Neat Trick
Magic Powerboats' 28 Scepter sport catamaran was a simple treat.

You could argue that sport catamarans offer the purest form of go-fast powerboat entertainment. That's because regardless of layout—closed-deck or midcabin with an open bow—sport cats are all about the joy of driving, hot-rodding around the waterway and looking good in the process. Sport cats are all about fun.

But that doesn't mean they have to blast to 100 mph and well beyond to be engaging. On the contrary, an 80 mph sport catamaran with great handling, strong build quality and a comfortable cockpit is more than enough for most people, and that's exactly the kind of boat Magic Powerboats sent to our tests in Parker, Ariz. Dubbed the 28 Scepter, the high-quality model delivered plenty of thrills.

Performance

The closed-deck 28 Scepter rode on single-step sponsons and a single-step center pod. Magic equipped the boat with sensible power, an HP525EFI engine from Mercury Racing. Completing the propulsion package was a Bravo One XR drive with a 26"-pitch Bravo One four-blade propeller.

With the 525-horsepower engine turning 5,400 rpm, the 28 Scepter topped out at 81.4 mph. That's not particularly fast by today's sport-catamaran standards, but then again the 28-footer wasn't equipped with big power. And that's plenty fast for the majority of sport-cat buyers, especially those who don't have a lot of catamaran experience.

Also beginner friendly were the 28 Scepter's handling manners. In turns at all speeds, the boat was, in the words of test driver John Tomlinson, "on rails." Bob Teague agreed.

"This thing is on the money," said Teague, Powerboat's lead test driver. "Slaloms, zigzags, circle turns and straight-line tracking—I don't know what else you'd want. It handles great."

Dual ram hydraulic steering from IMCO Marine no doubt helped the 28 Scepter in the handling department. Steering wheel response was positive without being twitchy.

No slouch in the acceleration department, the 28 Scepter came on plane in 4.8 seconds with its Dana Marine trim tabs down. (The owner of the boat had the tabs installed because he uses the cat to pull wakeboarders.) From a standing start, it reached 74 mph in 20 seconds. Midrange punch also proved more than ample, as the cat ran from 30 to 50 mph in 4.9 seconds, 40 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds and 40 to 70 mph in 9.5 seconds.

The only thing our test drivers and co-pilot's wanted was some kind of windscreen. Though the fairing was attractive, it did little to knock down the onrushing breeze.

Workmanship

In typical West Coast custom fashion, the 28 Scepter was dressed in an array of colors including various hues of green, yellow, orange and silver. The execution of those gelcoat-applied graphics could not have been better, and the boat's mold work, a study in soft lines and eye-pleasing curves, was strong. A plastic rubrail with a stainless-steel strip protected the vibrantly colored cat at the docks.

Hardware included a billet tow-eye, cat-eye running lights and stainless-steel cleats and handrails. A pull-down boarding ladder, an uncommon amenity for a sport cat, was installed on the underside of the integrated swim platform.

Two electric screw jacks lifted the engine hatch, which was supported by scissor hinges. The engine was situated on race mounts and unfinished aluminum L-angles through-bolted to the stringers. Spattered green gelcoat and Durotech were used to provide a smooth finish for the bilge, and billet boxes held the Optima batteries in place.

Nylon cushion clamps adequately supported most of the wiring. A few wire looms, however, could have used a bit more support.

Interior

For those who want a little more utility and versatility, Magic offers the 28 Scepter in a midcabin version with an open bow. But for the true sport catamaran experience, the closed-deck setup—like that of our test model—is the way to go.

To Magic's credit, the builder did outfit the 28 Scepter's cabin with sunken facing lounges and a rectangular berth. The builder also did a good job with the cabin's headliner, and took the time to install a couple of lights.

Naturally, the majority of the 28 Scepter's interior space was devoted to the cockpit, which had two bolsters on white pedestals and a four-person bench with headrests for each passenger. The co-pilot's station on the port side of the boat was equipped with a cupholder, a stainless-steel grab handle, a stereo with a cover and a glove box with a substantial billet lid.

At the helm, the Livorsi Marine gauges were arranged above a tilt steering wheel. Mechanical trim indicators from Dana were provided for the drive and tabs. Like the gauges, the chrome throttle-and-shifter unit was from Livorsi.

For cockpit stowage, there were shallow gunwale trays and lockers under the bench bottom cushions. One of the compartments under the bench could be used as a cooler because it drained. There also was a locker in the boat's sole and, in truth, the cabin could be used as a large stowage locker.

OVERALL

Sport catamarans have become faster and faster—some might even argue they've become too fast—in recent years. But the truth is that a sport cat doesn't have to top 120 mph to be worth driving. With mild power, the 28 Scepter from Magic cracks 80 mph and is still an absolute blast to drive. It's agile and, lets face it, fast enough for most of us. It's well built. It looks great. It's pure fun. And that's what sport cats are all about.—Matt Trulio

Click to enlarge.