2003 Velocity 410

Testers Notebook: 2003 Velocity 410 Location: Lake Monroe, Sanford, FLA Test load: Light load: one adult, 1/2 tank fuel, no water or waste. Test day conditions: Winds light. Synopsis: Summed up in 3 words starting with the letter "b", big, bold, and you guessed it, beautiful, the 410 is fun to drive, displays impeccable manners, and has an attitude - a postive one - to boot.

By: Mark Rotharmel
    
    "This week's test boat can be summed up in 3 words starting with the letter "b", big, bold, and you guessed it, beautiful.  And like all Velocity's conventional non-ventilated hull designs, this boat incorporates their famous pad bottom "stepp transom" and turn down chines.  The very features responsible for etching Velocity's name in the offshore record books.  And while the legendary designer-builder Steve Stepp will not sacrifice safety for speed, this exceptional model, known as the 410 is said to be very fast.  Let's find out.
     Sporting outstanding in-house custom graphics, and Velocity's new high-tech vacuum bag lamination process, the 410 looks as solid as it's built.  And the upholstery work, that, too, is manufactured and designed by Velocity for comfort and durability. 
     Safety is a priority, so grab handles are mounted for standing or seated passengers.  Thanks to contoured sides on the electric bolsters, slipping into the helm station is easy.  I was also impressed by the leather wrapped billet aluminum tilt steering wheel, and the angled foot rest.  Now here's a full figured dash.  Gaffric by Laboratory Performance and monster gauges are placed to be noticed, as are the all important trim and tab buttons.  Gaffric cut down throttles and shifters are very well situated.
    The 410 was powered by twin 675 horsepower motors, with air-routed through naca ducts and  Velocity's own Ram-Air Induction System.  Mercury Racing's Bravo drive,and 31-inch pitch 5-blade props were picked to manage the power.
    Below decks, Velocity went to town with its cabin features.  Carpets, fabrics and cushions are flaunted by mirrored panels that cover storage areas, like this cabinet, or the 410's luxurious stand up head.  Relax on this supple lounge watching DVDs on this flat panel monitor until it's time to stretch out on this spacious berth. 
     Given the Velocity's overall length of 40 feet 10 inches, and a beam measuring 8 feet 5inches, conditions on Lake Munro in Florida were hardly a challenge for this solid offshore machine.  Still, if a big boat can run in flat calm water, you know it's going to hang well once you get into some chop.  Accelerating to plane, the 410 popped out of the water in a scant 3.9 seconds, with drives tucked under, tabs down.  As the boat levelled out and the props grab hold, I found it easy to simultaneously trim both the drive and the tabs up, thanks to a near perfect placement of switches to where the throttle is located.
     Getting a feel for the hull at cruising speeds, which, with 350 horsepower, let's the 410 cruise all day long at 60 miles an hour, I found the boat extremely responsive and agile.  In fact, I could weave my way through a slalom course with little effort, hardly something a performance boater would do.  But nevertheless an indicator of how manoeuvrable the Velocity is.
     Impressed that the 410 could shoot from 0 to 77 miles per hour in under 20 seconds, I backed off to see what mid-range tests would show.  Running along at 40 miles per hour, I planted the throttle, watching the GPS climb to 70 miles an hour in under 7 seconds. It's at this point where you can feel the hull lift up on its pad and become lighter, albeit with a level angle of attack. 
     Having tested almost every  Velocity, I've discovered some boats require more driving skills to balance at speed.  But the 410 has wonderful manners, and when trimmed right, even in calm water, flies straight and true. 
     Steve Stepp, Velocity's founder and designer, likes to experiment with x-dimension, prop and drive durability.  And for this particular test, Velocity coupled its high horsepower engines with Mercury Bravo One XR drives. 
     Performance drivers understand the importance of good turning boats.  Entering a tight radius turn at full speed, I the gripped throttle slightly, trimmed just under a hair, and cranked on the wheel.  Without a hesitation, the bow set and pulled the hull through the arc, leaving the stern firmly planted as the boat carved its way in perfect stride.  And it's comforting to know that should you need to turn quickly, the 410 can respond without sacrificing control.
     Satisfied with how stable the boat felt at 79 miles an hour, turning 4,500 rpm, I set up for a high speed pass.  Trimmed high, the 24 degree deadrise hull lifted promptly up on its pad, which measures 18 inches across at the stern, the digital numbers flashed quickly upwards until reaching our top end speed of 96.4 miles an hour.  How's that for an 8,500 pound v-bottom?
     When I left the pier today, the Velocity crew seemed very excited, and I guess they should be.  The 410 offers a natural high, one that gets delivered in several ways.  First off, 96.4 miles an hour is just shy of 100, and that's cooking in a v-bottom.  Secondly, I was comfortable at that speed.  This boat displays impeccable manners.  Last but not least, the boat is fun to drive, and the hull reacts instantly to my steering commands regardless of where the trim is set.  Overall, Velocity's 410 has an attitude, a purely positive one at that.  We'll see you next time."
 
*this profile taken from a transcript of Mark's test of the 410 for PowerBoat TV.

Specs:

For the dealer nearest you contact:

Velocity Powerboats,
Initial Marine, Corp.
650 Hickman Circle
Sanford, FL. 32771
407-321-1340 
 
http://www.velocityboats.com/