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Aviara AV40 OB (2024-)

2 x 600-hp Mercury V12 Verados

Brief Summary

In all respects, Aviara is a premium boat line and the AV40 OB is its flagship. She is intended for owners who want a sophisticated, elegant look, performance that only outboards can provide and lots of creature comforts for day and evening entertaining.

Test Results

RPM	MPH	Knots	GPH	MPG	NMPG	STAT. MILE	NM	dBa
600	4.5	3.9	3.5	1.3	1.1	419.1	363.2	58
1000	5.3	4.6	4.3	1.2	1.1	396	343.7	60
1500	7.4	6.5	6.3	1.2	1	377.4	331.5	67
2000	9.2	8	9.4	1	0.9	314.5	273.4	70
2500	11.5	10	17.8	0.6	0.6	207.6	180.5	74
3000	17.9	15.5	30.7	0.6	0.5	187.3	162.2	79.6
3500	25.8	22.4	36.5	0.7	0.6	227.1	197.2	87.5
4000	30.9	26.8	43.2	0.7	0.6	229.8	199.3	86
4500	37.6	32.6	49.9	0.8	0.7	242.1	209.9	84
5000	42.4	36.8	63.9	0.7	0.6	213.2	185	84.5
5500	49.2	42.8	79.1	0.6	0.5	199.8	173.9	92
6000	52.9	46	97.9	0.5	0.5	173.6	151	90

View the test results in metric units

Specifications

Length Overall	42' 3" 12.88 m
Beam	12' 3" 3.73 m
Dry Weight	23,800 lbs. 10,795.5 kg
Tested Weight	26,000 lbs. 11,793 kg
Draft	3' 8" 1.12 m (engines down)
Deadrise/Transom	19 degrees
Bridge Clearance	9' 9" 2.98 m
Total Weight	26,000 lbs. 11,793 kg

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane	4 seconds
0 to 30	10 seconds
Load	4 people onboard, 65% fuel

Engine Options

Tested Engine	2 x 600-hp Mercury V12 Verados
Std. Power	2 x 600-hp Mercury V12 Verados

Aviara AV40 OB — A Fresh Approach to Luxury Dayboating... and Then Some

Captain's Report by Capt. Ken Kreisler

Aviara AV40 OB running — Head-turning styling combines with twin Mercury V12 outboard power plus a host of sensational standard and optional features aboard the Aviara AV40 OB.

The Aviara brand was started as a division of MasterCraft Boats in 2019 to build a product line outside of its wakeboard niche and to expand its customer base. Seeing the tremendous popularity of European dayboats in Europe and the U.S., it designed a line of boats that has its own distinctive styling signature that it carries on all of its models. In all respects, Aviara is a premium boat line and the AV40 OB is its flagship. The AV40 OB is intended for owners who want a sophisticated, elegant look, performance that only outboards can provide and lots of creature comforts for day and evening entertaining.

The Back Story

MasterCraft began designing, engineering, and building its luxury-oriented lineup of dayboats under the Aviara name in 2019 at its Venore, Tennessee manufacturing facility. Within a very short time, and as the popularity of the build rapidly increased, the company quickly realized the product would need its own dedicated location to keep up with the demand. Eyeing and then moving on to purchase the already-existing Merritt Island, Florida boat-building plant — which covers about 38 acres, has more than 140,000 square feet of floor space and water access for testing — the modern facility is well-suited to be the home of the Aviara brand of luxury-oriented boats.

MarineMax announced on August 9th that it was "exchanging assets" with MasterCraft and would be taking over the Aviara brand. The company will be moving its production to the Cruisers Yachts facility (which it owns) in Oconto, Wisconsin. MarineMax stores around the country were the major dealers selling Aviara boats, so they had the best handle on the brand (who was buying it and why).

Cruisers Yachts is an excellent yacht builder with a seasoned staff used to producing top-quality boats for demanding clients. We have no doubt that the fine attention to detail that has gone into every Aviara produced will continue with Cruiser Yachts' staff.

The model lineup stretches from 28- to 40-feet and the current top-of-the-line 40-foot Aviara outboard will be the focus of our study. From its advanced, eye-catching and well-balanced styling to its use of twin 600-hp Mercury V12 power and its exciting list of standard and optional features, the Aviara AV40 OB is much more than an exciting dayboat.

Major Features

100% fiberglass composite structure
Carbon-reinforced cockpit flooring
Dual-folding hydraulic terraces
19" Simrad Chartplotter GPS w/Maps
10.1" Control Screen for stereo, boat systems, depth finder, water and air temp
Electric hydraulic steering w/tilt wheel
7” Simrad Mercury Vessel View
Klipsch premium audio system featuring ten 8.5” speakers, two 11” subwoofers plus Bluetooth and USB audio input
7.5-kW gasoline generator
8-gallon hot water heater
Porcelain electric toilet w/32 gal holding tank and dockside pump-out
Mercury Active Trim
Fiberglass hardtop
Cabin air conditioning
Wet bar w/3 bottle wine chiller, sink, Corian counter and portable cooler

Notable Options

Twin 600-hp Mercury V12 Verados w/JPO in black or white
Hardtop retractable sunroof
Power retractable sunshade aft
Autoglide auto-trim tabs
Seakeeper 3 gyro w/9.5-kW generator
UHD 4K radar
32’ cockpit TV w/inverter and lift
Gourmet wet bar w/refrigerator, storage and trash receptacle
Dual electric grills
Oversized teak cockpit folding table
3 transom, gas-assisted barstools
Teak bow table w/filler cushion and sunshade
Transom shower

Vessel Inspection

Bow

Modern comfort abounds aboard the AV40 OB. It all starts up in the bow and continues throughout.

Aviara AV40 OB bow — Accessed via a walkway on the port side, the bow area offers lots of comfortable seating with storage space beneath. An optional teak table with an insert cushion is available here. Note the stylish and functional handrails located on the inboard sides of the space and the pair of Klipsch speakers. Individual sound zones are easily programmed.

Aviara AV40 OB large anchor locker — Fully forward is the large anchor locker with Lewmar windlass, remote control unit and washdown hose.

Aft Section

A great part of the Aviara AV40 OB’s appeal is the utilization of all available space. With an LOA of 42'3" (12.8 m) and an amidships beam measuring 12'3" (3.7 m), the design team made sure her prime directive — supplying luxurious and comfortable room for owners, their families and guests — was fulfilled.

Aviara AV40 OB 600-hp V12 Mercury engines — With a pair of massive 600-hp Mercury V12 engines fully aft, the swim platform offers wide open spaces to relax while on the hook at a favorite anchorage or when retrieving swimmers and water sports enthusiasts.

Aviara AV40 OB sunpad configuration — Furthering the point is this seating console. Seen here in the sunpad configuration, the three lounges have adjustable backrests. Note the wide walkways to either side allowing for safe and easy access fore and aft.

Aviara AV40 OB — Enjoying a day out at a favorite gunkhole is made even more fun with these hydraulically expandable terraces, increasing the Aviara’s beam from 12'3" (3.7 m) to a full 18' (5.4 m). The expandable swim ladder is hidden inside the aft starboard platform. Note the optional electrically operated aft sunshade, the area it covers and how far back it goes.

Aviara AV40 OB bench seat — Moving forward, the seating console has a bench seat as well. There are three 'bar stools' on top of the console, which easily raise and lower by hand.

Cockpit and Helm

A favorite gathering place on numerous day boats, the cockpit should offer comfortable seating and a place to prepare the meal of the day while everyone else relaxes and delights in the surroundings, reads a book and works up an appetite while participating in water sports. Aboard the Aviara AV40 OB, these and other activities are easily realized and enjoyed.

Aviara AV40 OB optional double grill area — With the aft seating bench and lounge to port, access to the optional double grill area affords the opportunity for informal meals to be prepared and served. Note the SeaDek, in what Aviara calls its Versailles Pattern, in the sole here and that of the folded-up terrace to port. The wide walkway fore and aft is to port. Note the expansive counterspace.

Aviara AV40 OB port side seating lounge — This close-up of the port side seating lounge reveals a trio of stylish handrails and as found throughout, plentiful cup holders.

Aviara AV40 OB wet bar — The starboard gourmet wet bar and cooking area offers a choice of optional dual refrigerators and a pair of electric grills. Other features here include a wide countertop, freshwater sink and cutting board forward, and space for a pop-up television. There’s even a portable cooler stowed in its own pull out drawer.

Aviara AV40 OB hard top — As you can easily see here in this overhead, the sizeable hardtop covers most of the cockpit and helm areas. The optional sunroof opens to 75" at the touch of a button. Four of the 10 Klitch speakers are integrated into the hardtop.

Aviara AV40 OB helm — The helm, located to starboard, offers a large space strategically designed for optimum control of all aspects of driving, operating, and managing the Aviara AV40 OB. Featured is a 19” Simrad touchscreen, 10.1” control screen for stereo, boat systems, depth finder, water and air temp and the 7” Simrad Mercury Vessel View screen. All controls, switches and gauges are within easy reach and viewing. Note the wraparound windshield and wide passage to port to and from the bow and the entrance door to the cabin located on the port end of the console.

Aviara AV40 OB helm bench — The triple-wide helm bench is bolstered for all with a split seat for the driver. Additional, easy to fold down steps are beneath the bench.

Cabin

Aviara laid out this boat for comfort and simplicity of use. To that end, this dayboat could easily be a couple's weekender with the kids. Again, maximizing all available and usable space, the interior design team came up with a sensible, air-conditioned layout.

Aviara AV40 OB cabin sitting space transform into a berth — The forward portion of the cabin offers a table insert, transforming the sitting space into a berth.

Aviara AV40 OB forward end of the berth becomes a backrest — While used for seating, the forward end of the berth easily becomes a backrest.

Aviara AV40 OB cabin television — The large screen cabin television is standard. There is more than sufficient storage room here plus a refrigerator and microwave below.

Aviara AV40 OB head — The head is located in its own private compartment and features a shower nozzle from the sink.

Aviara AV40 OB queen-size berth — Rounding out the cabin offerings is the aft queen-size berth.

Summary

The Aviara AV40 OB is as sleek-looking as she is practical. She is the kind of dayboat that can easily be a family weekender, even on short notice. Elegant, with luxurious and sophisticated touches and amenities, she features hydraulically operated terraces to either side, allowing her aft beam to increase to 18' (5.5 m). This makes her gunkholing and watersport adventures even more sensational.

Well-built, with sturdy construction and a dynamic layout plus twin 600-hp Mercury V12 power, she is the kind of exciting boat you would have designed personally. Available in many different hull colors and accents, check her out in person and set up a sea trial. You might find yourself at the helm, setting out for exciting times on the water.

Aviara AV40 OB running

Remember, life is better on a boat!

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