HYDROLIFT X-27 SUV

Pilothouse boats never used to be the sportiest of craft. Practical, yes. Seaworthy, yes. Good value, usually. But sporty? Not so much. However, change is afoot. In much the same way that boring MPV cars morphed into sportier SUVs, so wheelhouse craft are evolving into something altogether more dynamic. Axopar went a long way to changing perceptions with its 28 Cabin and 37 Cross Cabin but now Hydrolift has taken it one step further with the most extreme sports utility vessel yet. Not only is its latest craft called the X-27 SUV but with a claimed top speed of more than 70 knots (yes, you read that right the first time) the emphasis is firmly on the sports part of the acronym.

NEED FOR SPEED

Wisely, Hydrolift UK decided to order its test boat with