Trade-A-Boat 496 2017

Sea Ray SLX 230

almost immediately, clocking a low

10kt with the engine at 2000rpm,

barely ticking over. It’s an easily driven

hull and combined with 300hp there’s

an abundance of get up and go. The

moderate 19-degree deadrise at the

transom is accompanied by three sets

of wide strakes and a convex central

planing plank for optimum lift, while

up front the sharply raked bow offers

little resistance to the water.

Acceleration is rapid and linear right

through the range to that exhilarating

wide-open throttle speed of 45kt at a

howling 5300rpm.

The hull tended to ride over waves

rather than through them, yet the boat

felt soft and stable at all but maximum

Sea Ray SLX 230

facts & figures

PRICED FROM

$111,962 (250hp engine)

OPTIONS FITTED

Engine upgrade, Targa arch and bimini,

coloured hull, bow ladder, fire

suppression, blue LEDs, cockpit cover,

wash-down, more

PRICE AS TESTED

$134,587

GENERAL

MATERIAL GRP

TYPE Monohull bowrider

LENGTH 7.01m

BEAM 2.59m

WEIGHT 2195kg

DEADRISE 19°

CAPACITIES

PEOPLE 13

FUEL 189L

ENGINE

MAKE/MODEL Mercruiser 6.2L

TYPE Fuel-injected petrol V8 inboard

RATED HP 300hp

DISPLACEMENT 6200cc

WEIGHT 391kg (engine only, dry)

GEAR RATIO Bravo 3

PROPELLER Mirage 24in

SUPPLIED BY

CHAPMAN MARINE GROUP PTY LTD

Suite 2, Sydney Boathouse,

2 Waterways Court, Rozelle, NSW 2039

PHONE +61 2 9818 2000

MOBILE +61 412 449 174

WEB chapmanmarinegroup.com.au

The SLX 230 might be the ideal day

boat for harbour and bay cruising

with its 13-person capacity and finely

crafted interior. It’s just as much fun

at full noise as it is settling back to a

slower pace and taking in the

scenery.

speed where it became a little flighty,

skipping over the harbour chop.

Steering is light, and the hull turned

smoothly without too much lean and

with no cavitation or tendency for the

rear end to slide away.

Twilight had fallen by the time we

dawdled back to the marina in the slow

lane. The city workers were long gone

and all was peaceful – apart from our

sound system cranked to 11. Blue deck

lights flooded the floor and sent an

eerie glow over the passengers, but it

wasn’t too dark to see the big grins over

all our faces.

The Sea Ray SLX230 is a family fun

boat with few equals. Not being a

dedicated wakeboat, it offers the space

and comfort of a harbour day boat and

the lively performance and handling

for a fast cruise. The price as tested is

$134,587 and includes tasty extras such

as the arch and bimini, coloured hull,

bow ladder, fire suppression and the

fancy blue LEDs. Reduce the bling and

cut the sting – you can get into a 230 for

$111,962 with a 250hp V6.

44 trade aboat.com.au