Brand-new for Stingray this year is its 210LR, a 21-foot, 2-inch bowrider built from the ground up. Stingray is known for producing quality boats that are moderately priced, but the 210LR shows the company is serious about performance. This model features a new hull designed to offer performance that will match or outperform similar boats with a higher price tag.

The most significant changes in the Stingray 210LR bowrider are the enhancements to the hull. While Stingray had introduced a new Z-plane hull back in 1991, the company went back to the drawing board with this successful hull and redesigned it for this new boat. The modified Z-plane hull on the new 210LR is designed with new features to provide better handling and top speeds compared to the previous Z-plane hull. Most notably, Stingray incorporated contours in the runnign surface of the new hull that extend beneath both sides of the swim platform to create "three-point contact" with the water when the boat is running at high speeds.

Inside the boat, Stingray offers three interior seating configurations in either an LS, LX or LR model. We tested the LR version, which includes a large sundeck at the stern with wrap-around lounge seating across the transom in the cockpit. A walk-through transom is also featured on the 210LR that is accessed with a removable center cushion and a fold-down backrest for easy access to the integrated swim platform. This design is great, because it doesn't take away from the cockpit seating.

There are also two bucket seats in the cockpit for the passenger and driver, with optional flip-up bolsters to provide the captain an elevated view. The helm provides the captain with backlit instrumentation and switches, a deluxe throttle and trim control. The passenger-side console provides access to the stereo, a fiberglass compartment for storage, a utility tray and a cupholder.

The 210LR is equipped with some notable standard features such as pop-up cleats, a 32-quart integrated icebox with an overboard drain and a dedicated anchor locker at the bow.

With our 220hp V6 MerCruiser sterndrive, we were able to post an impressive peak speed of 57.4 mph, and it required very little trim to air out the hull to reach that speed. Our on-plane time was also solid at 4.5 seconds. We were impressed that the power carried well through the midrange, as our 210LR took 8.6 seconds to go from 0-30 mph.

While our V6 engine offered great performance, Stingray still designed its 210LR with enough room for a larger V8 engine, allowing boaters to equip as much as a 270hp stern drive. We feel the 220 offers pretty darn good performance for a 21-foot boat, but if you want to push the peak speed closer to 60 mph, the upgrade is an option.

With current fuel prices, an important consideration for many boaters is fuel consumption. With the performance provided by the 210LR we feel the craft isn't very thirsty for the level of performance. The 35-gallon fuel tank will provide the 210LR with about 166 miles at a cruising speed of 29.8 mph, and a still impressive 122 miles even at its peak speed of 57.4 mph.

Go Boating Test Team
October 2007