There's a place just north of Tampa on the West Coast of Florida where they set your cheese on fire and startle you by yelling "OPA!" Anyplace else this would just be plain weird, but in the largely Greek community of Tarpon Springs, it's a restaurant tradition that goes back generations. The same goes for the boating heritage in this area where the long-time residents have a rich maritime history of sponge diving and deep-sea fishing. But when the locals want to rinse the salt out of their hair and do some wakeboarding, tubing or fishing for double-digit-pound bass, they head just inland of the fabulous Innisbrook Golf Resort to Lake Tarpon, a 2,500-acre, freshwater boating paradise. On this day, a new boat to this historic locale is seen easing out of a canal into the lake's Little Bay, where  it jumps on plane in little more than three seconds and streaks to 30 mph in less than seven ticks of the stopwatch. It's a cuddy cabin with the sprightliness of a sport boat, and it's picking up speed quickly as it rips across the lake toward A.L. Anderson Park. 

This newcomer is Maxum's latest entry in  a new generation of cuddy cabin runabouts called the SC3 line, which was first introduced in 2006 with the advent of the 2400. This year, the 2100 SC3 makes its debut. Stretching a little over 20-and-a-half feet long with an 8-foot-3-inch beam, you get plenty of interior space, but in a very trailerable package.

You know you're hopping onto something special as soon as you board via the upscale Flexiteek covered swim platform ($1,471), which not only gives you the rich look of teak without the maintenance hassles, but also gives you a stainless-steel swim ladder neatly tucked underneath. It's readily apparent that Maxum "gets it" when it comes to knowing what owners want by giving them a jumpseat pad on the huge transom locker - these are features typically found only on large cruisers. The surprisingly comfortable seat makes a great lounging spot while at anchor or beached at your favorite getaway.

To maximize seating space in the cockpit, the 2100 SC3 eschews the modern trend of the always-open walk-through design, which isn't particularly toddler-friendly. And instead of giving you a filler seatback cushion that needs to be removed and temporarily placed elsewhere, Maxum gives you a clever flip-up sectional for easy entry into the cockpit while still providing good youngster containment when it's flipped down into place. Just ahead is a surprisingly complete entertainment center with a wet bar, beverage-making station, and 25-quart Igloo Marine cooler that can be opened while it's in place. 

The L-seating layout yields maximum freedom to move around the cockpit and also gives you the optimum seating capacity on the upright bench seats, which feature orthopedic-firm foam covered by  30-ounce Omnova upholstery. The upholstery is treated with ActiveGuard  to resist stains and mildew. You'll never use the word "garish" to describe any component of Maxum design, whether it's the hull accents or the white upholstery that's free of swirls and colored panels. Unlike the 2400 SC3, there's no back-to-back portside seating option, so cockpit ski-spotters will be going "backless." The best seats in the house belong to the crew, who get a pair of Attwood bucket seats that feature suspension seat bottoms for extra comfort in the chop. Both have flip-up bolsters that put the crew's heads well above the curved safety-glass windshield.

The captain's throne puts you behind a modern, practically laid-out helm station. Classy touches include the sculpted Dino sport wheel and the grey Faria gauges, which blend nicely with the gray dash that prevents reflections in the windshield, save for the large Danforth compass situated on top. A four-speaker JBL CD stereo system gets the party started, and with a standard MP3 player input, you can bring along your iPod loaded with your mix du jour.

Heading forward to handle anchor duty is easy because of the wide steps leading to the foredeck. A relatively flat surface with non-skid makes for sure footing as you head to the oversized anchor locker, which has enough room for a medium-sized Danforth-style anchor and plenty of rode.

Perhaps the biggest surprise on the 2100 SC3 comes when you slide open the door leading to the cabin. Most cuddy cabins on boats this length are for storage, kid fort-making, or to scramble in out of the rain ... period. But you might actually overnight on this Maxum, thanks to a V-berth that uses side bolsters to form a nicely fitted mosaic of tan cushions, creating a superior sleeping surface for up to a 6-footer and shorter companion if they lay catty-corner. With a hatch for ventilation, overhead lighting, portable head and a pair of JBL speakers, this cuddy is well-equipped for short overnight expeditions.

Flipping open the engine compartment all the way gives you great access to the 260-hp, 5.0L MerCruiser MPI sterndrive, which is a $2,157 upcharge from the standard 220-hp, 4.3L powerplant. During the top-speed run with a nearly full, 55-gallon fuel tank, the GPS shows the rocketing Maxum is less than a tick away from 50 mph. Apparently the two Boating World test crewmembers should have postponed lunch in order to reach the magic number. If you want to make sure your boat can scoot even faster, another $2,293 buys you a 300-hp MerCruiser MAG 350 engine. But there's a lot to like about the "five-oh," especially if you do your own oil changes, which is made possible with features like the top-mounted oil filter and handy, built-in oil drain hose.

Maybe the best thing about the 2100 SC3 is its handling, which is something cuddies aren't really known for. Its aggressive turning ability is absolutely sick, allowing the driver to rip off a bold 180 with slot car-like precision. The hull features a moderate 19-degree deadrise at the stern, which gives it a good blend of slice-ability in choppy conditions without making it too tippy. The hull weighs in at a beefy 3,483 pounds, which feels just about perfect for its design while yielding a beautiful ride at any speed. It planes at a wakeboard-friendly 17 mph, and at higher speeds, the wake flattens out good enough for slaloming. Factor in the built-in ski tow, and you're ready for ripping anytime. Since the in-floor cockpit compartment is pretty shallow, you'll likely put your ski junk in the trunk, which is handily accessed from the swim platform and reveals a freshwater shower when opened. Have no fear about storage space for the usual hoard of stuff boaters tend to bring along, because there's a massive portside under-seat locker and, of course, the bottomless pit of a cabin where most people tend to throw everything.

The 2100 SC3 has an attractive standard price point of $38,458, but you'll probably want to add some options like the 5.0L MerCruiser ($2,157), Flexiteek swim platform ($1,471), galvanized or color-matched painted tandem trailer ($3,371), depth finder ($293), sport graphics ($300), and snap-in carpet ($400), which brings your total to $46,450. Even if you option it up like you would an all-the-way hamburger, the maximum price is still an affordable $53,128 - and this includes upscale items like the 300-hp MerCruiser, Sunbrella bimini top ($221), pull-up cleats ($329), upgraded JBL stereo ($500), vintage décor package ($964), which includes a teak cockpit table, Sunbrella pillows and Sunlounge filler cushions, and all canvas options including a complete camper enclosure ($657), just to name a few.

So whether you make a visit to Tarpon Springs to sample the flaming cheese and experience the beauty of Lake Tarpon, or you're just cruising on your home lake, Maxum's 2100 SC3 is a compact cuddy cabin sport boat that has the versatility to do whatever you want, no matter where you are.


THE VERDICT

The 2100 SC3 is a good-looking cuddy cabin than can handle a wide range of activities from skiing to overnighting. Its performance and handling are outstanding, and it's a boat that's happy at any speed. Options like the trailer and cockpit table should be standard.



Maxum 2100 SC3

LOA 20'6"
Beam 8'3"
Weight 3,483 lbs.
Fuel 55 gal.
Top Speed 49.4 mph
(w/260-hp, 5.0L MerCruiser MPI)
Time To Plane 3.4 seconds
0-30 mph 6.6 seconds
Decibels @ Idle 62.5 dB-A
Decibels @ 30 mph 85 dB-A
Decibels @ WOT 95 dB-A
Base Price $38,458               
(w/260-hp, 5.0L MerCruiser MPI)
Price As Tested $43,079
(w/260-hp, 5.0L MerCruiser MPI)
Hull Warranty Transferable Limited Lifetime
NMMA Certified? Yes

Maxum Boats
800 S. Gay St.
Knoxville, TN 37929
(800) 824-2422