The Hunton XRS43 is much faster than it looks. The black hull, teak decks, and white seating make the boat one of the classiest powerboats on the water. A sprinter dressed in a tuxedo, the 43-foot boat is capable of reaching speeds beyond 70 mph.
Developed by the champion powerboat racer Jeff Hunton, the XRS43 is much more refined than most of its U.S. muscle-boat counterparts, with a panache that is rare even among the best European builders. The Hunton looks right at home on the French Riviera, where RobbReport.com had a sea trial aboard the boat. Teak rolls across the exterior, from the broad swim platform, up the stylish walkway into the cockpit, and extending to the foredeck. An easy-view helm console, hydraulic helm seats, and the double stitching on the exterior upholstery all exude a meticulous sense of quality. Other nice touches include the stainless mesh backdrop on the helm console, Hunton’s winged logo on the seat headrests, and bolsters on the seats.
The interiors of most high-performance boats are afterthoughts, but Hunton spent a good deal of time giving this one a yacht-quality finish, with cherry cabinets mingling with dark-gray tinted walls. Leather upholstery is standard. The height of the head is an impressive 6 feet 3 inches, a feature one would rarely find on a go-fast boat. The owner can choose the XRS43’s exterior color scheme and have the interior space customized.
Beneath the well-bred exterior, however, beats the heart of a beast. Hunton designed the twin-stepped hull bottom with precise geometry that lets it run fast yet safe. After leaping from 15 mph to 39 mph in less than two seconds, the XRS43 moves up the speedometer to 65 mph without missing a beat. The boat jumps oncoming waves and lands firmly. One can feel its solidity on the soft landings.
With its good looks and performance capabilities, the boat makes a grand entrance and a quick getaway. The Hunton XRS43 is priced from about $335,000. (hunton.co.uk)
