Princecraft has taken a big leap forward in family comfort with the launch of its Super Pro 186SE, a bowrider that converts nicely into a fishing boat. Princecraft has been building aluminum boats since 1954, but the Super Pro series shows the significant strides it has made in converting aluminum boats into family-friendly bowriders. The SE stands for "Special Edition," which means that over a dozen features are standard. They include bow coaming pads, Lowrance X52 fish/depth finder, ProFlo Plus livewell system, sport tilt wheel with hydraulic steering, and others to improve comfort and fishing.

On the day the Super Pro 186SE tests in Gatineau, Quebec, the lake is almost empty, with a slight 1-foot chop. The 186SE is a good-looking boat, with a matching beige and black hull, designed for crappie and walleye fishing - a Northern boat for Northern waters.

Princecraft goes to extra design lengths to enhance structural integrity, making the 186SE about 25 percent harder than many of its competitors. It's built with a high-grade 5052-H36 aluminum with a gauge of .110 inches on the bottom and .072 on the sides. Boats longer than 18 feet, for instance, are reinforced with a center keel from stern to amidships, and a brace plate in the forward half of the boat to create extra strength. Princecraft also "twin-plates" the bow to midship areas for strength. The 186SE's hull is clean, with a fiberglass-like finish. The 1/4-inch solid aluminum rivets offer the strongest fastening method (airplanes also have riveted seams), which should also add to the boat's longevity. The fit and finish is equally as strong in the cockpit.

The deep-V hull runs nicely, doing OK in a chop (there's a bit of a speed-bump motion when running over wakes) and turning well at speed. There's some back-splash when the boat is at rest, caused by wind-driven waves slamming against the squarish transom, but nothing too dramatic. The double-reverse hull is also designed to improve the ride. Adapting to the speed and load of the boat, the outer chine improves performance at slower speeds or with heavier loads, and the inner chine kicks in when the boat is running at higher speeds or with lighter loads. That's basically a long way of saying that the boat moves more efficiently throughout the power curve. The 186SE jumps from 0 to 30 mph in 6.4 seconds and reaches a top end of 52.7 mph with a 175-hp Verado XL engine.

The Super Pro is rated for 175 pounds, and the Verado feels just about right for the engine. It handles the maximum horsepower rating and extra weight of the big 4-stroke without excessive porpoising, or the skittish feeling that sometimes happens when a boat is overpowered. The sport wheel adds a stylish touch to the helm area (ditto the faux carbon fiber console), and the helm seat is comfortable (20 inches wide by 21 inches high), though it could be a tight squeeze for a large driver. The 26-inch-tall wraparound windshield provides excellent protection for running in a chop or wind. The Verado is mated to Mercury SmartCraft tachometer and speedometer gauges that have multiple functions, as well as trim gauges that monitor everything from low oil to water in the fuel.

Given the get-up-and-go and decent handling, the 186SE is a fun boat to drive. Because of the boat's reinforced hull, it seems fairly quiet - no tinny sounds as the waves slap against the side. The NMMA-certified boat has been put together with much forethought, with features like a deep, self-draining splash well, rigging tube under the flooring for electrical wires, flex sleeving over wires and cables, and four recessed cleats.

While it can run as fast as other sport boats its size (lighter-weight aluminum can produce more miles per hour than fiberglass boats of the same size), the 186SE is also designed for fishing. There's a six-rod storage locker in the center floor locker, two ProFlo Plus 64-liter livewells in the bow and stern, a 42-inch-by-65-inch raised bow casting platform with seat pedestal, and a 31-inch-by-78-inch stern platform, also with a seat pedestal. The ProFlo livewells stand out because they're designed to be virtually maintenance-free. A timed aeration feature allows the fisherman to focus on fishing. The livewells also have two pumps to keep the bait and catch healthy at all times - even when the boat is being trailered. The electric-fill aeration and through-freeboard overflow functions are controlled by the first pump, while continuous recirculation is powered by the second. The time control, light, temperature and other features can be set from the driver's seat.

The expansive bow platform is an ideal place to fish. It has anchor storage, a two deep-cycle battery compartment, space for an ice chest, and two nets to keep clothing and other items inside the boat. The trolling motor panel is also well designed for easy operation while fishing. For the family, soft coaming pads the sides, and bowrails are integrated into the gunwales. The gunwale has a 7-inch shelf across, with a strip of nonskid down its center for secure footing. The deck area has a removable piece that creates a bowrider structure, allowing kids or adults to sit safely up in the front while the boat is running.

Six seat bases are positioned in the boat, with three folding pedestal seats. Two jump seats at the stern can be covered to turn the area into a casting platform. The swim platform can also be used for watersports and other activities. The Jensen® stereo has an AM/FM/CD player that's Sirius®- and MP3-ready. However, beware of the cool-looking Jensen speaker that protrudes into the cockpit rather than lying flush with the panel, which could stub your toes.

The SE is loaded with standard features that are optional on other boats and also includes factory-installed options like a portside sleeper seat, reclining captain's chair with adjustable armrests, vinyl floor covering, and the Mercury 9.9ELPT BF-4 Pro Kicker outboard with remote control. For those who want to cruise or trailer the boat to remote locations, items like the 6-foot-high convertible top with curtains allow overnight trips on the boat. Other options include an onboard battery charger for single and twin 12-volt batteries, a swim platform with telescoping ladder, and ski pylon. The engine choices range from the 135-hp OptiMax XL to the 175-hp Verado XL.

The nice details and thought put into design, blended with quality construction, make the Super Pro 186SE a definite contender for a dedicated family fishing boat.

The Verdict

All in all, Princecraft put considerable thought and detail into the

Super Pro 186SE; it's a boat that deserves the often-overused label "Special Edition." It combines unique features with quality construction, resulting in a family fishing package that rivals any aluminum boat on the water.

Princecraft Super Pro 186SE

LOA 18'6"

Beam 7'11"

Weight 1,525 lbs.

Fuel 40 gal.

Top Speed 52.7 mph

(w/175-hp Mercury Verado XL)

0-30 mph 6.4 seconds

Decibels @ Idle 57 dB-A

Decibels @ 30 mph 98 dB-A

Decibels @ WOT 103 dB-A

Base Price $33,220

(w/135-hp Mercury OptiMax XL) 

Price As Tested $36,350

(w/175-hp Mercury Verado XL)

Hull Warranty Limited Lifetime

NMMA Certified? Yes

Princecraft Boats Inc.
725 St. Henri St.
Princeville, Quebec G6L 5C2
(800) 395-8858

For additional boat tests, visit www.boatingworld.com.