For a gallery of the 2400 Sport Deck in action click here.
The narrow canals that connect a chain of our test lakes are not the ideal places to meet other boats head-on, not when we’re testing a deck boat anyway. At idle speed, the wide-beam hulls like to wander at the stern, especially under the power of an inboard/outboard, sometimes making passage between cypress stumps and oncoming boats precarious. The 2400 SD, however, never shook its fanny. It tracked and maneuvered better than most deck boats we’ve tested, and for good reason.
Taking a page from its big-water sister brand, Sailfish, SouthWind’s hulls are built for rough saltwater use. Instead of the benchmark 16-degree deadrise found under the majority of deck boats, the 2400 has a 20-degree deadrise and a sharper keel than most competitors have.
It also has a full step to reduce water friction. With a 250 hp Yamaha and 21-pitch prop, our test boat was able to cross 55 mph. That’s humming. The only deck boat to match these numbers in any recent test was a Kayot V220 with a 250 hp Verado, and it rides on a much flatter bottom.
Incorporating a batwing-shaped swim platform on the 2400 allows the motor to be mounted well beyond the cockpit. The splashwell keeps the tapered platform from being much use, but here’s the tradeoff: The motor position does not impede cockpit space and is so far aft that the 2400 is one of the only outboard-powered sport boats with an adjustable, rear-facing island lounge. Under the lounge is a storage compartment as wide and deep as a stern-drive motor housing.
Further advantage is taken of the centerline depth with two in-floor storage compartments. We found one to be shallower and realized it’s glassed on top of the 70-gallon fuel tank. It’s a generous fuel capacity for this boat category and size because the 2400 SD is meant to go where other deck boats wouldn’t dare.
Comparable model: Hurricane Sundeck 2400
Down here in were I live in Fort myers we have needed a good riding deeper V outboard powered deckboat for sometime. We run the intercoastal waters and we run out in the Gulf of Mexico, plus we often have bigger boat traffic creating rough conditions. It looks like a great alround family boat capable of taking rough water and with the fishing package - it fits the bill for me.
I enjoyed your review of the SouthWind 2400 SD deck boat. I had noted from other information on the internet that SouthWind was sold by Bennington to the same company that owns the Sailfish brand of boats (does Bennington still own the Azure line of boats)?
The 2011 SouthWind website is under development, but there is a link to the 2011 catalog (which is available in pdf format). I noted something in that catalog that suprised (and somewhat disappointed) me. Their 212 SD deckboat now has a maximum horsepower rating of 250 (UP from 225 in previous years...I have no problem whatsoever with this "upgrade," as long as the boat has been proven to be safe with that kind of horsepower). The 200 SD (the identical hull with simply a different deck and seating configuration), however, now has a maximum horsepower rating of only 200 (DOWN from 225 in previous years). As I recall, this boat was called the 210 SD, versus the 200 SD, in previous model years, but nothing seems to be different about the boat....other than the above-mentioned lower horsepower rating.
I just sent an e-mail to the new owners of SouthWind to see if this 50 horsepower difference between these two seemingly identical 20' 6" hulls is a "typo," and if not, what the reason for the difference is. I always liked the 210 SD (now the 200 SD), but I planned to use a 225 HP engine (versus a 200), if/when I purchased one. I am unaware of any other deck boat manufacturer that applies different HP ratings for the same basic hull, just because of a difference in the deck/seat configurations (double "high" windshields, versus a single "low"...pontoon boat style...windshield). I would appreciate your comments on this 25 horsepower REDUCTION for the 210/200 SD from previous models to this year's model....and also your comments on the 25 horsepower INCREASE on the "sister" 212 SD model.
Note: I would think that the 212 SD might run 60 mph+ with a 250 outboard, based on the speed attained by the 2400 SD with a 250 on the transom. Perhaps the 200 SD has a lower HP rating due to its use of only one bucket seat (for the driver) plus "large lounge seating" for the passengers....versus two buckets seats for the 212 SD, plus a "small lounge/rear seat" for the rest of the passengers. If so, however, what does that say about the safety of any 210 SDs on the water today with a 225 on the transom?
By the way, it appears that Tahoe's only 21' outboard deck boat in their newest catalog is the center console 21'. It appears that the other versions of their 21' deck boat have been discontinued (I guess people tend to buy the inboard/outboard version of their other 21'....and larger....deck boat models). Based on the above, the 21' Tahoe deck boat is apparently no longer in my list of "possibilities."
Finally, in addition to SouthWind deck boats, I also like the outboard deck boats from Hurricane. I have some reservations about them, however, due to their continued use of wood in their stringers and transoms. I know that a quality boat can certainly still use this rather "old school" construction platform, but an essentially "wood free" boat (like the SouthWind brand) seems to be the "way of the future." Just see high-quality manufacturers like Cobalt, Bryant, Allison, most of the inboard ski-boat manufacturers, etc., etc. Thanks!