NOTE: the 200LX was previously the 606zpx
On
any boat-show buyer's checklist, you're sure to find performance, comfort
and value. Maybe even a little box for skiability. While some boatbuilders
get the first two or three, Stingray always seems to get good marks for
all four. This year, the 606zpx passed with flying colors.
Performance is a given with Stingray, thanks to the company's patented
Z-Plane hull. The design, which eliminates hard vertical edges from the
chines, prevents the formation of air bubbles and promotes smooth water
flow along the hull and across the propeller. This creates plenty of prop
bite and keeps the boat running smooth and strong. In addition, Stingray
has added a notched transom to the 606, positioning the outdrive higher
for less drag and better fuel economy.
In the comfort department, Stingray gets a solid mark. Each boat is
designed using 'Oscar', a 3-D computer figure created with human
engineering data developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
By positioning Oscar in various places within the boat during the initial
design phase, Stingray engineers can make decisions on a variety of
ergonomic parameters quickly, easily and without spending time and money
building prototype boats. Not only does this ensure plenty of room for
passengers, but it translates into a high value for the consumer.
In the last category, skiability, the 606 performs admirably.
Recreational slalom is its best pursuit, as wakes are about the softest
and easiest to cross within the 606's class. Large at 28 mph, they
flatten out and harden with subtle increases in speed. Using a 15-off line
length, they're great for the family, with 32 mph being the best speed.
There's plenty of storage too, with a 97-inch ski locker and rear seat
capacity for more.
Footers will find excellent conditions. Wake quality is extremely high
for a stern-drive. Our only advice would be choosing more horsepower, like
the MerCruiser 5.7 or 5.7LX. Skiers stepping off a ski will frolic in a
wide, smooth curl. If crossings are in the works, expect well-defined wake
crests and a pancake-flat table.
Recreational boarders will find medium-sized, clean wakes that are
adequate for jumps, spins and wake-to-wake tricks. "Its wakes are long
for good air into the flats," says Cobe Mikacich. Kneeboard wakes are
medium-sized too, and `perfect for families,' says Shannon Starling.
If your boating checklist includes the above categories, check into a
Stingray 606.
Waterski Magazine
February 1996
