A new speedy island hoper
AS WE WALKED along the dock to our test boat, rows of bright fiberglass boats started to blend-together until the striking appearance of the Life Proof 41 stood out, telling me I was in the right place. There is something alluring about the welded aluminum hull and superstructure with angular windows contrasting orange and black upholstered seats. Gray exterior collars with black rub rails and accents project purpose and power, as do the twin Mercury Verado 600s looming on the transom. Collars on the hull sides suggest the boat is a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) but on most Life Proof models, including this 41Full Cabin, they are not inflatable. The collars are filled with closed cell foam formed into a D shape that is then covered with heavy duty polyester fabric coated with urethane. This provides all the benefits of inflatable collars like buoyancy, stability, and impact protection, but without needing to be inflated. Life Proof boats toe the line between their work boat origins and yacht-quality recreational boats. Purposeful, aggressive styling is part of the appeal, but performance and comfort differentiate them from other collared boats. Fast and fun has been my experience driving Life Proof models and I was excited to see how the 41 Full Cabin would stack up.
