The conventional bottom of the 28 Sport Single's 24-degree hull was clean and simple. Of the boat's four strokes, only the outer set ran full length. The inner pair terminated about 12 feet from the transom. To the boat's 470-hp fuel injected engine, the manufacturer mated a Bravo One XZ drive spinning a Mercury Bravo One 15 1/4" x 26" four-blade stainless-steel propeller through a 1.5:1 reduction.

In the conditions off Hawk's cay, speed and acceleration testing had been out of the question. Not that we didn't try, but the 4 to 6 footers tend to mess with speed runs, acceleration drills, and time to plane tests. Test day conditions off Captiva Island, flat in protected areas and merely choppy offshore, allowed for the full battery of tests.

The boat came on plane in 4 seconds flat and reached 64 MPH in 20 seconds. In midrange acceleration tests, it ran from 30 to 50 MPH in 5.7 seconds and from 40 to 60 MPH in 8.7 seconds.

Our lead test driver had nothing but praise for the 28 Sport Single's handling manners. The boat carved capably through slalom turns at 30 MPH. At 40 and 50 MPH those maneuvers were even crisper. In decreasing radius circle turns at cruising and full speeds, the 28-footer leaned in and held its line without slipping, catching or hooking.

"This boat just feels good, solid," said our lead test driver. "Handling is very predictable."

Even more predictable, based on past experience, was the 28 Sport Single's handling in open water. In the Gulf of Mexico off Captiva Island, our test team couldn't find anything close to the rough stuff during the roundup at Hawk's Cay. But in the 1-to 2-chop they did encounter, the boat launched a strong attack from all angles-head on, following and quartering.

Pantera did a nifty job with the Sport Single's mold work. We found no errors in the deck or hullsides. To create the boat's attractive graphics, the manufacturer used BASF paint in a fine application over shiny white gelcoat. All screws heads were aligned.

For lamination materials in the hand-laid boat, the manufacturer went with a combination of three-quarter and 1 1/2 ounce woven roving. Strakes were putty-filled for added brawn, its transom was constructed of encapsulated marine plywood. All bulkheads were bonded to the hull with biaxial glass.

A single electric screw jack raised to reveal the HP500EFI, which was installed using a Mercury Racing offshore cradle mount and L-angles through-bolted to the stringers and the standard transom assembly.

No detail was missed in the boat's sanitary rigging. All wires and cables were supported with evenly spaced stainless-steel cushion clamps. The bilge was finished with smooth white gelcoat. Mounted on the firewall, the trim pumps were connected to the drive and tabs using braided stainless-steel hoses. The aluminum battery boxes even had step plates to keep mechanics and pthers from damaging the connections.

For natural light over the V-berth and facing lounges in the carpeted cabin, the manufacturer included a deck hatch. The installation was flawless and did nothing to disrupt the plush headliner, which incorporated 2 inches of padding. For illumination after dark, separate lights were provided for the V-berth and midcabin areas.

The boat had no galley or head locker, but it did have a Porta Potti as well as an anchor locker and three-piece door.

In the cockpit to port, the co-pilot's position was equipped with a manual drop-out bolster, an angled footrest, a glove in the dash and a grab handle. Rather than carpeting, rubber flooring material covered the boat's sole.

A manual drop-out bolster also was supplied for the driver to starboard. Arranged around the tilt steering wheel at the helm were Gaffrig gauges customized with the Pantera logo. In addition to the standard instruments, there were mechanical trim indicators for the drive and tabs, and a Ritchie compass. The Zero Effort throttle and shifter were monted on the starboard gunwale.

The rear bench was deep and large enough for four people. For passengers to find purchase in rough waters when standing, the manufacturer included a grab handle on the back of each bolster.

The Pantera 28 Sport Single has proven itself to us twice-once in the rough, once in the smooth-in less than 12 months. That is saying something, because we're critical, even picky.