Press Room
PR Contacts:
Larry Whitely
417-873-5022
Jenna Kendall
417-873-5059
2500 E. Kearney
Springfield, MO 65898
10/01/2005
TAHOE® boats Room to Move
TAHOE®
Sportboats knows deckboats. For 2005, the company added three new models to its lineup of deckboats, bringing the total to 10 models ranging from 19 feet, 10 inches to 25 feet, 2 inches in length.Number
seven in the lineup is the brand-new TAHOE 228 WT, which at 22 feet, 5 inches in length marks the beginning of the company's larger, more luxurious deckboat offerings.The
trademark of any deckboat is its ability to bring the whole crowd, and the 228 WT weighs in at about 4,000 pounds, which is hefty and will help the modified-V hull cut through slight chop. If you plan to load up with anywhere near this craft's maximum capacity you'll be glad you can drop in as much as 260 hp to keep the performance strong.TAHOEonly offers a few deckboats with a wrap-around windshield, and the 228 WT is one of them. The windshield not only provides protection and increased comfort, it also enhances the sporty look of the craft. In terms of looks and style, in fact, we'd put this boat near the top compared to many other deckboats we've tested over the years.
only offers a few deckboats with a wrap-around windshield, and the 228 WT is one of them. The windshield not only provides protection and increased comfort, it also enhances the sporty look of the craft. In terms of looks and style, in fact, we'd put this boat near the top compared to many other deckboats we've tested over the years.INSIDE
While
we were quick to give the 28 WT full marks for its exterior appeal when we reached the dock, we were just as interested in the craft's interior attitude. TAHOE bills the 228 as a luxury ride with everything you need to satisfy a big crowd all at once, so we were looking for plenty of comfortable seating, polished amenities and a capacity to entertain in style.Starting
at the bow we found a nice bow platform with a foldaway boarding ladder, a nonskid surface and a pair of grab handles right up on the deck- there's also an anchor locker built into the bow area. Inside the bow you'll find a step that leads up to the platform at the apex and a deep, wide passageway aft between the facing bow couches.Just
outboard of each couch you'll find a long stainless steel grabrail, which is handy when you push this boat into a little rough water. Under the seat cushions there are deep storage areas for gear.Moving
through the walk-through windshield you enter the spacious cockpit. The helm area seemed to be a little farther forward than we're used to, which really seemed to add an extra notion of space in the cockpit. To port you'll find the enclosed changing room, which can be equipped with an optional Porta Potti- it's only an additional $90, so we say go for it.Just
aft of the changing room you'll find a small refreshment center that includes a sink, a retractable freshwater faucet and a trash receptacle. Instead of a port bucket seat you get a U-shaped wrap-around lounge in the cockpit that goes from the port helm all the way around to behind the driver's chair. The only interruption is a cutout in the center aft for the walk- through transom, but this can be fitted with a standard filler cushion that allows you to have a continuous seating area. There's more storage under the port and starboard portions of the cockpit lounger, including a dedicated area for the standard 48-quart portable cooler.The
driver's helm is what we expected with a comfortable swivel bucket seat with a flip-up bolster. We also found tilt steering, simulated burlwood dash and steering accents, a compass, a Lowrance® digital depth finder and a 12v outlet. There's more area for storage under the starboard helm, which is accessed on the inboard side of the helm. In the deck of the walkway leading to the bow is a hatch that accesses the voluminous ski locker. Another nice touch is the cockpit wind block panel that blocks wind from blowing into the cockpit under the walk-through windshield. Above it all is a color-matched Bimini top, which comes with a boot. Aft
of the cockpit is one of the nicest integrated extended swim platforms we've ever seen on a deckboat. While this means there's no sunpad, we think those of you who are serious about watersports will find this swim platform much more fetching.Built
into the deck of the platform you'll find two integrated coolers as well as two cupholders, so this deck is meant to be used as a place to kick back just as much as a staging area for watersports. There are also two good-sized trunks on each side with plenty of room to store soggy suits and gear. On the starboard side you'll find another foldaway ladder and a pair of grab handles built into the deck.Performance
A
boat with this kind of watersports appeal needs plenty of power to pull the big guys out of the water and still play host to up to 11 other people in the boat. Our test boat was equipped with a 260 hp 5.0 MPI MerCruiser® Alpha One, which is the maximum amount of power you can get. We don't recommend going any lower if you plan to take the whole crowd out on a regular basis.We
had two people aboard and a full tank of fuel (48 gallons), so we had a light load compared to what the boat can really carry. Our aluminum prop had dimensions of 14.5C19. Our time to plane was 7 seconds and our 0-30-mph time was 11 seconds. Pushing the throttle all the way forward and trimming for top speed allowed us to post 44.6 mph at 4,700 rpm. The 5.0 MPI MerCruiser has a full-throttle range of 4,600 to 5,000 rpm, so there's some room in there to experiment with the propeller pitch for improved top end and acceleration.Overall
The
TAHOE 228 WT is a nice package that's made even better with a base price of $32,195 including our test engine. TAHOE prides itself on being a haggle- and hassle-free manufacturer and goes to great pains to make sure prices you see on its Web site or in magazines will be the prices you see at a TAHOE dealership (prep fees, freight and the cost of a trailer are not included).In
terms of being a crowd pleaser, the 228 WT has all the bases covered with standard features except for the possibility of the portable head, which is not an expensive option. The only other options are snap-in carpet, a bow filler cushion, satellite radio and a trailer, so the price you see here is for a fairly comprehensive package. And if the 228 WT is a little too big or too small for your particular needs, there are nine other TAHOE deckboats to choose from.Reprinted with permission from Go Boating, October 2005.