Forward-thinking design with cab-forward seating and Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive make the HD 220 a boat that family-watersports enthusiasts won’t soon outgrow.
From the outside, the HD 220 is sleek. Our tester was sporty with a black and yellow color scheme and the wakeboard tower. Interior design included vinyl in four colors and as many textures, for a rich look that blended well with the exciting exterior look.
The crossover hull style offers seating usually found in a deck boat, while the hull bottom with proud chines gives the boat the softer ride you expect from a deep-V bowrider. The HD 220 sliced through chop and wakes, and it remained firmly under control as it skittered over the bumps. The Forward Drive, with props turned forward, gave us a unique ride, softer than any inboard-powered boat. How? The angle of attack on the props is perfectly parallel to the direction of travel, and as the boat lifts from the water, that angle can be adjusted to stop the bow from punching into oncoming waves. And it turns like a mogul skier — smooth, fluid and always in control.
But that’s not all the HD 220 and its Forward Drive present to the owner. Surfing capability is the forte of this boat, and pulling an expert rider, we saw what it could do. With built-in ballast, speed control and just a small crew, we found fun wakes that prove you don’t have to sacrifice a smooth ride to get surf capabilities.
Also forward in design is the glass cockpit dash, a touchscreen system integrated with the engine. Speed control for surfing, audio, navigation and sonar are just some of the functions displayed on the high-tech dashboard.
The nonskid deck drains to the bilge, and it’s covered by a thick marine mat, a surfboard-like treatment that gives secure footing on the soft material. There’s a walk-through to the transom, and with the extended platform, riders can reboard easily even without the ladder. And you don’t have to worry about kicking those forward-turned props as you climb aboard, because they’re positioned up under the hull, away from the transom.
High Points
- Marine-mat sole is removable for cleaning and storage.
- Audio system and other functions connect through the glass touchscreen.
- Touchscreen speed control stores rider profiles.
Price: $90,654
How We Tested
Engine: Volvo Penta Forward Drive 300 hp
Props: Volvo Penta Duoprop K4
Gear Ratio: 2.32:1
Fuel Load: 25 gal.
Crew Weight: 250 lb.
Four Winns Boats - Cadillac, Michigan; 231-775-1351; fourwinns.com
