When someone says family boat, an image of a bowrider or deck boat is what usually comes to mind. Featuring an open bow with plenty of seating all around to maximize the number of guests you can take out for a boat ride with you, these family-friendly vessels also feature tow hooks or ski-pylons, perhaps a tow tower with integrated bimini for shade. Larger models may offer a small head or changeroom space and perhaps an entertainment centre. Look for storage space for gear and a cooler to extend your day from sun up to sun down.
* prices and specifications subject to change without notice
Donzi VRZ
Donzi, the iconic name in marine performance, roars back into the limelight with its latest marvel, the Donzi 39 VRZ center console. Under the leadership of marine legend Craig Barrie, Donzi Marine embarks on an ambitious journey, unveiling four new models within the upcoming year. Spearheading this resurgence is the 39 VRZ, a sleek and sporty model poised to redefine the brand’s legacy.
In a crowded market, Barrie understands the imperative of distinctiveness. The 39 VRZ stands out with its striking orange and black custom paint job, a nod to Donzi Marine’s illustrious performance heritage. Sporting a new running surface and powered by triple Mercury Racing 300R outboards, this vessel boasts impressive speed capabilities, reaching up to 75 mph with base power and potentially soaring to 92 mph with additional horsepower.
Crafted for both performance and comfort, the 39 VRZ features a meticulously designed cockpit adorned with carbon-fiber panels, plush seating upholstered in charcoal Alcantara suede with orange stitching, and a state-of-the-art helm boasting Garmin displays and Mercury Marine VesselView technology.
Donzi’s relocation to Caldwell Marine Designs underscores its dedication to crafting superior vessels and to the brand’s legacy.
Specifications
- Length: 38 ft 8 in
- Beam: 9 ft 10 in
- Dry Weight: 12,000 lbs
- Fuel Capacity: 320 gals
- Water Capacity: 15 gal
- Max Horsepower: 1350 hp (3 X 450)
- Base Price: $573,000 USD
Four Winns H6
Four Winns H6For those not in the know like me, the name for Four Winns boats came from four members of a family with the name of Winn who started building boats in the town of Cadillac Michigan in 1975.
We here at Power Boating Canada recently took a look at the Four Winns H6, a 26-foot bowrider that is available in either an inboard/outboard model or with an outboard, and we looked at the outboard model. A 250 hp outboard comes standard the H6, but we would recommend the optional 350 horses if you intend to pull a couple of skiers or for the times when you have a boatload of people on board.
When we looked at the Four Winns 26 ft H6 one of the first things we noticed was the unique versatility of the rear seating with a backrest that is reversible into any position the passengers want, including sitting facing forward or reversing the backrest to sit facing the outboard engine.
If you are a camper or just carry a lot of gear on your boat, Four Winns engineers have utilized the inboard engine space for gear storage – more dry storage than the average boater would ever need.
Opposite the driver’s seat and forward of the companion seat this 26-foot bowrider also has a built in head with a recessed sink. The bow will seat f≠ive adults with even more storage underneath, and there is a lot more to like about this boat, but not room to print it in this short review.
Specifications
- Length: 26 ft 2 in
- Beam: 8 ft 5 in
- Dead Rise: 18*
- Draft: 39 in
- Fuel Capacity: 100 gal
- Water Capacity: 12 gal
- Boat Weight: 5700 lbs
- Maximum Horsepower: 350 hp
- Passenger Capacity: 11
- Engine Mfg: Mercury or Yamaha
- MSRP: $125, 445 USD
Checkmate Powerboats 2400 BRX
The 2400 BRX delivers a lot of boat for the money and includes standard features that are often options on new 24-foot performance boats. Checkmate delivers a 70-mph, semi-custom sport boat that is the essence of performance boating.
Checkmate updated the 2400 BRX’s running surface to improve higher-speed handling prior to relaunching the model in 2023.
The 2400 BRX cruises comfortably at about 32 mph with the 300-hp outboard turning 3,500 rpm and delivering an impressive 3.9 mpg. Bump the throttle up to 5,000 rpm and the V-bottom was running 55 mph and getting 2.7 mpg.
Base power for the 2400 BRX is a Mercury Marine 250 PRO XS and Checkmate offers a single outboard up to the Mercury Racing 500R. With 500 horsepower on the transom, the 2400 BRX is expected to top 90 mph.
Checkmate Power Boats modernized the 2400 BRX interior with a new wraparound windshield and upgraded fabrics. What Checkmate offers as standard equipment on the 2400 BRX is often optional equipment on competitor boats in the same size range.
For example, Checkmate includes a 10-inch hydraulic jack plate, LED cupholders and a dual boarding ladder as standard equipment. The only options available on the 2400 BRX are custom paint graphics, an upgraded stereo system with additional speakers and amp, bow filler cushions, underwater lights, and soft-step flooring. Buyers basically must pick the graphics and the power plant.
The helm features a Mercury VesselView but is available with Livorsi Marine gauges with bezels to match cockpit seating trim.
A hinged windshield opens allowing access to the U-shape seating in the bow. Checkmate included well-padded, forward-facing backrests and abundant stowage under the seats. Cut outs in the gunwale have cupholders and there were four grab handles in the bow for passengers to hold onto while underway. An optional filler cushion can be used to create a large sun pad.
The 2400 BRX has no wood with Checkmate using Coosa and Penske composite boards and high-density foam in the build. Checkmate upgraded the epoxy and boats are vacuum bagged for added strength and to reduce weight.
Checkmate deserves credit for building an entry-level sport boat to bring a new generation to performance boating. The relaunched 2400 BRX delivers style and performance for a price rarely found for a new sport boat.
Stax Performance Marine located in Brockville, ON, has recently signed on as the exclusive Canadian dealer.
Specifications
- LOA to Transom: 24 ft
- Beam: 8 ft 3 in
- Weight: 2,400 lbs
- Fuel: 60 gal.
- Deadrise: 22 degrees
- MSRP (as tested): $133,099 USD
Formula 240 Bow Rider
Experience luxury from bow to aft on this perfect family vessel.
Getting started in boating is always an adventure, but getting started in a high-quality boat is even more exciting, and that is why we here at PBC decided to look at the upscale Formula 240 bowrider. In looking at this boat, we started at the bow and the first thing we noticed was the nice anchor locker with an anchor line grove so you could close the anchor hatch onto with the anchor line deployed – a feature not found on many boats.
You can fit five adults in the high-quality u-shaped vinyl bow seats with storage bins underneath. Moving aft, the helm seat is unique as it is wide enough for two adults and features a flip up bolster for when you want to sit higher at the helm, plus the helm backrest is reversible (i.e. it flips forward) for when you want to sit there while drifting or at anchor and enjoy the action behind you – a nice touch not found on many boats.
Behind the leather wrapped steering wheel you will find a wealth of gauges that tell you everything you would want to know about the boats mechanical operations including a dozen toggle switches. Opposite the helm in the passenger helm seat the entire dash configuration swings out and opens up a step down compartment big enough to change clothes in and use a porta potty.
Behind the helm the main deck has U-shaped seating for five adults with a ton of storage underneath, including an insulated ice chest, a trash box, and grab bars, cup holders, and USB charging ports everywhere.
Whether you are pulled up onshore, at the sandbar, or rafting up with other boats, the aft helm backrest will slide forward to form an 8-foot long sun pad big enough for three adults (or several kids) to stretch out on and watch the world go by.
Specifications
- Length: 24 ft
- Beam: 8 ft 6 in
- Dead Rise: 20 degrees
- Draft: 36 in
- Fuel Capacity: 55 gal
- Boat Weight: 5,150 lbs
- Passenger Capacity: 9
- Maximum Horsepower: 350 I/O
- MSRP: $240,000 USD
Hurricane Sundeck 2050
For anyone wondering what is new in the boating world, you need to look at Hurricane’s new Sundeck 20 ft outboard. It’s not a deck boat, and not a bow rider, but a design that is in between the two with a deeper vee hull and higher freeboard that will handle rougher seas.
The bow of the new Hurricane Sundeck 2050 will seat five comfortably with drink holders, USB charge points port and starboard, and grab bars for passengers to hold onto when the water gets choppy. There is also a telescoping stainless-steel boarding ladder tucked away under the anchor locker hatch in the bow that allows easy re-boarding for those times when you pull up on the beach.
The main deck behind the helm has plush seating for six adults with tons of storage beneath the seats. The Sundeck 2050 has a second boarding ladder tucked away under the aft swim platform.The backrest on the captain’s seat as well as the co-captain’s seat are hinged so they can be rotated forward, creating two more seats on the main deck. With a padded steering wheel the helm is a captain’s delight with a small Simrad combo GPS chart plotter and sonar, and twin engine gauges
There are numerous options available on this model including a fishing package, a bait live well, and trolling motor connection.
Specifications
- Length: 20 ft 5 in
- Beam: 8 ft 6 in
- Draft: 34 in
- Fuel Capacity: 44 gal
- Boat Weight: 2,990 lbs
- Maximum Horsepower: 200 hp
- Passenger Capacity: 14
- Engine Mfg: Any O/B Mfg
- MSRP: $62,900 USD
Scarab Jet 195 ID
If you like to zip around on the water but don’t want a jet ski, the Scarab Jet 195 ID jet boat may be the boat for you. Available in a multitude of eye catching colours and graphics, the Scarab 195 is a logical step up from a jet ski or smaller runabout as it is the ultimate luxury jet boat.
The Scarab’s 195 Jet has plush cockpit seating for six adults with flip back backrests in the aft seats that convert into a sun pad, and in the bow you will find seating for four adults, or five if they are all close friends. Optional Marine Mat on all the walking surfaces is a nice touch and a great add on safety feature.
The co-captain’s seats on the Scarab 195 Jet has about every amenity you could ask for with a flip-up bolster, sliding base fore and aft, and it can rotate to the stern. In front of the co-pilot seat is a large deep glove box for storing all those things you bring aboard that never seem to have their own storage place.
The captain’s chair sits in front of a very full featured dash with a padded and tilting steering wheel, analog speedometer, and RPM gauges. Standard horsepower is a Rotax 170 hp, but we would recommend upgrading to the optional 230 hp or even the maximum 300 hp engine for ultimate performance in this boat. MSRP includes a factory-built trailer.
Specifications
- Length: 18 ft 10 in
- Beam: 8 ft
- Dead Rise: 20 degreesDraft: 12 in
- Fuel Capacity: 31 gal
- Passenger capacity: 8
- Boat Weight: 2,460 lbs
- Maximum Horsepower: 300 hp
- Engine Manufacturer: Rotax
- Approximate MSRP (w/ trailer):
- $59,465 USD
Sea Ray SLX 28 Outboard
For anyone looking for a large deck boat with all the bugs already worked out, you should look at Sea Ray’s SLX 280 outboard. With the 280’s expansive cockpit its deep bench seating has room for eight passengers sitting comfortably and there is abundant storage under all the seats including a built-in ice chest. The bow in this bow rider also has seating for five adults with storage underneath the seats.
The expansive transom on the 280 has a huge sun pad with storage and a built-in cooler underneath.At the helm, the swiveling driver’s seat is wide enough for two passengers to sit and view Sea Ray’s digital dash that includes a 9-inch Simrad touchscreen chart plotter display that will also display the twin 250 hp Mercury outboards engine data. Adjacent to the helm on the starboard side is Mercury’s Joystick Piloting handle.
There is a co-pilots seat on the port side of the helm with a compartment in the dash that opens in front of this seat that is large enough to be a changing room. This helm seat in addition to the double helm seat, both swivel aft to increase cockpit seating to 11 people.
Notable options include Sea Ray’s Power Tower top with a retractable sunshade, a Water System Bundle, and transom sprayer. If you want a little nighttime lighting, the SLX 280’s lighting bundle includes LED RGB-W colour-changing and accent interior lighting throughout.
Specifications
- Length: 31 ft 5 in
- Beam: 9 ft
- Dead Rise: 21 degrees
- Draft: 35 in
- Fuel Capacity: 135 gal
- Boat Weight: 8,053 lbs
- Passenger Capacity: 11
- Maximum Hp: 2 x 250 hp Engine Manufacturer: Mercury
- MSRP: $259,325 USD
Yamaha AR 250
Yamaha is the world’s largest manufacturer of jet powered boats and we here at Power Boating Canada decided to look at Yamaha’s AR250 built in Yamaha’s state of the art factory in mid-Tennessee, USA. While the AR250 is Yamaha’s entry level 25-footer, it has many of the features found on the higher priced 252 and 255 models, and all come with a factory trailer.
Powered by two of Yamaha’s 1898cc (1.9L), four-cylinder, 16-valve High Output engines, these two new engines with a total of 400 hp are coupled to Yamaha’s proven internal propulsion system for quick and responsive acceleration. In the boats large cockpit behind the two dual console captain’s chairs there are two L-shaped bench seats for six adults with additional seating in the bow for more adults or kids. Exterior hull colours are available in white or seafoam green.
The boats wake board tower will hold up to four wake boards (mount is optional) and comes with a Bimini top that folds back to cover about 75 percent of the cockpit area, and a large in-deck hatch will hold four pairs of water skis or a pair of wake board. At the helm, the large digital display screen provides a wealth of operating information about the boats engines and propulsion system, lighting, music, and a GPS map. Passenger cup holders and grab handles abound on the AR25.
Specifications
- Length: 24 ft 6 in
- Beam: 8 ft 6 in
- Draft: 19 in
- Deadrise: 19 degrees
- Fuel Capacity: 75 gal
- Boat Weight: 4,021 lbs
- Passenger Capacity: 12
- MSRP (w/ trailer): $72,199 USD