I drove the new Bénéteau Flyer 7 Sport Deck!

Presented to the press in a world premiere in Palma de Mallorca today, we took the helm of this new bow rider. Great sailing sensations on this model equipped with the latest generation of AirStep hull, an innovation from the Bénéteau shipyard.

François-Xavier Ricardou Published on April 14, 2015

The Sport Deck is a variation on the Flyer 7, which is also available in a Space Deck (open hull) and Sun Deck (cabin cruiser) version. We'll have more to say about these models in the near future. Now it's time for the real news.

While the aft layout, with a full-width bench seat, is identical on all three boats, the rest of the deck has been redesigned. The Sport Deck is built around a central passageway running from the bow to the stern. The console passes through a pivoting panel.

Although not innovative, as found on many American bow riders, this layout offers plenty of seating and good family safety, especially with children. A useful point when it comes to accommodating the 10 people it is authorized to carry in category C.

We appreciated the numerous storage spaces, including the port bow toilet! Admittedly, the space doesn't offer great headroom, but it's worth the effort. As an option, this boat can be fitted with a sink, a deck shower and even a 30 l fridge in a drawer. For sport, this boat can be fitted with a wakebord (as on the test model) or a water-ski mast.

The hull is based on the new Flyer design, with a very round, automotive-style nose. While the bow's rounded shape helps deflect the waves, it also offers a very large living space for this hull. In use, this bow rider is much larger than models of comparable size.

The Flyer 7's hull also features the AirStep system, which draws air from the bow and channels it under the hull to support it. As a result, the boat lifts off without pitching up, and the passage through the waves remains very smooth, well deflected by the bow's "cheeks".

In terms of performance, we tested the boat powered by a 250 hp 4-stroke Suzuki that propelled us at 35 N at 5800 rpm. This is the recommended power, but the Flyer 7 can be powered by up to 300 hp (single- or twin-engine).

Price incl. VAT of basic version without engine: 31440 euros

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