LARSON CABRIO 310

By Captain Kedd Lytton-Smith

Test Captain

I must say it was a pleasure to see first hand Larson’s vision for their 2003 cruising boats. This boat has very nice lines and is extremely spacious above and below deck. The 310 Cabrio has all the accommodations you will need for daytime entertainment and cruising, as well as overnights. At top speed you can’t help but feel exhilarated. The 310 model fills Larson’s gap between the 27’ and 33’ cruiser.

Performance and Ride

On the day of testing, seas were about 1’ to 2’ and we were able to achieve a top speed of 46 mph – very impressive for this size boat. The 310 had a very nice, tight turning radius. I had anticipated coming out of the hole on the turn more quickly, but I must say on the straightaway she gets out of the hole with no difficulty. With the seas directly on the bow at cruising speed of about 37 – 40 mph, the ride was a little rougher than expected, but this is probably due to the wide chine on the vessel, which for stability is a helpful feature. At the same speed we were taking a beam seas and the boat handled it smoothly. When we were maneuvering this vessel at slow speeds it responded well. Docking was a breeze with the twin screws.

At the Helm

While operating the boat you have a very spacious helm area. The captain’s bench has a retractable bolster and the steering wheel has a tilt feature contributing to the ease in which you get in and out of the control area as well as enabling you to personalize your wheel height. She is also equipped with quicksilver throttle and shift controls that were a pleasure to use. The trim tab controls were a little difficult to access due to the blockage created by the steering wheel, but this is certainly something that could be rectified with ease. Looking at the dash, the gauge layout was well done and easy to read. There is also a lot of extra space on the dash to flush mount any additional electronics you may want to add to this vessel. Once seated at the helm, the visibility is great – you have nothing in your line of sight. The 310 is a convertible and sports a very nice bimini top. At 6’3’’ I found the windshield to be a bit low although it deflected spray and wind well. Another nice feature of this helm area was the sunbathing bench/seat for additional passengers and storage space.

Cockpit Features

Larson has used the space wisely with the cockpit area. There is seating for approximately eight passengers on the wrap around bench seats. The aft bench also doubles as a storage locker. On the starboard side of the cockpit there is a flush mount in the deck for the removable table for dining and entertaining. On the port side of the cockpit there is a wet bar with hot and cold running water, drink holders, and below that is a small refrigerator/freezer unit. Looking up from the cockpit there is a fiberglass spoiler that has flush mounted courtesy lights that are helpful in the evening when taking the two stairs that lead into the helm area.

As you board the 310 you step onto a very large swim platform. A great feature is the fully integrated swim platform that is actually part of the mold, which means there are no seams. This swim platform has stainless steel, retractable steps that pull out and fold down into the water. They are conveniently stowed when not in use underneath the flush mounted cover in the platform. As you walk from the platform into the cockpit area one thing you’ll notice is that there is plenty of width in the entrance. I was very impressed with the height of the gunwales - a nice feature especially if there are any youngsters aboard.

On the bow of the boat there is a padded sunbathing area that has handholds on either side. The bow is completely enclosed by stainless steel rails. One of the things that I particularly liked was the kick edge molded into the hull around the forward bow. The bow can be accessed from either side of the boat with a very narrow walkway or through the helm area, which I preferred, via the walk through windshield offering plenty of width.

Engine Room

Once you open the engine room hatch you see that Larson has provided a nice set of stainless steel stairs for access. The layout of the engine room is very clean and organized. The accessibility of oil and fuel filters is made easy. This 310 was equipped with 5.0 liter Mercruisers that were well mounted directly over the stringers. This is a great structural aspect. Accessing the aft portion of the engine room is a little more difficult, however the entire cockpit floor is fitted with screws for easy removal.

Below Deck

Upon entering the main salon you are immediately impressed by its spaciousness. There are no bulkheads or walls impeding your mobility throughout the salon. Looking back behind the stairs, you see an aft cabin with lighting and a privacy curtain. This area definitely provides enough room to be comfortable for an overnight. Looking forward in the main salon you see a berth, which doubles as both the master bed and seating. Above that where most boats would have an anchor and chain locker, the 310 has a television. On the starboard side there is a kitchen area with sink, food preparation area, and ceramic hot plate. Above and below the sink you will find plenty of storage space. To the left of the sink there is a fairly larger refrigerator/freezer unit and to the left of that you will find a DVD & CD player providing a sound system for the entire boat. The galley area is located on the port side of the boat where you will find seating for 4-5 people and a dining table. The head is located on the aft port side containing a sink, shower and mirrored medicine chest.

Whether in the salon or up on deck, you will find quality craftsmanship throughout the entire Larson 310 Cabrio.

• Top speed for the Larson Cabrio 310 is 45.6 MPH (73.4 KPH), burning 38.0 gallons per hour (GPH) or 143.83 liters per hour (LPH).


• Best cruise for the Larson Cabrio 310 is 37.5 MPH (60.4 KPH), and the boat gets 1.45 miles per gallon (MPG) or 0.62 kilometers per liter (KPL), giving the boat a cruising range of 208 miles (334.74 kilometers).


• Tested power is 2 x 220-hp MerCruiser 5.0 L.

Larson Cabrio 310 Standard and Optional Equipment

Marine Electronics
VHF Radio
Systems
Air Cond./Heat
CD Stereo
Head: Fixed
Shore Power
Trim Tabs
TV/DVD
Galley
Coffeemaker
Icemaker
Refrigerator
Stove
Exterior Features
Carpet: Cockpit
Ice Chest
Outlet: 12-Volt Acc
Swim Ladder
Swim Platform
Transom Shower
Wet bar
Canvas
Camper Back
Cockpit Cover
Boats More Than 30 Feet
Generator

= Standard = Optional