PDB Shootout: Splendor Boats 259 SunStar

First Impression

After 30 years of building boats factory direct, in 2020 the Indiana-based manufacturer opened its production to a nationwide dealer network and now more consumers are discovering what a lot of us already knew: Splendor builds an amazing deck boat.

Details

You instantly notice the stability of the catamaran hull as soon as you step on board, regardless of which end or which corner of the boat that is. The bow seating area is slightly recessed with a step down, so as the captain you gain an easier view while your passengers ride closer to the water.

At the helm the standard 9-inch Simrad touchscreen is offset to the right of the steering wheel with a long diagonal row of switches below that could mimic an airplane cockpit. Notice there is no need for a flip bolster for the helm chair since you get no more than four degrees of bow rise when you put the throttle down. Simply put, you never lose sight of the waterline. Behind the helm seat is a sink and transom shower with a 6-foot hose and a 13-gallon freshwater tank to help keep sand from finding its way onboard. Directly across from the helm stand and just in front of the co-captain’s chair is a nearly 4-foot-deep head enclosure with a portable toilet, but this isn’t even the deepest or largest compartment on this 26-footer. Below the rear bench seat in the stern is a step down storage area that is nearly as big as a New York City apartment. There is room for a stack of tubes, just another benefit to the catamaran style hull. Also worth noting there are three separate bilge pumps to ensure if water does get in, it won’t stay long.

Other highlights include a ski/tow bar and three-step boarding ladder on swim platform, snap-in flooring, a full wrap-around windshield and a Polk Audio sound system with four speakers. This boat is loaded with a ton of great features with nearly all of them being part of the standard package. In fact, only the exterior graphics are an option but because they help provide a sporty look, you’ll probably want to add those too.

Closer Look

Focusing on one boat at a time during the production process, each fiberglass layer is hand laid by an assembly team when constructing the hull. The 259 SunStar incorporates Splendor’s DBD Sport Pod, which is a 2-foot extension motor pod and a water level swim platform. It’s also important to note that from wiring harnesses to upholstery and canvas work, it’s all done in-house to assure quality control.

Throttle Down

We’ve covered the benefits of having a catamaran hull from a top deck perspective, but below is where it really shines. With the powerful Suzuki 300hp four-stroke on the back, we recorded a 0-to-20 mph time of just over 4 seconds while nearly reaching the 50 mph mark at full throttle. But it’s how stable this hull feels at rest as well as how easily it dives into sharp turns without slipping that impressed us this most. The performance of this catamaran hull is truly special and where it really shines is how smooth it rides on rougher water.

Why Buy

With the decision to add a dealer network, Splendor is of course looking to grow. However, this is still a family-owned and operated company that is centered on core values and dedicated to building quality boats. We anticipate seeing even more crafts like this 259 SunStar on the water in the near future as these performance deck boats gain national attention.

Silver Lake, Ind.
574-598-2628
www.splendorboats.com

Number of Occupants: 12                 
Price As Tested With Power: $84.7K
Maximum Speed: 47.9 mph                   
Wild Ponies: 300 hp
No. of Openings: 2
0-20 MPH: 4.1 seconds   
Ladder Measurement: 2’ 11” deep

Why we love this boat… The up top benefits of a catamaran hull (such as deeper storage compartments for one) are only overshadowed by just how well this Splendor truly performs.

Just being picky… The beautiful helm ties in perfectly with the sporty boat, but the one thing that seems to be missing is some type of a lockable glove box for the captain. 

NOTABLE STANDARDS

Hand-Laid Fiberglass Construction, Simrad GO9 XSE & Total Scan Transducer, Polk Bluetooth AM/FM Stereo, 4 Polk 6.5-Inch Speakers, 2nd Battery & Switch, Water-Level Swim Platform, LED SS Docking Lights, SS Pull-Up Cleats, Rear Boarding Ladder, Front Anchor Locker, 3-Piece Wrap-Around Windshield, USB Charging Ports, Tilt Steering, All Thru-Hull Bolted SS Hardware, LED Courtesy Lights, LED Navigation Lights, SS Drink Holders, Manual/Auto Bilge Pumps, Bilge Blower System, Self-Bailing Deck, Power-Rise Captain’s Chair, 54-Gallon Fuel Capacity, Under-Seat Storage Compartments, Sunbrella Bimini Top, Sunbrella Cockpit Cover, Sunbrella Bow Cover and Wood-Free Construction.

OPTIONS ON TEST BOAT

Large Graphic Kit.

VITAL STATS

LOA: 26’       
Beam: 8’ 4”
Hull Design: Catamaran
Dry Weight: 4,240 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 54 gallons

TEST DRIVE

Engine: Suzuki 300BTX2
Cylinder Type: V6
Cubic-inch Displacement/Horsepower: 257.9ci/300hp
Lower Unit Gear Ratio: 2.29:1
Propeller: 15.5 X 19.5

RPM     vs.      SPEED     vs.  DB-A

600                  3.1                   73
1000                4.1                   74.5
1500                6.4                   87.5
2000                7.9                   83.5
2500                10.4                 92
3000                12.8                 95.5
3500                23.5                 94.5
4000                30.4                 97.5
4500                34.2                 99
5000                37.6                 101
5500                43.0                 101
6000                47.9                 103

PRICE

Price As Tested: $84,700
(Boat and Motor)

Base Price: $56,095
(Boat Only)

This article originally appeared in our 2021 Shootout issue. If you are interested in seeing more boat tests like this, click HERE to subscribe.