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Reprinted from the Febuary 2004 issue with permission of Lakeland Boating Magazine.
Crownline 216 LS Bing O’Meara For instance, the boat has two built-in coolers—one in the bow, and one at the transom—that are self-draining and easy to keep clean. The company also has installed a handy under-seat trash receptacle at the transom walk-through to help keep things neat and tidy. The ski locker in the middle of the cockpit has a rubber liner that prevents skis from scraping, plus it comes out to make the area easy to clean.
The 216 LS helps to fill out a 20- to 22-foot niche in the company’s lineup, which includes several bowriders from 17 feet, 6 inches to about 25 feet long. An independent company, Crownline has been around since 1991 and makes all of its boats in a state-of-the-art plant in West Frankfurt, Illinois. Over the years, the company has introduced more than 40 different models. Today, along with the bowriders, the product offerings include deckboats, cuddies and cruisers up to 33 feet long, and Crownline’s dealer network spans the globe. It’s a remarkable achievement for a 12-year-old company that started with a single 18-foot bowrider model. It’s clear that Crownline knows what boaters want: roominess, comfortable furniture, places to put beverages, storage, entertainment features and nice styling. Performance is important, too—and the 216 LS delivers on all counts. Terry Huffman at Munson Marine gave me the Cook’s tour of the boat. Coming abeam on the 216 LS as she sits on her color-coordinated, double-axle trailer, you notice a couple of things. The silhouette is sleek even though the freeboard is higher than most boats her size—a nice safety feature, by the way, especially if you have children aboard. The second thing you notice is the sexy styling heightened by air-intake covers that match the hull color but set off the white of the upper deck toward the transom. Toss in the over-built windshield with its all-metal frame and radiused curves, and it all adds up to an eye-catching, contemporary look.
The interior layout features bucket seats for the captain and passenger, and a sofa that curves around the transom. Four adults—or six kids—could sit back here. Just aft of the sofa is the 36-inch-wide sundeck, which, as part of the engine cover, helps deaden motor noise. Walk through the windshield to the bowrider area and there’s comfortable seating for three or more guests. Here you’ll also find plenty of freeboard, bowrails and grabrails conveniently located for safety. The extended swim platform houses a stainless steel, oversized four-step telescoping ladder with grab handle. When fully extended, the ladder leans aft approximately 13 degrees, affording those of us carrying a few extra pounds an easy climb. A second ladder is available for the bow, an option that would be great for families who like to swim a lot. The 216’s F.A.S.T. Tab hull bottom is unique to Crownline. Its effect on performance is remarkable. Whether you’re cruising slowly or turning at high speeds, it ensures stability. Other benefits include improved time-to-plane acceleration and fuel economy.
The well-thought-out helm is built for optimum convenience. The following come standard: a single Sony CD marine stereo with four speakers, Faria gauges and stainless bezels, a color-matched dash and adjustable double bucket seats. Rack-and-pinion steering and a tilt wheel ease handling. The engine compartment sits aft under the sundeck. Standard power is MerCruiser’s 5.0L with an Alpha outdrive rated at 220 hp. Our test boat had Merc’s 5.0 MPI, a mid-level upgrade that increases output to 260 hp. With this powerplant, the 216 LS planes in 3.9 seconds and tops out at 51 to 54 mph at 5000 rpm, and cruises at 26.5 mph at 2600 rpm. Pushing the throttles forward, the boat has very little bowrise as she jumps on plane and offers no impediment to visibility up front. The Tri-Tech flip-up bucket seats at the helm and on the passenger side allow the pilot to sit up high, which is especially comforting on a crowded inland lake. Not that this boat’s use would be limited to inland waters—far from it. With its size, solid feel and comforts, this is the boat for the Great Lakes day cruiser who just wants to get out and have some fun. Reprinted from the Febuary 2004 issue with permission of Lakeland Boating Magazine. |
Stem to swim platform, Crownline’s new 216 LS is 22 feet of bowrider designed for enjoyable days on all types of water. We had two chances to look at this boat, first at the company’s dealer meeting at the Vinoy Renaissance Resort in St. Petersburg, Florida in October, and again at Munson Marine in Fox Lake, Illinois in December. A thorough perusal of the 216 LS shows why Crownline rated highest in customer satisfaction for small runabouts (16 to 19 feet) in the 2003 J.D. Power survey. Although this runabout is slightly bigger, it displays the same attention to detail and built-in conveniences.
