Trade-A-Boat — February 2018

I

first saw the Arvor 855

Weekender – briefly

• at the 2015 Sydney
  International Boat
  Show where it quickly
  sold. I was impressed
  with its value for money,
  considering the allure
  of what appeared to be
  powerboat luxury with a
  smaller boat’s ease of use.
  Its vital measurements
  make the 855 Weekender
  legally towable, with
  restrictions, opening the
  possibilities for moving
  the boat from one place to
  another. It also means dry-
  stacking is an easy prospect
  for most storage facilities,
  reducing ownership costs.
  The interior of the 855
  offers more than expected
  for the size of the boat. This
  is a nine-metre vessel with
  two dedicated berths able to
  sleep two each, plus room
  in the main cabin by way of
  fold-down seats opposite the
  dinette. The guest room is

small and accompanying the

living quarters downstairs is

the shared bathroom.

Upstairs, the galley is

well appointed with the

summer essentials – fridge/

freezer, gas stove, sink and

microwave, plus plenty of

storage and a family-sized

table. The helm is airy

and well laid-out with all

important switchgear falling

nicely to hand. Visibility is

good, aided in part by the

massive windscreen and a

lot by the sliding helm door.

Up on the bow, a sunbed is

easily assembled, improving

the total useable space

on board and offering a

welcome retreat. Roof-

mounted grabrails and tall

wraparound bowrails make

the trip forward safe via the

wide walk-around.

Down back, the 855

Weekender features another

table for entertaining, and

an ingenious moveable rear

bench – slide it forward

when the motor is tilted up

and back when underway to

maximise available space.

An awning and outside

speakers complete the rear

entertainment area.

Powered by Mercury’s

Verado 350hp outboard, the

855 is capable of reaching

close to 38kts and should

reach into the mid-30s

with as little as 300hp; fuel

burn tops out at 124lt/h.

The inherent smoothness

of inline sixes is something

special.

Steering is electro-

hydraulic and helps the 855

feel more agile than a boat

its size should. Underway the

855 Weekender’s straked hull

grips the water well, leaning

into turns like a sports boat.

Down the back of the boat,

under the cockpit floor, is a

safety feature not seen often

enough in modern boats: a

clear fuel tank. Fuel senders

fail all too often so a simple

visual inspection always sets

the mind at ease.

The 855 Weekender is

quick enough to call sporty

but it also appeals as a take-

life-slowly option for those

wanting to see coastal bays

and explore the far reaches

of local harbours. With

room to sleep six it has the

capacity to take the family,

yet its size, cost of ownership

and ease of use make it

a spontaneous option,

somethingmany powerboat

owners will envy the lucky

Arvor owners for.

quick specs

Arvor 855 Weekender

PRICE AS TESTED $195,817

MATERIAL Fibreglass

TYPE Planing monohull

LENGTH 8.91m

BEAM 2.98m

ENGINE 350hp Mercury

Verado supercharged

outboard

FUEL 400lt

WATER 100lt

FOR MORE INFO

Visit arvor.com.au

Arvor 855 Weekender

VERSATILE POWERBOATING LUXURY

STORY TIM VAN DUYL

PHOTO ELLEN DEWAR

84 tradeaboat.com.au