2002 Campion 925i MC

Testers Notebook: 2002 Campion 925i MC      Location: Lake Okanagan, Kelowna. B.C.       Test load: Four adults, three-quarters fuel, no waste, no water, test and safety equipment.      Test day conditions: Winds variable from 15-25 mph, rain, waves up to two feet.      Synopsis: With twin 5.0-litre Volvo Penta DuoProps and an APEX hull, the new Campion Allante LX 925i MC has a top speed over 46 mph and the handling attributes of a sportboat; its cockpit and cabin accommodations, though, are pure luxury express cruiser.

By: Ted Rankine

     Some boaters go through what I call a "hydro-transition" in their boating lifestyle as they mature. Not as well publicized as "two-foot-itis," it is still a boating fact of life.
     We start our time on the water in little floating rockets with small outboards. Fast and fun!  Some continue with their love of performance and move onto bigger and more powerful speedboats. Others, me included, happily opt to have family join in the fun on the water; the need for speed gives way to creature comforts and amenities.  Although I do love cruising with my family, my hands often tingle for the feel of a performance boat. 
     But it seems the folks at Campion have combined the right mix of features to provide family fun and performance in their new Allante 925.
     I visited Campion's plant in Kelowna, B. C., to see how the new Allante 925 performs. Weather was going to be an issue. Heavy rain was forecast, so without much ceremony, the 925 was launched at the municipal marina and, with four adults aboard, I headed out on the choppy water on a very brisk, late-October morning.
     The helm of the 925 says performance. Although Campion credits the styling of its woodgrain-accented helm to the airplane industry, the layout, gauges and controls made me feel more like I was in command of an offshore-style boat. On deck, this Allante featured some distinctly Campion touches that included foredeck docking lights and a curvaceous, aesthetic overall design.
     The well-laid-out cockpit features an aft entertainment area and plenty of room to seat eight. But it's the small touches that reveal that the Campion design team members must spend a great deal of time onboard their boats and really pay attention to what works. Our boat had the optional fibreglass platform that provided an additional two feet aft, convenient fender storage and a huge aft shorepower/ line locker. 
     Seats with storage below feature a Campion exclusive; the Riggs   hinge. This wonderful little hinge allows the seat to slide out and then hinge upwards. It certainly provides the easiest way to access under-seat storage that I have experienced. Crowning convenience features have to include the engine-hatch power lift and the "swim ladder down" indicator on the panel that ensures there will be no more embarrassing "idiot" roostertails because the ladder was down during a cruise. 
     It started to rain while we were on the water and the top went up fast and easy. Zippers are integrated into the radar arch. For my money, it provides a secure attachment point that allows for a fast and easy cockpit cover-up.
     Belowdecks, the luxurious cabin is well-appointed and ready to comfortably accommodate six. Finished with durable and high-quality materials that include Corian countertops, stainless steel and brass accents, this cruiser oozes class. Sleeping accommodations include a queen-sized berth in the mid-cabin, a convertible dinette and a spacious V-berth. The cross-ventilation provided by the four portholes and four opening hatches should be enough to keep you cool in the summer heat, without the optional air-conditioning.
     The performance figures in our test speak for themselves, but I have to comment on two of my senses. Touch: the Campion 925 feels solid and performs even better than it looks.  After only a few minutes at the helm, I felt comfortable and in control with any manoeuvre that I cared to put the boat through. That is certainly in part due to the new generation APEX lift system hull and quality construction using a Core-cell sandwich process. Sound: this is a very quiet boat! Campion credits the sound dampening to the Core-cell along with aircraft-style engine room insulation. For me, it was wonderful to hear how much my crew was enjoying their time on the water with us without having to raise their voices.
     Although nothing could take me back to my first days on the water, the Allante 925 certainly combines a family's need for cruising amenities and, at the same time, help satisfy those performance tingles.
  

Specs:

For the dealer nearest you contact:

Campion Marine Inc.,
200 Campion Rd.,
Kelowna, B.C.,
Canada, V1X 7S8.
(250) 765-7795, Fax: (250) 765-8883
http://www.campionboats.com/