’04 Hot Boat Evaluations
Dana 27’ Offshore Page 1

For running big loads of family, friends, refreshments and gear around the lake ad neutralizing anything short of an offshore swell before the results are passed to its occupants onboard, the big vee-bottom performance cruiser is unique in its measured fit for the hot-boating family.

The best of the full-sized, deep-vee performance cruisers are nearly impervious to shifting passenger weight, can pierce and squash the squirrely conditions that typify popular lakes in today’s climate of more, bigger boats and incorporate a deep, roomy, practical and polished passenger area that is separated from the elements by a lot of fiberglass and a generous measure of freeboard.

The contemporary version of yesteryear’s classic Day Cruiser, the big vee emerges as the family-oriented custom boater’s equivalent of the ultimate sport utility vehicle.

It is on this front that Dana Custom Boats (Montclair, California) has staked its reentry into the custom boat-building fray, under an enthusiastic ownership that has steadily gained momentum since releasing its first offspring nearly two years ago, the 27-foot Offshore. It is very loosely based on the same 27-foot tooling that was Dana’s original flagship; as then, it is the upstart company’s best seller. They also produce a 23-foot straight-vee, with essentially the same bottom as the 27.

Aside from that and the basic shape of the Dana, little remains of the original 27, which has been brought to contemporary standards and appearance through an extensive retool. The original liner was replaced with new cockpit and floor tooling, which built about nine more inches and a lot more practicality into the onboard environment. The cabin entryway was significantly expanded. The stern was also revamped to incorporate vented handles and to soften the boat’s original lines. Ultimately, it may well be the 27-footer that defines the contemporary Dana’s branding: It was ahead of its time as a Havasu boat in its first release, but no longer. One of the favorites of the full-sized vees our drivers reviewed this year, the Dana wraps an impressive menu of features and attributes into this completely restyled performance cruiser. Our first encounter with it lent credence to the missive trumpeted on their Web site and by second-generation owner Tom Agerstig: to build a fully equipped custom boat with nothing less that the best available components, priced competitively with quality competitors that offer less as standard.

So how does all of that shake out, beyond the noble marketing spin?

First, regarding price: There’s nothing especially remarkable, per se, about theirs, which is in line with peers producing similarly powered and equipped 27s. Dana does, however, follow through on their high-road platitude of integrating superior-quality components and systems in their base machine.

For example, most custom cruisers come stock with power hatch-but not usually with Dana Marine (no relation) scissor assembly. The Bravo One drive is cooled with a stock-issue shower, a rarity. The standard Dana rolls off on a gorgeous Extreme Custom Trailer, state of the art. The starter stereo is no weak sister-it’s a Sony, with four Fosgate 6.5s.

The showroom boat leaves very little room for agonizing over what to leave in and what to leave out: The only cost option on our 496HO Dana (standard power), for instance, was the premium charged for bowrider version ($2,000) and a $3,000 stereo upgrade that had the large-mouth bass fleeing for their lives.

We ran a 26-inch four-blade off our showered Bravo One. Our Dana incorporated a crawl-through mid-cabin bowrider, which commands a $2,000 premium over Dana’s reasonable **$66,500 base. There are no trap doors in Dana’s pricing-their stock 27-footer fires off with a 496HO, and that’s how the one arrived.

One of the cornerstones of Dana’s revival efforts is the inclusion of premium components in their production build-out, and this boat delivered on that promise. The base 27-footer represents a hand guided assembly of the custom industry’s best technology and artistic, motor-sports handiwork. Much of it arrived from the other Dana, a/k/a Product Welding, purveyors of powder-coated aluminum boat parts of al manner of shape, size, cut and color. Dana fabricated multitudinous trim pieces, in addition to the rapid-fire scissor hinges (almost never considered standard elsewhere), billet swim steps, transom vents and bezels that rimed the base-issue Gaffrig dash instruments. Rex Marine’s best work was also incorporated in trimming out the boat.

Appearance is everything on a new custom release, and nothing gets looked ever with more scrutiny that an unfamiliar entity; this boat turned up solid marks all around, for its tooling, fiberglass execution and gelcoat. The glasswork here was strong, and we picked up on a solid, substantial vibe as we ran the Dana far beyond the boundaries of our test course, toward the Havasu sunset. The dead-on installation of the boats considerable hardware, including stainless bow railing, pop-up cleats (on powedercoated bezels) and billet swim step brackets reflected a collective talent that left its mark on the entire process of building this boat.

Crisply taped flames licked from the flanks of the Dana, and perfectly taped gray pin lines lent even more cosmetic fire to the red and yellow gelcoat graphics, which drew a nice, understated contrast off the gray pins. Fade work intensified the color. Stainless bow railing, pop-up cleats dressed with powdercoated bezels and billet swim-step brackets are inclusive.

On Board
This size class should feel big, deep, comfortable and roomy-and the Dana does, especially in the cockpit and in the cabin. The main passenger section features very comfortable seating for six, in the two fixed buckets, and a comfortable rear seat. Seats were mounted on Dana billet. The upholstery was comfortable, but the driving experience would have been more so with the addition of a tilt wheel-the positioning of the wheel cries for it. Also, given its name, a drop-through seat also seems in order.

The bow jumper seats ate best suited for one very relaxed passenger per side, but will seat one or two. The bow section is carpeted and neatly so-likewise the cabin. The main passenger flooring is exposed nonskid, liner fiberglass. The gunnel pockets are carpeted.

The cabin is basic, clean and functional. Comfortable bench seats have armrests with cup holders. The upgrade Sony system drew amps and other system hardware below. Not so with the boats wiring in general, which was a glaring soft spot in an installation that was, overall, very impressive.

There is a lot of natural, integrated storage worked into the framework of the Dan, including a good bit of hidden space, though there’s no floor locker. An insulated ice chest inhabits the rear seat base. The bow jumper seats are suited for two. The crawl-through cabin, which drops down 12 inches below the cockpit’s floor line, will host two naturally postured adults and a couple of kids.

The interior styling and cut reflected the Dana’s traditional feel, a vibe that quite a few of our team found comforting and reassuring. Placement of the standard Gaffrig gauges was ideal, just above the steering-wheel rim. Gaffrig controls also standard were positioned to all of our drivers’ liking. The feel of the boat from behind the wheel is natural, relaxed and comfortable. A trick IMPY wheel gave good grip, and powdercaoted aluminum trim looked great.

Performance
This new-generation Dana did everything well. It’s an extremely easy boat to drive, and the efficient hull design puts the HO’s 425 prop-rated horsepower to splendid use. This boat’s strengths are many, and they’re conveniently aligned with the commonly held priorities required by the many faceted family powerboater.

It’s good and quick of the line-the four-blade grabs a quick bite, and the hull’s natural tendencies take over, with the mere encouragement of a bit of upward trim. The Offshore planed very responsively, on par with a lot of smaller boats. It also exhibited great low-rpm manners and is extremely easy to drive to the boat’s full potential. The controls, gauge alignment and driver’s position create a sensibly, comfortably driver’s universe.

The hull feels very stable on the water, and our drivers found it absolutely predictable. It’s a very relaxed drive, very seat-of-the-pants. With the 496 HO, this hull will hold it’s own alongside stock, production-powered lake fare of all sizes.

At 4,000 rpm, the 496HO/Dana cruised at a very impressive 54.7 mph, demonstrating more efficiency at that rpm than anything else in its size that we tested. Cruisability at 40-55 was outstanding. Its ride was clean, its handling sublime. This boat didn’t bank much in the turns for its size-it delivered a natural, moderate path and gripped steadfastly at all rpm.

The Dana is also one of the fastest natural designs in this size class, including the complex step-bottoms. We hit ceiling at 66.6 mph and 4,600 rpm, excellent performance for a comparatively heavy boat in this class, under 496HO power. Te ride at speed was controlled, flat and just light enough-the hull’s response was crisp and immediate and reflected a sound bottom same bottom design that has lost none of it’s appeal thorough the years. Wringing the last mile an hour or two, the hull finally starts to show a slight rocking tendency, completely absent to this point, and erased with a downward bump of the drive.

The Bottom Line
Dana’s Offshore is rich in all of the qualities that make a great family boat. It’s roomy and comfortable, drives easily and rides predictably and quashes bad water. It runs better than 65 under its stock, baseline power and it’s put together using superior components. The family boater looking for a nice, smooth, good-running convenience cruiser might find fortuitous Dana’s timing for their return.

**price reflects actual list at time of printing