When engineers create a 20-foot deck-boat hull with exciting top speed and watersports-capable hole shots using a four-cylinder 150 hp outboard, you either have a great design, a magical motor or a marriage made in heaven between the two.
This boat has Stingray’s Z-Plane hull, the result of nearly 40 years of successful engineering. It is designed to provide a stable platform with a crisp ride in chop, plus comfortable steering and stability at any speed. The power comes from Yamaha’s proven 150 hp four-stroke motor. On our muggy day, the boat topped 48 mph, but on cooler crisper days when the air was denser and perhaps the load a little lighter, Yamaha techs saw over 50 mph on their speedo. We think it’s doable.
And the driving was done in a comfortable bucket seat with flip-up bolster facing a tilt wheel, Fusion audio controller, stainless-steel bezel gauges and a central panel that fits up to a 7-inch navigation display. The 201 may be easy to trailer, but it’s got a big-boat feel you won’t fully appreciate until you load the coolers and fill the seats with friends.
Aft of the cockpit is a step-over transom with a platform that allows easy passage from port to starboard — a feature only gradually becoming available in outboard designs. There’s a boarding ladder angled away from the motor so feet won’t get nicked by kicking a prop. The 201DS has a wraparound windshield, providing wind protection and converting the deck-boat seating plan into a sleek-looking runabout without losing important passenger capacity. Forward of the dual consoles are cozy lounges with padded seat backs and coaming bolsters. A center step is concealed beneath another cushion, with a cooler under the step.
Styled to look great at a convenient price, the 201DS we tested had color stripes to complement the glossy gelcoat. Two-tone vinyl upholstery adds flash to the boat’s zippy dash. Stingray didn’t just marry exciting power to a functional and stylish hull; it created a fun machine that’s easy to trailer, comfortable to purchase and ready to make your family’s marriage to boating fun a lifelong pleasure.
High Points
- Color-matched Bimini comes with the preferred equipment option.
- Hydraulic steering is a wise option given the horsepower.
- LED cockpit lighting (optional) illuminates the interior and adds ambience at night.
- Stainless-steel trim on gunwale molding, rub rails and cup holders adds durability and good looks.
- Italian steering wheel is standard, adding panache to the dash.
- Electronic engine-hour meter tracks maintenance intervals.
Price: $49,746 (as tested)
How We Tested
Engine: Yamaha 150
Drive/Props: Outboard/Reliance 19
Gear Ratio: 2.0:1
Fuel Load: 32 gal.
Crew Weight: 400 lb.
Stingray Boats – Hartsville, South Carolina; 843-383-4507; stingrayboats.com
