At the recent Palma Boat Show, MBY editor Hugo Andreae took the chance to take a tour of the new Windy SR28 CC dayboat...
The hull of this latest addition to the Windy SR range may have started life as a Draco 27, the Norwegian yard’s sister brand, but thanks to an all-new deck moulding it
looks and feels like a very different boat.
Out goes the offset helm position and bowrider layout and in comes a centre console with walkaround decks, a cuddy cabin, extended swim platforms and an optional T-Top.
The end result isn’t just a more practical boat, it’s also a sportier, more stylish-looking craft with an attractive swept-back windscreen and high-quality detailing to match the Windy’s premium brand and pricing.
Even the simple things such as the storage lockers feature expensive-looking flush-fitting handles, locking struts to hold them open and lift-out stainless steel baskets with black mesh lining to stop your ropes and boat fenders disappearing into the bilges.
It’s the same story with the heavy gauge stainless watersports arch and handholds, which have had all the weld marks polished out so that they feel as smooth and sturdy as a superyacht tenders.
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The cuddy cabin itself is pretty tight, with sitting room headroom only and a bed that narrows quite dramatically towards the bow, but it’s a major bonus to have somewhere dry to shelter or stow your kit as well as a separate heads compartment with a proper flushing toilet and a small basin.
There’s quite a lot of bare gelcoat on show but there’s just enough wood, colour, light and texture to give it a pleasingly minimalist Scandinavian vibe. The cockpit has a reversible transom bench and a pair of helm seats that turn to face the drop-in table, but the walkaround decks restrict the number of seats.
On the plus side there’s a second socialising area forward with a table that converts to a sunbed. The boat we looked at was fitted with one of Mercury’s 300hp Verado V8s, but in future they will have Yamaha outboards up to and including the whopping 425hp SXO for a top speed of around 46 knots.
As an upmarket alternative to an Axopar, it makes a compelling case.
This classy customer has the Axopar 28 in its sights
The Windy SR28 CC has been designed to go head-to-head with the likes of the Axopar 28 and Nimbus W9. In comparison to the modular deck spaces of the other two, the SR28’s layout appears relatively formulaic but it is executed with Windy’s typical eye for quality and attention to detail.
It’s a good looking boat, too, especially so in the vibrant blue hull colour of the open version photographed above. The walkaround design includes the typically Scandinavian addition of a walk-through pulpit.
Amidships, the double helm is set low and should be well protected by the tall windscreen; while the aft dinette has a two-way back rest on its aft bench for observing water-skiers.
The Windy SR28 CC may be under 28ft long but the interior looks to be well finished and equipped to sleep a couple for the odd night (or even weekend) afloat. Crucially, for what is going to be primarily used as a day boat, there is a decent separate bathroom.
There is a good selection of upholstery and hull colours on offer, so customers can spec the boat to their taste. At over £150,000 for a base boat it’s not cheap, but the standard spec includes goodies such as a Zipwake trim system, a 16in Raymarine MFD and a set of Helly Hansen covers.
Windy SR28 CC specification
LOA: 27ft 7in (8.43m)
Beam: 8ft 2in (2.49m)
Engines: Single 300hp outboard
Top speed: 40+ knots
Starting price: £154,418 (inc. VAT)
