0511saevaa_368
Sure, the 430 is a particularly nice boat. Looks good. Runs great. But the most amazing part of this package is the IPS pod propulsion and steering. The joystick elevates close-quarters maneuvering – especially under challenging conditions – from stressful to total fun!
**Performance
**The 430 sports a very wide beam that provides incredible stability running and drifting in a beam sea. It also helps the boat rise onto plane quickly and effortlessly, yet the 22-degree deadrise and sharp entry at the bow make this a superb head-sea boat as well.
The vessel’s turning radius depends on your speed. The faster you go, the wider the arc. If you want to tighten your turn, simply back off on the throttles slightly, and the pods angle more acutely.
Sea Vee painted the drives with a product called PropSpeed and gained enough extra rpm (about 200) to bump the props up a size, making for more- efficient thrust. The Volvo QL trim tabs barely stick out on the transom as the blades slide vertically. And an auto-tab function acts almost like a stabilizer under way.
The IPS dynamic-positioning function allows you to pull up over your chosen bottom structure and set a virtual anchor. Just press the button, and the boat stays within about six feet of that spot and on the same heading as when you engaged the system.
We topped out at 38.7 mph, turning 3,630 rpm and burning – drumroll, please – a relatively scant 39.9 gph total. Cruising along at 24.8 mph (3,000 rpm), we used 28.6 gph. That equates to a range greater than 500 miles!
**Fishing
**
The 430 features three steps up to the bridge deck and another step up to the helm, so visibility is maintained in all directions even for height-challenged helmsmen.
Any of the fish boxes can be refrigerated, and the port module comes with a padded seat and a fold-out footrest for relaxing while watching the trolling spread. The starboard module houses breakers for cockpit functions (fish boxes, lights, baitwell, etc.), lure drawers, removable tackle boxes, a rigging station with cutting board, sink and leader dispensers.
Again, the IPS drives with Sport Fish mode – a function that lets anglers spin the boat and back on a dime – make fishing dramatically more productive. Sea Vee president Ariel Pared says: “When we fish tournaments, I almost feel like we’re cheating when we use Sport Fish mode. We’ve cut our sailfish release times by half. When you get on it, a human just can’t reel fast enough to keep up!” This boat backs fast, straight as an arrow, and spins like a CD-ROM. You can also steer in reverse, as if in a car. Or you can move sideways or diagonally.
So don’t let the good looks fool you. This boat is still a world-class fishing machine.
**Design and Construction
**Sea Vee pioneered a very unique feature on its boats: the hull-side door with a foldout ladder. It makes boarding from a dock or swimming while staying clear of the props much easier. However, the door folds outboard. I would rather see it inboard so you can sidle up to a dock without worrying about the door getting damaged.
Two quarter-inch-thick, high-gloss epoxy fuel tanks mount on rubber isolators in the engine room. Sea Vee molds aluminum into the forward laminate so the builders can drill and tap everything they need to attach there.
Finishes in the cabin are very important. The company’s philosophy of design for the 430 IPS is to build a hard-core fishing boat outside, a boat to entertain you and guests on the bridge deck, and then a boat with truly luxurious living quarters below. A queen berth to port in the separate owner’s cabin accommodates two, while the dinette converts into a double berth with the touch of a button. I particularly like the gorgeous Kohler designer faucets and fittings.
In the galley, Sea Vee provides a new hideaway ceramic cooktop that works on conductive heat. It’s hot only if there’s a pot on the burner. Otherwise, it’s totally cool and can be stowed in an instant.
All the joinery is Sapele wood, and you won’t see a single spot of bare fiberglass below. To combat the dark-cave ambience, in-hull port lights come standard. Sea Vee even laminates the furniture into the hull, adding to the structural integrity.
The massive helm console easily accommodates twin 15-inch displays plus all the engine gauges, controls, autopilot, FLIR control, breaker switches, trim tabs, bow-thruster controls and lots more.
Actual hull construction consists of Divinycell and PVC coring above the waterline and a poured urethane transom. This is a top-of-the-line boat with truly progressive design concepts included.
LOA……43 ft. 4 in.
BEAM……13 ft. 4 in.
HULL DRAFT……3 ft. 2 in.
DEADRISE……22 deg.
WEIGHT……32,000 lb. (loaded)
FUEL……440 gal.
MAX HP……Twin 435 hp supercharged/turbocharged diesels
WATER……100 gal.
MSRP……$636,250 (w/ twin Volvo Penta IPS 600s)
Sea Vee Boats / Miami, Florida / 305-759-6419 / www.seaveeboats.com
