Rising StarRising Star

UNEXPECTED TOUCH Like the marine bilge pump’s automat- ic float switch or NauticStar’s all-composite stringer grid and transom, the boat’s standard Bimini shows unexpected touch- es. It features Sunbrella canvas across a quality stainless frame,but what’s really trick are the we logged as much seat time aspossible out in the slop.Topping out at 45.6 mph, our300 hp rig — which is max powerfor the sterndrive version— was a tad slower than we expectedfor a mod-V hull withcathedral sponsons and a mod-est 16 degrees of deadrise. Our 0-to-30 mph sprints were alsomiddle of the pack, as the boataveraged 10.4 seconds during holeshot trials. In fairness, be-sides having to buck stiff windsand relentless waves, the rig was now carrying a third manand still held three-quarters ofa tank of fuel — hardly optimum conditions to put up your best numbers.The 230 Sport Deck didn’tmiss a beat in the efficiency de-partment, however, as we mea-sured 3.4 mpg while traveling 25.1 mph at 3000 rpm. That’s asgood as, or better than, compa-rably powered boats in this class that we’ve tested. The relativelymodest deadrise gets the credit,as a flatter bottom is easier to push over the water than one withmore V. (Think of it this way:When you want to skip a stoneover the water, what kind of rockdo you look for?)

The 23-foot NauticStar offersclassic deck boat styling and function. Featuring an 8
1 /
2 -footbeam and 16 degrees of transom deadrise, the design’s cathedral sponsons and reversed chines do a good job of minimizing spray. Tilt steering and a digital depthfinder are standard equipment.

TO V, OR NOT TO V By the same token, a deep-V typically handles waves betterthan a mod-V design. But dead-rise is only part of a complex set of factors that determines howa hull rides. Weight distribution,chine and strake design, pad- style running surfaces and howwater releases as it leaves thetransom all play contributing roles.That said, for a 16-degree hull,the NauticStar provided a much smoother ride across a stirred-up lake than we would haveimagined. It was pretty darn sol- id and comfortable, actually.Although some vibration couldbe felt, pounding was minimaland when the boat shuddered,it was generally mild.Another pleasant surprise wasthat we remained remarkably dry.I’m not saying we never took water aboard, but by our estima-tion, it was considerably drier than most 23-footers we’ve runin that much wind and chop. It simply didn’t generate much spray in the first place, and the boat’s reversed chines and two full-length strakes did a good job of knocking it down. We wereimpressed.

The head compartment will probably see moreuse as a gear locker than anything else, but it’s sized for whatever you have in mind. A gullwing hatch provides good access to the front of the marine engine; reaching around back is another matter. The 230 Sport Deck’s layout is fairly conventional, with a starboard wetbar and an L-shaped lounge to port.

Test Notes

Pony up for the optional,extended swimstep, as the integral platform is rather high off the water

SUPPORTING ROLE In addition, the wraparoundwindshield and bifold wind marine door provided good protection from the blustery conditions. The ad- justable, swiveling seats for thehelmsman and first mate arewell cushioned but firmlysup-portive. We also liked the flip-upbolsters that allowedus to com-fortably see over the top of the windshield. Visibility was finewhile seated — although both theview and the 230’s appearancewould benefit if NauticStar wereto use the seamless but more expensive “postless” windshieldsthat are increasingly common.Our boat’s helm was fitted withoptional Mercury SmartCraftdigital instruments set into a wood-grain panel above a stylishDino tilt boat steering wheel. Justto starboard, a JBL CD stereopumps tunes through four speak- ers:two forward and two aft.Also standard is a digital-dis-play Lowrance sounder that’s helpful when coming into shoreor anchoring.A sizable head compartmentis hidden inside the port con- sole, while the helm console of- fers stowage for beach bags and such. Situated behind the helmseat, the entertainment centerfeatures a sink, trash can and dry stowage. What it lacks is agrabrail to help steady the crew.Directly opposite is an L-shaped cockpit seat. Like the bow seat- ing, lockers are situated under each lift-out cushion, and there’s a deck plate for a removablesnack table. Here, it’s situated inthe apex of the L so it’s also con- venient when the first mate’s seat is swiveled aft for socializing.

Jumbo ski locker easilyswallows all your toys

TO BE PERFECTLY BLUNT Contrary to the trend of making deck boats pointier in the front so they look more like bowriders, NauticStar follows a more tradi- tional styling cue. Its “squared-off” bow design allows the useof a full-width swimstep for- ward.Covered in nonskid, thisarea also contains an anchorlocker and bow swimladder. The hatch lifts on two stainlesshinges — a setup that’s also usedon the lids serving the flush-deck ski locker, battery compart-ment and engine bay. Given our druthers, we’d prefer to seefull-length piano hinges for the heavier ski locker and engine hatches.We like the grabrail surround-ingthe bow playpen, however, as well as the integrated marine dock- ing lights. And the 230’s stain-less rubrail adds a nice touch,too. Although we could proba-bly live without the bow filler cushions that convert this area into a sunpad, we definitely wouldorder the optional, snap-in Berber carpeting ($440). Along with the rest of the boat’s fit and finish, it shows good workman-ship and adds value.

Smooth and solidthrough steep chop, with a drier ride than most comparably sized rigs

Shifty Deal

She’s equipped with atransom walkthrough, but no marine gate or filler cushion. Points off for that

Our test of the NauticStar 230 Sport Deck also gave us a chance to evaluate MerCruiser’s revamped Bravo drives. We have previously reported on the Bravos’ updated styling and improved shifting, andwe’re happy to say it’s a winning design.Fitted with a twin-prop Bravo 3, the test boat’s 350 Mag MPI shifted into gear without the hesitationwe’re used to on other MerCruiser drives. Thanks to a redesigned upper gearcase, shifting is also easierand quieter. Until we got used to it, in fact, it was easy to overdo it and pour on a few too many revs — especially while attempting to throw the lever “past the clunk” when going into gear.The styling of the Bravo 1, 2 and 3 series has also been streamlined, and MerCruiser’s fresh look com-plements today’s boats. Truly, these are welcome improvements.

Self-bailing deck thatdrains overboard earns points back

BACKROOM DEAL The sterndrive engine bay (an outboard version is also avail- able) is served by a gullwing hatch that lifts on two gas shocks. The main service points nearthe front and top of the engine are easy to access, but not so the rest of the marine block — that is, unless you unscrew the port storage- compartment partition and go in from the locker.In an interesting arrangementwe first saw on Wellcrafts someyears ago, NauticStar has maxi-mized cockpit room by “push- ing” most of the engine bay ontothe swimstep. This setup givesthe boat’s back end its signature sculpted look — and is the fea-ture that most distinguishes the 230 Sport Deck I/O from otherdeck boats.Covered in nonskid fiber-glass,a starboard transom walk-through allows easy passage between the cockpit and swim- step. This area also houses a bat- tery locker with room for threeGroup 27 batteries. We wouldlike to see NauticStar add a filler cushion or transom gate, howev-er, as we’d feel safer with somemeans of closing off the walkway— especially if we had youngkids aboard.Thumbs up, on the other hand,for the self-bailing deck. Scup-pers in each aft corner will jet- tison spray, rain and wash waterover the side instead of into thebilge. And the 230 Sport Deck features stainless through-hullfittings — kudos for that, too.Our test unit was also equippedwith the optional bolt-on ex- tended swimstep ($778). Be- cause it is situated much closer to the water than the integratedplatform, we feel it’s a worth-while addition.

Ron Eldridge

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