MONTEREY 215 SS
Monterey’s 215 SS might just become the builder’s No. 1 seller. It deserves to be thanks to its smart faceted styling, solid construction, and exciting performance with Mercury outboard power.
Usually, 200 hp in a near-22-foot boat is relatively modest, but Merc’s new and efficient V-6 engine offers the torque to get on plane in 3.5 seconds, and made 30 mph in 8.8 seconds. Our top speed of 49.3 mph was held below the 50 mph mark, in our opinion, due to the high heat and humidity of the day. Its performance matched the fast look. Coastal boaters are now opting for outboards due to their easy flush-and-stow maintenance. It takes only a few minutes to connect a dock hose and wash away the salt. In addition, the engine’s full tilt range is forgiving when it comes to sneaking across shallow flats.
For sterndrive fans, the 215 still owns the waterways in most inland regions. It’s popular for its wide-open transom and clear view of the water, which is unobstructed by an outboard but offers a similar deck plan in the bow and cockpit.
Either way, the design team has always managed to give Monterey boats a strong European look with a hint of Italian flair. In addition to its faceted look, carefully laid stripes and thunderbolts in the gelcoat give the 215 a sporty finish that remains on the luxury side of performance.
Inside, firm multidensity foam mimics the comfort of a BMW, and won’t bottom out in rough water or hard use. Monterey builds 90 percent of its parts in its factory, and if they didn’t build it, it took life on the CAD systems under that factory’s roof. All this brings the look and ride of the 215 together in solid excitement, but it does something else too. Monterey owners expect a lifetime of fun from their boat, and repair parts, including color-matched seat cushions and special hardware, will be available for years after the purchase.
The two-tone surf mat on our test boat gave the vessel a rich teak-and-holly look that also added cool comfort underfoot.
Monterey’s style is trendsetting, with many standard color options and a look that inspires boater envy.