Powerboat manufacturers stress horsepower on 1992 models

Power’s the name, and speed’s the game.

That phrase aptly describes the 1992 models that Maine powerboat dealers are displaying in their showrooms.

Caravelle Boats Inc. heavily advertises its Classic 1750, a sleek bowrider equipped with an AM/FM stereo cassette, a “color-coordinated” canvas top (a nice feature for keeping out the sun or rain), an insulated icebox that drains over the side, and various electronic instruments. Caravelle has set its MSRP for boat, motor (an OMC Cobra stern drive), and trailer at $9,995.

A sharp-looking bowrider made by Bayliner Marine Corp. is the Classic 19 Bowrider. As in other boats, the number (19, in this case) refers to the hull length, minus a few inches. Boat manufacturers do insist on rounding hulls to the nearest full inch or foot.

Anyways, the Classic 19 Bowrider offers a MerCruiser 130 stern drive and features a stern-mounted platform that’s great for skiers to use when leaving the boat. A close cousin, the Classic 19 Cuddy, costs $1,300 more (Bayliner’s MSRP), but offsets the higher price by offering an enclosed cabin (something a boat buyer should always consider) and an on-board toilet (the head in naval parlance). Both Classics come with a trailer and windshields that incorporate safety glass.

Sea Ray Boats Inc. has introduced its Sea Ray 230 Sundancer Ltd, a craft that has everything from an on-board dinette, head, and berths to a 205-horsepower MerCruiser stern drive. Sea Ray equips this model with an alcohol stove and a small galley sink.

Robalo Marine equips its six 1992 models with Mercury outboards, providing boat owners with all the horsepower they need to get to where they’re going.

The typical Robalos that you might see cutting the waves past Popham Beach include a 2660 Cuddy Cabin (Robalo offers two cuddy variants) or a 1820, 2120, 2320, or 2520 Center Console. The two cuddys boast enclosed cabins, and anyone planning extended outings along the Maine coast should consider a cabin’s advantages:

Room for sleeping, cooking, and storage;

A place to shelter from rough or damp weather.

Sunbird Boat Co. Inc., which warranties its hulls for three years (Robalo offers a seven-year warranty), offers bowriders like the Corsair 175 and the Saturn 170. Plan on equipping the Corsair with an OMC Cobra 130-horse stern drive and the Saturn with an outboard (either Evinrude or Johnson, the buyer chooses).

Crestliner Inc., a Minnesota-based form, manufactures a line of bowriders that it calls Phantom Fish-N-Skis. A model like the V195 Phantom comes with a bow-mounted fishing platform; if you’re bored with the platform, well, presto! change-o!, you turn it into seating for three or four people. Though Phantoms are dual-purpose, Crestliner makes them with anglers in mind by equipping them with a pre-wired outlet for an electric trolling motor and a place to lock your rods when you’re not using them.

Celebrity Boats Inc. turns out various models, from bowriders and cuddys to sport cruisers and the 210 Fish Hawk Walkaround. Celebrity boats often feature longer hulls, hence the 245 and 290 designations for the sport cruisers. Even the 231 Cuddy Cabin hints at a 23-foot hull.

The Celebrity 245 Sport Cruiser spreads its deck across three levels. The so-called swim platform (also the place where a waterskier leaves the boat) straddles the stern, while the higher-mounted bridge places the wheel and instrumentation to starboard and three-passenger seating to port. Steps drop down to the cabin, a cozy affair with skylights and, according to industry experts, great ventilation.

Another boat manufacturer that sells its models in Maine is Four Winns, which warranties the hull on its 235 Vista cabin cruiser for five years and equips the model with various OMC Cobras.