When we first laid eyes on the Schaefer V33, it was making its UK debut at the Southampton Boat Show. Rather cleverly, the guys at Gibbs Quay Boat Sales had taken along both the inboard and outboard models but it was the outboard model that really struck a chord. Having made it to the show at the last second, it wasn’t quite ready to be tested but with its plunging bow, elegant steelwork and glittering ‘Porsche Blue’ livery, it looked every inch the mini Pardo.
Interestingly though, that’s not where the heritage of the brand lies at all. As the largest boatbuilder in Brazil, Schaefer’s distinguished 31-year history has been all about sportscruisers and luxury motor yachts from 30 to well in excess of 80ft. Its meat and drink had always been cabin-equipped cruising machines and yet what we had here was a specialist dayboat with walkaround side decks and a very healthy dose of chic Med-style glamour. With our interest duly piqued, we gave the guys at Gibbs a couple of weeks to add the finishing touches before heading down to Poole for a sea
