Anyone who sees our test boat, the AmX 28, for the first time will hardly say anything other than: "That really is a piece of jewellery". Well, that's not surprising, because the AmX 28 was designed byPaolo Molinari developed and at his shipyard built. In other words, typically Italian, which is also evident throughout the test boat.
The easiest way to enter the chic day cruiservia the bathing platform. From there, there is a sufficiently wide passageway between the sunbeds and the port side. Of course, it is also possible to cross the closed foredeck, where there is a handrail on each side, which is the best place to hold on to if you want to get off the boat.on all fours crawls. From the centre step-through to the cockpit, the path leads over wooden steps that look great but could be a size wider.
The cockpit is dominated by a comfortable L-shaped bench seat, which can be combined with a table (surcharge) and theswivelling sports seats (offering good lateral support) for the driver and front passenger. Adjacent to this is a large sun lounger, which also serves as an engine compartment cover. It is skilfully edged with handrails, whichthe necessary support in all situations guarantee.
All seating and reclining furniture is kept in a bright white, which looks great, but is also more susceptible to dirt than a darker colour.
This light-coloured tone is also continued in the cabin. There, however, the designer still relies on aLight-dark effectThe floor is covered in black carpet and the wardrobe is covered in black imitation leather. There are storage compartments under the seating area, which can be converted into a bunk, but the upholstery is very thin and soft.
Although the independent toilet room is limited due to the design, it is still much more discreet than a chemical toilet or toilet bowl in the cabin. In the test boat, the shipyarda marine toilet as standard with electric pump and a 40-litre faeces tank.
Driving and manoeuvring
Of course, such a fast-looking boat has to have a lot of power under the bonnet - after all, we are travelling with aV8 350 hp petrol enginewhich delivers its power to the water via a Bravo Three-Z drive with twin propellers. If you push the gear lever forwards quickly and set the power trim to down, you can go from displacement to planing speed in a flash (around 2 seconds). It also works with cruising trim, then the bow rises noticeably higher and is briefly in the field of vision.
The designer has won with the windscreen. In other words, it looks good, but is only moderately high and has a thick, shiny frame.
The instrument panel with compass restricts the field of vision from below, meaning that only mediocre foresight remains. On the other hand, the skipper has a completely clear view when leaning against the raised seat. In this case, they are exposed to the airstream, but on warm days this can be quite refreshing. If you do this at full throttle, the "air masses" press into your nose at just under 39 knots, and your ears have to deal with a noise level of around 89 dB/A, whichwell above the BOOTE limit of 85 dB/A.
It is noticeably quieter at economic planing speeds (3000-3500 rpm) with less than 80 dB/A. The range at this speed is around 150 nm, which is quite reasonable for this type of boat. Chasing Airon around our "race track", i.e. fast slalom courses, tearing the rudder and ever tighter circles, brings a fun factor into play for us.
With the latter, the torso pulls in nice and tight and you have to deal with lateral forces that have a considerable effect on the body, but are not uncomfortable. There is no trace of rocking or hooking. On the slalom slope, the AmX 28 swings well controllable over the longitudinal axis and when the steering is torn, the tail sets in depending on the trim position (the lower the Z-drive, the harder).
That leaves the slow manoeuvres: when driving straight ahead, the skipper gets it withslight price outliersHowever, it manages this well with well-dosed steering corrections. The hull of the AmX 28 turns in tight circles when the rudder is fully applied at idle throttle and also reacts immediately when turning.
So that you don't get tired arms, the engine manufacturer supplies aPower steering. Just like the V-eight, this unit sits in a generously dimensioned engine compartment. Why this generosity? The test boat can also be ordered with two engines. When it comes to installations, the plus points are on the list: Permanently laid lines and hoses, the equipment with fuel shut-off valve and fuel filter, double clamps on the fuel hose connections and an electrical system with firmly lashed (in the plastic box) batteries, easily accessible main switches and fuses in a water-protected box (in the engine compartment).
In terms of workmanship, the points of criticism lie in the details: These include partially unsealed cut-outs as well as the window panelling and door handle (toilet compartment), which have shaken loose. ShinyGelcoat surfaces and the through bolts of cleats and handrails are convincing.
In terms of equipment, the fire extinguisher and bilge system are on the plus list. The same applies to the standard bathing ladder, which is easier to fold out from the water than from above. It is secured with a bracket that can be folded up and down. For rinsing off after a refreshing swim, there is aRear shower as standard are available. Any kind of tarpaulin, on the other hand, can only be found on the accessories list. The same applies to anchor gear, second battery, 230 V shore connection, bow sun pad, bow thruster, trim tabs, underwater lighting and second refrigerator. Large cleats matching the boat and a rubbing strake come as standard.
CONCLUSION
The Airon Marine AmX 28 is a day cruiser that is both sporty and safe for travelling. With a large cockpit, sunbed and bathing platform, it is well equipped for many types of water sports. The toilet gives you freedom when planning your cruise, while the cabin is sufficient for the occasional overnight stay.
