PowerPlay SportDeck 33' from Performance Marine Trading

Performance Marine PowerPlay 33' Sportdeck
Twin Mercruiser 502/Bravo Ones

The sport of offshore ocean racing, and the hull and setup technology that has been left in its wake,
have inspired an entire breed of recreational muscleboats.
A number of the better ones are built by smallish, independent companies,
who work closely with their customers to meet specific performance aspirations.
Powerplay of Ft. Lauderdale has positioned itself in the thick of this discriminating
market with their lineup of enthusiast-level vee-bottom machines, a procession of which
have impressed our test team with their fast, reliable performance resumé.
Conditions could not have been better suited to a real-world romp with the Sport Deck version
of Powerplay’s best-selling 33-foot deep-vee, this particular copy of which had been attentively
rigged by us at Performance Marine Trading of Pompano Beach, Florida, before it found our way into our mix.
To our advantage, Performance Marine Trading is somewhat familiar with the Powerplay species;
our shop is home to previous year’s national Champion A-Class boat in Super Boat International (SBI),
a 28-footer that’s throttled by Patrick Sullivan.
Our test boat’s setup and philosophy lends insight to the performance goals of a good segment
of Powerplay’s clientele. This boat was designedto be a turnkey, low-maintenance 70-miles-an-hour ride,
day in and day out, without worrying about hurting parts. Of course, we also wanted solid performance
in rough water, a given in Powerplay’s repertoire.
Performance Marine Trading's interpretation of this vision called for plenty of cubic inches
(twin 502s )from Mercury Marine.

The factory 502's put this 8,000-pounder past the
70 mark at an easy-breathing 4,000, as per our request.
But that’s just where the fun began. Our team took the sharp-handling vee to a
radar-snapped 75.5-mph trip down the course, a very satisfying number unfurled by
our twin-MPI/Bravo train, which ran a massaged, four-blade 26-inch Bravo through 1.5:1 gearing.

Mayfair steering kept the thrills in proper context.
Our test 33’s rigging and installation showed the same meticulous workmanship and thorough
attention to detail that’s likely found on Powerplay’s race boats.
Joey Earl of Kangaroo Graphics finished off his painted TPG graphics with a coat of clear,
and the finish work here and elsewhere was unfailingly tight. All wiring was neatly tied and routed;
hardware found its proper place and was installed with the duration in mind.

Block-type, offshore bolster seating snugly wrapped the front passengers, with stainless
mounting anchoring them to the boat’s soul. Rear-bench seating provided plenty of deep,
comfortable support, and grab railing was within easy reach of all aboard—a detail worth
consideration with the speedo needle dancing with 80 as you careen through mixed, windblown, three-foot swells.
Powerplay drew on their high-performance experience in the placing of the starboard-mounted Kiekhaefer
controls, tab controls, wheel, switches and gauges. Everything felt right, within short order of
moving into the driver’s seat.
Every boat is built to suit, though most owners opt for a basic, weight-saving trim below.
Our tester was typical in its clean, straightforward installation,
and amenities were limited to a lounge-type couch, anchor compartment and interior lighting package.

Performance
The healthy lope of the 502 cams didn’t interfere with its smooth, stall-free shifts in and out of gear,
and it was impossible not to be impressed with the package’s maneuverability and agile dockside manners.
The setup was well suited for all of the normal conditions encountered on a typical day of boating and
showed no propensity to overheat. And when it was time to rock ’n’ roll, the big dogs barked.

The Powerplay’s bow consumed none of the horizon in the platform’s flat, graceful glide to plane,
and it surged steadily off the line. We couldn’t find any point at which the boat wanted to porpoise,
and tracking and steering were true at all rpms.
When the motors synced at 2,500 rpm, the hull takes on a heightened response to wheel, trim and throttle.
From that point, it inspired its driver with its crisp, reactive nature and its uncommonly responsive feel.
This is a driver’s boat that inspires comfort and confidence, a hull that seemed to temper its extreme speed
with a protective measure of balance and predictability. It turned comparatively well in both directions and
handled our lazy sweepers and hard, tucked-in cornering drills with similar precise movement.
The Powerplay was plainly within its element as conditions deteriorated and wind whipped the three-foot seas.
The 33-footer maintained a commanding presence in rough water, delivering a smooth,
comfortable ride while piercing through the swells. The hull carried nicely, with plenty of freeboard,
and its ride remained dry and secure for all aboard.
Run wide open, in good water, the hull maintained a sticky, smooth, rhythmic stance and
showed no hint of rock or wobble. Try as we might, we could elicit no ill handling move, vibration
or rattle from the depths of the Powerplay. To a man, our team gave it raves, across the board.

SPECIFICATIONS
Centerline length: 32'7”
Beam: 100"
Hull design: 24-degree vee
Engines/drives: Twin Mercruiser 502's
Horsepower @ prop: 425 ea.
Drive ratio: 1.5:1
Prop: 26-inch Bravo four-blade
Base retail price, incl. trailer: $88,000 Standard features: Anodized aluminum switch panel; engraved aluminum dash;battery boxes;
bilge blowers; bilge pump; stand-up bolster seats; nonskid floor; deck hatches; external tie bar;
fire extinguisher; fuel filters; grab rails; full instrumentation; hour meters;
Kiekhaefer trim tabs and throttles, rubrail, etc.
Options on test boat: Full cover ($1500), Heavy Duty Bimini Top($1500), Pop-up cleats ($513), graphics ($7,500), shower ($1,230),
platform w/ladder ($3,660), Mayfair steering ($8,284), Corsa Diverters($1,000),
stereo system ($3,000), VHF ($962), wind deflectors ($500), throttle trim ($375).

Price as-tested: $88,000
Performance
Top speed, radar: 76.1 mph
Maximum rpm: 5,400
0-30: 12.36 seconds
0-40: 13.85 seconds
0-50: 16.03 seconds
0-60: 18.61 seconds
Performance Marine Trading
1903 NW 40th Court
Pompano Beach, FL 33064
(954) 970-3335