Standing at the dock and gazing out over Lake Delavan, you can't help but feel like you're living the good life. You're at the Lake Lawn Resort, one of southeastern Wisconsin's most historical and popular vacation spots, and you're surrounded by 275 wooded acres, belying the fact that you're just an hour away from Milwaukee. Adding to the moment's allure is that you're about to step onto Princecraft's new Vacanza 220V LPW, a luxury deck boat that fits right in with the plush surroundings.

According to company materials, the Princecraft Vacanza 220V is designed to "exceed customer quality and performance expectations while providing an environment perfect for entertaining friends and family alike." The first order of business, then, is to see how the Vacanza performs in these so-so weather conditions (some wind, the water a little choppier than usual for a lake). The test 220V, a prototype version of the boat, is equipped with the 260-hp, 5.0L MerCruiser MPI, the highest-horsepower engine available on this model (the base engine is a 190-hp, 4.3L MerCruiser).

The 260-hp Merc brings the boat on plane in 6.1 seconds, with a 0 to 30 mph time of 11.6 seconds. The Princecraft Vacanza 220V's real giddy-up is on display when you air it out, though, with the prototype boat galloping through the chop en route to a top speed of 49 mph with three people on board and 3/4 tank of gas. The ride feels stable, even when executing relatively high-speed turns. There's a little bumpiness when riding through the chop at low speeds, as you'd expect, but the ride smoothes out nicely at higher speeds. Overall, the Princecraft Vacanza 220V gets good marks regarding performance.

It also scores well for driver comfort. The flip-up bolster captain's seat is comfy, and the extra foot room is even nicer. It's an attribute you never thought about before, but once you're able to stretch out a little, you wonder why more boats don't give you this type of space. The Princecraft Vacanza 220V features a nice-looking console complete with fully lit instrumentation and a mahogany steering wheel with tilt, and a quick cranking up of the optional 212-watt Clarion CD player gets the attention of your fellow passengers. Finally, the walk-through curved tempered glass windshield with door has the sort of high-quality look that Princecraft promises to deliver.

Reluctantly giving up your seat at the helm, you head to the stern to survey the scene there. The swim platform is a nice size and has a good height for getting into the water, and the four-step boarding ladder with grab rails for climbing up and down makes the process even easier. There's good accessibility on both sides, with an unusually wide starboard entry door grabbing your attention. The 20-ounce standard carpeting adds to the quality feel, as do the recessed cleats. The standard stern table is also a welcome touch, and swivels for increased versatility. A Bimini top is standard, and a full camper enclosure is available as an option if you're interested in overnighting. An optional ski tow post ($275) is something to seriously consider if your family enjoys watersports, as is the wakeboard towing package ($2,630). One of the more notable features on this boat, particularly considering its size, is the pop-up privacy enclosure. It's tall enough for this near-6-footer to stand up in, and while it's a little tight, it's a great feature to have. Equipping this area with the optional chemical toilet, as on the test boat, is worth considering for extended family boating.

Moving forward, the port-side sink (cold water) catches your eye, and further examination reveals an ice chest and 12-volt receptacle. This area will come in handy for entertaining. Hopping into the bow, you find comfortable seating that's slightly inclined and nicely padded, and some careful "testing" reveals that you can fully stretch out your legs. As you'd expect on a deck boat, there's ample room to sit facing one another in the bow - another attribute that'll come in handy when entertaining larger groups. The bow area is also home to an anchor locker and additional cleats, and a bow ladder is standard. This is a boat that's easily beached, even on a rocky shore (it's 100 percent aluminum). Flush-mount halogen docking lights are standard, making night docking more manageable. The test boat is also equipped with a removable pedestal-mount snack table in the bow, an option to consider if you'll be entertaining larger groups.

A discussion of the Princecraft Vacanza 220V's most notable features wouldn't be complete without mentioning the cavernous storage throughout. You'll find storage under all seats (there's an especially large area under the bow port bench), under the sunpad, in the cockpit area and under the steering wheel, in the floor for watersports equipment (12.2-cubic-foot capacity), and in pouches throughout. According to Princecraft, at least part of this extra room can be attributed to the "raised floor" design of the 220V. Whatever the technical reasons, the boater is the big winner here.

The Princecraft Vacanza 220V is available in four color schemes, including navy blue, sunset orange, regal red, and the burgundy red on the test model. The boat is fairly light for its size (about 3,500 pounds), and according to Princecraft, that should translate into fuel savings.

Princecraft has been building boats for more than 50 years, and has been making deck boats since 1992. The 220V joins the 250V in Princecraft's Vacanza line of top-flight deck boats. Like Princecraft's other deck boats, the Princecraft Vacanza 220V is made from H36 aluminum for increased strength and durability.

Idling back into the dock at Lake Lawn Resort, you realize your trip - and the rock-star lifestyle you've been so thoroughly enjoying - is coming to an end. But for those looking to make a habit of high-end entertaining and cruising on the water, the Princecraft Vacanza 220V is an impressive deck boat that's worth serious consideration.

The Verdict

A high-end deck boat that performs well and makes for a solid entertainment platform. Storage is more than ample, and the pop-up changing room is a nice touch on a 22-footer. If you're a watersports fan, you'll need to add a few options to get the most from the boat.

Princecraft Vacanza 220V Specifications:

LOA 22'
Beam 8'6"
Weight 3,534 lbs.
Fuel 50 gal.
Top Speed 49 mph
(w/260-hp, 5.0L MerCruiser MPI)
Time To Plane 6.1 seconds
0-30 mph 11.6 seconds
Decibels @ Idle 61 dB-A
Decibels @ 30 mph 87 dB-A
Decibels @ WOT 99 dB-A
Base Price $34,296
(w/190-hp, 4.3L MerCruiser)
Price As Tested $39,030
(w/260-hp, 5.0L MerCruiser MPI)
Hull Warranty Limited Lifetime 
NMMA Certified? Yes

Princecraft
725 St. Henri St.
Princeville, Quebec G6L 5C2
(800) 395-8858
www.princecraft.com