Big bowriders are all the rage these days, but telling one from another without a nameplate can be difficult. The 292 Islander, Baja's I/O flagship of the new Water Adventure Vehicle (W.A.V.) Series, makes certain you won't mistake it for anything else. The goal of the W.A.V. Series boats is to create a balanced package that brings a little more versatility and practicality to the mix than Baja's more extreme models. Think that translates into boring? This 29-footer's loaded with MerCruiser's 415-hp 502 Magnum MPI, and while idling out of Mercabo, Mercury's test center on the southwest coast of Florida, it is remote enough to engage the Captain's Call exhaust selector to the 'Bad To The Bone' setting. With the sound of 415 horses announcing its presence from the through-hull ports, it's unlikely anyone will mistake this for the family runabout, but that's exactly what it is designed to be. It's just that Baja families aren't exactly the Cleavers. But for those Baja families with neighbors, they will be happy to know that with the exhaust set in the 'Afternoon Delight' setting, the MerCruiser beast is calmed down to an amazingly low 59 dB-A at idle.

The 292 Islander's layout is both unique and practical. Instead of the usual centerline walkthrough, Baja listened to input from 500 Club Baja members who were involved with the design process and moved the walkway to the port side, which allows some interesting things to happen. First, the bowriding section features side-by-side seating in both the forward and rearward facing directions. An optional filler cushion makes it a great place to work on your tan, and there's even a removable pedestal table for stationary activities.

The biggest surprise is that the starboard-side, amidships console is actually a cabin that can sleep two adults, with more than enough stretch-out room for a 6-footer. The daytime configuration is a lounge seat that would be great for waiting out rain showers in comfort. For nighttime use, filler cushions help create a doublewide berth. There's a cleverly designed table that swings in and folds up when not in use, and there is a standard portable head under the forward seat.

The cockpit features plenty of walkaround space and is loaded with amenities, starting with the port-side entertainment center. There's a wet bar and an optional Kenyon butane stove, allowing high-seas chefs to be centrally located. Other entertaining options include a Norcold refrigerator or icemaker, and there is ample storage, so consumable items can be stowed right where you need them.

The modernistic helm station is set up to provide maximum driver comfort. The large, custom Faria gauges, which feature red backlighting, are set into a sculpted oval gauge pod. The tinted safety glass windshield is highly raked for sportiness, but is also tall enough to be functional. While the gray dash surface effectively reduces windshield reflection, the optional, in-line compass does create a visible ghost. Just like the bow section, the togetherness theme continues into the helm station with optional side-by-side racing seats. These are the same high-quality bolsters found on Baja's go-faster boats, which feature drop-down seat bottoms.

The stern U-lounge gives riders a comfortable perch for the ride, and those who call 'dibs' on the window seats have enough room to prop their legs up on the comfortable upholstery.

The optional premium sound system is a must for those with a penchant to party. Featuring a six-disk CD changer, the Clarion amplifier provides plenty of power for the six speakers, which include a pair of removable Bose 151s that can aim the sound wherever you want it.

The walkway through the middle of the giant stern sunpad helps solve the mystery of how to board a sport boat without marring the expensive (and usually white) upholstery. There's an available filler pad to cover the runway, which is the hatch for a convenient storage area. For sun worshippers, there's a pair of jumbo cup holders and a couple of grabrails that will come in handy when a 60-foot yacht throws a wake higher than the Bonsai Pipeline. The swim platform has a recessed stainless-steel swim ladder and a drainable storage compartment that's perfect for icing down drinks. With an optional air compressor, those who like to drift about on inflatables will have to forgo the cheap high of lung-powered inflation. When the swimming is done, an available stern shower will allow for a quick freshwater rinse.

While the 292 Islander is a great entertainment platform, the real fun starts when you advance the throttle on the big MerCruiser. With a 24-degree deadrise at the stern, the 292 is at its best going fast through rough water. Test conditions are perfect with a brutal 20-mph wind that whips the water into whitecapped two- to three-foot seas. Like all high-performance, steep deadrise boats, the 292 takes a while to build up speed, going from 0 to 30 mph in 9.8 seconds, but it's at about this speed that the True V Hull performs at its best. You won't find a stepped hull on any Baja for several reasons. First, the company's research reveals that stepped-hull designs ' with their multiple lift points ' can make a boat difficult to control in rough water or at speed. With the constantly changing dynamics of a stepped hull, they believe the True V offers the highest speed-to-control ratio available. In our variably ugly sea conditions, the Islander seems wholly unaffected by the slop. Even high-speed turns fail to affect our line; the boat goes exactly where we point it. Dropping the hammer, the 292 accelerates quickly to a top speed of 55 mph. Even in the choppy conditions, the ride is soft and easily controllable.

According to Baja, another reason for eschewing stepped hulls is that they make boats more load-sensitive, and even though we have three restless passengers who change seats often, only an occasional blip of the big K-Plane trim tabs is needed to keep things level. Cranking the 292 into a progressively tight turn is a predictable event in either direction. Only when the wheel nears its lock do we finally get some blowout. Quick turns with the boat running at its optimal three degrees of trim ' simulating dodging debris ' reveal excellent response.

Base price for the Baja 292 Islander is $76,094, and Baja allows owners to construct what is essentially a custom boat, so lots of options are available, including different colors and graphics. Our test boat is loaded with extras, and including delivery, runs a cool $108,551. It's expensive, but this is a premium boat with the level of sophistication and fit and finish that you would expect from Baja. The Islander is a well-designed family hot rod that won't have its owner offering apologies. Unlike many bowriders, it's a boat that will excel in bad conditions and delivers a lot of pleasure while it safely delivers its passengers.