Every now and then you come across a boat that's a real looker, a knockout among the rest of the models at the dock. In some cases, it has the kind of options that put the "sport" in sport boat but doesn't necessarily add anything to the boat's comfort and ride. With the 240 LS, though, you get the best of both worlds: little niceties pop up everywhere you look, and by the time you've run the boat, you're convinced that it's at the top of its class.

When you first see Crownline's 240 LS, there are two new 240s sitting next to each other at the boat builder's annual dealer meeting in St. Pete Beach, Fla. The one with the wishbone-shaped "Razor" wakeboard tower and "Social Swim Transom" is a real head-turner — the kind of boat that makes a 45-year-old boating writer catch his breath and say "radical" for the first time in 20 years. But the 240 sans the A-list options looks like most 24-foot runabouts in its class: sleek and sporty with its low-profile hull and cool, red paint job.

But getting close and personal to both 240 LS's gives a better appreciation for the details that went into the basic design. Crownline refers to the gee-whiz detailing as "value-added" standard features, and though the boat's price might reflect that, they all add up to one premium bowrider.

The base boat has a 350-hp MerCruiser MAG MPI Bravo III, with a price of $63,625, while the test boat comes in at $73,995. Given your druthers, you'll want to pay the extra money for the Razor tower version, and the extra torque and miles per hour with the upgraded 375-hp MAG MerCruiser MPI with Bravo III drive. 

The test boat also includes the optional SmartTow package from MerCruiser that, in conjunction with the tower, really transforms the 240 into a dedicated towboat — not just a surgically enhanced look-alike.

The Razor (not pictured) is a rakish, forward-leaning tower with some serious curvature. It's definitely a generation ahead of the clunkier-looking aluminum towers that still define some wakeboard boats. Fortunately, it's not too far out there, and with the loud-mouth Kicker speakers, the Razor gives the 240 some strong attitude — and wakeboarders serious altitude — without having too much of a futuristic, science-fiction look.    

We can't get a volunteer into the choppy Gulf waters on this particular morning to test its towing capabilities, but the SmartTow system (integrated into the Mercury SmartCraft electronics) performs as advertised. It has five levels of "Launch Control" to pull the rider out at the speed they desire, and the rpm cruise control keeps the boat running at a consistent level for a variety of different activities.

Level 1, for instance, runs the boat at just above idle — good for towing little kids on tubes or running in a no-wake zone. Level 2 is for launching wakeboarders, with a quick-speed trajectory that rapidly falls back to the optimum rpm level the wakeboarder has specified once they're up. Level 3 delivers what Mercury calls a "thrilling" wakeboard ride for serious boarders. Level 4 is set for an "aggressive" holeshot and "long overshoot" for light slalom skiing, and Level 5 has a "very aggressive" holeshot for serious slalom skiers. The technology was developed by pro wakeboarders and water-skiers but is aimed at weekend warriors who have little throttle time.

Mercury claims SmartTow delivers a perfect launch every time and is a good way to turn Mom or Dad into the perfect virtual throttle jockey. Precise towing is a tough proposition on an I/O, no matter who's driving, because finessing the throttle and    paying attention to what's happening on the water requires jack rabbit reactions, especially compared to a direct-drive inboard. The SmartCraft technology serves as an equalizer by monitoring the boat's load (including the weight of the water-skier) to keep the rpm levels consistent, even in turns, without so much as touching the throttle.

The SmartTow lives up to the hype, staying rock-steady at its various rpm levels, even in the Gulf chop, as good a test as we can find. SmartTow could well be the difference between turning a sterndrive boat from a hard-to-handle towing machine into a pretty darn good one.

The Gulf chop is also a good place to get a sense of the 240's F.A.S.T. Tab vented hull, with its reversed chines  and delta-pad bottom. The boat handles nicely at its top speed of 53.1 mph. G-force turns at speed are firm (fun, but not recommended), and the boat tracks well in the moderate chop. Bouncing off the waves is fairly minimal, and when we do wave-hop, the hull lands solidly rather than with a tinny thud. The 39-degree angle of entry at the bow slices most head seas. Overall, the 240 LS delivers a sense of being in control, which is a plus, given its 50-plus top speed. It's a nice ride, especially with the tilt Dino wheel in your hands.

But the boat's true crowd-pleasing features are in the cockpit rather than the hull. This reviewer doesn't usually heap praise on a cockpit, but Crownline does an excellent job in turning the 24-footer into a safe, comfortable family machine.

The bow has "hot tub"-style seating with curved bow seats that recline into a comfortable position. The test boat comes with optional flip-up armrests — a nice option for really kicking back and enjoying the seat's contours. The U-shaped seating measures 50 inches long on either side and 24 inches across the bow, giving plenty of space up front.

The seats have carpeted storage underneath, and there's a low-profile grab rail along the gunwale side for safety. Also at the bow are two 6-inch, retractable cleats (there are two more amidships and two at the stern). The 240 LS also has standard docking lights (another nice "value-added" standard feature). The forward anchor locker is 22 inches deep — sizable enough for a lightweight anchor.

Freeboard through most of the cockpit is 36 inches, a good depth for having kids on board, and families will appreciate the 33-inch-by-36-inch head console with standard Porta-Potti. The  test boat has the granite coat option, which looks classy beside the platinum and white cockpit colors. The head compartment also has a freshwater  sink, shower, vanity, electric light and opening portlight. A 15-gallon freshwater system is standard.

The boat's canvas top stands 78 inches above the deck, working in sync with the Razor tower. It offers decent headroom and good sun protection. Beneath the snap-in cockpit carpeting is a storage locker that measures 24 inches wide by 65 inches long by 25 inches deep. The gray carpeting runs throughout the cockpit, and again, its subdued color adds a classy feel to the boat's interior.

The U-shaped lounge at the back measures 58 inches lengthwise on each side, with a width of 67 inches. The lounge seats have a 14-degree recline angle, which Crownline says is twice that of the industry, but true couch potato aficionados might say the back cushions could use more padding. There is a   20-inch-wide-by-15-inch-deep walkway in the center of the lounge, covered by seats that pop out. That walkway is another thoughtful design.

The "Social Swim Transom" is one of the finest setups seen, with a 22-inch-deep platform that includes covered Sony stereo speakers on either side, lift-up covers with spaces for fenders, a four-prong stainless-steel ladder, and diamond nonskid surface. A transom stereo control at the rear allows you to work the Sony system, which has a plug for a MP3 player in the main control, without having to walk into  the cockpit. The walkthrough doubles as a seat for donning water gear.

The 240 LS is pricey for a 24-foot bowrider, but it's also a boat that's  more than the sum of its parts, and even the add-ons are more than cosmetic enhancements. They turn the boat into a dedicated towing machine that stands at the top of its category.

Crownline 240 LS

LOA 25'
Beam 8'6"
Weight 4,900 lbs.
Fuel 50 gal.
Maximum HP 425
Base Price $63,625
(w/350-hp MerCruiser MAG MPI Bravo III)
Price As Tested $73,995
(w/375-hp MerCruiser 496 MAG MPI Bravo III)
Hull Warranty Lifetime Limited
NMMA Certified? Yes

Crownline Boats Inc.
11884 Country Club Road
West Frankfort, IL 62896
(618) 937-6426
www.crownlineboats.com

Test Data
Performance data was gathered with a 375-hp MerCruiser 496 MAG MPI Bravo III, three people on board and 1/4 tank of fuel.

Top Speed 53.1 mph
Time To Plane 6.2 seconds
0-30 mph 8.2 seconds
Decibels @ Idle 63 dB-A
Decibels @ 30 mph 80 dB-A
Decibels @ WOT 91 dB-A

Notable Standard Features
Stainless-steel ski tow eye; Sony marine stereo with single disc player, four speakers, and iPod and MP3 player input jack; 15-gallon freshwater tank; portable head; in-floor lockable ski and kneeboard storage; 12-volt receptacle; carry-on cockpit cooler; hour meter; extended swim platform; navigation lights; pressurized water system; rack-and-pinion steering; stainless-steel 6-inch pull-up cleats; stainless-steel cup holders; tilt steering wheel.

Notable Options
Social Swim Transom, SmartTow system, snap-in carpet for swim platform, filler cushions, flip-up armrests, canvas options, windshield wiper, pump-out head, forward boarding ladder, key chain remote control for courtesy lights, forward-facing aluminum tube wakeboard tower.