Adventure Time with the Navan C30
Just try to glance at the Navan C30 and then quickly look away—we dare ya. The visual grip of this boat is firm and unyielding, with diverging elements like a hot Euro-boat plumb bow juxtaposed against a workboat-like reverse-raked windshield. Yet at the same time each element is distinctly Navan, because that plumb bow swoops forward at its peak, and the reverse-raked windshield is curvaceous rather than being flat. The sheerline, meanwhile, swoops down slowly and then plunges in the stern. Even the waterline is unusual, with a sort of mirrored sheerline that swoops back up subtly amidships. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and we’ll leave it to you to decide if this boat is gorgeous or not, but two things are for sure: The Navan C30 has unique eye-appeal, and you can’t just glance at it—you have to gaze.
But don’t gaze for too long, because you need to jump aboard and check out the layout. The C30 is designed for entertaining, cruising in comfort, and maybe even dropping a fishing line from time to time. Naturally, the pilothouse keeps things comfy while you cruise regardless of the weather. Depending on the trim level you choose, you can enjoy goodies like climate control, a cockpit prep center with a sink and electric grill, and bow or cockpit awnings. You can get a rack of four rocket launchers on the hard top, and you can opt for a ski-tow arch at the transom. Roof racks are in the mix, too, so you can even haul kayaks or SUPs around with you. The bottom line? Whatever sort of adventure gets you excited, the Navan C30 can handle it.
Speaking of getting excited: grab the wheel, push down the throttles, and hold on tight. Rigged with a pair of Mercury Verado 300s this boat can hit speeds in the mid-50s (woohoo!) and cruise all day at over 40 mph while turning 4500 rpm. Surprisingly it also maintains 1.5 mpg at that fast cruise, which is pretty darn efficient for a boat of this size and type traveling at this speed. And when you’d like a little less excitement in your life, just pull the throttles back to 3500 rpm and enjoy cruising at around 30 mph while efficiency bumps up to more like 1.8 mpg.
The above-par performance is no accident. The C30 runs on what Navan calls the T-Step, a twin-stepped hull that reduces wetted surface to boost speed and efficiency. Brunswick designers developed it specifically for Navan, and it’s unusual enough that the T-Step is patented.
Another thing that’s unusually exciting about the C30 (at least to us boat nerds) is the tech level you’ll discover aboard. It boasts digital switching with swipe-and-touch control of all the systems via glass-dash-style Simrads at the helm. The air conditioning/heat runs off of an enhanced 12-volt lithium-ion battery system, not a generator. Wireless cell phone charging, a smart TV, and Zipwakes dynamic trim tabs can all come into the mix.
Topsides the boat is again laid out for multiple-style adventuring. Your idea of excitement is to lie down in the sun? Then you’ll love that the bow cabin-top incorporates a sun lounge with adjustable backrests. You enjoy fishing or watersports? The open cockpit is ready for you, equipped as you choose, and it also sports an aft bench seat with cavernous stowage beneath plus a transom shower. You want to bump some tunes? The stock boat comes with a Fusion MS-RA770 Apollo stereo with four speakers and can be upgraded to a six-speaker system with a subwoofer. It’s time for feeding friends and family? The aft bulkhead window separating the pilothouse from the cockpit swings open to connect the two, so you can grill up those burgers and pass 'em out to everyone with ease.
It’s true that different boats appeal to different folks, and it’s also true that there’s no “perfect” boat for anyone. But Navan has definitely come up with something special with the C30. Its eye-appeal is unique, its multiple-use abilities are comprehensive, and its design and tech level are top-of-class. Take one for a sea trial, and there’s a good chance that the experience will be the mere beginning of your next adventure.
By Lenny Rudow
Navan C30 Specifications:
LOA: 33’7”
Beam: 9’10”
Draft: 2’0”
Displacement (approx.): 9359 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 105 gal.
Water Capacity: 21 gal.
Max HP: 600