Tahoe’s 1950 is a high-performing family runabout that provides a stable entertainment platform for a good-size group. It’s a near-50 mph family deck boat that retails for just $44,000 and gives solid creature comforts as well as an exciting, smooth ride. This one is a thrifty winner that punches above its fighting weight in price and quality.
With Mercury’s 150 FourStroke outboard, the 1950 proved to us it’s ready for towed watersports and swift family cruising to the sandbar or raft-up cove. It hits 30 mph in just 6.5 seconds and tops out at just under 49 mph. It’ll take a 175 if 50-plus mph speed is your jam. But at our test boat’s best cruise of 28 mph (3,500 rpm), the Mercury was sipping fuel at just 4.9 gph, giving a 209-mile range with fuel to spare. That’s a weekend of fun for maybe $150 in gas.
Tahoe calls its hull design Powerglide, with a reverse chine and HydroStep lifting strakes for increased overall performance. It works—the hull is nimble, carving turns and slicing through wind chop and boat wakes with the sure-footedness of a larger hull.
You might think that as a high-volume builder, Tahoe might skimp on quality; you’d be wrong. The 1950 is 100 percent hand-laid, no wood involved, with a full-length foam-filled stringer grid. Visually, it’s clean and crisp—the full hull and deck gelcoat colors (white, black, blue, red and gray are available) are complemented well by the vinyl interior.
Ten can ride; there’s wraparound bow seating with storage underneath, an aft lounger and a standard Bimini top. Folding stainless-steel ladders fore and aft make boarding easier. The captain sits on a plush swiveling/sliding bolstered bucket seat behind a fully digital dash with toggle switches to control all boat functions. An in-floor ski locker and removable aluminum watersports tow are standard, as is a digital depth gauge and four-speaker Bluetooth sound system. If you’d rather fish, an aerated 11.5-gallon livewell in the bow coupled with optional fishing packages (including a trolling motor, graphs, a livewell, added batteries and chargers) can add even more versatility.
High Points
- Kicker stereo and wakeboard tower options make the 1950 even more appealing to watersports enthusiasts.
- Aft lounger features removable 25-quart cooler and plenty of storage underneath.
How We Tested
- Engine: Mercury 150XL FourStroke outboard
- Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Enertia 14.5″ x 17″ 3-blade stainless steel
- Gear Ratio: 1.92:1 Fuel Load: 20 gal. Crew Weight: 250 lb.
Pricing and Specs
| Price: | $43,995 (as tested) |
| LOA: | 19’5″ |
| Beam: | 8’6″ |
| Draft: | 16.5″ |
| Dry Weight: | 2,500 lb. (without engine) |
| Seat/Weight Capacity: | 10/1,430 lb. |
| Fuel Capacity: | 40 gal. |
