The new Four Winns SL 262 is a pioneer in what's becoming a new hybrid boat style, a cross between a catamaran and deck boat. Scratch that. Think of it as a shapely, futuristic-looking boat that's like something out of a flashy James Bond movie rather than, say, Waterworld. And apart from the styling, you get a spacious interior, good running surface, and great access to the water from the swim platform.

With its wide, twin-sponson bow, high-volume interior, deep- cushion "furniture" and automotive-style dash, the SL 262 is targeting the high-end family towboat market and going after similarly-styled models like the 24-foot MasterCraft X45 or its big-boat sibling, the 28-foot X80. Chaparral recently launched its Sunesta Wide Tech line, with four models from 22 to 28 feet, sporting a similar look and pickle-fork hull design. Regal's new 2520 FasDec also has the defined, edgy styling with lots of interior space, minus the pickle-fork.

The race among brands to define this new category, which Four Winns is unofficially calling Sport Luxury, is on. The company intends to introduce a 24-foot version next January and fill out the line with a pair of 22- and 28-foot models next summer and in January 2009. From what Boating World sees from the extended test of the SL 262 in Cadillac, Mich., the SL line should attract an enthusiastic following of families who want a wakeboard boat but don't want to spend the money on the more expensive inboard models.

Of course, you have to first get used to the unconventional pickle-fork look of the bow. But that's part of the appeal, especially with a wakeboard tower - you get a different look compared to the traditional shape of a typical bowrider or the rounded hulls of many deck boats with planing hulls.

Looks aside, the boat handles great. Boating World spends two hours running it on Lake Cadillac near the Four Winns facility. The day is an ideal one for a towboat - some wind, but generally calm conditions. A 375-hp, 8.1L Volvo Penta Gi with Duoprops powers the SL 262 test boat, the top option of the seven Volvo sterndrive options. The boat  can also be outfitted with a choice of eight MerCruiser sterndrives, ranging from the base 300-hp 350 MPI with Bravo III drive to the 375-hp 496 MG with Digital Throttle System.

Since the boat is powered with a top-end powerplant, it's impossible to know if it would seem underpowered with the base 280-hp Volvo Gi/DP or base 300-hp MerCruiser. In fact, 375 horses seems just about right, especially if you want the extra torque for wakeboarding. And for  the extra money, it might be worth considering investing in the engine upgrade. The base price with the  300-hp MerCruiser is $69,062, and $68,208 for the Volvo 5.7L Gi/DP. The price with the test 375-hp Volvo and no options comes to $75,415.
 
The SL 262 runs from 0 to 30 mph  in 7.5 seconds - very respectable for a 4,800-pound 26-footer. It runs smoothly up the power curve and tops out at 50.7 mph at 4900 rpm. The boat turns on a dime without any hint of the stern skipping out and feels comfortable running over other boat wakes. How it would handle in big seas, especially with the squared off bow, is hard to say. But the twin chine running all the way forward serves to deflect water from the bow. There's some backwash when backing down hard, and although owners of the 262 will probably rarely execute this maneuver, the designers might consider a door that fits more snugly in the stern.

Driving the SL 262 is a blast, partly because of the zippy top end and tight-turn radiuses. But it's mostly due to the helm area, where Sport and Luxury converge. You'll notice the luxury as soon as you settle into the 29-inch-wide helm  seat (Most helm seats are 18 inches wide, so the extra 10 is a noticeable bonus.). You sink into the seat without sinking too far.

Four Winns designers came up with the notion that boats like the SL 262 should have furniture and not just seating, so the cushioning everywhere is deep and comfortable, and the seats are angled back like a sofa at home rather than being ramrod-straight like a church pew. The helm seat also has a bolster for driving at slow speeds, and the seat's control handles are near the base so you don't have to fumble underneath to adjust it.

The console has been taken out of the same design book as a luxury car, with a tilt mahogany wheel, laminated wood dashboard (the same type made for BMW and Mercedes by Behr), high-end stitched black vinyl (which looks as good as leather), and gauges set into a brushed-aluminum panel. Except for the black vinyl heating up in sunlight (though the plus is that it's glare-proof), this is the most stylish dash seen on a sport boat. The aircraft-grade toggle switches and push buttons are different from anything else out there to be cool (and functional), and Four Winns left good console space for a GPS. The boat comes standard with a compass and depth finder. Visibility is excellent from the La-Z-Boy, er, helm seat.   

The companion side also has black vinyl padding and a nifty lift-up top on the head compartment that raises 10 inches - enough to make it practical to climb in and out of, but not tall enough to look  like a pontoon pop-up compartment. The interior itself is 54 inches high, so you don't have to be a contortionist to  use the Porta-Potti. Two storage lockers, plus a magazine rack, lend a homey touch.

Behind the companion seat is a large U-shaped lounge, measuring 60 inches by 18 inches, that sits in front of a 33-inch-by-47-inch swim pad. The first two sections of the U-shaped lounge fold out to create a large sunbed, which is a notable feature. The starboard side of the cockpit has a rear-facing seat located in front of  a freshwater sink (embedded in a trendy-looking arrowhead vinyl shape). The passage to the stern is 17 inches wide, so you're not banging knees getting on and off the boat. One negative: The door's clear Plexiglas material doesn't fit that  well with the 262's color scheme and luxury feel, and looks like it could be prone to scuffing. Overall, though, the  layout gets high marks, and despite the enormous amount of seating, there's still  a sense of roominess in the cockpit.

Storage is certainly one of the boat's strong suits - under the cockpit lounge, beneath the seats in the   forward cockpit, as well as under the sunpad. The main locker in the floor is cavernous: the lid, which slams a little too fast, measures 21 inches by 47 inches and is big enough to fit in multiple wakeboards and slalom skis.

The enormous swim platform, which measures 39 inches by 88 inches, is sure to be a popular area. It sits about 4 to 6 inches off the water, so not only are wakeboarding and water-skiing an easier proposition for middle-aged water warriors, but sports like diving are also accessible. Four Winns put in a rear-facing seat for socializing at anchor and added a couple of buttons to lift the sterndrive and turn on the tower stereo speakers. The well-designed four-pronged ladder is angled like a step ladder to easily climb out of the water. The boat's batteries are stowed under the seat and passageway, which may expose them a bit to backwash.

An optional aluminum "Frenzy" tower turns the SL 262 into an instant towboat, and owners will be further pleased to discover that it drops forward after unloosening several screws, making it the ultimate in garage-ability, so to speak. Four Winns is also offering some serious tower speakers with Sony mega-woofers to get the party started.

Up front, the benefits of the new hull design are most evident with the broad, squarish shape of the bow, which offers more space than a traditional bowrider. The area can also be cushioned in to create a playpen effect for the kids, and there's a 33-inch-by-47-inch swim pad and ladder up front for water access. Cleats are all pop-up, resulting in zero stubbed toes. The rubber surface on   the fore and aft swim platforms is also designed to keep bare feet safe and slip-free, although sneakers leave an imprint. But, all things considered, the new SL 262 completes its Sport Luxury mission and will be one of the first I/O designs to hit the water. It's bound to make a big splash for family towboaters.


Four Winns SL 262

LOA 26'6"
Beam 8'6"
Weight 5,590 lbs.
Fuel 75 gal.
Maximum HP 375
Base Price $68,208
(w/300-hp, 5.7L Volvo Penta Gi/DP)
Price As Tested $79,723
(w/375-hp, 8.1L Volvo Penta Gi/DP)
Hull Warranty 5 years
NMMA Certified? Yes

Four Winns
925 Frisbie St.
Cadillac, MI 49601
(231) 775-1351
www.fourwinns.com

Test Data
Performance data was gathered with a 375-hp, 8.1L Volvo Penta Gi/DP, four passengers on board and 1/2 tank of fuel.

Top Speed 50.7 mph
Time To Plane 5.3 seconds
0-30 mph 7.5 seconds
Decibels @ Idle 60 dB-A
Decibels @ 30 mph 82 dB-A
Decibels @ WOT 91 dB-A

Notable Standard Features
Comfort-Ride Plus seats, aft shower, iPod/MP3 port, Sirius-ready stereo AM/FM/CD player, anchor locker with hidden telescoping ladder, genuine wood tilt steering wheel, bow-scuff plate, pull-up cleats, skid-resistant integrated swim platform, flip-up bolsters, stainless-steel assist rails, under-seat cooler, deep-reach ladder, compass, 12-volt receptacle, flush-mounted Faria gauges, hour meter, depth sounder, depth finder, portable head, in-floor compartment, gas-assisted lifts, canvas bimini top, rear-facing watersports seat, helm console design, large cockpits (fore and aft), storage lockers, magazine rack, swim platform mat, and freshwater sink.

Notable Options
Sidewall sink, thru-side exhaust, GPS, tower speaker package, hinging stainless-steel arch with ski tow, flagpole and holder, Frenzy tower, and speaker controls on stern.