Press Room

PR Contacts:

Larry Whitely
417-873-5022

Jenna Kendall
417-873-5059

2500 E. Kearney
Springfield, MO 65898

01/01/2005

TAHOE^® 228 WT

Hereis a deck boat that is sexier than its “number-for-a-name” implies. It looked good at the dock, and our test drive gave us quite a performance to enjoy.

The228 WT is a heavily built boat with fiberglass stringers, foam-filled and capped by a stylish deck with a molded fiberglass sole that drains to the bilge through well placed scuppers. The non-skid surface cleans easily, and we’d opt out of snap-in carpet in favor of an amplified booster forthe standard CD player. The transom is rotproof, too, so we see this boat lasting plenty long for investment-minded boaters.

Heavyboats take rough water better but give a little less speed and acceleration for the horsepower. Our top speed of 44 mph with a two-person load was comparable to what many boaters accept today, but we’d recommend more horsepower if you really plan to take advantage of a deck boat’s ability to haul many passengers. The price differential for 30 ponies may seem steep, but owner satisfaction comes with ample power, not a $50-per-month reduction on the payment coupon.

Inturns, we want a boat that can maneuver sharply without blowing out. You’ll usually find compromises here in most deck boats (when looked at next to comparable bowriders) —that comes from the wide, cab-forward beam. Still, our boat handled turns nicely and gave us confidence that we could recover skiers with agility.

Onboard,we found the deck space that is demanded from a boat in this class and thought the floor plan worked well for thecrowds it’s intended to carry. Though many folks never pull the cocktail table out of hiding, this one comes with two pedestal positions, giving boaters who need it options to meet their needs.

Fewdeck boats today come without a bow boarding ladder, but this one steps up in that arena, too. The bow ladder is ideal for beachcombers, and the stern ladder makes watersports more fun by easing reboarding. It’s also handy at the ramp, giving sturdy egress when getting ready to launch.

TheTAHOE^® 228 WT is a good buy, thanks to a solid hull and nice design features. We expect to see plenty of them along U.S. waterways in the coming year. — R.V.

ATA GLANCE:
TheTAHOE^® 228 WT brings plenty of deck space, lots of seating and a smooth ride to boaters needing comfortable cruising qualities on large lakes and impoundments.
Contact:TAHOE^®, Springfield, Missouri, 888-842-8246

NOTABLE FEATURES
•Bow and stern boarding ladders offer easyaccess from lake, ramp or beach
•Extended swim platform is integrated and standard instead of optional
•Walk-through transom makes boarding easy from the platform
•Graphics package is sharp and distinctive, enhancing the visual appeal
•Compartment on port side of platform makes it convenient to stow wet items
•Radiused windshield adds flair
•Deep cockpit gives secure ride for toddlers

TEST DRIVE
TestEngine: MerCruiser^® 5.0-Liter MPI Alpha
TestProp: 14.5 x 19, aluminum
TestLoad: People (375 lb.); Fuel (35 gal.)
TopSpeed: 43.7 MPH @ 4,500 RPM
Timeto 30 MPH: 9.6 sec.
Min.Plane: 19.5 MPH @ 2,700 RPM, 80 db

STATS
LengthOverall: 22’5”
Beam:8’6”
DryWeight: 3,950 lb.
SeatingCapacity: 11
FuelCapacity: 48 gal.
MaxHP: 260
MSRP(test boat): $32,195

RPM MPH Sound Level
Idle 2.4 67 db
1,000 5.2 74 db
1,500 7.5 76 db
2,000 8.9 76 db
2,500 12.0 79 db
3,000 25.1 82 db
3,500 31.5 86 db
4,000 37.9 87 db
4,500 43.7 89 db

Onthe web: boatinglife.com/boats/tahoe228wt
Reprintedwith permission from Boating Life, January 2005
boatinglife.com