Starcraft SCX 201 OB
Beam: 8’6″
Draft (hull only): 1’11”
Displacement (approx.): 2,715 lb.
Transom Deadrise: 17 degrees
Bridge Clearance: 4’7″
Fuel Capacity: 50 gal.
Max Horsepower: 225
Available Power: Mercury, Yamaha, Suzuki, Evinrude and Honda outboards up to 225 hp
Starcraft SCX 201 OB
Starcraft SCX 201 OB
Starcraft SCX 201 OB
Starcraft SCX 201 OB
Starcraft SCX 201 OB
Starcraft heard the call from customers for an outboard runabout. Coastal markets were particularly vociferous. Enter the SCX 201.
This boat combines new-tech power with a transom bracket. The bracket sets the engine farther aft, giving the prop a more solid bite of water as it re-forms aft of the transom. The result is greater speed per pony. Our tester was powered by only 150 of them, yet we topped out at 43.4 mph and snapped on plane in just over three seconds. The bracket also moves the center of gravity aft — a big plus when retooling a sterndrive model built to squat under the heft of big Detroit iron. Our SCX showed no signs of being nose-heavy — a common malady of sterndrive refits.
We found just as much to crow about in the spacious cockpit. It’s tastefully appointed with soft, supple vinyl in beige tones. Snap-in carpet over a fiberglass sole also proved a great benefit. Yet the interior’s subdued luxury blends nicely with the sporty colors of the hull and the rakish lines of that wide-tracking hull with its proud chines.
Passengers are treated to surround seating in a tremendous conversation pit with a lake view. The forward area and the aft seating can be symbolically separated with a removable bolster that flips forward or aft for use by a reclining passenger.
Plenty of stowage is expected, but what makes it convenient and remarkable in the SCX 201 OB is the rumble trunk where the sterndrive engine would have been. There, a huge roto-molded liner can hold everything you might need on board: an extra cooler, skis and boards, or camping gear for a weekend. Above the compartment is a rumble seat that faces fore or aft or reclines for a sun pad. There’s a walk-through transom giving easy access to the spacious platform.
You want more? Options include a livewell and upgraded sports packages that provide premium Jensen stereo systems, wakeboard towers and board racks. It’s a premium look at its base point, but this can be made even better with a full menu of options.
Comparable model: NauticStar 203 SC
Starcraft Marine – New Paris, Indiana; 574-831-2950; starcraftmarine.com
