2013 Quicksilver Activ 705 – Bella Vista

'recent major servicing and maintenance completed'

Bella Vista is a well-presented example of the versatile Quicksilver Activ 705, combining the practicality of an enclosed wheelhouse with comfortable weekending accommodation and a generous cockpit for entertaining.

Importantly, she has recently benefited from a useful programme of servicing and maintenance. The Cummins diesel engine has received a full service, while the drive leg and gearing have also been serviced, including replacement seals. The hull and drive leg have been freshly antifouled, and a new battery has been fitted.

Further recent improvements include a new macerator pump, new aft bilge pump and new cabin lighting. The cockpit enclosure has also received attention, with its windows renewed, including a new rear window. Collectively, these works represent worthwhile expenditure and mean that a number of the maintenance items commonly encountered when purchasing a boat of this age have already been addressed.

Powered by her Cummins diesel installation, Bella Vista offers an appealing combination of performance and economy, with a quoted maximum speed of approximately 33 knots. Her previous use has included relatively light running on freshwater.

One of the strengths of the Activ 705 is the amount of usable accommodation Quicksilver managed to incorporate within a compact overall length.

The enclosed wheelhouse provides excellent shelter and visibility. Forward are dedicated helm and navigator's seats, with the principal engine and navigation instrumentation arranged around the helm position. The throttle is conveniently positioned to starboard and an engine safety kill switch is fitted. An electric anchor windlass assists with anchoring duties.

Immediately aft of the forward seating, the galley is arranged to port and incorporates a sink with drainer, useful storage, refrigerator and single-ring cooker.

Opposite, the saloon seating has been designed with considerable flexibility. The seating can face forward when under way or be rearranged around the deck-mounted table to create a sociable dining area. It also converts to provide an additional double berth.

Forward, Bella Vista offers a separate double sleeping area together with an enclosed heads compartment, making the boat considerably more practical for overnight and weekend use than many open sports boats of comparable size. Together with the convertible saloon berth, accommodation is available for up to four people.

Large sliding glass doors connect the wheelhouse with the aft cockpit, helping the two areas work particularly well together when entertaining. The cockpit has bench seating and is protected by a full fabric enclosure, allowing the space to remain usable when the weather is less cooperative. The recently renewed enclosure windows further improve this area.

Beyond the cockpit is one of the boat's particularly attractive features: a substantial extended bathing platform. It provides straightforward access to the water as well as a useful additional space when swimming, relaxing at anchor or simply enjoying the boat alongside.

The Quicksilver Activ 705 attracted considerable praise when introduced, particularly for its combination of family accommodation, enclosed wheelhouse, social cockpit and manageable dimensions. Its ability to provide a permanent galley, enclosed heads and four-berth accommodation while retaining genuinely useful outdoor space remains one of the reasons the model has proved so appealing.

Bella Vista now benefits from a particularly useful package of recent maintenance and upgrades, including:

• Full Cummins engine service


• Drive leg and gear service


• New drive-leg seals


• Hull and drive leg antifouled


• New battery


• New macerator pump


• New aft bilge pump


• New cabin lighting


• Replacement cockpit-enclosure windows


• New rear window to cockpit enclosure

For someone looking for a practical diesel-powered family cruiser that can be used for day trips, weekends aboard and faster coastal passages, Bella Vista deserves serious consideration.