Office Party
Sometimes, family bonding occurs between people who aren't even related, which is what happens when you put your office-bound coworkers at the helm of Crownline's baddest new bowrider.
by Alan Jones
Among the many things that make America the ultimate boating paradise is the multitude of
unique bodies of water available for recreation. With 12,380 miles of coastline, you have an
incredible variety of opportunities - whether it's boating on oceans, the Great Lakes, or
super-sized man-made reservoirs. But to take advantage of these hotspots, you'll need a boat that
can handle the rapidly deteriorating conditions sometimes presented by large bodies of water such
as these. So, if you're contemplating a trip to Put-in-Bay on a blustery day at Lake Erie, or are
zipping across the Pacific to Catalina, Crownline's newest and most sophisticated bowrider, the 300
LS, is the kind of boat that'll inspire a lot of confidence your family and friends are cruising
safely and in style.
When scheduling a boating trip on Lake Lanier - one of the largest man-made reservoirs in
America - in the 300 LS, the primary concern these days is whether you'll even have enough water to
launch a boat. In the highly contentious battle for water rights between Georgia, Florida and
Alabama, the loser appears to be the recreational boating population of Atlanta, which has an
excess of 5 million people in its metro area.
Although the region is experiencing a prolonged drought, the Army Corps of Engineers
continues to purposefully draw down lake levels at a rate of one foot a week in order to provide
water to the Farley Nuclear Power Plant, and to protect two species of endangered mussels. "We are
down to one ramp in this area, and even that one is a day-to-day situation," observes Don Abrams of
WaterSports Central.
Fortunately, the remaining ramp is still operable - just barely, however - and Abrams backs
the 300 LS down to the edge of the concrete pad. The trailer's rear wheels fall off the edge with a
lurch, and the bowrider is officially floating. The driver fires up the pair of 260-hp, 5.0L
MerCruiser MPI V8s that power the twin prop Bravo Three outdrives and reverses off the trailer
using the 300 LS's optional electronic Digital Throttle and Shift (DTS) controls ($4,608), which
use a fly-by-wire system that does away with manual cables. For those using DTS for the first time,
there's a slight learning curve - especially when docking - because the controls are so effortless.
Some folks have a hard time figuring out where neutral is because the detent is minimal. There is a
pair of indicator lights, however, that illuminate to indicate when you're out of gear, which makes
things a little easier for DTS rookies. Crownline's choice of premium smooth-actuation cables means
the standard system really isn't too bad either, but there's simply no returning to such "
Flintstonian" methods of shifting once you've tried DTS.
There's some trepidation about the water level, considering you launched the boat from a
put-in that has been ominously named "Shoal Creek." And as you cruise through a narrow channel cut
between rocky shorelines, you notice a bridge to the right that used to be the way to the main body
of water, but it now most closely resembles a kiddie's wading pool, so you choose the long way
around. The funny thing is that once you're in the water, a quick look at the standard depth gauge
reveals you still actually have plenty of water beneath you. During the entire day, the smallest
number you see on the depth finder is 14 feet - even in the coves you explore - so once you're out
on Lanier's waters, things are fine. Shallow areas are well-marked with buoys, and there's still
plenty of lake available for recreation ... that is, assuming you can manage to get on it in the
first place.
The driving station is an ergonomic home run starting with a wraparound, adjustable SS helm
bucket, which has a flip-up bolster riser that's actually comfortable to sit on in order to get
your head above the large, stylish safety glass windshield. Boaters of smaller stature likely will
find the 9-inch bucket pedestal a little tall, however, and might want to consider getting an
adjustable replacement.
The dash's gray topside effectively combats annoying windshield reflections and only the
centered standard compass is visible. The SmartCraft analog gauges located above the tilting, Dino
sport steering wheel appear small, but only because of this big bowrider's impressive scale.
At 30.5 feet long, with a 9-foot-4-inch beam, the 300 LS is a beautiful brute of a bowrider
and one that's perfect for a variety of activities and situations. Recently,
Boating World received an inquiry from a gentleman wondering if his 22-foot bow-rider
would be suitable for a 30-mile trip on the Pacific Ocean from San Diego to Catalina Island. The
short answer is that under a perfect set of conditions, sure, you could even take the trip in a jon
boat. Keep in mind, however, unless you're actually moving to Catalina, you'll eventually have to
make a return trip, and Mother Nature will generally make you pay for such severe lapses in
judgment as taking her too lightly.
Although Lake Lanier is pretty placid today, it's still large enough to have its moments,
but the 300 LS is good to go, even in adverse situations. Having already tested the 300 LS and its
generous 24 degrees of deadrise on another large body of water - the Lake of the Ozarks - you know
it's simply a fact you'll be able to go boating when others are stranded in port waiting for better
conditions.
Having six people on the Crownline 300 LS barely makes a dent in the seating capacity, and
everyone easily locates a comfortable perch. Every so often, the passengers change seats, and among
the favorite "chill spots" are the ever-popular bowrider seats, which feature Crownline's signature
"hot tub-style" bow seating that curves gently upward to support a bent-knee posture when reclining
in a forward- facing position. There are even optional flip-up arm rests ($454) for added comfort.
The J-lounge located in the cockpit is an ideal place for the group to congregate come lunchtime.
Pulling into a placid cove, there's no need to drop anchor, so the 300 LS just drifts slowly.
Installing the large cockpit table is easy - you just retrieve the pedestal and tabletop from the
dedicated storage area in the roomy driver's console, and then plug them into the receptacle that's
visible in the standard cockpit carpeting.
The opposite console is huge and it comes with a VacuFlush head, electric vent and woodgrain
finish. Pulling the deli subs out of the standard brushed stainless-steel cockpit refrigerator,
which resides beneath the wet bar - featuring a classy Karadon granite-like surface that comes with
a stainless-steel sink and freshwater spigot - there is a momentary lull in the conversation as the
crew digs in. This is one boat that takes refreshment storage seriously, with an additional pair of
twin built-in coolers and a 48-quart Igloo carry-on. A signature feature is the rearward-facing
transom seating that's perfect for hanging out at anchor or for booting up for some wakeboarding.
While dining, the crew engages in a little team-bonding exercise that utilizes the
Crownline's jammin' optional Deluxe Social Swim Transom System Sony stereo ($2,300), featuring a
detachable faceplate for security, MP3 input, eight 6.5-inch speakers and a 10-inch Kicker
subwoofer. The idea is to play favorite songs from everyone's iPod playlists as the others attempt
to figure out whose list it comes from. Although each has a fair idea of the other's musical
tastes, the eclectic list resembles a curious study in human variance, and the songs chosen range
from soulful ballads to classic rock to head-banging metal. Often, the crew hasn't a clue about who
the tune belongs to, but there's finally a winner who guesses an impressive 17 out of 25 and wins
an iPod Shuffle as a prize.
After lunch, the crew takes turns behind the wheel for some cruising fun. On the Lake of the
Ozarks test with three passengers on board and the same engine configuration, the 300 LS gets out
of the hole cleanly with just a little bowrise and gets on plane in 5.5 seconds, and reaches 30 mph
in 8.6 seconds. If you're planning to go slalom skiing, though, it's highly recommended to pump the
Crownline up to its maximum horsepower rating of 600 with a pair of MerCruiser Mag 350 MPI engines,
which feature the SeaCore outdrive system - the preferred setup if you'll be using your boat in
salt water. Predictably, a boat weighing 8,700 pounds (tested weight) will emit a pretty-good-sized
wake at a barely-on-plane speed of 20 mph, which should provide wakeboarders with a nice
launching pad for their tricks. If you have any 'boarders in the family, you can option up the 300
LS with a polished stainless-steel tower complete with wakeboard racks ($7,685).
The entire crew is impressed with the 300 LS's ability to carve tight turns like a lithe
20-something-footer. Crownline's F.A.S.T. hull features a vented hull design for reducing drag, and
the boat uses a delta performance pad, allowing it to reach an impressive top speed of 52.8 mph.
The final result is a big bowrider that's easy to drive and predictable. When everyone crowds to
one side to chat during cruising, the driver can level the ride with a press of the Lenco trim tabs
that have position indicator lights.
As one might expect for a premium boat with this level of fit and finish, paradise doesn't
come cheap with a base price of $116,650 with a single MerCruiser 496 V8. Fortunately, Crownline
compensates for this pricetag with an abundance of "value-added" standard features like snap-in
carpeting, a fire extinguishing system, cockpit table, a pressurized freshwater shower, and battery
charger just to name a few. When loaded with options like twin 5.0L MerCruiser MPI engines, DTS,
premium stereo system, radar arch, flip-up armrests and Captain's Call switchable exhaust system,
the price rises to $149,358. You'll also get one of the best warranties in the business - Crownline
eschews the usual three-year deal with a five-year protection plan on the engine and outdrive, as
well as on the upholstery, canvas, stainless steel, and against hull blistering. The hull warranty,
of course, lasts as long as you own the boat. The final verdict? The Crownline 300 LS is a
well-thought-out, stylish bowrider that will keep you safe and entertained on the water, even when
the waves kick up. It also just happens to be the perfect boat for playing hooky with all your
coworkers.
Crownline 300 LS
LOA 30'6"
Beam 9'4"
Weight 7,600 lbs. (w/single engine)
Fuel 84 gal.
Base Price $116,650 (w/375-hp MerCruiser 496 MPI Bravo Three)
Price As Tested $149,037 (w/twin 260-hp, 5.0L MerCruiser MPI Bravo Threes)
Crownline
Boats Inc.
11884 Country Club Road
West Frankfort, IL 62896
(618) 937-6426
www.crownlineboats.com
Test Data
Performance data was gathered on the Lake of the Ozarks, with twin 260-hp, 5.0L MerCruiser
MPI Bravo Threes, three passengers on board and 84 gallons of fuel.
Top Speed 52.8 mph
Time To Plane 5.5 seconds
0-30 mph 8.6 seconds
Decibels @ Idle 61 dB-A
Decibels @ 30 mph 80.5 dB-A
Decibels @ WOT 93 dB-A
Notable Standard Features
12-Volt input, swim platform seating, three bilge pumps, automatic fire extinguisher system,
battery charger, cockpit canvas, cockpit refrigerator, two built-in coolers, 48-qt. Igloo cooler,
cockpit table, bimini top, compass, courtesy lights, depth sounder, docking lights, electric engine
hatch, horn, hour meter, extended swim platform, 15-gallon freshwater system, handheld shower,
snap-in carpeting, Sony six-speaker CD stereo w/MP3 input, ski tow, stainless-steel header and trim
tabs w/indicators.
Notable Options
Bow filler cushions, cockpit filler cushions, full bimini canvas package, camper enclosure,
Sony six-disk changer, XM radio, Social Swim Transom System, Corsa Captain's Call switchable
exhaust, windlass, windshield wiper, DTS, radar arch, flip-up armrests and wake tower w/rack
option.
Related Links:
Visit CrownLineBoats.com (http://www.crownlineboats.com)
