Boat test for the 2008 Africat 420 with boat pictures, boat specifications, and boat test results. Includes pricing, videos, engine test reviews, and ratings for the 2008 Africat 420.

The port side of this settee also acts as a helm chair, a rather curious way of creating a lower helm station. Here the electrical distribution panels are readily accessible, beside a Raymarine E120 display and SmartController Autopilot and remote-control panels for the Onan E Series genset and Village Marine Tec watermaker. Once you get used to the seat, the only problem with this helm station is the glare from the steeply angled surface beneath the windshield. Fortunately, you'll be running this boat from the bridge most of the time.

But even as I sat at this helm, my mind was elsewhere. In my experience on most catamarans, stepping from the saloon down into the sponsons is akin to spelunking: They're usually dark and and the staterooms in them cramped. The 420's sleeping accommodations are limited by the size of the sponsons, but the aforementioned six hatches admit plenty of light, which helps. The actual use of this space depends on which sponson you enter. On the starboard side, a sliding door at the foot of the saloon steps creates a private owner's suite. Aft, there's a 6'9"x5'5" American-made Zeno mattress that can fold in half—a feature I'll explain shortly. Forward is the head, which is more spacious than those I've seen on vessels 20 feet longer.

Down the port stairwell the guest cabins are more typical of a catamaran or perhaps a monohull sailboat. In the aft cabin, the overhead above the berth drops but not so much that you'd bang your head if you suddenly sat up. As I stepped up, the fiberglass flexed a little due to the drawer underneath, a fact that Ford noted as well: "We could have used a heavier laminate [here]."

The view aft is restricted by the bridge overhang. Otherwise, the 420's sightlines are good.

This detail aside, the Africat seemed a well-engineered vessel, an impression that was reinforced when I looked into the starboard engine room. Everything—the Technicold chillers, Village Marine Tec watermaker, dual Racor fuel-water separators, and EVC IPS control interface boxes—was well positioned for easy access. When I pointed out to Ford that the only way to reach the oil filter would be to lay across the engine block, he took me down to the master stateroom, where after removing that folding mattress, he lifted out the panels underneath. Voila! Great inboard engine access. On the port side, I found the Onan genset blocked access to the engine, but Ford informed me that on future boats the genset will rotate to allow plenty of room for maintenance.

That's a good thing, because easy maintenance is important, whether a boat is owner-operated or chartered, which I suspect many Africats will be. Either way, the 420's enormous saloon, superb ventilation, easy maneuverability, and shallow draft give her all the makings of a great Caribbean cruising powerboat—and that's a plus even if you never leave the States.

For more information on Africat Marine, including contact information, click here.

SPOTLIGHT ON: WiFi

I found this little white box tucked up underneath the Africat's flying-bridge console. This Syrens EC-HP (High Power) Onboard WiFi/router broadcasts with the strongest signal the FCC allows, and although its 1 watt may not seem like much (it's the same power you should use for close-quarter VHF broadcasts), Syrens states that it's enough to pick up hotspots up to ten miles away. Think of cruising up the coastline and logging on at a beach-side Starbucks with enough power to use Skype for VoIP calls. With the EC-HP, you won't have to pay satellite fees, and you'll have a built-in wireless router for your whole boat.—G.R.

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