You're screaming up the Ottawa River at 60 mph on a 25-foot sportboat,
when a wall of 4-foot waves appears out of nowhere ' backwash from one of the ferries lumbering by.
You should: (A) Jerk the throttles back to neutral so the boat doesn't break, (B) Steer straight
into the wall of water at the current speed, expecting to take the boat airborne and land like a
crash-test dummy, while mentally preparing yourself for a year's worth of visits to the
chiropractor, (C) Throttle back a hair, quarter the waves, and let Doral's Phazar do the rest of
the work.
So it's a trick question, and the answer depends on what brand of boat you're driving. If
you've ever gone 60 mph in a 25-footer, you know it can either be an exhilarating ride or downright
terrifying experience. Some hulls have no business going that fast, and you can feel it as they
start to chine walk or skid on their pads. Others seem so brittle it feels like they'll break upon
impact with the smallest wave.
But as Boating World discovers on an afternoon test on the Ottawa River, the new Doral
Phazar can take a real licking and keep on ticking. The name 'Phazar' might ring a bell to Doral
owners who recall a performance sportboat of the same name that was popular in the late '80s and
early '90s. This isn't the same boat. But it is a reincarnation of the current 245 Escape, with a
significant makeover.
Doral took an unusual retro marketing approach to its line of cruisers this year, and gave
them the names of old '80s and '90s models, rather than including foot lengths with the names, as
it has done in the past. It personalizes the new line, but only time will tell if the boating
public will be able to match Elegante with its 37-foot LOA, or Intrigue (both are names of current
models) with its 11-foot beam. Monticello, Boca Grande, Alegria, Prestancia ... hmm, those sound
like the itinerary of an AARP tour of Italy.
But there's something catchy about Phazar. The name emits great blasts of heat, like a
sci-fi weapon. You can imagine it streaking by the fuel dock, and people snapping their heads to
get a better look at what just passed them by. As mentioned, it's based on Doral's 245 Escape, with
some major modifications, like a blue graphics package, nonglare dash, and trick high-performance
throttle, among a few other of the bells and whistles. Of course, relying on those to create a new
model would be like adding shades and a Hawaiian shirt to Carrot Top, and calling him the fresh new
face of comedy.
What really makes the Phazar a top performer ' and sets it apart from the more
family-oriented Escape ' is the bigger powerplant. Standard power on the 245 is a 320-hp, 6.2L
MerCruiser with a Bravo 1 drive. Standard power on the Phazar is the 425-hp MerCruiser 496 MAG HO
with Bravo 1 drive, a sterndrive that gives it a top end of 60.7 mph during the test run. Doral
really jam-packed those extra 105 horses into the Phazar ' in fact, the stable's chock-full, since
the hull's rated for 425 hp. (Optional engines on the Phazar include the MerCruiser 496 MAG HO with
Bravo 3 drive, and the Volvo Penta 8.1L Gxi with DuoProps ' both with about the same horsepower
ratings but counterrotating props.)
But the boat performs just fine with that many ponies under the hood. The hull is a
tried-and-tested design that's about 10 years old ' proven on some of Doral's Thundercraft offshore
boats. It has a deep entry forward, with a modified V design tapering backwards to 18 degrees of
deadrise at the transom. That gives it some good cutting power, especially on flat-water surfaces
like a small lake or river. But, as BW experiences on the Ottawa River, it runs through big wakes
with a good balance as well.
| ' |
|
The Phazar is a lot of fun to drive,
especially with the trick red MerCruiser throttle. It comes on plane in two seconds, and blasts up
to 30 mph in just five seconds. Pretty soon, you're pushing the envelope at 60, but there's no hint
of chine-walking or any kind of skittish feel in the ride. The deep cockpit and bolster helm seat
feels nice and safe, and you have to confirm the top end with your GPS because, frankly, it just
doesn't feel like you're going that fast. Fast, yes, but not really out of control.
The turns are fairly smooth, though you don't like to push it too much at this kind of speed. All it needs is just a hint of trim and a firm but gradual turning radius. (The optional trim tabs would be a good addition.) It feels wonderful to be going this fast ' the wind whipping your hair around and even no family on board to worry about ' almost like a throwback to the bachelor 'Miami Vice' days, when speed was king and gas was well under a dollar per gallon. That's the idea, says Christophe Lavigne, Doral's chief designer. He has been a driving force behind the evolution of Doral's cruisers over the past seven years, and Phazar is one of his latest ideas. 'Most of our bowriders and cuddies are designed for families,' he says. 'On the Phazar, we wanted to create a boat that was sportier-looking, and more fashionable. We wanted it to appeal to a couple or perhaps an individual who is more into performance.' In fact, says Lavigne, if Phazar attracts a new go-faster following, there could be a brand-new line of performance sportboats based on existing hulls. 'If Phazar does well, we will continue in that direction,' he says. For the moment, though, you're continuing in your own direction ' up the Ottawa River, the boundary between the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. On the heights to your right is Parliament Hill, where the Canadian government creates its laws. It is a tall fortress-like structure, with red-uniformed Mounties patrolling the grounds. To the left is the Quebec town of Hull, and on that side the river's called Riviere des Outaouais. Somehow this express seems just right for this river, since Doral has facilities in both Ontario and Quebec. Plus, being sleek and fast, it looks at home in a cityscape like this. The test ride continues for a few hours along the river, under a gorgeous summer sun. It's tempting to go into the heart of the city up the Rideau Canal, but the locks will take too much time. So you head over to the marina at Jacques Cartier Park, raft up at the transient dock, and hang out for a while in the cockpit.' The Phazar, despite its emphasis on performance, is also a crowd-friendly boat, with a large U-shaped lounge in back, divided by an 11-inch-wide walkthrough with a pullout cushion. The matching helm and companion seats (18 inches by 18 inches) turn all the way around, and a table fits snugly into the center area. The two halves of the lounge are large enough for handling a party (the companion side is 40 inches by 26 inches, and the helm 42 inches by 28 inches). The walkthrough leads back to a nice molded-in step on the oversized swim platform (24 inches deep by 63 inches wide). This area has watersports written all over it, with a fold-down stainless-steel ladder, ski-tow eye, stereo remote for tunes and freshwater shower. Some other unusual standard features on the Phazar include pop-up stainless-steel cleats (six, not four), compass, snap-in carpet on the full fiberglass liner and stainless-steel docking lights. Options include a 12-volt fridge, Bimini top, dual battery charger, trim tabs and teak cockpit table. The Phazar doesn't have forward rails, like those on the Escape 245, in order to give it a sleeker, go-fast look. But that could be a mistake for anyone who decides to bring the family aboard. The textured nonskid up front is adequate in the center section, but the topside slopes down at a fairly sharp angle, and keeping your footing in assorted docking situations could pose a difficult challenge. The anchor locker's an asset to the Phazar, but on the test boat, wiring to the bow light hangs down inside, and that could be easily ripped out. Fit and finish details like that matter, and separate the good boats from the mediocre. Except for the anchor locker, BW doesn't find any other loose wires or sharp edges in the storage spaces or behind the consoles. But what you don't see is even more important on this boat. Part of the reason for the Phazar's sturdiness in big waves, says Lavigne, is Doral's Full Flotation Liner (FFL) construction. Doral eliminates wood for stringers and floor panels, and instead incorporates a single fiberglass structure that Lavigne says is lighter, stronger and stiffer than many other stringer designs out there. To bond the liner and hull together, Doral injects foam under pressure into the cavities between the two, thus creating a 'unibody' or chemically bonded structure. Besides noise abatement while cruising, the foam also provides some significant flotation. Doral says the Phazar is 'virtually unsinkable,' with twice the buoyancy of other boats in its class. Hopefully, that's one claim you'll never have to test. The cabin is surprisingly roomy for a 25-footer, with a large generous V-berth, and two small seats on either end. A 12-volt refrigerator (optional) fits into the port corner neatly, and a china head with holding tank (standard) slides out. An 18-inch overhead hatch lets in light and fresh air. Access to the electronics and helm console is through a small, removable panel inside the cabin. Considering the limited space, it's a nice job below. Ditto with the engine compartment, home of the MerCruiser beast. Working space for engine maintenance is decent, and batteries are located on either side of the engine for easy access, with carpeted panels along the sides. A mirror underneath the hatch adds to the go-fast feel of the boat. The 'Miami Vice' diehards out there might look down their noses at the Phazar, but it's a very fun boat on the water, and a crowd pleaser at the dock. And despite Doral's targeted audience, the Phazar's racing wheel might end up in the hands of family men who haven't given up the need for speed, even though they've tempered it over the years. |