Bot owner

W

hen the experienced
dealer of a brand chooses
to actually buy a model
for his own leisure use,
and that is well after having met minimum
stock criteria, you know that it must be
the pick of the pack. Especially for a dealer
as hands-on with both his new boat sales
commissioning and aftersales services as
Chris Macky, keeping a model for himself
has to be more than just the thrill of driving.
With its flat-sided topsides and
walkthrough windscreen, the Monterey
238 SuperSport at first reminded me
more of an high performance lake boat

than the all-terrain reputation they have

built up, particularly in the Middle East,

with Monterey owners taking their boats

to all sorts of places, from Africa to the

Musandam. But stepping aboard the

extended swim platform, I was reminded

that this was a true Monterey. High

bulwarks provide a safe area for smaller

crew, while the inclusion of the innovative

transom sun pad that converts from cockpit

bench to a flat lounge, to one with a rear-

facing backrest, so you can keep an eye

on the kids swimming or being towed

behind the boat, extends the useable

space incredibly. Lounging was obviously

a priority in the designer’s eyes, as the

transom lounger is joined by a port side

front seat with a backrest that flips forward

to allow for lounging and facing the stern,

while just forward of the sunpad, the

rear bench seat conceals a huge

removable icebox.

Power aside, the trim and equipment

inside the 238SS are also well specified. For

example, the anchor locker comes with a

locking hatch, rubber stanchions to hold a

Danforth anchor and an eye to attach the

anchor line. For beach access, a telescopic

four-step bow boarding ladder folds up and

conceals beneath the anchor locker.

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