STARCRAFT SVX 230 IO

Boatbuilders have long attempted to blend the size and space of a deck boat with the look and style of an open-bow runabout, but results are often mixed.

- Jeff Hemmel

Starcraft's SVX 230 IO pulls off the challenge with aplomb. Hullsides carry the beam width nearly all the way forward, keeping the bow cockpit wide and roomy without resorting to polarizing pickle forks or spoonlike swoops. Instead, a pair of gentle angles bring the otherwise rectangular footprint to a shallow, attractive V. Top things off with a wingless windshield, like those found aboard premier wakeboat models, and the result is a stylish, family-friendly hybrid for Starcraft's typical value-minded price tag.