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VIDEO: Silverton 36 Convertible

The new Silverton 36 Convertible is a US-import with all the bells and whistles, including IPS drives

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  • Versatile flybridge cruiser
  • Priced at the lower end of the market, despite high specs
  • Standard package includes boating essentials
  • Sense of space and comfort belies the boat’s size
  • Limited lifetime warranty on hull and deck construction, materials and workmanship

Silverton 36 Convertible is so-named because of the boat’s ability to function as both as a sports fishing boat and luxury sports cruiser.

Silverton Marine Corporation is listed as a top 20 production boat builder in the United States.

According to Silverton its 36 Convertible is America’s best-selling “convertible”, a big feat given that the 36C has only been in production for about five years.

The 38C will fit into a 12m berth lengthwise with two inches to spare, but with a beam of 13’10″ (4.22m) it will be close.

Fortunately for buyers the Silverton 36 Convertible is now fitted as standard with Volvo’s IPS drive system.

Sideways glance

The Silverton is designed with a pleasing correlation between topside height, cabin top and flybridge. The sweeping tinted window line and raised sheer line impart a stylish contemporary look.

The extended aft boarding platform looks good and offers easy access on and off the boat, but the trade-off is a compressed cockpit.

The cockpit itself features the usual amenities including cockpit shower, sink and rod/tackle storage. Factory-fitted options include fresh or salt water wash down facilities, live bait tank, rod holders, bait fridge/freezer, rocket launcher and wet bar.

Cockpit access to the flybridge is via a one-piece moulded staircase to port.

Up top, the Convertible has a sense of space and comfort that belies the boat’s size. The flybridge has been extended well aft over the cockpit, creating the necessary floor area to accommodate a U-shaped lounge aft of the driver and passenger seats.

The helm station is well laid-out and functional with a central flat-mounted stainless steel wheel flanked by a moulded dash on both sides designed to accommodate one of three optional Raymarine instrument packages.

The entire flybridge can be enclosed with the addition of optional clears and bimini top.

Room with a view

Inside the 36 Convertible saloon, all 13’10″ of beam has been utilised to impart of sense of space and luxury.

The galley is perfectly adequate and nicely appointed, but it is small on counter space and has no provision for a conventional oven.

Two-steps up and the saloon opens up near-360 views through the large raked windscreen and side opening windows and single rear door fitted with a screen.

Accommodation

The master state room is in the bow and features an innerspring queen island berth on the centre line flanked with cabinetry. A circular overhead hatch provides fresh air. Headroom measures 6’6″ throughout.

The fully moulded shower unit is to starboard with twin access from the central companionway and master state room. Opposite, the heads are large with matching Corion vanity with masses of storage.

The second stateroom is aft of the head to port and features a lower and upper bunk. While cabin space is generous the length of the bunks at just 6″ will be too short for many. The saloon settee also converts into a double berth.

Lifetime warranty

Silverton backs its boats with a unique “Armour Protection” warranty giving first-use buyers a limited lifetime warranty on hull and deck construction, materials and workmanship.

Its two-year stem to stern warranty on every part manufactured by Silverton and its probated five-year warranty on osmosis protection are both fully transferable.

Construction below the waterline is a solid GRP laminate with a vinylester barrier coat for osmosis protection. The topsides, cabin top and superstructure are foam-cored GRP. Marine-grade plywood stringers are glassed to the hull as are all plywood bulkheads and built-in cabinets.

The hull and deck are bolted together on six-inch centres and sealed with elastomeric sealer and butyl tape and impact protected by a rubber rub rail with stainless steel insert. All cleats and deck hardware are through bolted to aluminium backing plates.

Watch the video below to hear Silverton 36C owners Barry and Bronwyn McGhie, who ended a long and fruitless search among second-hand stock for a boat that would accommodate Bronwyn’s desire for style and sophistication and Barry’s want to catch fish…

See Silverton boats for sale here.

Specifications

LOA (excluding platform) 11.46m
Beam 4.02m
Draft 0.99m
Deadrise 13º
Weight (dry) 8414kg
Fuel capacity 1083L
Water capacity 356L
Engines 2 x Volvo 300hp with IPS
Max speed 28 knots

Video

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