We tested the brand new Pardo 38, and it didn’t fall short of expectations: a smart design matches fast cruising capabilities with the customary style from the yard.
According to the builder, the new Pardo 38 has been designed with a double aim: to market a rather affordable boat (the tag can stay south of € 400.000), and not to compete with the larger sibling Pardo 43. Mission(s) accomplished?
The test
Gusts of wind over 30 knots and chopped sea: the best conditions for a test, not for a photo shoot (the pictures have been taken some days later). We are in northeastern Italy, close to Trieste, getting out of the port of Portopiccolo.
Let’s cut to the chase: the hull of Pardo 38 is smooth on any kind of wave, even while tight-turning as the sterndrives allow. The feeling is that of safety and of a robust construction, so much so that we would like more bang in the engine room. We have two D4 Volvos for a total of 600 hp, but we know this is not the limit. Hull #4, for instance, will be delivered to USA and will mount three outboards, 300hp Mercury Verado. But the second and third units will have Volvo D6 inboard motors. The basic powertrain, on the low side of the choice, has two Volvo gas units with 280 hp.
That said, the top speed reading of 35 knots can be deemed a good result. There’s a lot of margin for this number too: to give you an idea, the USA hull with 900 hp easily reached 50 knots.
The minimum planing speed is 12 knots at 2000rpm, burning 36 liters per hour, and we see very good numbers for the fuel consumption in the full range between 20 and 25 knots. Below there’s the full chart with our readings.
Pardo 38, on board
The reverse bow and the sleek profile give a strong family feeling, with the main difference between Pardo 38 and 43 (beside of course the length) is in the beam, down from 4.20 to 3.50 meters. This hinders space onboard, but not too much: the cockpit houses a cozy dinette which becomes a sun bed by lowering the table, while the aft settees can be tilted to access the engine bay.
Pardo 43 is the debut of a 44-year-old brand
The kitchenette and the three piloting seats are well protected by the rigid top (another Pardo hallmark), as is the dashboard with its sober and rational design. Getting to the foredeck is made easy by large passageways and high and protective bulwarks. The bow sundeck leaves room along the perimeter, according to the walkaround layout. Two final notes for the Flexiteek flooring, which is getting hard to tell from the real wood, and for the spectacular swim platform, which of course wouldn’t be there in case you go for the outboard solution.
Three steps lead belowdecks: an airy open space features a double bed to bow, a cabinet to port and the (rather large) heads on the opposite side. Another two bunks below the cockpit are cozy and well proportioned despite the limited headroom. Our only concern is for the choice not to have an inside dinette, which would have made this Pardo 38 a perfect cruising companion (along with a second galley downstairs). On the other hand, the joinery and crafting of the interiors respect the customary level of Cantiere del Pardo, which is definitely high.
The numbers of Pardo 38
- Length overall ………………………… 11.90 m (39 ft)
- Length LH …………………… 10.95 m (35ft 11in)
- Beam …………………………… 3.60 m (11ft 10in)
- Displacement W/O engines … 7.000 Kg
- Draft …………………………… 0.90 (2ft 11in)
- Max output ……………… 2 x 300 hp Volvo Penta D4
- Fuel reserve …………… 1.000 l (264 US gal)
- Fresh water reserve …………………… 180 l (47 US gal)
- Passengers …………………… 12/16
- CE design category ………………… B/C
Performance
- rpm knots mph lph nm/l range*
- 600 4,0 4,6 3,9 1,03 821
- 1000 6,2 7,1 7,5 0,83 661
- 1500 8,7 10,0 19 0,46 366
- 2000 12,0 13,8 36 0,33 267
- 2500 18,0 20,7 58 0,31 248
- 3000 26,0 29,9 78 0,33 267
- 3600 35,0 40,3 116 0,30 241
*(20% reserve)
Test conditions
Chopped sea, clean hull, fuel 600 l (158 US gal), water 30 l (7 US gal), 6 passengers
Indicative price (VAT not included)
With Volvo Penta V6 gas 2×280 hp ……………………… € 309.000
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