The following review was written by John Page Williams, Editor-at-large, Chesapeake Bay Magazine. John, senior naturalist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, has been a regular contributor to Chesapeake Bay Magazine for 30 years, specializing in environmental issues, nature, wildlife, fishing and boats. He has been testing new and used boats for the magazine's Time-Tested and New Boat News departments since 1998.

APRIL 2009

Length overall  29' 5" Beam9' 8" Draft  2' 3" Weight6,600 lb Fuel 185 gals/ Water21 gals Max. power  500 hp Base Price  $258,000

The new Key Largo 28 Open from the Italian builder Sessa Marine is a center-console sport boat that sleeps four. That might sound like a triple contradiction, but this boat’s luxurious console offers a comfortable leaning post for two, with a helm to starboard and a companionway to port. Forward of the console is a huge sunpad set just a few inches below the gunwales; the cabin is under the sunpad. Belowdecks, there’s a forward V-berth that converts to a dinette, a galley to port, a stylish enclosed head to starboard and a double berth athwartships under the helm deck. Astern is an L-shaped settee that extends up the starboard side, with a table and a transom door to port for access to the stern deck and the twin Yamaha F250 four-strokes. Sessa Marine America, Dania Beach, Fla.; 954-925-1955; www.sessamarine.com