Aviara’s latest series of boats deliver 28 feet of luxury dayboating. Perhaps most interesting of the trio (there are outboard and conventional sterndrive variants), the AV28S model adds wakesurfing to a list of attributes that includes exciting speed, sports-car style and entertaining opulence.
We put an experienced wake athlete behind the boat. He was impressed. We weren’t surprised. The AV28S is powered by Mercury’s Bravo Four S drive. Equipped with MasterCraft’s SurfStar user interface, tabs for ballast, and the inherent displacement of a deep V, it makes waves suited for everyone, from experienced to beginning riders. Further, the standard powered hardtop serves as a tow tower, complete with board storage. There is seating for 15 aboard, and the AV28S is Yacht Certified.
Seating is covered in CoolFeel vinyl that doesn’t get too hot in the sun. Note that the shape and proportion of lounge cushions matches with that of the EVA flooring pattern, and both echo other features, such as latches, the rectangular covers for the recessed speakers, and the lines of the boat itself. We admired the sliding helm-seat backrest that adjusts to four positions. The large door on centerline conceals a comfortable head. We will point out the three heavy hinges the head door swings on, an indicator of quality construction.
The bow lounge seatback height aboard the AV28S is as deep as that aboard the AV32. This is made possible by the vertical bow allowing the deep-V hull to come farther forward, fusing style and function. Aft, two of the eight speakers face aft for sandbar or raft-up enjoyment. We also applauded the extendable sun lounge that simply pulls aft to lengthen, but does so without completely covering the swim platform. We also nodded approval at the padding installed in the top of the aft lounge seatbacks, making these perfect to sit atop.
Realizing that guests will sit atop the seatback while anchored comes from using boats and knowing boaters. In assessing the AV28S, we found those qualities evident in its design, construction, performance, and ability to please the wakesurfers in your crew.
High Points
- Aviara melds style with function better than most.
- Aft seatbacks made stiff enough to sit atop.
- Luxury, performance and watersports, if you choose.
How We Tested
- Engine: Single 430 hp Mercury 8.1L V-8
- Drive/Prop: Bravo Four S sterndrive/19.5-inch-pitch Mercury Elite Series propset
- Gear Ratio: 2.00:1 Fuel Load: 70 gal. Crew Weight: 540 lb.
Pricing and Specs
| Price: | $298,625 |
| LOA: | 28’2″ |
| Beam: | 8’6″ |
| Draft (max): | 4’0″ |
| Dry Weight: | 8,020 lb. |
| Seat/Weight Capacity: | Yacht Certified |
| Fuel Capacity: | 80 gal. |
