"SCX Surf Edition"

2 0 1 6 B O AT T E S T A N N U A L I S S U E
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BOAT
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VOLUME 30 NUMBER 6
PWCS
YACHTS
CUDDYS
CRUISERS
PONTOONS
SPORT BOATS
FISHING BOATS
1121 Invicta Dr., Unit 2, Oakville, ON L6H 2R2 2nd Class Registration Number #40010957
2016
MARINE
POWER
Starcraft
SCX 231 I/O
Boat Test #1388
A wakeboarding boat for half the price? Yes!
S
tarcraft made a huge splash when the
company introduced its SCX line of
crossover powerboats back in 2011.
Combining bowrider handling with deck boat
passenger capacity, the SCX proved to be perfect for exploring, cruising, swimming, skiing
or wakeboarding. About the only thing you
couldn’t do with an SCX was wake surf.
Well, that’s now changed.
Wake surfing is a huge amount of fun, and
that’s something Volvo Penta realized as the
company developed its revolutionary Forward
Drive propulsion system. By putting the props
at the front of the stern drive’s lower unit rather
than the back (similar to its IPS pod system),
Volvo found that performance improved as
the props bit into cleaner, undisturbed water.
Beyond that, the design also moved the props
much farther forward to a position under the
boat’s hull, providing that extra margin of safety that make the system ideal for wake surfing.
The SCX 231 IO is the perfect platform for
this new arrangement. With its big rear swim
platform and the nearly full-width, rear-facing
transom seat, this boat was made for wake
surfing. The cockpit seats up to 13, with its stern
bench seat continuing right up the port side of
the boat to wrap around the bow. An ingenious
flipping back cushion on the port side allows
tandem forward-facing or rear-facing seating,
with storage space for a removable 36-quart
Igloo cooler beneath. The stern seat back can
be adjusted to lay flat, creating a generous rear
sunpad, while up front the SCX 231’s wide, pickle fork bow offers more than enough room for
several adults to get comfortable or enjoy a
snack on the removable pedestal-mount table.
The helm console is neatly laid out with
full instrumentation, an upgraded chromeon-black steering wheel with tilt adjustment,
and an AM/FM/MP3 stereo with Bluetooth
connectivity. The helm seat is quite comfortable, and features a convenient flip-up bolster for improved visibility in confined areas.
Overhead, an optional wake tower with board
racks and rear-facing speakers fit perfectly with
the Bimini top.
Our review boat came with Volvo Penta’s
5.7L V8, pushing 300 horsepower through its
Forward Drive and Duo-prop twin propellers.
Order the optional wake package and you also
get trim tabs, a ballast system and a Zero Off
GPS speed control.
Although the SCX 231 I/O is rated to handle
up to 350 horsepower, the 300 horsepower
Volvo system works so efficiently the acceleration can only be described as meteoric!
Hit the gas and the 3,300-pound SCX rockets
out of the hole and onto plane before you’ve
even finished pushing the throttle forward.
At speed, the combination of the Volvo Duoprops biting clean water and the SCX’s high
performance hull design is pure magic. It’s fast,
it’s responsive - it’s perfect.
Chop the velocity down to typical wake
surfing speeds in the 10 mph range, drop the
trim tabs and put some weight in the back,
and further magic unfolds behind the boat
as the wake rises up to form a long, gorgeous
wave that just cries out for a rider. Straight to
the point – it works like a charm.
Where wake surfing was once the exclusive domain of specialized, inboard-powered
tow boats that often came with six-digit price
tags, Starcraft’s SCX 231 I/O with the Volvo
Penta Forward Drive system and wake package breaks new ground. Best of all, it’s such a
versatile platform that it’s equally capable as a
family runabout, cottage boat or day cruiser.
For active families who enjoy a range of water
activities – including wake surfing – it’s pretty
hard to beat.
By Craig Ritchie
SPECIFICATIONS
Length: Beam:
Weight: Passenger capacity: Fuel capacity: Maximum Power:
Power as Reviewed: 21”10” / 6.55 m
8’6” / 2.55 m
3,300 lbs. / 1500 kgs
13
54 gals / 189 L
350 hp
Volvo Penta 5.7L V8
Forward Drive
For more information
www.starcraftmarine.com
Volume 30 Number 6 | Power Boating Canada
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