One of the charges leveled against stern-drive fishing boats is that the engine takes up valuable fishing room at the aft of the craft. You can't say that about the Stingray 200MS. This walk-around, center-console speedster puts the engine amidships. A jackshaft transfers its power to a conventional stern-drive at the transom.

On board, the 200MS has built-in tackle drawers, which, by making tackle boxes unnecessary, effectively adds more fishing rooms. It has horizontal rod storage, upright rod holders, a 14-gallon aerated livewell, fish boxes at both bow and stern and a rigging station at the transom. And you can chase a fish round and round the center console.

The result is not simply a handy fishing configuration, either. For wakeboarding, there's no need to play with ballast to get the right wake; the driver can adjust the outdrive.

When it's time to move, you do it on a Stingray-patented Z-plane hull for smooth water flow, higher speeds and better fuel economy. The hull carries a five-year protection plan, three years against blister. Hardware is stainless steel and the fiberglass cockpit floor liner is self-bailing. In most engine packages, there's no charge for power steering.

A special convenience package adds, at no charge, custom engine vibration dampeners, an electronic fuel management system, a stainless-steel boarding ladder and a magnetic compass. You can add a custom T-top with handrails, a wakeboard tower with rocket launchers or a Sunbrella Bimini top.

Then get ready to fish from your big boat.

Steve Griffin
Boating Life Magazine