Echo America 35, sea trial of a walkaround that blends tradition and innovation

There are boats that reveal a clear identity at first glance. The Echo America 35 is one of them: essential lines, balanced proportions, and a strong character. It’s not a design meant to surprise with daring shapes, but one that aims to convince through performance and to accompany those who love the sea with reliability and substance.

The America 35 inherits the legacy of the America 30, a model that had already marked a turning point with its walkaround layout designed to enjoy the sea without barriers. That same philosophy is now reinterpreted in a modern key: a wider beam, better use of interior volumes, and functional solutions that make the boat equally suited for family cruising or day outings.

It’s a deeply Mediterranean walkaround, born in Italy and designed around our way of experiencing life at sea: convivial spaces both forward and aft, wide and safe side decks, well-sheltered lounging areas under the T-Top, and interiors that allow for longer stays on board. In other words, a boat built for the sea, with the substance of a design that prioritizes stability, strength, and ease of use, while not compromising comfort and style.

The Echo America 35 in detail

The America 35 by Echo Yachts revives the concept of the legendary America 30, reinterpreting it with a modern key: a walkaround featuring practical solutions and a clean look. At the stern, there’s a platform that conceals the outboards and serves as the base for a large sunbed of about 1.80 meters, which can be raised electrically to provide ventilation and access to the engines. The stern platform is movable: in addition to making maintenance and engine replacement easier, it can be lowered a few centimeters below the waterline, creating a surface that effectively dampens roll at anchor. At the bow, in addition to the sunbed, there are two sofas (one facing forward and one wrapping around the bow) with an optional table and various shading options, creating a true convivial area rather than just a passageway.

Amidships, the bar unit with sink and induction cooktop makes the America 35 suitable even for long days out, while the T-Top is well proportioned and integrates an aft awning that provides excellent shade for the living area. An interesting detail is the asymmetrical side decks: two steps on the starboard side to reach the bow and a flat walkway on the port side. This clever solution frees up extra headroom in the bathroom and allows for a porthole that can be opened for ventilation.

The console features a seat with three configurations, a high windshield, and a dashboard that can accommodate either a single large display or two 12-inch screens. To the right of the controls is a panel with all service buttons within easy reach. It’s a coherent setup, designed for outdoor comfort and easy handling, all within just over eleven meters.

The interiors

Below deck, the space is surprisingly bright and spacious. The increased beam and the wider bow angle bring two clear advantages: greater livability and a softer impact on the waves while underway. At the bow, you can choose between an island double bed or a convertible V-shaped dinette. Amidships, there’s a large bathroom with a separate shower and toilet, while under the companionway steps there’s a transverse bed suitable for a couple or two children. There’s also a roomy wardrobe on the port side, two large side windows, and portholes that let in plenty of natural light, with light-toned finishes enhancing the airy atmosphere.

Technical Specs

Echo America 35 Sea Trial

We tested the America 35, powered by two 350-hp Honda V8 engines, departing from the port of Genoa on a clear sunny day with challenging sea conditions: waves of about one meter coming from different directions, ready to make themselves felt. Ideal conditions to understand the true nature of a boat.

The first impression, just outside the harbor, is one of great stability. The waves hit the hull, but the boat reacts immediately: it moves, absorbs, and recovers instantly, without rolling or bouncing. It’s a reassuring feeling that reveals a hull designed for stability, with weight concentrated low to ensure balance and control.

When you push the throttles forward, the America 35 gets up on plane naturally: it takes just under 12 knots to lift off the water, with no jerks or sudden bow rise. Acceleration is smooth, and the boat seems to invite calm handling, though it responds promptly when pushed harder. At 2000 rpm, it cruises at just over 8 knots, burning around 15 liters per hour, and as you increase the revs, you find the ideal pace around 4000 rpm, where a cruising speed of 25 knots comes with fuel consumption of about 55 liters per hour. It’s a speed that lets you cover miles comfortably, with the assurance of a consistently balanced and steady trim.

What’s surprising is that the behavior doesn’t change, even when you push it: you can accelerate or slow down without the wake suddenly tightening or spreading out—clear proof of careful design. In tight turns, the boat holds its line without losing the bow, while in wide turns it never digs in at the front, staying smooth and composed even when side waves try to throw off its rhythm. It’s a rare quality that inspires real confidence at the helm.

And indeed, when you decide to open the throttles fully, the America 35 doesn’t disappoint: top speed reaches around 43 knots, with full control and no hint of nervousness. It feels like a hull with generous margins—never intimidating even for less experienced drivers, yet offering genuine pleasure to those who know how to take advantage of its soft ride on the waves.

In the end, what remains is the feeling of a well-balanced boat, capable of combining lively performance with great stability. The cockpit stays dry, vibrations are minimal, and life on board flows smoothly even in choppy seas.

Echo America 35 – Test Data