$34,999
New York, New York
Category
-
Length
30.0
Posted Over 1 Month
Pro-Line 30 Walk: Performance TestPro-Line 30 Walk: When you left for the dock that day, the sky was blue and the sun was shining. It was a perfect day for fishing.By Go BoatingDecember 9, 2002 When you left for the dock that day, the sky was blue and the sun was shining. It was a perfect day for fishing. By the time you arrived at the dock, the sky was overcast and gray. You had your mind set on catching some big'uns, though, so you set out to do just that. At wide-open throttle, the 30 Walk can hit 48 mph. When you finally reached your secret fishing spot, the weather was getting downright bad and the chop was starting to get surprisingly high. But did you let that stop you? Heck no. You were aboard a new Pro-Line 30 Walk. That same scenario is a perfect — if succinct — description of the weather conditions we faced on the day we tested the Pro-Line 30 Walk. With the help of the colorful staff at Newport Beach, California's Outerlimits Marine, particularly general manager Douglas Phelps, we left the sunny shore and headed out to the turbulent gray waters that awaited us outside the jetty. When we reached the open water, we were facing 5 foot seas. Undaunted, we headed out toward the open ocean. This was an excellent opportunity to really put this boat to the test. Up to the Task We've tested a lot of boats in our time — and in all sorts of conditions. When smaller boats are jumping across rough water, they will often land hard in a wave trough. It can be either a teeth-rattling incident or a thrilling, cushioned landing. The true test of a boat's strength is how it reacts to those landings — and the Pro-Line 30 Walk easily passed that test. The boat was very solid. There was no rattling or shuddering when we touched down. Phelps credits the thickness of the boat's hull for this solid feel. He has measured a thickness of 1 5/8 inches at the bottom of the hull. Perhaps that's why Pro-Line feels comfortable offering a 10 year hull warranty that is transferable to different owners. Our test boat was powered by twin 225 hp Yamaha V6 four-stroke outboard engines. The engines were quiet and smoke-free, which is especially impressive when you consider that these are the company's most powerful four-strokes. At wide-open throttle, the 30 Walk can hit 48 mph (at 5,800 rpm). In such rough seas, we weren't able to go quite that fast — but with a light load on a calm day, it would have been a simple feat. Cruising speed is approximately 35 mph (at 4,300 rpm). Up Top As Phelps took over the helm, we took the opportunity to do a closer inspection of the 32 foot, 6 inch boat. We started up at the bow pulpit, home to the anchor and the optional windlass. There was also a stainless steel cleat positioned right at the center of the bow. The simple foredeck has a cushioned seat, and when you make your way aft via the walk-around sidedecks, take two steps down and you're in the self-bailing cockpit. A skid-resistant diamond pattern covers the deck and gunnels. The 30 Walk is a true sportfisher, so it should come as no surprise that the cockpit is loaded with accessories for anglers. Pull up the large hatch on the deck and you'll find two 50 gallon insulated fishboxes (which can be used as extra stowage space if you prefer). A 45 gallon baitwell with a macerator is located underneath the transom settee. On our test boat, the rod racks built into the gunnels had snap-on canvas covers that gave the cockpit a clean, simple look. In addition to the boat's four built-in rod holders, there's also a seven-rod rocket launcher attached to the boat's optional hardtop with outriggers. The portside saltwater washdown is not very powerful, so it will do little more than wash the fish guts off the deck. A freshwater sink with a pullout shower wand is also along the port side, but it's back at the transom. Heading up toward the helm, the boat has an aft-facing settee, with a built-in tackle box just above it. As you walk up to the helm, you pass three long pockets that are great for stowing whatever necessities the captain wants to have immediately available. The captain's doublewide seat comfortably accommodates two full-size adults. As we rode at the helm, the wrap-around windshield (which comes with a vent and an actuator) did such an excellent job of protecting us from the wind that we didn't even bother to put up the boat's isinglass covers. The 30 Walk comes with a fuel gauge, a temperature gauge, a speedometer, a tachometer, trim controls and a voltmeter. The team at Outerlimits had added a dual frequency depth sounder, a color chart plotter with external antenna, radar, an autopilot and other technological goodies to our test boat. At the start of our test, the bow was running a little high, so we used the standard trim tabs to bring it down, providing us with a much smoother ride. Down to Basics An acrylic bi-fold door guards the entrance to the cabin. When you step down into the cabin itself, the first thing you're likely to notice is the mirrored door that leads to the head. It's always nice to have a separate head area — as this boat does — but it's especially nice to have a full stand-up shower included as part of the package. Plus, the door is mirrored on both sides, making both the head and the cabin feel larger and brighter. When you enter the cabin, the switcher and breaker panel is located to starboard. The switch for the inverter — which was an option asked for by the owner of our test boat — was just a few inches over from the panel. The boat's galley is immediately to port. In addition to an alcohol/electric stove with one burner, there's also a sink and a storage rack (for dishes and silverware). A mirrored door (a much smaller version of the one that leads to the head) serves as the face of another small stowage space. The midcabin has a berth with a privacy curtain and a screened portlight that offers a view of the cockpit. Most amazing about this space is the length of the berth, which can actually sleep a full-size adult who is well over 6 feet tall. Sturdy fabrics upholster the V-berth at the bow. Just pop in the pedestal table and you have a dinette ready for mealtime. White marine-grade vinyl covers the overhead and the bulkheads, enshrining you in foam-padded comfort. Move It or Lose It Although the 30 Walk has a beam of 10 feet, 10 inches — we found it to be very trailerable. In fact, as we were driving down the road to the marina, we nearly forgot it was behind us. (Nevertheless, check to see what wide load permits are needed in your state.) "You can trailer it but still have a good-size boat," Phelps said. "It's the biggest boat I know that you can trailer with a regular permit and vehicle. "That doesn't mean you have to tow it from here to Texas," he said, but if you want to, it's an option. The main advantage of having a trailerable boat is that it saves you the expenses that come with keeping a larger boat in the water all year long. All you have to do is pull it up to the trailer and haul it back home. However, you don't need a mega-truck to pull this 32-footer. The owner of our test boat just uses his Ford Explorer as a tow vehicle. The Pro-Line 30 Walk is one of the biggest trailerable boats you can buy, and it feels sturdy even in rough seas. It has everything an angler could ask for — all the way down to the built-in tackle box — and with a top speed of almost 50 mph, this is one Walk that runs. Pro-Line 30 Walk Specifications Length32'6"Beam10'10"Draft (hull)1'10"Dry weight (hull)7,550 poundsFuel capacity300 gallonsMaximum power500 hpBase price with twin 225-hp Yamaha four-stroke engines$121,573Price as tested with twin 225-hp Yamaha four-stroke engines$146,245Engines (2) Performance Top speed48 mphCruising speed35 mph Standard Features Battery charger, 12v receptacle, battery trays, baitwell w/rawwater washdown, bilge pumps, bow seat w/cushion, bow pulpit w/anchor roller, cabin table and filler board, cabin V-berth, carpeted storage, city water hookup, compass, cockpit bolsters, cockpit shower, dive platform integrated w/ladder, drink holders, freshwater sink w/pull-out shower, fuel/water separator, full instrumentation (including fuel gauge, speedometer, rpm, temperature, trim and voltmeter), full galley w/butane stove and icebox, head w/standup shower and portable head, insulated fishboxes w/macerator, rod holders (two pair), four horizontal rod racks in the cockpit, 110v outlets. Optional Features Air conditioning, Bimini top, dive ladder, 5 kw generator w/carbon monoxide detector, hull graphics (black, blue, green, red, yellow), portable head w/dockside discharge, electric head w/macerator and holding tank w/pumpout, microPro-Line 30 Walkwave oven, outriggers, AM/FM stereo system w/cassette and four speakers, AM/FM stereo system w/CD player and four speakers, teak cabin, hardtop w/electronics box, water heater, windlass w/bow protector.
