The Cal-Air Pro V earned strong handling scores, and its tracking ability was first-rate. (Photo by Tom Newby)

The Cal-Air Pro V earned strong handling scores, and its tracking ability was first-rate. (Photo by Tom Newby)



Like the performances of today's top wakeboarders, tow-boat styling leans toward wild. And why not? If you're willing to endure the pain it takes to learn attention-getting aerial tricks, you might as well throw them behind an attention-getting boat.

That applies to the Cal-Air Pro V from Calabria Boats. The brawny 23'6"-long, 8'6"-wide V-drive towing machine boasted lava-colored gelcoat with black and white accents, an innovative structural ballast system and plenty of towing punch on the water.

Like so many other members of the contemporary tow-boat family, the Cal-Air Pro V came with a hefty price tag—$57,260 with a long list of options. Powered by a MerCruiser 350 Mag MPI engine, the same motor in our test boat, the base model retails for $41,875.

Skiing

There were two things our water-skiing and wakeboarding test drivers noticed immediately about the Cal-Air Pro V. First, the boat's 315-hp engine with a 1.5:1 V-drive spinning an Acme CNC-machined 13" x 17-1/2" four-blade nibral propeller delivered strong and impressively steady low-end punch. Though he could have, our driver didn't need to hammer the throttle to get our skier out of the hole. Second, engine noise was fairly substantial compared to that from similar models we tested during the 2002 Performance Trials.

The Cal-Air Pro V earned strong handling scores, and its tracking ability was first-rate. The boat's optional digital Perfect Pass system made speed control precise and easy. Both test drivers also praised the boat's ergonomics, which were enhanced by its adjustable and swiveling bucket seat.

As previously noted, our test model was outfitted with the Calabria's innovative PureVert Wake System. The water-ballast system consists of four liner-integral tanks—two forward and two aft on each side of the boat. Not only did the evenly distributed tanks balance the load, which was 700 pounds, they filled in less than a minute via mechanical valves. No pumps were used in the system. To empty the system, drivers simply open the valves, put the boat in forward and accelerate.

Good to its name, the PureVert system pumped up substantial wakes for our boarder. Riding directly behind the boat, he did notice some minor turbulence, but it wasn't terribly distracting.

Our skier also noticed the turbulence behind the boat, particularly at shorter rope lengths. At slalom speeds from 32 to 36 mph, he found the wakes as soft and flat as those of any V-drive tow boat we tested for the 2002 Trials.

Although the locker behind the observer's seat wasn't large enough for a slalom ski, there were plenty of spaces for skis and boards on the tower, as well as in the rear trunk. And in terms of ?space,? the boat's fiberglass rubber-surfaced swim platform, with a slot for a ski skeg, was expansive.

Performance

Not blazing fast, though certainly fast enough for the power, the Cal-Air Pro V ran a top speed of 44.6 mph at 5,100 rpm. Yet the boat was quick—it came on plane in 2.9 seconds and reached 42 mph in 15 seconds.

Riding on a 15-degree semi-V hull with four strakes that terminated roughly 3 feet from the transom, the boat proved nimble in slalom and circle turns and tracked without deviation from course. Filling the PureVert system did nothing to diminish the boat's handling or forward visibility, which impressed our lead test driver. In fact, the entire system impressed him.

?What they've come up with is a simple, yet positive and quick way of filling tanks,? he said.

Like our other test drivers, our lead test driver noticed the higher-than-usual engine noise. On the plus side, he also gave high marks to the boat for ergonomics, particularly those of its driver's seat. ?You could spend the whole day in it, no problem,? he said.

Workmanship

Calabria did a stellar job with Cal-Air Pro V's orange gelcoat. We found no flaws in the graphics and only a few tiny waves in the mold work, which was protected with a high-density PVC rubrail with a vinyl insert.

The boat was completely handlaid. Lamination materials included 3-ounce mat, 24-ounce woven roving, BD 170 and Coremat.

Not lacking for hardware, the boat had an assortment of functional pieces including the aforementioned tower, complete with pull-pins so it could be folded down for trailering and stowage, a nav light on the nose, handrails, Accon Pull-Up? cleats and a well-installed windshield with an extra-wide walk-through.

Some hardware items, such as handles on the tower, were painted black. That matched them to the boat's color scheme but made them awfully hot to the touch under 105-degree desert sun in Parker, Ariz.

Three independent hatches, each supported by twin gas struts, covered the engine. To secure the motor, the manufacturer used Mer-Cruiser mounts on its own stout tapped-and-backed motor-mount support system. The bilge was covered in easy-to-clean black gelcoat. Gathered in looms, wiring was reasonably supported.

Interior

Two bow lounges, with stowage space under the bottom cushions, an observer's seat, a driver's bucket and three-person bench comprised the seating arrangements in the Cal-Air Pro V. For additional comfort on bare feet, the manufacturer fully carpeted the sole.

Stowage space behind the observer's seat to port featured an interior light—a welcome touch. Other notable cockpit amenities included a glove box in the dash, the draining in-sole cooler and the upgraded CD stereo system. Across the aisle, the helm station featured a Dino steering wheel, complete instrumentation and a Teleflex throttle and shifter.

Raised and set into brackets, the rear bench converted to a sunpad. Like the stowage locker behind the observer?s seat, the trunk had its own interior light.

Overall

Goods on the water, looks at the dock—buyers of today's top tow boats demand nothing less. The Cal-Air Pro V meets those demands, and then some.

Hull and Propulsion Information
Deadrise at transom15 degrees
Centerline23'6"
Beam8'6"
Hull weight3,500 pounds
EngineMerCruiser 350 Mag MPI
Cylinder typeV-8
Cubic-inch displacement/horsepower350/315
Lower-unit gear ratio1.5:1
PropellerAcme 13" x 17 1/2"

Pricing
Base retail$41,875
Price as tested$57,260

Standard equipment

MerCruiser 350 Mag MPI engine, 5" BorgWarner gauges, computerized engine monitoring system, Ultra Marine Super Silent Exhaust system, Teleflex competition throttle control, two 12-volt power outlets, three-piece sunpad with lockable storage, 13 drink holders, anodized aluminum swivel-head ski pylon, Dino racing wheel, floor ice chest with drain, Cal-Air tower with integrated board racks, custom-fitted dash and bow covers, dual rear stowage trunks, pull-up cleats, side stowage netting, swim platform, windshield-mounted mirror, water-resistant glove box, stainless bow and stern lifting eyes, Taylor Made curved windshield, TeleFlex rack-and-pinion steering and engine warning alarms.

Options on Test Boat

Upgrade to tandem-axle trailer with brakes ($3,865), factory team checkers ($3,120), stereo system and cockpit upgrade ($2,147), tower upgrade ($1,450), Perfect Pass Wakeboard Digital Pro ($1,342), sky ski extended platform ($769), pewter technique dash package ($653), two-outlet heater ($530), custom-fitted boat cover for tower ($450), hot/cold water shower ($298), removable cockpit table ($273), TeleFlex depth gauge ($225), rear mounted pull-up cleats ($150) and BorgWarner clock ($143).

Test Results

Acceleration
3 seconds20 mph
5 seconds27 mph
10 seconds39 mph
15 seconds42 mph

Midrange Acceleration
20-40 mph7.2 seconds

Rpm vs. Mph
10007 mph
15009 mph
200012 mph
250021 mph
300029 mph
350035 mph
400039 mph
450042 mph
500043 mph

Top Speed
Radar44.6 mph at 5,100 rpm 
Speedometer45.1 mph at 5,100 rpm

Planing
Time to plane2.9 seconds
Minimum planing speed16 mph

Fuel Economy
At 25 mph3.3 mpg
At 35 mph3 mpg
At WOT2 mpg
Fuel capacity65 gallons

For More Information

Calabria
Dept. PB
2556 W. 16th St.
Merced, CA 95348
(209) 384-2566
www.calabriaboats.com.