2003 Powerquest 320SC

Testers Notebook: 2003 Powerquest 320SC Location: Biscayne Bay, Miami Test load: Light load: one adult, 1/2 tank fuel, no water or waste. Test day conditions: Winds variable, 1.5 to 2-foot seas. Synopsis: A versatile suncruiser that is nimble to drive and very fast, bound to impress anyone lucky enough to get invited along for the ride.

By: Mark Rotharmel

    "Like a comedian who yearns for a good dramatic role, I’m a high performance boat tester who also likes, dare I say it, taking it easy.  While I love to peg the throttles, I also enjoy pulling them back and running at a more relaxed pace once in a while.  Well, this test today should let us do both.
     The Powerquest 320SC has the amenities of a suncruiser in a wide performance boat package.  But don’t let the luxury fool you, it also has a hull designed to run quickly.  Let’s take a closer look.
     With a soft line, vibrant gel coat finish and a functional reverse arch, the 320 suncruiser is a well-engineered boat.  It is also spacious - sporting conversational seating configurations forward and aft and a deep swim platform with ample storage.  This portside galley and entertainment centre houses a refrigerator and trash bin, while the bold and protective windshield keeps the spray off in rough seas.
     The helm station is both comfortable and well-equipped, with multiple panels of instruments, including electronics for navigation and high performance controls.  Tucked under the aft bench lies twin Mercruiser 496 mags…..pushing 375 horsepower per side through Mercury’s robust Bravo Three drives with twin 28” pitch prop sets.
     Tastefully designed with a horseshoe shaped-lounge, that with a filler cushion converts to a berth, the cabin appointments include this large head with shower and even a flat panel television that’s mounted to the ceiling.  Absolutely delightful.
     We’re in Miami’s Biscayne Bay for the test of the Powerquest 320SC.  We’ve got a gorgeous day, we have about a foot and a half to two and a half foot seas out here and, uh, we’re gonna see how this boat comes up on plane, here we go.
     Trimming in, tabs down, up we go.  Down in 4.2 seconds, all the way down in about 6.1, so it actually planes in 4.2 and drops right down in 6.1.  Now up on plane, we can stay there down to 16.1 miles an hour at 1800rpm.  Of course, then you wanna lift the tabs up a little bit.  Here we go, and the boat levels right out.
     Now running along at cruising speeds, you can see how nice this boat runs.  32 feet long, 10 feet wide, 9,000 pounds, the boat’s very stable in the water.  Now the boat gets up and running pretty quick, these 496 magnum engines have 375 horsepower each and it can take this boat to 30 miles an hour in 4.2 seconds.  Equally as impressive as the bottom end on these motors is the midrange acceleration.  Let’s do a test right now with 30 to 50, see how fast it goes.  Running 30, nail it.  Quick, 50 in 6.1 seconds.
     Well, we’ll try a nice turn, see how it sets up and a power down, ease off a little bit, wow, this thing really carves through it and feels pretty solid in the water.  Banks over real nice and tight, nice sharp arc, accelerate through the turn, truing it up, beautiful!
     Now as far as performance features are concerned, we have course quick and quiet exhaust, so it goes from mild to wild when you open it up.  ‘Course that lets the engines breath a little bit better.  Get a little bit better top end speed on that, too, and it sounds good.
     Now while the boat is obviously designed to cruise along at 45 miles an hour, this boat is also meant to go fast.  With a performance driver behind the wheel, you gotta do it.  Here we go.  Going for out top speed, 61.  Trim up a little bit more, quarter up on the trim, 62.9 miles and hour.  62.9.  Beautiful.
     My clipboard shows top speed was achieved at 4400 rpm, safely within maximum operating range.  This 9,000 pound boat accelerates from 40 to 60 miles an hour in 14 seconds and cruise easily at 45.8 miles an hour, turning 3500 rpm.
     Now this is a nice boat, a versatile suncruiser that is nimble to drive and very fast.  Still it doesn’t surprise me that the boat ran 63 miles an hour, Powerquest has been designing a lot of lift into their hull for years and like any of their  performance boats, the 320SC ran clean and free.  With seating for 10, this boat is bound to impress anyone lucky enough to get invited along for the ride, except, of course, your friends with cruisers, who just won’t be able to keep up. 
     We’ll see you next time."

Specs:

For the dealer nearest you contact:

PowerQuest Boats
2385 112th Avenue
Holland, Michigan 49424
tel 616.772.9474
http://www.powerquestboats.com/