Solace 30HCS

The new Solace 30 Hybrid Center Step represents the largest hybrid bay boat to date.

- Karl Anderson

SOLACE BOATS HAS ENTERED THE HYBRID BAY-BOAT SEGMENT OF THE MARKET WITH WHAT IS CONSIDERED THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND TO DATE. THE 30HCS (HYBRID CENTER STEP) COMES IN AT NEARLY 30 FEET AND SPORTS TWIN MERC 400 VERADOS. THE HYBRID DESIGN OFFERS A GOOD DEAL OF SEATING, MANY FISHING AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES, AND A BIT LESS FREEBOARD THAN A TYPICAL OFFSHORE CENTERCONSOLE, BUT MORE THAN A BAY BOAT.

The folks at Solace are known for building technology-driven, feature-rich boats, and the 30HCS is no exception. Everywhere you look is a feature meant to make your boating experience easier. Many of these features are exclusive to Solace boats, and the company continues to push the envelope. The 30HCS boasts advanced composite-construction materials and processes, including vacuum-infused carbon-fiber and epoxy laminates. The hull has a twin-step, variable-deadrise ventilated hull with a high-density PVC composite transom. Belowdecks, the lazarette is a molded, finely finished space housing water separators, a steering hydraulic pump, a raw-water washdown pump, stainless raw-water through-hull valves, underwater light modules, bilge pumps and more.

On deck, the 30HCS sports a pair of transom livewells, each with 30-gallon capacity. A thoughtfully designed transom bench sits atop the wells, with two cushioned seats with armrests and a clever padded backrest that pivots to let crewmembers face fore or aft. There are walk-through doors on both sides of the center-aligned livewells to access the transom swim platform that also has two pull-out boarding ladders, one on each side of the motors.