TECHNOHULL 38 GRAND SPORT: at 73 knots it’s pure adrenaline with Mercury 500Rs

TECHNOHULL 38 GRAND SPORT Sea Trial

TECHNOHULL 38 GRAND SPORT is a boat that certainly does not go unnoticed. Long, narrow, and a distinctive “total black” look, it immediately invites you to push the throttles ahead. A promise that is confirmed by the two rows of wraparound seats and the generously sized instrumentation that is exactly where it should be for use when the speed rises. Aft are a pair of Mercury 500Rs, which, representing the top of the market when it comes to pure performance, further confirm the nature of this Maxi-Rib.

The sound of these stars-and-stripes outboards makes the boat show visitors turn when we turn them on; it is a music that compels them to follow us with their eyes as we leave the berth and then the waters of the Arsenal. There are many boats on display but, needless to say, right now the focus is on us.

I accelerate slowly to comply with the 20 km/h imposed by the San Nicolò channel to minimize wave motion, something to which we contribute very little since the TECHNOHULL 38 GRAND SPORT, at this speed (about 11 knots) is already planing and opening a flat, clean wake aft, an irrefutable sign of an excellent hull.

Off the Mose we can finally speed up I put the throttles in the “one lever” position and gradually begin to increase speed. At above 20 knots this dinghy stretches out completely and the hull begins to show its full effectiveness, the feeling is of very little drag, in practice we are gliding on the water.

This hull is the result of extensive studies, it has very sharp entry angles, a very deep V, and, what is completely new, it combines these characteristics with two redans and a deadrise whose angle is variably distributed throughout the hull. A theoretical explanation that, in summary, manifests itself in a hull capable of being simultaneously very seaworthy and fast, two concepts that would usually clash.

In practice, however, I give full throttle and am crushed to the seat by the insane acceleration of the 1,000 horsepower of which these two Mercury 500 Racing boats are capable. At 5,000 rpm we are already at 50 knots and the acceleration does not diminish; at 6,000 we pass 60 and then reach 70 knots at 6,600 rpm, all in a matter of seconds!

The TECHNOHULL 38 GRAND SPORT simply doesn’t care of the waves, it cuts through them with extreme ease and, when it happens to jump out of the water, and at 70 knots this is quite normal, it will progressively land again, without slamming.

I spot a somewhat more sheltered area and try the top speed again, adjust the trim and this time the gps reads 84.4 miles per hour, or 73.3 knots although the thing that amazes me most, once again, is the feeling of stability and safety that, while running at 136 km/h on the water, this Maxi-Rib is able to convey.

Speed apart, now I want to see how this hull behaves if I take it to the limit. Navigating at more than 60 knots I set a wide turn which I then tighten progressively, an extreme situation, where many hulls normally let us know to slow down while in our case TECHNOHULL 38 GRAND SPORT does not flinch and continues to convey great course stability. Not content I slow down to about thirty knots, then I steer all the way to starboard, the angle of inclination increases to the point of absurdity but the boat always stays there, stable and precise.

I counter-turn all the way to the left and still get the same result, the angle of inclination is so pronounced that the tubular intervenes by repeatedly touching the water. In this paradoxical situation of maximum inclination I push the throttles ahead waiting for the RIB to start wagging but, surprisingly, the only effect I get is an increase in speed and, consequently, an increase in centrifugal force. The TECHNOHULL 38 GRAND SPORT does not lose a millimeter of trajectory, it is simply glued to the water.

The only problem is that I now for nothing want to get out of this boat.

The TECHNOHULL 38 GRAND SPORT in detail

Imported (finally) in Italy by Campello Marine, whose name is in itself a guarantee, the boats built by TECHNOHULL are characterized by excellent workmanship and great attention to detail. A concept to which this boat, which we came to test during the Venice Boat Show, is certainly no exception.

Despite being a “racing” Maxi-Rib, the TECHNOHULL 38 GRAND SPORT comfortably manages to accommodate two sunbathing areas, one in the bow and one in the stern, which moreover also originates the comfortable aft sofa. Underneath the Hard Top, which provides excellent shelter from the wind, are two rows of wraparound seats that, even during our extreme test, proved to be able to convey a great feeling of safety, and a very high level of comfort.

Lifting up the sofa located forward the Hard-Top reveals a small cabin equipped with a toilet and sink that, with some sacrifice, can accommodate two people for the night.

Conclusion

TECHNOHULL 38 GRAND SPORT is a definitely well-built Maxi-Rib capable of developing out of the ordinary performance. Capable of stellar top speeds, it manages to be simultaneously very maneuverable and safe.

It is the perfect boat for those who want to have a lot of fun but, at the same time, get noticed when navigating slow in the waters of the most luxurious and glamorous ports of the Mediterranean where, for sure, it will be a great success.

If it were a car? It would certainly be a Huracán Spyder although, with its 1,000 horsepower, the TECHNOHULL 38 GRAND SPORT is definitely more powerful…

TECHNOHULL 38 GRAND SPORT: Test Data

Technical Specs