Frauscher 858 Fantom Boat Test

Boat Test #1426

Uncompromising Quality and Ultimate Luxury

A Fata Morgana is a type of distorted optical mirage often seen at sea. Frauscher is eager to point out that the 858 Fantom is no highly-distorted mirage, no matter how it may appear when you first lay eyes on the vessel. There’s no doubt this model has a unique look.

The first thing I noticed is the stepped hull is very deep in the forward half of the boat. From the front, the 858 Fantom appears to be as deep as wide. Combined with the vertical bow, it will help the boat slice through the waves. This also helps open up cabin space below decks.

Aft of the step, the hull angle flattens, ensuring a smooth flow of water to the Bravo 1X outdrive. The base engine for this boat is the MerCruiser 350 MAG, but at this price point, the 8.2L is the better choice. The Frauscher 858 Fantom tips the scales at 2,500Kg dry. The extra 130-horsepower from the larger engine will be nice to have, especially when you’ve got a full crew on board.

Speaking of crew, the 858 Fantom can carry up to seven persons on board. With a single helm seat, and a matching companion seat to port, that only leaves the bench across the rear of the cockpit for the other five guests. There’s plenty of room in the cabin, but no one will want to spend the ride below decks. I think four is the sweet spot for comfort on this boat.

Once on-board, driver and passengers are treated to a fully-equipped cockpit, with all the creature comforts at hand. There is ample seating and storage space in the forward cabin, complete with wine cooler. Our test model came outfitted with the optional pump-toilette with its 50L black water tank.

Up in the cockpit,  a standard teak floor and teak-lined side storage treats us. The 858 Fantom offers white upholstery on the bench, fold-flat seats and an enormous sunpad. Our model came with the optional teak table and Clarion stereo with Bose speakers. Navigation and operation was assisted by a Raymarine E7 chartplotter.

To shelter the cockpit from the elements, our test boat featured a bimini top that is not a standard feature, but should be on your build sheet to offer protection from the sun.

Of course, enjoying the sun is also important. The 858 Fantom has a wonderful solution. The massive sunpad that covers the entire aft half of the boat, from the cockpit back to the swim platform, is ideal for soaking up the rays, or drying off after a swim.

The sunpad also doubles as a cover for the engine compartment and a generous storage area. The latter is just aft of the bench seat, ensuring its contents are within easy reach of the passengers.

The swim platform on our model, like the foredeck, is covered with teak, offering a durable, yet luxurious surface. There’s a three-step swing ladder as standard equipment and a ski rope tow hook in case your guests want to enjoy some watersports.

If you’re looking for an ultra-luxurious, high-performance day cruiser for big lakes, the Frauscher 858 Fantom will certainly fit the bill. The design and build quality are unsurpassed. Frauscher has been hand-building boats in a small factory in Austria since 1927.

By Steve Sansford