Style Guru: Adrenaline's V30 takes custom to an out-of-this-world level.
By Heidi Slomkowski
With its sleek, ultramodern design, Adrenaline Powerboats' V30 is one of those cool custom creations that makes you wonder if it's all about appearance. At our spring tests in Parker, Ariz., we got to experience the 30-footer beyond its seemingly endless curves and innovative styling, and found that it boasted all the perks of a high-end performance boat.
"We think it's probably the most exotic 30-foot V-bottom on the market," said company owner Michael Layton. "And the performance we get out of the hull for that size is pretty phenomenal."
The capped hull and deck on the single-engine V-bottom was seamless. Our workmanship inspector marveled over the mold work and paint job, and as hard as he looked, he could not find any imperfections in the gelcoat work. Layton, who also paints the Dahlonega, Ga., company's boats, tackled the lengthy task of creating the slick sports-car feel with shades of silver that gleamed as the boat ran across the Colorado River. Done in House of Kolor paint, the red, white and black graphics completed the look.
"Our typical paint process amounts to about 12 to 15 coats of primer paint and clear coat," Layton said. "It is a lot of work but certainly is one of the biggest attractions to our boats."
In the cockpit, gray lay-in carpet covered the sole and high-back bucket seats for the driver and co-pilot sat behind the protection of clear quarter-canopies. Polk Audio subwoofers—part of the Premium Polk Audio sound system—were located under each seat. Passengers could enjoy the ride from the three-person, bucket-style bench.
Along with staggered Mercury SmartCraft instrumentation at the helm, the builder supplied Livorsi Marine mechanical tab indicators to the right of the driver's seat next to billet accessory panels. The shifter and throttle also were from Livorsi.
For access to the Mercury Racing HP700SCi engine, the hatch raised on a custom hydraulic lift, taking the rear bench backrest with it. The silver engine compartment offered plenty of space to access the motor, which was secured with Mercury mounts through-bolted to the stringers. Billet battery boxes housed the Optima batteries, and trim pumps were attached to the firewall. Rigging was sanitary and wiring was well supported.
Opening on a gas strut, the lift-up hinged door with molded steps for foredeck access led to the comfortable, contemporary cabin. Stowage options abound inside with space available underneath the entryway footplate and the seat cushions for the U-shape lounge. There also was a large locker for fenders and other gear at the front of the cabin.
The V30—Adrenaline's first single-engine effort—hit 88 mph on radar but still had plenty of rpm left. According to Layton, the V30 has reached 94 mph after further dialing in since our test.
When designing the 30-footer, Layton said he wanted to create a model with plenty of amenities to rival that of larger, higher-priced boats.
"We wanted to build a midsize boat that packed all the goodies of the bigger boats—you know the $500,000 to $600,000, 40-foot-plus V-bottoms—in a smaller package," he said.
Billet hardware from speaker grilles to angled footrests for the driver and co-pilot was among the wealth of custom touches included in the V-bottom's $227,000 price tag. Base retail is $169,000 with a Mercury Racing HP525EFI engine. The company also offers a twin-engine package starting around $160,000 with MerCruiser 496 Mag power plants.
Currently building the seventh model since he introduced the V30 in early 2006, Layton said sales have been pretty strong—he estimates the company will produce about 10 to 12 boats a year.
Contact Information
Adrenaline Powerboats
35 Breakstone Drive
Dahlonega, GA 30533
706-864-1224
www.adrenalinepowerboats.com
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