Solara S-310 SB Quick Facts
Model: Solara S-310 SB (Sport Bridge)
Builder: Fluid Motion (Solara • Ranger Tugs • Cutwater)
Power: Twin Yamaha F300 outboards; Helm Master EX joystick
Test numbers: Top ~50 mph; cruise ~38 mph; ~1.38 mpg at 37.7 mph; ~248-mile range (10% reserve, as tested)
Hull/Handling: Twin steps; Laminar Flow Interrupters; DES electric steering; auto-leveling tabs
Electrical: LiFePO4 house bank powering reverse-cycle heat/AC, galley appliances, and grill (no genset)
Factory delivery: Des Moines Marina pickup; orientation, systems setup, on-water training; ship home afterward
PNW highlights: Bell Harbor/Pike Place, Gig Harbor Tides Tavern, Quartermaster Harbor, Tacoma’s Thea Foss, Jarrell Cove
Use cases: Trailerable coastal cruiser for fishing + family trips; PNW/Florida/Bahamas versatility
Why the Pacific Northwest? (Salish Sea, Puget Sound basics)
One of the best parts of boating is the chance to explore new waters—and while the Southeast offers some incredible cruising, sometimes it’s fun to switch things up. If you’re craving a change of scenery, Fluid Motion—the company behind Ranger Tugs, Cutwater, and Solara—has a unique factory delivery experience that’s worth checking out. Instead of taking delivery at home, you can pick up your new boat right where it’s built, in the stunning Pacific Northwest. From there, you can cruise the local waters, soak in the scenery, and have your boat shipped home when you’re done. I recently had the chance to recreate one of these trips while testing the new Solara S-310 SB (Sport Bridge)—a versatile model built for both cruising and fishing, whether you’re navigating Florida’s coastline or the rugged beauty of Puget Sound—accompanied by Fluid Motion Vice President of Marketing Sam Bisset and fellow writer Norris Comer.
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Don’t get me wrong. I’m not about to give up palm trees, tiki bars, and sandy beaches, but there’s something about boating in the Pacific Northwest that is spellbinding. Puget Sound features myriad waterways that carve through rocky islands with snowcapped mountains looming in the distance. The water is deep, cold, and abundant with sea life, including sea otters, salmon, halibut, giant pacific octopus, and whales, including orcas. The Salish Sea connects to the Pacific Ocean 60 miles west through the Straits of Juan De Fuca, rendering many places protected by surrounding land. Common cruising areas are the San Juan Islands, north into Canada and, for the truly adventuresome, beyond to Alaska. But there’s plenty to see locally.
Factory Delivery: How the Program Works (walkthrough + training)
Our cruise and boat test explored South Puget Sound near the factory delivery center in the Des Moines Marina just 15 minutes from Sea Tac Airport. Bisset was aboard a new S-310 SB (Sport Bridge) when we arrived. As if we were new owners on the first day aboard, factory personnel walked us through all the boat’s systems and familiarized us with all the equipment, where things were located and how everything functioned. They even helped us customize the twin Garmin 12-inch multifunction displays (MFDs) and program waypoints. New owners would then spend the second day on the water learning how the boat runs, practicing docking, and even launching and retrieving with the trailer. With Bisset on board, we were able to do our hands-on orientation during our cruise.
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Performance Test Results (speed, mpg, range, handling, steps/LFIs)
The S-310 SB with standard twin Yamaha F300 outboards can hit speeds of 50 mph and cruises easily at 38 mph, allowing us to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. The only caveat about running fast in Puget Sound is you have to keep a lookout for logs and other floating debris. With two large wipered windshield panels, visibility from the lower helm is excellent, and the sport bridge helm is completely unobstructed. On the run between Des Moines and Seattle, I tested vessel performance on reciprocal runs. At 37.7 mph, we used 27.4 gph, providing a working range of 248 miles with a 10 percent reserve. This speed and 1.38 mpg allowed us to explore over a wide range that would be equally useful traveling to the Bahamas and other cruising areas.
The handling of the boat is excellent, and with the DES electric steering I was able to make tight controlled turns in only a few boat lengths without cavitation or much speed loss. Twin hull steps and Laminar Flow Interrupters which are cup-like indentations in the hull break the water’s grip and improve cornering. The 10-foot beam helps stabilize the boat, provides more interior room, and still allows trailering. Just for fun, we timed a 0-50 mph run in 29.03 seconds; the Solara came up on plane smoothly assisted by auto-leveling trim tabs.
Destinations Within a Day’s Run (Seattle, Gig Harbor, Tacoma, coves)
We were able to visit a host of locations, some lively and some serene on our multiday trip. At Bell Harbor Marina in downtown Seattle, we stopped at Pike Place Market to buy a king salmon since we were not rigged for fishing. From there, you can walk to the recently renovated Seattle Aquarium, catch a baseball or football game, and just enjoy all the city has to offer.
We left Seattle and set off to Gig Harbor for lunch at Tides Tavern, a local favorite that offers free daytime dockage for patrons. On another stop, we ventured into Quartermaster Harbor and dropped the hook in the protected waters surrounded by the diminutive Maury Island, which is connected to Vashon Island by an isthmus built by locals in 1913. Ashore is the small town of Burton and some nearby hiking trails. A night on the dock at Thea Foss Waterway, a northsouth inlet of Commencement Bay that separates downtown Tacoma, Washington, from the Port of Tacoma, offers plenty of shoreside activities, among them the Chihuly Garden and Glass and Lemay-America’s Car Museum full of rare and nostalgic automobiles. Major concerts and events are also held at the nearby Tacoma Dome. A unique venue about a mile from the marina is McMenamins Elks Temple, with multiple dining areas and five different bars including a hidden speakeasy. A quieter venue, the nearby Point Defiance Marina offers overnight moorage with access to a large park with trails, multiple gardens, a living history museum, and a zoo.
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For an evening away from the bustle, we visited Jarrell Cove, one of many Washington State Parks. The water in this tree-lined inlet was so glassy it reflected a perfect mirror image of the sky. Here, I had a chance to dock using the Yamaha Helm Master EX joystick on the Solara. (I’m usually leery of joysticks because I tend to push a bit too eagerly, resulting in jerky movements.) The system worked flawlessly, and with five easy-to-set thrust levels, I could dial in just the right amount of power to move smoothly. The boat has a bow thruster, but in the protected conditions I didn’t need it. This joystick won me over because of its precision. No more swinging the wheel with a suicide knob like you normally do on an outboard-powered boat; just simple, controlled motion that anyone can master. In windier conditions, you can easily turn up the thrust for more power.
Systems & Tech (LiFePO4 house bank, heat/AC, electronics, joystick)
The Solara S-310 SB uses Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries to power the reverse cycle heat and air conditioning and other items on board instead of a generator. These are a more stable, safer alternative to lithium-ion batteries sometimes associated with thermal runaway. This innovative technology allowed us to cook the salmon and asparagus we bought at the market using the onboard electric grill in the cockpit in silence, except for the music playing on our Fusion stereo. We also ran the microwave, the onboard heat when needed, and powered the electric stovetop in the fully equipped galley.
Overnighting & Comfort (berths, galley, storage, climate notes)
The Solara is only 33 feet, 10 inches with the motors down but roomy enough for three people to sleep aboard: one in the forward cabin, one in the quarter berth, and one on top of the lowered dinette table. With bow access and the sport bridge above, the cabin is full beam, which made it easy to move around inside without bumping into each other.
Traveling back to the delivery center, we stopped to watch as a small pod of transient orcas danced along the surface. Seeing these magnificent creatures in the wild is one of the many treats of cruising in Puget Sound.
And there are countless places to go in Puget Sound, whether you seek lively activities or tranquil anchorages. Summer months are the best time to cruise, and no, it doesn’t always rain. Seattle sees less annual rainfall than Fort Lauderdale , and that precipitation is typically more of a mist than a downpour.
The water is a bit cold for swimming, but kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are common activities. Many marinas and resorts also have heated pools and hot tubs.
Because air temperatures are mild, air conditioning isn’t a necessity. Summer temps are typically in the 70s or 80s during the day but sometimes dip below 60 degrees at night. If you’re a Floridian, come prepared—bring long pants and a light jacket for the evenings.
We got a taste of what owners can expect from their Solara factory delivery experience during our few days aboard. We found plenty to see and do and got a good feel for the boat.
For boaters seeking a new adventure, or simply trying to beat the heat, northwest cruising offers a different perspective. If the idea of boating in clear green waters along rocky shorelines with snowcapped mountains looming in the distance sounds appealing, this program may just be for you.
By Arnie Hammerman
Specs & Contact (quick table)
LOA (motors up): 36′
LOA (motors down): 33′ 10″
Beam: 10′
Draft: 2′ 1″
Fuel/Water capacity: 200/41 U.S. gals.
Power: 2x Yamaha F300 outboards with Helm Master EX joystick
Top/Cruise Speed: 50/38 mph (as tested)
Contact: Solara Boats – solaraboats.com
People Also Ask / FAQ
What is Solara’s factory delivery program?
Pick up your new Solara at Des Moines Marina, complete systems orientation and on-water training, cruise local waters, then arrange shipment home.How does the S-310 SB handle?
Twin steps, LFIs, and DES steering enable tight, controlled turns with minimal cavitation; auto-leveling tabs aid smooth hole-shot and ride.Can I overnight aboard?
Yes—forward cabin, quarter berth, and a convertible dinette comfortably sleep three, with a full galley and reverse-cycle heat/AC.Do I need a generator?
The LiFePO4 system powers heat/AC and galley appliances quietly; many owners run without a genset.Is the boat trailerable?
With a 10-foot beam and appropriate trailer/tow vehicle, the S-310 SB is trailerable where regulations allow.
