We know that all boats can’t be all things to all people, but some boats have a vastly wider appeal than others. And if you want a boat that has a flying bridge but is still thoroughly sporty, one that has gobs of cabin space with berths for three couples, one that offers a cockpit you can go fishing from, and one that includes a healthy dose of luxury, you’ll find the Solara S-310 SB widely appealing, indeed.
Take the aft cockpit for example. Step aboard for a fishing trip and you’ll see that there aren’t any space-eating seats preventing you from setting out the trolling lines or flinging some lures. There are rod holders close at hand, a livewell is integrated into the aft end of the starboard inwale, and a raw water washdown awaits to rinse off the schmaltz of a successful catch. Or, in an alternate Solara universe, step aboard for a cocktail cruise. Swing down the fold-away seating in the transom, inwale, and bulkhead, and suddenly there are comfortable spots for a half-dozen people to kick back and relax. Then walk through the transom and out onto one of the swim platforms, take a dip, and afterwards enjoy rinsing off with the hot/cold transom shower. The appeal of that cockpit is bound to be strong whatever aquatic activities you might enjoy.
Inside the climate-controlled cabin you’ll find similarly ingenious morphing spaces and changing use-cases, which won’t be a surprise if you’ve spent any time aboard a Solara or for that matter any of the boats built under the Fluid Motion umbrella (which also includes Ranger Tugs and Cutwater). Their designers have an obvious knack for multi-purposing every inch of available space. The dinette is an excellent display of using the available space in a novel way. Sure, it converts into a berth like many other dinettes, but it also houses a mid-cabin berth underneath. In this unique twist a mere sliver of space sleeps four people—and even provides a measure of privacy for two couples. Oh, and let’s not forget that the forward dinette seatback swings, too, so it serves as a forward-facing passenger’s seat at the very same time. Dittos for the seat at the other end of the dinette, which can do double-duty as an aft-facing seat when you slide open the huge window to the cockpit.
Cruisers will be enamored by the full galley to starboard, the lower helm station which will allow for comfortable piloting when the weather isn’t so awesome, and the private lower cabin with a large V-berth and a fully enclosed stand-up head compartment. Still, the highlight has got to be that flybridge. When the sun is shining and you head up top, you’ll have seating for four in addition to the helm, which includes a full suite of controls and electronics.
Solara goes off the usual boat design map again, when you discover how to access the bow. Rather than doing the usual heel-to-toe shuffle along a sidedeck, you can fold over a portside section of windshield and walk through to the bow while remaining entirely inside the boat. Up front there’s a big sunpad, which naturally converts into something else too—in this case a forward-facing lounger seat.
What about that sporty nature we mentioned earlier? The Solara has it for sure, topping out at around 50 mph and cruising at 4500 rpm in the upper 30s, thanks to a pair of Yamaha F300s. Note that Solara outfits the S-310 SB with Helm Master EX joystick control, digital electric steering, and a bow thruster, so handling the boat dockside will be just as fun as out on open water. These big-ticket items all come standard on the boat, too. In fact, the list of standard goodies is exceptionally long, and the list of options is quite short; a dinghy lift, radar, outriggers, and a Bimini top for the flybridge are among the possible add-ons. But other than that, if you might want something like a wine cooler, a Fusion sound system, a pair of 12-inch Garmin MFDs at the helm, an anchor windlass, or lithium batteries rather than old-school lead-acids, don’t worry because they’re all included stock.
You say you find a sporty flybridge fishing luxury boat that sleeps six comfortably rather interesting? We’re not surprised. Because whatever someone might enjoy doing out on the water, it’ll be hard to find a boater who doesn’t find the Solara S-310 CB appealing.
By Lenny Rudow
Solara S-310 SB Specifications:
LOA: 33’10”
Beam: 10’0”
Draft (min.): 2’1”
Displacement (approx.): 10,500 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 200 gal.
Water Capacity: 41 gal.
Max HP: 600
To learn more, visit solaraboats.com.