Hurricane SunDeck Sport 201 OB

October 2014 Boat Test Monday

This article originally appeared in our 2014 Shootout issue. If you are interested in seeing this in print along with 25 other boat reviews, click HERE to purchase the back issue.

What You Need To Know

The more people the better, right? Hurricane seems to agree with this statement with the release of its redesigned SunDeck Sport. With a deeper deck, the passenger capacity has been increased to 11 and with a unique wraparound seating configuration, there’s plenty of room for everyone.

The Highlights

Sleek is probably the best way to describe this deck boat from Hurricane. The low profile helps make it fun to drive, but we’ll get to that in a minute. What makes the seating so unique is the adjustable seatbacks located across from the helm. You can easily convert the bench seat into two separate lounges and the two positions allow you to select the angle. It’s a very unique design and offers a lot of versatility for your passengers.

At the helm, centered between the large gauges, is the optional Garmin 50s GPS that is perfectly located so the driver can keep an eye on it. The dash includes toggle switches and below is where you’ll find the stereo controls, which to be honest we felt were a little low. The boat we tested was a prototype and a few changes have been made to the production models including relocating the stereo controls to the side of the helm so it will be a lot easier to access. We love that Hurricane is always striving to improve its boats and relocating the stereo is a good example of that. Just forward of the helm is a small sink and faucet and the storage space below the helm console is well finished.

It’s an option, but when you see it in action it will quickly make your must-have list of features. Xtreme Tower Products (XTP) has released its patent-pending XB (Xtreme Bimini) and besides giving the Hurricane a sporty look, it’s also one of the most functional bimini tops out there. It easily lowers while pivoting so it doubles as a cargo rack for your water toys. With the straps on top you can secure your tubes so you don’t clutter your deck when the kids are taking a break from being pulled.

With multiple telescoping boarding ladders and a ski/tow pylon, this Hurricane is clearly designed to be a great cruising boat. But after a closer inspection it’s also set up for fishing. There’s an aerated livewell built into the bow step and there are two pedestal mounts on the bow for fishing chairs, which we found nicely stored in the large in-floor ski locker. The versatility on this great all-around model is amazing.

Inspection Notes

Part of the redesign for the new model year includes longer strakes below for truer tracking. The fiberglass V-hull is well-constructed and overall we consider this to be a safe, family-friendly design.

Performance Evaluation

With the Sea Star hydraulic steering, she handles like a dream as were able to easily dive into the sharp turns. Powered with an Evinrude 150hp E-TEC we reached speeds over 40 miles per hour and our impressive time of just 4.8 seconds to go from zero to 20mph surprised us a little. This Hurricane handles great and is very responsive, especially in those nice tight turns.

Our Take

Life is full of compromises, especially for the family who wants a great cruising boat to pull water toys with, yet also loves to fish. With this Hurricane SunDeck Sport 201 OB everyone wins. There’s just enough options mixed in with great standard features to make everyone happy. Plus with the increased seating capacity, no one needs to be left at the dock.

Number of Occupants 11

Maximum Speed 40.8 mph

Wild Ponies 150hp

No. of Gates 2

0-20 MPH 4.8 seconds

Ladder Measurement 3’ deep

Why we love this boat…The versatility of having a great cruising deck boat geared towards water sports, but also being able to fish makes this ideal for a lot of families.

Just being picky… We’d like to see a lockable glove box as well as a trash receptacle onboard, but other than that this deck boat has a lot going for it.

NOTABLE STANDARDS

Anchor locker, bow & stern telescoping ladders, canopy with boot, automatic bilge pump, entertainment center w/ sink and manual pump, Sony CDXM-20 Player stereo w/ MP3 input & 2 speakers, livewell w/ pump, full instrumentation and 25-quart cooler.

OPTIONS ON TEST BOAT

XB Tower w/ Bimini package, Garmin 50s GPS, snap-in carpet, playpen cover, fishing package, Sea Star hydraulic steering w/ tilt and docking lights.

VITAL STATS

LOA 20’ 1”

Beam 8’ 6”

Hull Design V-Hull

Dry Weight 2360 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 47 gallons

TEST DRIVE

Engine Evinrude 150 E-TEC

Cylinder Type V6

Cubic-inch Displacement/Horsepower 158ci/150hp