Even though dreams of tournament glory get the chief boat buyer in the showroom, the 2200 Tournament Bay was built to gain the all-important spousal backing.
NauticStar’s engineers managed this practical morph by poking around in 19- and 21-foot boats — the most-popular size — and then they fished the best 22-foot bay boats preferred by tournament pros. This helped them formulate the 2200 with fishability and family fun that reduces intra-family negotiations leading up to the sale.
Rod storage, fishing rod racks, dual livewells and a high-pressure raw-water wash down all work smoothly together on the broad platform of this fisher. Enhancing traffic flow around the deck, NauticStar kept wide walkways around the helm station and rolled the bottom of the helm station inward, creating toe-saving space beneath. Cast-net storage is built-in, and two large livewells keep anglers happy. We don’t doubt the enormous casting decks will satisfy anglers with the elbowroom they need to make accurate casts.
Even more remarkable is the way family is brought into the game with an optional transom boarding platform and ladder, and cruising passengers are pampered in twin jump seats that pop out of the extra-wide aft casting deck. Sunning and swimming are easily accommodated in the 2200.
NauticStar crafted the Nimitz-like deck space by sweeping the transom width all the way forward 15-feet before pulling the gunwales in toward the bow stem. The result is a soft riding, stable platform families will like and a shallow draft that will let weekend warriors creep into the shallowest fishy waters.
Key Note: NauticStar’s all-fiberglass construction and premium hardware make this a meaty, unsinkable boat that can handle tough duty.
Standout Features
• Battery on/off switch is on exterior bulkhead not hidden in a bilge compartment where it is hard to find and use.
• Anti-fatigue mat at the helm is proof that NauticStar is focused on all-day comfort.
• Standards like a colored hull adds style, and a raw-water wash down adds practicality.
Vital Stats
* Length Overall: 22’2″
* Beam: 8’6″
* Dry Weight: 2,709 lb.
* Seating/Weight Capacity: 8/1,200 lb.
* Fuel Capacity: 63 gal.
* Maximum HP: 250
* MSRP (test boat w/ Yamaha F250): $54,280
* NMMA Certified: Yes
Test Drive
* Test Engine: Yamaha F250
* Test Prop: 24-inch Power Tech
* Test Load: People (450 lb.); Fuel (25 gal.)
* Top Speed: 55.9 mph @ 6,000 rpm
* Time to Plane: 3.6 sec.
* Time to 30 MPH: 7.8 sec.
