Overview
It’s no longer common for boatbuilders to offer a fast single-engine outboard sportboat, let alone one available as both a bowrider and a cuddy cabin. Kudos to Stingray and its 23 OSX/OSC models, which deliver a rippin’ fun ride up to a two-way average tested top speed of 68 mph.
Engine
I went out solo and saw 71 on the GPS. I believe that some propeller and jack-plate tweaking might net 75. The 5.4 seconds time to 30 mph is on par with most high-performance hulls. With a 56-gallon fuel tank and 5 mpg at 38 mph, you can run all weekend.
Stingray’s patented “Z-Plane” hull adds speed and stability, and is easy to drive. According to design engineer Drew Gantt, the design is optimized for today’s heavier outboard engines. The entire boat is CAD-designed. A composite hull and deck means there’s no wood to rot. The transom is foam-cored and infused with resin. Everything is bonded, not just bedded. Warranty is lifetime on the hull and one year on all else.
Interior and Accessories
In the bow, two wide lounges face forward. The seating is plush and detailed, in a white-and-deep-gray vinyl combo that looks crisp. Folding armrests, stainless-steel grab rails, and cup holders are plentiful. Between the bow seats, I noted a built-in cooler and a very cool anchor locker with a convenient slide-out anchor holder.
At the helm, everything but the Garmin 743 display is standard, including digital switching and Yamaha digital engine monitor, Yamaha electric power-assist steering, and a Fusion sound system with six speakers. The cockpit is self-bailing—a huge safety and convenience advantage. The deep, plush bucket seats provided stability and security at higher speeds. Just behind, two longitudinal lounge seats blend into and around a full-width stern bench seat.
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Under the stern seat, there’s quick access to the battery switch, dual batteries and bilge. Finished overboard-draining storage lives underneath both stern seats, and a huge, gelcoated compartment stows bulk items such as safety gear and water toys. A wide swim platform offers a built-in cooler and a boarding ladder under a hatch.
It’s so refreshing to see “fast ’glass” again.
How We Tested
- Engine: Yamaha F300 outboard
- Drive/Prop: Outboard/Yamaha Pro Series 14 1/2″ x 23″ 3-blade stainless steel
- Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 45 gal. Crew Weight: 450 lb.
High Points
- A super-innovative roto-molded anchor-storage rack slides out and captures the anchor so that it doesn’t scratch up the locker and make a mess.
- Hinged seat cushions stay in the up position, giving you storage access with no need to hold the seat up.
- Z-Plane hull design never fails to impress.
Low Points
- The only charge ports are at the helm.
- Some might wish for an amp to power the speakers. Stingray leaves that to the buyer, theorizing that those wanting an upgraded sound system usually want their own choices.
Toughest Competitor
True high-performance outboard bowriders are few and far between. Checkmate’s 2400 BRX ($135,000 with a Mercury Racing R300) compares closely to Stingray’s 23 OSX. The Checkmate measures 24 feet by 8 feet, 3 inches, weighs 2,200 pounds (boat only), holds 60 gallons of fuel, and sports 22 degrees of transom deadrise. During my recent test, it hit 67 mph.
Pricing and Specs
| Price: | $104,434 (as tested) |
| LOA: | 23’5″ |
| Beam: | 8’4″ |
| Draft: | 1’1″ |
| Displacement: | 3,364 lb. (with engine) |
| Transom Deadrise: | 20 degrees |
| Fuel Capacity: | 56 gal. |
| Max Horsepower: | 300 |
| Available Power: | Single Mercury, Suzuki or Yamaha outboard to 300 hp |
Speed, Efficiency, Operation
Stingray Boats – Hartsville, South Carolina; stingrayboats.com
