The MDX 211 OB Center Console is a new-for-2019 twist on the builder’s popular deck-boat design that excels at both family fun and fishing duty.
Family amenities start with a wraparound bench that spans the front perimeter of the cockpit. Comfortable, thickly padded cushions line the interior wall. A pair of removable seat backs offer additional forward-facing back support for those who prefer to stretch. Another passenger perch is built into the front of the center console. Aft, the captain’s 3-foot-wide bench offers the convenience of a leaning post with a flip-over backrest that also allows attention to be focused aft. There’s also a two-person transom bench and single jump seat that combine to accommodate more crew in plush comfort.
Does your family’s fun include watersports? A pull-up ski pylon awaits at the transom, elevated to clear the outboard motor. A generous swim platform includes a boarding ladder and plenty of space to walk from one side of the platform to the other without tangling with the motor.
When it’s time to fish, the transformation is quick. Aft bench seat backs lower to reveal a spacious 5-foot-4-inch-by-2-foot-6-inch casting deck. A livewell is plumbed below the starboard transom walk-through, and the built-in insulated cooler below the aft bench can also be converted. A deep 2-foot-8-inch bow platform adds another elevated casting spot. Thanks to the center-console design, anglers can also work a fish along the entire perimeter. Removable coaming bolsters slide into tracks 27 inches high along the gunwale. A trio of rod holders is built into the port and starboard gunwales. The console dash offers plenty of space for brackets or flush-mount electronics.
Starcraft’s modified dihedral-V hull design proved stable in wind-chopped waters, and the boat handled with finesse through increasingly aggressive turns. Paired with a 150 hp Yamaha outboard, the hull planed in just over 4 seconds and reached 30 mph in 9. Top speed peaked at 47.6 mph. That engine also proved efficient, consuming as little as five gallons per hour at a 23 mph cruising speed.
High Points
- AM/FM stereo with Bluetooth and auxiliary port
- In-floor storage and removable 36-quart Igloo cooler below leaning post
- Bimini top with storage boot
Price: $44,495
How We Tested
Engine: Yamaha F150
Prop: Yamaha Reliance II 13 3/4″ x 19″ 3-blade stainless steel
Gear Ratio: 2.0:1
Fuel Load: 44 gal.
Crew Weight: 155 lb.
