What's more fun than shooting through turns like a marble rolled through a curved pipe at hyperspeed? When you're at the helm of Stingray's new 240LS bowrider,the answer is, not much. Thanks to its patented Z-Plane hull design, the 240LS cuts corners sharply enough to make waterbikers idle down and stare.

How does this boat make those chatter-free U-turns and still stay easy to drive? Stingray says it's because the hull has no vertical surfaces below the waterline. On other boats, the sides of the strakes or chines are often straight up and down. If not designed properly these can grip in a hard turn, or worse, let go at the wrong time and cause a spinout. On the 240LS, the parts of the hull that act as strakes have sides that angle outward to prevent this. When I straight-armed the throttle with the helm hard-over, we switched ends like a surfer pulling a backside 180. We barely slowed at all, dropping only 300 rpm at the turn's apex. So Stingray's theory does hold water (with a death grip) after all.

The hull also helps achieve higher speeds with a notched transom that raises the drive slightly to reduce drag. In addition, the Z-Plane reduces air bubbles along the strakes, which can be carried aft and cause prop cavitation.

If you're worried that the more conservative members of your crew may balk when you run the 240LS to its potential, don't be. Its cockpit is comfortably safe, with a minimum depth of 2'7". Bolted grabrails are properly placed and the standard fiberglass liner (snap-in carpet is a $392 option) is self-bailing and surfaced with non slip. Even dockside boarding is made more secure with a wet stowage box/transom step that's molded onto the aft platform.

What didn't I like? While standing, my thighs rubbed the wheel and my calves hit the seat cushion. A seat that could be adjusted farther aft would be nice. Also, the bilge pump's discharge hose was merely slipped over the end of its through-hull. I'd prefer to see a pair of clamps securing this hose.

Bayliner's 2350 Capri LS is as comparable a boat as you'll find. At $26,795 with the same 300 hp as our test boat, it is a good performer, although it doesn't pull hairpins like the Stingray. It would take a waterbike to do that. But then again, you wouldn't be able to enjoy the fun with seven of your friends.

Kevin Falvey
Boating Magazine
November 1998