NauticStar’s philosophy for its Sport Deck line is to create value and user-friendliness in a boat that uses no wood in its construction. The 210 SC (side console) is the poster boy for this niche and delivers more fun and room than many larger boats for a lot less money.
Unique Factor
The beauty of deckboats is the beam-forward design that creates lots of onboard room. What a builder does with that extra space is what matters. Thanks to the NauticStar 210 SC’s 8-foot, 6-inch beam, the bow section features twin chaise lounge settees with more legroom than bowriders offer.
Because our test boat is rigged for fishing, there is a livewell in the step to the forward deck. If you’re not a fisherman, the area can be used for a built-in cooler to supplement the 25-quart Igloo Marine carry-on cooler in the port-side console under the wet bar.
The prime fishing spot on most boats is the single captain’s throne up front, but our 210 has twin pedestal fishing seats on the forward deck flanking the optional 24-volt MotorGuide trolling motor. While most boat companies put the trolling motor batteries in the stern – adding weight where you don’t need it – NauticStar wisely placed them under the port chaise lounge for better balance. There’s even a bow ladder for beach landings that’s set off to the right side to avoid interference with the trolling motor.
Performance
Our 210 SC is rigged with Yamaha’s F150 four-stroke, which is NauticStar’s recommended horsepower for this model. While having an outboard on a deckboat might be a little unusual, it’s the preferred power especially for boaters who ply coastal areas like our test waters in Jacksonville, Fla. Even though the 210 SC has a maximum rating of 200 hp, the F150 moves it along very well. We got on plane in 3.5 seconds with minimal bowrise and reached 30 mph in 8.7 seconds. Top speed was 43 mph, but we settled into a really nice cruise speed of 30 mph, where the Yamaha loafed along at 4000 rpm, which netted us 5 miles per gallon.
Handling
The NauticStar 210 was a pleasure to drive at any speed. There was remarkably little prop torque felt by the driver when coming out of the hole and at moderate cruise speeds where you tend to notice it most. We confirmed the boat’s agility by dodging a large number of crab pots in Doctor’s Lake, a bay off the St. Johns River, which leads to the Atlantic in northeastern Florida. The standard steering setup is a Teleflex Seastar hydraulic tilt system that works well with the Yamaha. We were able to crank the 210 hard over without any twitchiness or ventilation.
This wind-in-your-hair boat has only a small smoked windshield on the driver’s side that’s surprisingly effective. With the wrap-around, open-backed helm bucket in its normal position, a 6-foot driver looks through the abbreviated windshield, but with the seat bottom bolster flipped up, the driver sits extra high for better visibility.
Best Uses
This NauticStar is a great compact entertainer with a pair of low-footprint consoles to maximize room for up to 10 people. And a huge Sunbrella Bimini top will cover most of them when needed. Although the driver’s-side console isn’t huge, it’s big enough to accommodate a head/changing room thanks to the flip-up roof that comes in handy for taller folks.
The 210 SC is well set up for skiing of all types with a roomy centerline ski locker that has a rubber mat at the bottom to reduce banging. Its surface was a little slick for bare feet, especially if slippery sunscreen is over-applied. At 20 mph, with the trim up a little, the boat produces a medium-sized wake that is well formed for launching a wakeboarder. The addition of some human ballast in the stern will ratchet it up a notch. At 30 mph, the wake flattens out for slaloming, and NauticStar provides a standard tall ski pylon.
With the optional fishing package, you get a pair of pedestal fishing seats in the bow and there are receptacles for two more in the stern, so four anglers can have their own corners – an ideal setup for drifting for seatrout.
Preferred Setup
Although most boaters tend to automatically go for the biggest engine they can get, in this case the F150 is the preferred powerplant. Although you can go to 200 hp, it involves moving from an in-line four-cylinder to a V-6 that weighs 117 pounds more if you want to stay with four-stroke power. Another option would be Yamaha’s HPDI direct-injected two-stroke that only weighs 9 pounds more than the F150 but is louder.
The 210 SC is well rigged for watersports, but adding an optional transom shower is a must, especially in saltwater. The deck features a very nonaggressive nonskid surface that’s friendly on bare feet. But the optional ultra-plush 40-ounce snap-in carpeting bumps up the luxury level and can be removed when fishing. Other must-have options are the Porta Potti and the ample swim platform – something not always available with an outboard-powered deckboat.