Our First Impression
Sometimes it's the little details that make the biggest
impression. From bow to stern you can tell that nothing is an afterthought on
this Starcraft. We can appreciate the extra time that was taken by the
engineers to really put some thought into the layout and design of this luxury
high-end beauty.
Consumer Test
Starting with the exterior, the D-rail design that was
introduced last year is very eye-catching and it really draws you into this
high-end model. And not only does the synthetic teak flooring in the bow and
stern give the boat more of a nautical look, it's also a lot safer as well.
Inside the gates you find seats that can only be compared to
your own couches at home. With the
soft-touch vinyl, the seats are as comfortable as they are durable and we love
the extra leg and lumbar support as well as the high seatbacks. You won't
believe all of the recessed cup holders onboard; we lost count around 19 so
just know there is plenty for everyone.
Built into one of the two chaise lounges in the bow is a
pop-up changing room that stands just over six feet tall when fully opened. And
as nice as the two chaise lounges are, the rear-facing ones in the stern are
even better. Plus we like the tall rails and gates, especially in the stern,
that help make this a safe boat as well.
For added storage beyond the under-seat compartments, there
is a nice in-floor ski locker that is built into the center pontoon. The
storage door is a little narrow, but inside is plenty big for lots of toys and
it's finished nicely.
At the raised helm station is a beautiful console that
really completes the high-end look. The standard Humminbird 383c GPS is
recessed into the dash and the gauges are all easy to read. The JBL stereo is
also standard, and there is even a push-button start for the engine, which only
adds to that luxury feel of this Starcraft.
Other key features worth noting include the umbrella table
in the bow, ski/tow pylon and the stainless-steel hardware that is used
throughout.
Inspection Test
Three 25-inch diameter chambered pontoons are the base of
this 27-footer. The weld quality is excellent and the Z-shaped cross-members
that are bolted and screwed to the plywood deck are on 24-inch centers. There
is a full splash skin, and the below-deck wiring is well-protected, helping
earn high marks for craftsmanship.
Above deck there is nearly 17 feet of usable deck space from
inside the gates. Our inspection crew found all the hidden areas to be
well-finished, and the overall fit and finish work to be excellent.
Performance Test
With the Evinrude 250 HO power plant in the stern, this boat
quickly transforms from a high-end luxury pontoon to a lightening-fast thrill
ride. We hit a top speed of over 40 miles per hour at full throttle and the
turns were nice and flat. Without lifting strakes, the turns were a little
wide, but this is still a really fun boat to drive. As for the zero to 20 mph
time of 4.5 seconds, the sudden burst of power was a pleasant surprise on this
27-footer.
Who Should Buy It
It's probably the overall layout that is going to attract
people the most to this pontoon. It's a safe and family-friendly design with
great lounges in the stern and a beautiful-looking helm console, and the
attention to the details throughout is amazing.
Number of Occupants 18
Price As Tested With Power $50K
Maximum Speed: 42.4
mph
Wild Ponies: 250hp
No. of Gates 3
0-20 MPH 4.5
seconds
Ladder Measurement: 3'
deep
Why we love this boat.This is
where luxury meets class. We love the attention to details on this high-end
model that is loaded with great features, plus is fun to drive.
Just being picky.You don't need them to enjoy the
performance on this boat, but the optional lifting strakes would help it corner
sharper, giving you another reason to love the Evinrude 250 HO outboard on the
back.
NOTABLE STANDARDS
Custom molded dash, underwater light package, pop-up changing
room, built-in Humminbird 383c GPS, Sunbrella umbrella/table and ski/tow pylon.
OPTIONS ON TEST BOAT
Third pontoon.
VITAL STATS
LOA 27' 3"
Beam 8'
6"
Hull Design Three
Pontoons
Dry Weight 2,750 lbs.
Fuel Capacity 30
Gallons
TEST DRIVE
Engine Evinrude
250 HO
Cylinder Type V6
Cubic-inch Displacement/Horsepower 210ci/250hp
Lower Unit Gear Ratio 1.71:1
Propeller 15 X 15 stainless steel
RPM vs. SPEED
vs. D-A
500 2.8 mph 57.5
1000 5.1
mph 65
1500 7.4
mph 69
2000 10.0
mph 70.5
2500 15.2
mph 71.5
3000 19.0
mph 74
3500 22.1
mph 78
4000 24.9
mph 79.5
4500 28.9
mph 81.5
5000 34.0
mph 83.5
5500 41.5
mph 86
5600 42.4
mph 87
New Paris, Ind.
Phone: 866-772-4538
Website: www.starcraftmarine.com
