| Statement Marine 42 Ultimate | | Print | |
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Bold Statement New boatbuilder Statement Marine comes strong with its extraordinary offshore V-bottom—the 42 Ultimate. The owners behind Statement Marine had incredible moxie when it came to launching their new company earlier this year. Not only did they start with one of the fastest offshore V-bottoms on the market, they debuted a revolutionary suspension cockpit and enlisted the country’s premier painter for the graphics. The fundamental question was whether the new 42 Ultimate could live up to the hype where it matters—on the water. Powerboat test drivers Bob Teague and John Tomlinson got the first opportunity to test the new model, which was fitted with twin Mercury Racing HP1075SCi engines. After spending almost an hour putting the V-bottom through its paces in Fort Myers, Fla., the pair praised the boat. Tomlinson said it handled beautifully, while Teague said the 42-footer was exceptionally good. Because the staff of Statement Marine includes former offshore racers, they obviously know how to set up a boat for handling and performance. The stepped-bottom boat cut through 3-foot swells easily and aggressively carved slalom turns. Set up for top speed with 1.35:1-gear-ratio Mercury Racing No. 6 drives and 17" x 39" Hering six-blade propellers, the boat needed 11 seconds to reach plane with the trim tabs dropped. Once the 42 Ultimate was up and running, it hit 49 mph in 15 seconds and 62 mph just 5 seconds later. On its way to a top speed of 130 mph at 6,000 rpm, the V-bottom tracked perfectly without any signs of chine walking, which can occur in boats with aggressive setups. Our test drivers estimated the boat would have gone faster but one of the engines kept going into guardian mode near the top-end. Tomlinson said the 42 Ultimate ran straight and was impervious to wind gusts. While running a boat at these types of speeds should never be taken lightly, Tomlinson said the boat felt like it was going 30 mph slower than its actual speed. Credit has to go to the air-cushioned cockpit that reduces the hard hits and vibrations normally felt in V-bottoms. The entire cockpit was suspended on large air bags, which act as a shock absorber, and the firmness can be adjusted to the owner’s personal preference. Statement also provided lap belts in the bucket seats to keep passengers firmly planted. “The suspension cockpit definitely works,” Tomlinson said. “It makes the boat feel quiet … and there aren’t the vibrations you normally feel.” The new company touts itself as a custom boatbuilder, developing its boats to an owner’s specifications. The reddish-brown upholstery in the cockpit had an automotive feel with pleated buckets and velour covering the dash. There were no analog gauges in the boat; instead, there were Northstar 6100i screens in both dashes along with a Mercury SmartCraft SystemView monitor that raised up from the top of the driver’s dash to starboard. The boat was set up so it could be driven from either position, but throttled from the right since the Latham Marine controls were installed on an extension from the starboard gunwale. Other highlights included a plush cabin with facing lounges and horseshoe-shape seating in the bow. Indirect lighting behind valances and near the floor gave the cabin a rich feel. The Art of Design did the beautiful paintwork on the 42 Ultimate, which was fully capped, and the graphics were carried onto the underside of the engine hatch that was shaped like a large surfboard. Heavy-duty, custom billet scissor hinges kept the hatch firmly in place. No details were overlooked in the engine compartment. Most of the rigging was concealed under the floor, and what was visible was either painted or had carbon-fiber-style covers. On price alone, the $890,000 V-bottom is near the top of the market. But when a boat offers stellar tooling, incredible on-water performance and innovative features such as an air-cushioned cockpit, it can command top dollar.—Gregg Mansfield
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