THE FOREDECK OF BUDDY DAVIS NEW 50 Express is soooo big you could almost string a net across it and play tennis. Okay, okay. You won't go that far, but you do learn a lot about this boat by gazing across that mesa-like platform, which is so massive because of all the flare Buddy Davis builds into the bow. And you know a sportfisherman with this much flare has been designed to stomp offshore into the worst slop Mother Nature can dish out.

NO HESITATION. When I tested the 50, it had just completed its third day of competition in a sailfish tournament. On Day One it blew 20 knots. Day Two registered 20 knots. And yup, Day Three notched another 20. Did the 50 take a lay day? No way, despite encountering seas up to seven feet. By test day, three- and four-footers were the norm, and the 50 galloped through them lickety-split. I didn't catch any spray at the wheel, and the cockpit only got spritzed when I ran at a 45-degree angle to the waves. Visibility-often a problem on large expresses with relatively low helm stations-was perfect for 360 degrees around the wheel, even at 1800 rpm when we experienced maximum bowrise.

All that flare up forward does more than knock down spray, too. By adding volume at the bow, you also add buoyancy and, at the same time, shift some of the boat's weight distribution forward. This helps keep the boat level as it charges through the waves. Also, having more boat in the water makes for a smoother ride.

So the Buddy Davis will be charging for the canyons on days that some other 50-footers will be staying at the dock. But once you get to your hot spot, it's the cockpit that becomes critical, typically the case with most modern sportfishers. To hard-core anglers this cockpit may seem a little spare for the size of the boat. It's a hair under 140 square feet, which is in the same ballpark as the competing Viking 50 Open Sportfish's (3881,000) 144 square feet. The Buddy Davis emphasizes its bridgedeck and cabin, so you trade some serious fish ability for creature comforts and entertainment room. This means there's space in the cockpit for only three anglers or deckhands around the fighting chair. Compare that with the bridgedeck, which has seating for about 10 passengers, in addition to open deck space and the helm seat.

Despite the importance placed on entertainment over angling, the fishing features on the Buddy Davis 50 are a notch above what one might expect. There is a backing plate built into the cockpit deck if you decide to add a fighting chair, and the livewell comes standard. Add a livewell to the Viking and you'll be adding $1,850 to the cost of the boat.

The bridgedeck boasts something avid anglers will appreciate. The overhead rodbox is massive, with enough room to stow a full complement of 50s and 80s. Don't think that's enough? The lounge can easily accommodate some rodracks. And if that's still not enough for you, there are four rodholders in the gunwales plus half a dozen rocket launchers on the bridgedeck.

All the other standards you expect from a production sportfisherman are here: bait prep station and bait freezer, a transom fishbox, integrated tackle stowage drawers, and raw-water washdown. Gaff and mops stow under the gunwales, and the tuna door is huge. One thing you'll notice about the Buddy Davis' cockpit that you won't find on its competitors is the wonderful teak work on the sidedecks. They curve lovingly around the corners of the cockpit, and the beveled edges provide comfort as well as looks. Ditto for the deck. The raised teak sole is grippier than the best nonslip fiberglass, and since it's raised a full inch, it forms a drainage channel all the way around the cockpit.

THUNDER DOWN UNDER. Belowdecks, Buddy Davis adds a midcabin berth; the Viking lacks this feature. How does Buddy Davis do it? There's a sacrifice of some engine room space- the Viking gives you more room around the iron horses. The Buddy Davis' entryway is also different, with a curving stairway that forms a half-circle as you enter the, cabin. Usually I shy away from circular stairs in a boat because they're easy to fall off of, but in this case they seem to work. I entered and exited the cabin as the boat moved through the ocean at different rates of speed, without ever worrying about taking a nosedive.

Another detail to pay attention to belowdecks is the quality of the fittings. The door handles look as if they are straight off the space shuttle, modern and incredibly solid. Cabinet latches are all the post-locking variety, although two of the drawers under the main berth slid open and closed throughout the test due to imperfect fittings. Lights are recessed halogens, and as with many modern sportfishermen (including the Viking), there are no ports other than the single overhead in the stateroom. But the Buddy Davis has revised an ancient way of bringing in extra sunshine: A tiny slot has been cut into the overhead and fitted with a prism inside, which scatters natural light across the cabin.

FIRESTORM. So what's it like to get behind the helm of this canyon runner and firewall the throttles? Pure fun. The boat gains speed quickly, and with the standard 800bhp Cats in the engine room, the 50 reached speeds over 34 mph during our test. Be aware, however, that the builder points out we had seven people board fuel, full water, and fishing gear and that the boat had been in the water for several months without a bottom cleaning. In ideal conditions, Buddy Davis says the 50 will do 4 or 5 mph better with the 800bhp Cats. Maybe, but that's slower than the Viking 50, which reached 42.1 mph during our April 1999 test. Although the Viking was rigged with MAN diesels, they were also 800-bhp each. If you want to get increased speed out of the Buddy Davis, opt for the larger powerplants. The 900bhp DDC-MTU 8V 2000s add $56,000 to the base price. To really pour on the coal, add $65,000 to get the 1,0,50-bhp MAN 2840LE 403 diesels.

Alas, extra speed means more burned fuel. The Buddy Davis showed a slight edge for efficiency,
burning 80 gph at WOT compared to the Viking's top-end fuel burn 32.5 gph. Considering that the Buddy Davis has a 100-gallon fuel capacity advantage, long-range anglers may find that small difference significant. If, that is, they don't mind higher noise levels. The dB-A meter hit only 90 on the Viking, whereas it reached 96 on the Buddy Davis.

Want to forget the numbers and just have fun? Crank the wheel over, and the Buddy Davis carves out a turn tight enough to create G-forces. Come to a stop, oppose the motors, and spin it in its own length. Better yet, back it down on a billfish-I hit 8 mph in reverse before any water hit the deck, and pumping the throttles led the transom to port or starboard quick enough to cut o£ a drag-stripping black marlin. But hey, that's what makes a battlewagon fun in the first place, right?

LAST WORD. Think expresses keep getting bigger and better? You're right--judt look to the Davis 50 for proof.

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