Interdisciplinary Fun: the Calabria Pro V
Calabria’s new tow boat is as at home on a slalom course as it is pulling wakeboarders and wake surfers—and it was all purely intentional.
April 1, 2010
The market for single-discipline boats isn’t as big as it used to be. Of course there will always be direct-drive tournament inboards for diehard slalom jocks and outlandish wakeboard boats for advanced and pro riders.
The Calabria Pro V is a great example of a tow boat that does more than one thing well.
However, the bulk of the tow boat market leans toward boats that do more than one thing well, and the Calabria Pro V is a perfect example. That’s because everyone in the family now has a say in the purchase. “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few,” as Mr. Spock so famously uttered in the movie, “The Wrath of Khan.”
“The formula now is completely different from what it was as little as five years ago,” according to Bob Jessen, president of Calabria Boats. “We come from a different place as board sports have evolved. It’s so amazing how versatile the boats are now. Customers are looking for a boat that can handle all the water sports they want to do, and at very high level. It’s kind of like that next step.”
The deck space is covered in marine-grade carpeting.
The Pro V was built to handle like a direct-drive inboard, pull skiers and wakeboarders with equal aplomb and serve the relatively new discipline of wake surfing. With the ballast tanks empty, the Pro V lays down wakes flat and soft enough for the hard crossing a slalom skier must make to round the next buoy.
Fill the ballast tanks, which hold up to 700 pounds of water (roughly 116 gallons) and the Pro V becomes an ideal platform for wakeboarding. According to Jessen, the Pro V is also great for wake surfing from either side of the boat. So whether a rider surfs left-foot-forward or goes “goofy foot,” he or she can find a good wake on either side.
The beauty of the ballast system lies in its simplicity. With the boat at rest, open the valve from the helm, which allows water to enter the ballast tanks built into the bottom of the boat. The tanks fill in less than a minute. Close the valve and go boarding. To empty the tanks, open the valve again, then bring the boat on plane and take it to cruising speed. The tanks empty as quickly as they fill. The system has no pumps to fail or bladders to encroach on stowage capacity. It’s a brilliant system, and it has a National Marine Manufacturers Association certification, so you know the construction is stout.
Retail price is $59,995, which includes a tandem-axle trailer. The standard engine is MerCruiser’s 330-horsepower Black Scorpion, which features multiport fuel injection—a big plus for reliability and reducing winter storage prep—and a full-throttle operating range of 4,800 to 5,200 rpm. Because it’s a MerCruiser, it’s probably the easiest engine for which to find a factory-authorized service location.
Stowage compartments are hinged at the center and supported on gas struts when open.
Inside, the boat has lots of deck space, all of which is covered in marine-grade carpeting. The bow walk-through comes with a handy wind dam, which is invaluable on cold mornings and when you’re driving home at dusk. Bow passengers get stainless grab rails, two speakers and two cupholders.
The driver looks over a trick-looking dash, with nice large 5-inch Faria gauges. Buyers can opt for pewter, mahogany or faux carbon-fiber appliqués and a Dino leather-wrapped steering wheel and throttle knob. The driver’s seat swivels to create a conversation pit. The helm also features a recessed foot well with an angled footrest. It’s a comfortable setup at rest or in motion.
The cockpit comes fitted with a J-shape lounge with an available dinette table that pops into a floor receptacle and stows when not in use. Stowage compartments that flank the engine compartment are hinged at the center and are supported on gas struts when open. Of course, for wakeboarding, buyers will want the optional tower, and while they’re at it, they should get the available bimini top package too. It adds to the cost, but remember Mr. Spock’s advice: The features benefit everyone on board.
“If someone wanted a boat for the complete gamut of towed sports, that would be the one,” Jessen added. “If a family was looking for a V-drive that had the room and the ability to satisfy a high-performance family, this is it.”
For more information, visit the Calabria website.
