2018 Evo 43

The Evo 43 is first and foremost a dayboat and she makes no bones about it. The idea of sharing the delights of the sea with friends and family is at the core of this design, and deck space on this boat is, in no uncertain terms, the focal point. The cockpit is expandable from 14 feet 10 inches wide to 20 feet 8 inches with the touch of a button. Electric hydraulic rams unfold bifold decks on both port and starboard while the hullsides expand at the aft end of the cockpit.

And then there are the cushions. Sized like twin mattresses, these cushions are covered in sun-ready outdoor fabric and are soft enough to be comfortable for lounging, yet firm enough that you don’t sink in. The entire cockpit area strikes a very European-design feel, thanks to modular components, specifically fiberglass cubes with padded, hinged tops, stowage inside and modular backrests.

That swim platform will prove irresistible, since it has an Opacmare transformer built in, which can raise up on its hydraulic, hinged arms to create a dive platform. It also can unfold straight aft, or angle aft and down at 45 degrees. The coolest aspect of this device are the slats between the hinged arms, which make themselves useful as the rungs of a ladder when it’s elevated, or the planks of the deck when it’s flat, or stairs descending into the water.

“We have created a boat for people to use and share with family and enjoy the water and the sun,” says designer Valerio Rivellini of Studio Tecnico Rivellini, who designed the Evo 43. “The technology simplifies the experience and so makes it better.” All the moving parts operate on separate hydraulic systems.

Abaft the helm is a dining table with a lounge on the starboard side. Opposite is an al fresco galley with a pair of Kenyon electric grills and a food-prep area with sink.

Everything about this boat points to using complex technologies to make life simpler. With a pair of Volvo Penta IPS 600 pod drives, she was responsive and spry. We found a nice 27-knot cruising speed, though she topped out at 34 knots, altogether delightful and dry on a breezy day off Ft. Lauderdale.

The helm is a clean, carbon-fiber console with a single-screen Garmin Glass Cockpit setup. The wonders continue as you move down the companionway into the forward cabin, where the overhead is 6 feet 1 inch. In the bow, a V-shaped dinette has a hydraulic hi/lo table that makes a sizable berth. Our test boat had another berth amidships.

The boat is semi-custom to the hilt, and available in a wide array of colors and trim packages. David Galante of G Marine, the U.S. dealer of the Evo in Ft. Lauderdale, mentioned a few things he would request for the next boat.

“I spoke to them about some ideas for the design, changes we may want for the next boat,” Galante says. “We had drawings from them within two days of the discussion. Design is what they do.”

And when design can solve problems, why not let it happen? You’ll be able to focus on making the most of the day with the people you brought along. And if that’s not a beautiful thing, I don’t know what is. —Jason Y. Wood

LOA: 43’0”
Beam: 14’10”
Draft: 3’6”
Displ.: 24,912 lb.
Fuel: 264 gal.

Water: 105 gal.
Standard Power: 2/370-hp Volvo Penta IPS 500
Test Power: 2/435-hp Volvo Penta IPS 600
Base Price: $799,000