NOBODY DOES PERFORMANCE BETTER THAN HOWARD CUSTOM BOATS

And our new 28 Sport Deck is no exception. From the side, it looks like a sport catamaran, which it is from the rubrail down. But the model’s deck is all wide-open spaces, copious seating and clever features. Best of all it handles better than any other sport deck boat on the market.

Howard Custom Boats proudly presents the all-new 28 SPORT DECK , a deck boat that combines the best qualities of our proven and tested cat bottom and the award –winning styling of our new bullet series line of boats. Designed  as a “performance luxury deckboat” with comfort and safety our primary concern , we took our 26 Cat bottom stretched and modified it to accompany the increased passenger capacity and weight distribution , raised the gunwales to make it deeper inside and tooled up an entirely new deck to reflect the Bullet influence. Then we went to work on the inside. Seating for up to 14 people , deep storage compartments in the tunnels , 2 built in ski lockers , solid sliding (and hidden) front doors ,  a pair of  bow seats that will accommodate eight , choice of cockpit seating with a full passenger L-shaped lounge or front facing passenger bucket seat with L-shaped lounge behind , integrated front walk-off with slotted drains , 27” deep rear molded-in swim step , full fiberglass self-draining interior liner with built-in storage compartments in the side panels and under the seats , molded-in non-skid floors , sink w/faucet , porta-pottie storage compartment , 2 built in and self draining 48 quart igloo ice chests , propane barbeque w/ mount , front and rear showers , removable cockpit table and finally , for those ice-cold margaritas , a blender.

Construction:

The Howard 28 Sport Deck is constructed using only the finest materials available. We start with full blown 100% vinyl-ester resin and Knytex knitted Bi and Tri directional glass fabric. The entire hull and deck are cored with the most expensive composites available consisting of Baltek Balsa core and Diab foam from Sweden . The deck consists of a built-in front inner liner containing the front seats, ski locker and cabinets. A second rear inner liner in the cockpit consists of the built-in rear ski locker as well as the rear seat base. All of these liners are installed using Plexus adhesive, the strongest bonding material available. Decolite vacuum bagged balsa cored panels are used in lieu of plywood to help keep the weight down. All hardware is grade A aircraft quality stainless steel. All stringers, bulkheads, floors and tanks are installed while still in the mold to insure a perfect fit. Like all Howard’s, the mold cure time is two weeks to insure proper curing and strength with no distortion. Howard’s absolute insistence on quality and meticulous attention to detail has produced the finest sport deck boat available.

Performance:

Exhilarating, Fast, Stable, and Smooth Riding! One ride and you will be saying all of these things. Powerboat Magazine called it “A deck boat with a Corvette attitude.” And then went on to say “You won’t find a better-handling deck boat than Howard’s new 28-footer.” The bar has been raised for deck-boat handling, and we raised it!

Specifications:

Length 28’6″
Max Beam 102″
Approximate Weight 4800 lbs
Seating 14
Standard Fuel Capacity 80 gal
Bottom Configuration Modified Tunnel
Freeboard 53″

Standard Equipment/Features:

  • 100% Hand laminated fiberglass construction w/Baltek end grain balsa and Diab  divincyll foam reinforcement
  • Bi and Tri-Directional  Knytex knitted glass fabric
  • Pure vinyl-ester resin
  • 7 color custom gel coat
  • All stainless steel hardware and fasteners
  • Heavy duty marine battery w/battery box
  • Illuminated rocker switches
  • Anodized fuel fills, ski tow, gauge bezels, garb-handles w/vents
  • Bilge pumps (3)
  • Blower
  • International navigation lights
  • Interior lights
  • 12 volt receptacle
  • Dino steering wheel
  • Full Livorsi or Auto Meter instrumentation (tach, speedometer, volt meter, fuel gauge,    water temperature, oil pressure, trim gauge)
  • Livorsi dual lever hand controls
  • Power steering
  • Bravo I stainless steel propeller
  • 6 stainless steel pull-up deck cleats
  • Dual electric engine hatch lift
  • Built-in storage compartments
  • Color coordinated marine grade vinyl interiors w/40 oz. marine grade snap-in carpet
  • vinyl rub rail
  • 8.2 liter Mercruiser Magnum motor.

 

Power Option Upgrades:

 

MerCruiser 502 MAG / Bravo One 380hp
MerCruiser 502 MAG H.O. / Bravo One 430hp
MerCruiser HP 525 EFI / Bravo One 525hp
MerCruiser HP 565 EFI / Bravo One 565hp
MerCruiser HP600SCI 600hp
Custom Motors Available

Performance Reviews:

Performance Reviews (Click on an Image for the Article)
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December 2009
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July 2008
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June 2008
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April 2008
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February 2008
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Sept. 2007
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July 2007
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February 2007
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August 2006
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Dec. 2005
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January 2006
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June 2006

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