Ranieri International Next 275

The Ranieri International Next 275 is a large bowrider built in moulded fibreglass by Ranieri International of Italy, a builder trading since 1904. On our measurements it works out at roughly 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m) of hull with a beam near 11 ft 8 in (3.56 m), which places it squarely in the trailerable family bowrider class: one vehicle, one trailer, one afternoon of prep, and the boat is in the water. Italian day boats with strong sea manners and Mediterranean styling flair.

Layout is classic bowrider and that is the whole point of the boat. Twin lounges run forward of the windscreen with a walk-through to the anchor well, the helm and companion seats sit amidships behind a wrap screen, and a full-width lounge spans the transom for sunbathing and socialising. Around 13 people fit aboard comfortably in sheltered water. Cushions lift out, backrests fold and filler pads convert the cockpit from a conversation pit into one long sun bed in a couple of minutes.

On the water the Next 275 is easy to like because nothing about it is demanding. Trim it out, settle into a mid-throttle cruise and it holds course with a finger on the wheel. Turns are progressive rather than sharp, wake crossings are soft, and the boat is forgiving of an inexperienced driver — an underrated quality in a family bowrider.

Power is a 265-400 hp four-stroke outboard package, and that suits both the hull and the way these boats are used. Keeping the machinery outside the hull frees up stern storage, simplifies servicing and removes the bellows and gimbal wear items that punish neglected stern drive boats. It also lifts the swim platform clear of the exhaust.

Watersports are well covered. A tow point is standard on almost every boat in this class, and Ranieri International owners regularly add a pylon or a folding tower for wakeboarding. A healthy outboard package pulls a slalom skier out of the water cleanly and tows children on an inflatable biscuit all day without protest. Skis, ropes and vests live in the under-floor and under-seat lockers so nothing sits underfoot while the boat is loaded.

Anglers do well out of the Next 275. The bow converts to a casting deck once the cushions are stowed, there is room to swing a rod without hitting the screen, and lockers swallow tackle, nets and a cooler. It is not a dedicated fishing boat, but it catches fish and it still takes the family out the next morning — which is the entire argument for owning a bowrider.

Build and finish sit where you would expect for a premium boat from Italy. Ranieri has been building boats in Calabria since 1904 and brings a distinctly Italian sensibility to the bowrider format. The Next and Voyager ranges include open day boats with forward seating, expansive sunpads, teak-look decking and sculpted topsides designed as much for a lunch stop off Capri as for a family ski session. Underneath the styling the hulls are serious: pronounced deadrise, sharp entries and well-developed spray rails give the boats genuinely good manners in Mediterranean chop, and Ranieri's deep-V designs are respected by owners who cross open water regularly. Fit-out is premium, with quality upholstery, tidy fibreglass mouldings, integrated coolers and often a concealed head compartment. Outboard power dominates the modern range, keeping the cockpit clear and simplifying maintenance. Ranieri is best known across Southern Europe, with growing dealer coverage in Northern Europe and the Middle East. Used examples are less common outside the Mediterranean but represent good value for buyers who want European style and seakeeping.

Options worth having on the Next 275 are the practical ones: a bimini for shade, a decent bow and cockpit cover so the upholstery survives being stored outside, an upgraded sounder if you fish, and a stereo package that can be heard over the engine. On fibreglass, a ceramic coat or a good polish once a season keeps the gelcoat looking new and protects resale.

As a used buy, check the same things you would on any bowrider in this size band: transom firmness, stringer and floor soundness, hours and service history on the engine, steering and trim function, and the state of the upholstery seams, which are the first thing to fail on a boat that lives uncovered. Boats from this builder hold their money well, so a tidy example will not be cheap, and that is usually a sign you are buying the right one.

Our price guide for the Next 275 is US$102,000 - US$134,000 new, which moves with engine choice, trailer, tower and how recently the boat was refreshed. Judged as a whole, it does what people buy a bowrider for: cruise, tow, swim, fish and entertain in one boat, without asking the family to compromise on any of them. Ranieri International has been refining that formula since 1904, and the Next 275 is a straightforward, well-judged expression of it.