Our drivers all appreciated the effects of the 425-horse-power, 496 Magnum HO on the Valor's hydrodynamics. The combination set in motion a nice, level, exhilarating level of performance, tempered with a most predictable nature that's made to order for pure, family enjoyment. The Valor's ride is unwavering in its fluid, controlled feel, and this responsive setup grants effortless access to clean-riding speeds in the elevated 60s. From launch to load, from idle to wide-open throttle, from backing the beaching, this Essex is easy and much fun to drive and absolutely responsive to driver input. It has a large, forgiving trim range. "It doesn't have any bad habits," one of our drivers noted.

In short, it's a lot like the other members of its family.

We got firsthand experience with the Valor's obedience at low rpm though the Nautical's expansive, no-wake perimeter-minimal input is needed to track, and the 496 purrs. Gaffrig controls are standard on this boat and they traveled smoothly.

When it's called upon, the HO fills the chassis with a determined surge and moves it very quickly to planing stance. The hull's responsive nature is evident with the most benign nudge of the independent throttle stick. It finds its surface stance with a steady surge- and maneuvers easily and without hesitation, a quality that we rediscovered in every rpm zone we inhabited.

Its a very nice lake cruiser, and it ran a very respectable 53 mph at 4,000 rpm. It's true that the Essex is not blistering quick between the buoys, but its performance is solid by every measure.

We also found this hull to be a pretty soft ridding platform, a trait we observed firsthand as we trained the Essex into a patch of pretty respectable chop that ran the length of a football field. There is a fair amount of veer in the Valor's entry, and it flattened our path very effectively, arcing a path thought rogue rollers and gurgling wake remnants.