NauticStar 243 DC

We Say: Outboard power, combined with a build more resembling a fish boat than most deck boats, makes NauticStar’s 243 DC ideal for coastal boaters. Its self-bailing cockpit couples with its single-piece stringer grid and a hull-to-deck joint bonded with Plexus adhesive to create a boat that’s safe and durable when used where waves and chop are the norm. The outboard tilts clear of the water for superior resistance to the ravages of corrosion.

With Yamaha’s 200 pushing, we bested 51 mph and hit 30 mph in six seconds. The 243 DC crested wakes at high speed without undue rattle, bang or hum. The boat features vented chines, performance enhancers that give some boats a skittish feel, but I threw the wheel hard over at high speed and never got that hinky feel of operating on the edge. This boat’s handling is spirited, but confident.

I felt the anchor locker hatch was too small — the locker itself is actually quite large for this size boat — to fit an appropriate-size anchor. Otherwise, the cockpit layout ticked the right boxes. There’s a walk-in changing room in the portside console, with an option for an electric-flush marine head. Other available options included a generously sized livewell, a Lowrance Elite sonar and GPS combo, and an Infinity stereo with Bluetooth. Leatherlike vinyl upholsters the seats.

Who’d Want One: Boaters seeking a rugged, yet refined, saltwater deck boat.