminator invested a great deal of time and energy in the boat's craftsmanship. The boat's in-gelcoat graphics knocked us out, and during the 2007 Performance Trials we saw few boats that matched the impressive mark set by the builder.

The marriage of the hull and deck was seamless. So, too, was the installation of the acrylic quarter-canopies, which seemed to rise out of the deck as if they were part of it.

For hardware, Eliminator used cool pieces such as pushpin fender holders as well as more standard fare, including Accon Pull-Up cleats. To dress up the production stuff, the builder installed everything in color-matched silver bezels.

New for this year was the boat's fiberglass engine hatch, which had integral scoops. Hydraulic scissor hinges on polished aluminum brackets raised the sharp-looking hatch.

To install the twin V-10 engines, the builder used mounting feet from Ilmor and L-angles through-bolted to the stringers—complete with anodized washers. Wherever a wire or cable passed through a bulkhead, Eliminator used color-matched bezels to dress up the edges of the hole.

Wiring was protected in conduit, and evenly spaced cushion clamps kept everything in order. The first-rate rigging ranked among the best we've seen from Eliminator Boats.

INTERIOR
Although Eliminator didn't go as far as creating a bucket-style bench for the 30 Daytona, it also didn't go the straight-back, decidedly uncomfortable-at-speed route. The bucket-like positions on the three-person bench were clearly delineated, and the armrests were contoured inward to create a wraparound feel.

Stainless-steel rails, which tied the twin high-back buckets to the padded gunwales, served as grab handles that were within reach from the bench.

Attractive welted snap-in carpet covered the cockpit sole. In addition to the compartments below the bench, there were gunwale recesses that could be used for stowing small items. Those recesses also housed cupholders.

Our drivers and observers agreed that the bucket seats provided excellent support. For the co-pilot, there also was a contoured grab handle and controls for the stereo system.

At the helm, the MOMO steering wheel tilted and Livorsi Marine supplied the gauges along with the throttles and shifters. Rubber-booted toggle switches, including "start" switches to create a race-boat-like feel for the driver, activated the accessories.

In the cabin, there were facing love seats and a rectangular berth. Tall adults probably would find the space a bit confining and stuffy. But kids likely wouldn't mind it a bit, especially when they flipped down the screens for the Alpine DVD player.

OVERALL
There's a reason the 30 Daytona continues to sell so well for Eliminator. It's a perennial contender in the sport-cat realm. This year, the builder's workmanship and performance shined. We might change the setup just a tad for easier drivability, but that's it.

See the Performance Trials test results HERE.

Click to enlarge.