STARCRAFT

SCX 231 Surf Edition

Runabout builders installing Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive continue to take a bite out of the wakesurfing pie from inboard-powered models from the tow-sport brands. Starcraft’s SCX 231 Surf Edition is an example. With its prop positioned at the front of the drive, safety concerns are minimized. In addition, a trio of ballast bags add 1,385 pounds to sink the hull deeper in the water and produce a bigger wave. Surf tabs, similar to oversize trim tabs, alter the boat’s port-tostarboard attitude to create and shape a surfable wake. Aboard our test boat, an optional Murphy touchscreen display ($4,487) provided ballast and tab controls; Zero Off speed control held the boat at an individual rider’s preferred speed.

We smiled pulling into the first wave of the day. With only a minimal passenger load, the SCX built a sizable wave with a relatively steep face, medium-size pocket, and plenty of that all-important forward push. No, it’s not the ridiculously clean face that tow-sport boatbuilders produce with their models, but it’s not that far off. Transitions between a wake focused on the left or right side are fast enough that the expert rider we had on hand could easily cross over without losing his momentum. For recreational riders, that means there will be no downtime switching between regular (leftfoot forward) and goofy (right-foot forward) riders.

Unlike most surf-focused models, the SCX features an open design closer to a deck boat than a traditional bowrider. Given that surfing often includes a crowd (and benefits from the weight), it works. Seating wraps the cockpit perimeter, from the squared-off bow to the length of the port side, and culminates with an aft bench. Its backrest, shared with an aft seat facing the swim platform, flattens completely to form a generous sun pad. Overall, the freeboard is deep, giving passengers added confidence when crossing those sizable surf wakes. As to performance, a Volvo Penta 5.3 pushed the hull on plane in 4.8 seconds, en route to a 46.5 mph top speed. Aiding that top speed? Something missing from an inboard: a sterndrive’s ability to trim — no matter where its prop is mounted.