The all-new 240 LS from Stingray is not your average family bowrider,
it's what the company calls a friends-and-family bowrider. At 23'8",
it's the largest of the company's fleet and well-equipped to log some
fun-filled hours on the water.
One of the more popular features on bowriders these days is the
enclosed head. By adding this amenity to a boat, designers give it the
functionality of the cuddy (i.e. you can take the kids out for extended
cruises without having to make "pit stops" ) with the popular open
concept design of the bowrider.
Stingray tucks the 240's head under the companion dash. The door angle
works well resulting in easy entering and exiting. Inside, the
Porta-Potti with self contained holding tank is illuminated by a 12-volt
light and a porthole.
The 240's spacious cockpit layout is dominated by a huge U-shaped stern
lounge accompanied by a pair of comfortable swivel buckets. Amidships
you'll find a freshwater sink on the port side and an icebox across from
it on the starboard side.
A table can be mounted to accommodate dinners in the aft section (it
can be stowed when not in use) or filler cushions can be brought out to
create a wide two person sunlounge.
We tested the 240 LS in calm conditions with three adults onboard and
3/4-full tank of fuel. Our boat was fitted with a new Volvo Penta 285
php 5.7 GSi, fuel injected and driving a DuoProp. The new, more powerful
5.7 EFI motors have replaced the much heavier and more expensive motors
we always saw powering 24-footers and larger boats.
How fast? Check out our test results, at 3000 rpm, the radar stopped at
25 mph while the speedo stretched to 28 mph with 1/8 trim. At wide open
throttle, 5000 rpm, the radar hit 51 mph while the speedo bragged a bit
at 54 mph.
Our acceleration runs really impressed us. We found the 240 LS capable
of 0 to 30 in 5.82 seconds; 0 to 35 in 7.76 seconds; 0 to 40 in 9.44
seconds and 0 to 45 in 11 seconds. Compared to other 24-foot bowriders,
and cuddies with large motors, this one is fast. The combination of
Stingray's patented ZP hull and Volvo's new 5.7 EFI with DuoProp really
jumps on plane very quickly and very quietly.
The hard chop that we encountered during our test was skillfully muted.
She held on plane as low a 200 rpm both in straight-line runs and in
tight figure eights. Other single prop boats require more throttle to
maintain plane during figure eights.
Stingrays have just returned to Canada after several years' absence.
There have been many, many changes including the elimination of the
unintelligible metric model numbers. Check them out from home at
www.stingrayboats.com - then, take a test ride. You won't believe the
improvements.
Doug Dawson
Power Boating Canada
July 1999
