Highfield Sport 800

The Sport 800 is a fantastic addition to the Sport line-up. The Highfield Sport 800 offers a smooth, stable ride that's also very sporty thanks to the excellent power-to-weight ratio. Featuring multiple seating configurations, there is room for all your friends & family. The sundecks forward & aft promise afternoons of true relaxation whilst you enjoy your picnic chilled by the onboard fridge. Other luxury features as standard such as the windlass & T-Top with inbuilt storage, speakers and LED lighting elevate your experience even further.

Hit the throttles, and Highfield’s Sport 800 goes zero to 30 mph in 4.9 seconds. In fact, at 30, 35 or even 45 mph, the boat will firmly push you back into the leaning post when you lay on the gas. Do hold on.

Rigid inflatable boats—RIBs—such as the Sport 800 are up to 50 percent lighter than similar-size ­conventional boats. This superior horsepower-to-weight ratio is made even better in Highfield’s case because its aluminum hulls weigh even less. This is why the Sport 800 accelerates and attains the speeds that it does.

Handling matches the speed and acceleration. With the wheel locked over, even approaching 50 mph, the boat never let go, tracking around sharper, and with more G-force, frankly, than any normal boating scenario you are likely to encounter. In more-sedate maneuvers, it’s a joy responding and ­recovering instantly to input at the wheel, trim and throttle. The Sport 800 delivers a slam- and ­bam-free experience in chop.

The Sport 800’s hull is narrow, with deep deadrise, more so in both respects than a conventional boat’s hull. This accounts for the smooth ride. Furthermore, the tube provides stability, and, when the boat comes off a wave, it ­attenuates vibration.

The layout and features should please those in the market for a center-console dayboat. Certainly, one can fish or dive from this rugged, seaworthy performer. Two swim platforms with boarding ladders, plus a transom shower and ski pylon, serve for watersports. The aft lounge converts to a sun pad, and a cockpit table and a standard drawer-­style refrigerator ensure entertaining prowess. In the bow, find a sun lounge and a console seat. The T-top provides weather protection, and a concealed anchor windlass hauls the hook.