PONTOON
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BOAT BUYERS GUIDE 2018 | 106 | BOATINGMAG.COMBOAT BUYERS GUIDE
SPEED EFFICIENCY OPERATIONnaut. stat. n. mi. s. mi. sound
rpm knots mph gph mpg mpg range range angle level
1000 4.2 4.8 1.2 3.5 4.0 187.7 216.0 0 61
1500 6.5 7.5 2.1 3.1 3.6 167.6 192.9 0 66
2000 9.0 10.4 3.2 2.8 3.3 152.5 175.5 1 71
2500 15.2 17.5 4.8 3.2 3.6 171.1 196.9 1 79
3000 18.5 21.3 6.3 2.9 3.4 158.7 182.6 1 79
3500 21.6 24.8 8.1 2.7 3.1 143.7 165.3 1 78
4000 25.5 29.4 11.3 2.3 2.6 122.1 140.5 1 78
4500 29.5 34.0 14.6 2.0 2.3 109.3 125.8 1 85
5000 33.5 38.5 18.4 1.8 2.1 98.2 113.0 1 85
5500 36.6 42.1 22.6 1.6 1.9 87.4 100.6 1 86
5800 40.3 46.4 25.7 1.6 1.8 84.7 97.5 1 89
MOST ECONOMICAL CRUISING SPEEDHigh Points
XSuper-sleek appearance afforded
by sculpted consoles, swept-back
windscreens, glossy-black side
panels, and matte-black fi nished
pontoons produces a futuristic
look. While there’s no mistaking
it for a ’toon, it’s surely one of the
better-looking designs we’ve seen.
XComfy high-end, diamond-
pleated, pillow-topped upholstery
completes the look and feel of a
pricey rig, without the high price.
Starcraft nails this look cold.Specs
· LOA: 26'10" · BEAM: 8'6"
· DRY WEIGHT: 2,542 lb. · SEATING/
WEIGHT CAPACITY: 14/1,940 lb.
· FUEL CAPACITY: 60 gal.How We Tested
ENGINE: Yamaha F300 four-stroke
300 hp
DRIVE/PROP: Outboard/Yamaha
Saltwater Series II 16" x 15.5"
GEAR RATIO: 1.75:1
FUEL LOAD: 15 gal.
CREW WEIGHT: 375 lb.
Price
$104,516 (as tested)STARCRAFT
SX 25 C DC
is standard, as are docking lights and RGB
(red green blue) adjustable mood lights
throughout the cockpit. The co-pilot gets
the same royal treatment as the captain;
both chairs are plush, slide and swivel, and
have high backs. Just behind the driver is
a food-prep station with sink, mini fridge
and wine rack; astern, a smaller settee
fi ts a few passengers who can ride and gab
with the driver and co-pilot.
At the stern, the beefed-up transom
holds the Yamaha outboard securely. The
rigging is tight and neat, with plenty of un-
obstructed room to sit and don a wetsuit
or just jump in and swim. A stainless-steel
telescoping boarding ladder and optional
ski-pole tow complete the utility for
watersports.Even though this rig is nearly 27 feet long
and will accommodate a huge family party
with room to spare, it looks like a speedy
performer — and it didn’t disappoint when
it was time to strut. Top speed exceeded
46 mph. Despite its heft and horses, the
Yamaha drank sparingly; we
noted 3.6 mpg at 17.5 mph.
It’ll pull boarders and skiers
too; acceleration from a dead
stop to 30 mph was dramati-
cally quick at just 5.8 seconds.
Performance is enhanced
by new HMX performance
lifting strakes and a PR25
center pontoon with a built-in
60-gallon fuel-cell and stor-
age compartment. Handle it
did: The stable ride in calm
conditions with big passing
boat wakes was matched by
dry, even cornering, with little
banking and zero drama.The sleek outward appearance of the
SX is complemented by what Starcraft
designed aboard. The bow section is extra-
large and wide; no one will feel cramped up
there. Two plush center-facing loungers
cover abundant storage below the seat
cushions. No jagged edges underneath
either; every thing’s nicely fi nished, and
even the molded seat bases make storage
neat, with integrated drains to ensure
nothing stays wet. The console and dash
layout are well-executed and easy to view,
with Yamaha digital instruments and a
Simrad information display, along with a
precise Yamaha binnacle control. A Kicker
sound system with subwoofer and amp is
standard fare. A pop-up changing roomPHOTOS: BILL DOSTERSTARCRAFT MARINE
New Paris, Indiana; 866-772-4538; starcraftmarine.comTo watch our
video review
of the SX 25 C
DC, scan this
tag or visit
boatingmag
.com/bbg18/
starcraftsx25.
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