Imagine that the carpenter who is currently extending your loft is seriously considering transporting the building materials required for this on your boat. You would probably protest loudly. Squared timber, plasterboard and insulating materials on fine teak and polished gelcoat - that's just not on. Isn't it? And how are your nerves at the thought of your boat being in permanent employment? Okay, you don't own a house on an island, and the "real sailors" who earn their living on the water haven't shown any interest in your boat yet. That can change.
The concept of the Marino APB 27 appeals to both leisure and professional captains. Both note solid construction, first-class workmanship, professional installations, the fact that no cheap accessories are installed and the extremely safe handling characteristics under the keyword "I like it".
When it comes to the sliding side doors and the bulwark, which are anything but commonplace on an 8-metre boat but are hard to beat in terms of safety of movement, the spontaneous applause tends to come from the ranks of the professionals. Once again, everyone agrees on the movable cockpit rear wall, which creates space when folded down and becomes a bathing platform. There is also unanimous agreement on the electric sliding roofs and the rear wall of the wheelhouse, which can be fully retracted at the touch of a button. Of course, the movable trio offers the owner a great deal of "room to manoeuvre" and deserves the rating "only the finest", not least because of the solid fittings.
The enthusiasm is only dampened when you look at the price list. Here, leisure captains will find the indispensable galley with cooker, sink and fresh water tank, the shower, the saloon table and the cushions for the side benches in the saloon in the accessories list. It is debatable whether the heating, boiler, anchor winch, 220 V shore connection and bow thruster listed in the same place are a must, but the fact is that the fun of waterskiing, fishing and travelling in comfort is more or less preceded by having to dig deep into your wallet.
Driving and manoeuvring
Do you fancy a petrol engine? Not even if the diesel is a whopping 35,000 euros (!) more expensive for the same power (300 hp)? In contrast, the approximately 15,000 euro diesel surcharge for our 250 hp test engine equipped with a Duoprop-Z drive is almost a bargain. Volvo Pentas D4-260/DPH impresses in the Marino APB 27 with plenty of torque and a well-tuned pair of propellers, which, with the right trim, allows the turbocharged four-cylinder to turn at 3400 rpm at full load and accelerate the 3750 kg test boat quickly to 33 knots without a "vertical start".
True to the motto "Power comes from fuel", the electronically controlled diesel consumes 1.48 l/sm. It is noticeable that the consumption values are very close to each other in the speed range from 2500 rpm to 3400 rpm. The serious difference lies in the speed reached. If you want to go far, set yourself a speed limit of 28.5 kn and you can plan on a range of 175 nm with a consumption of 1.41 l/sm. That is more than BOOTE demands for this boat category. A 290-litre tank makes it possible.
When it comes to rough water comfort, the "suspects" are the hull shape, power trim and trim tabs. If the electro-hydraulically adjustable flaps and the Z-drive, which is moved in the same way, are in the right position, the heavily skimmed hull settles smoothly on all courses even in sea states 3 to 4 without constantly changing lean angles and wild rocking. If spray water comes over when sailing against wind and waves, the wipers, washer system and blower on the untinted safety glass windscreen do a great job.
The hydraulic steering requires little attention and remains smooth in every situation. It is really smooth - and that is meant in a positive way - when cornering and turning at a speed of 30 kilometres per hour. The Marino remains in a normal lean angle and does not tend to hook or rock. No propeller ventilation. The boat also completes the slalom course with the same aplomb, where the crew and helmsman, who is not a heavy labourer even now, feel extremely safe.
When manoeuvring in narrow harbours and locks, small turning circles, the precise single-lever control for throttle and gearbox and a comfortable bench seat ensure a feel-good effect in addition to the already praised steering. The bench can be moved and offers sufficient lateral support. The all-round carefree package is completed with a bow thruster (extra) and the easy-to-read chart plotter (standard), which incorporates a compass, sumlog, depth sounder and all the important engine instruments.
The latter indicate 800 rpm and just under 4 knots at slow displacement speed. Throttling helps to counteract the yawing that is typical of gliders, but nevertheless annoying in the long term. Just 200 rpm more at 6 knots brings the desired course stability without causing large swells.
Engine, tank, electrics
The tester's praise begins with the accessibility of the engine compartment and ends with its insulation, which prevents the noise level from approaching the 85 dB/A mark even at full load. Solid foundations, clearly laid and well-mounted cables, the diesel tank with remote-controlled stopcock, filter and water separator, separate electrical circuits and the easily accessible main battery switch show that experts were at work when installing the technology. If you order your APB 27 with galley, heating, hot water boiler and 230 V shore connection, you can be sure that you will also be well looked after in these respects.
Security
The concept with side doors, high bulwark, non-slip teak deck and solid handrails makes the safety of movement the most striking plus point alongside the sailing characteristics. Directly behind this are the self-draining cockpit, freeboard, manual and automatic bilge pump, extendable bathing ladder, non-flammable engine compartment insulation and fire extinguishing system.
Living, cockpit and equipment
If you pay extra, you get a small galley with a single-burner hob and sink and a saloon table. What the kitchen installed in the benches lacks is storage space. The question of where to put rain gear and warm clothes also remains unanswered. The storage space in the wheelhouse and forward cabin is limited to a few compartments under the cushions, which are not compartmentalised and are sometimes difficult to reach.
This cannot be satisfactory. The same applies to the two "dog bunks" in the consoles of the saloon benches. If you want to get in and out of here to sleep, you have to be small and agile. "Big people" spend the night in the forward cabin. The cushions of the V-berth, under which the pump toilet is located, are comfortable but not ventilated.
Feelings and weather conditions determine the design of the wheelhouse and cockpit. Open-air or closed company - the movable rear walls and sliding roofs make both possible. Teak deck, six solid cleats, handrails, certified position lanterns, anchor locker and a solid rubbing strake are standard and plus points. It is doubtful whether the strategy of offering essential items such as galley, shower, table and signal horn as accessories and thus making the price more attractive at first glance is the right one.
Data sheet: Marino APB 27
Shipyard: OY Marino AB/FIN
Type designation: Marino APB 27
CE category: C - Coastal waters
Material of hull and deck: Plastic
Length: 8,20 m
Width: 2,90 m
Displacement: 3,20 t
Price: 182.570,00 €
