You can tell a lot about a boat by the details. Some are easily seen,
others you have to hunt for. In the case of the Bryant 188, a lot of little things done right add
up to a boat that shows it was built by a company that knows what it's doing. Sure, you can talk
about its no-wood construction, but that's old news since Bryant has been doing it that way since
1995. Spending the extra money for premium construction components such as Armorflex gel coat and
AME 5000 resin may not be evident to buyers on the showroom floor, but owners will notice it years
down the road. Why put little black caps on the ends of stainless-steel bolts used to secure the
deck liner to the hull? Because someone working on the boat or rooting around the anchor locker
might cut themselves if you don't.
Idling away the from the boat launch not far from Bryant's Sweetwater, Tennessee, factory to
the hard-edged country sound of Montgomery Gentry's 'Daddy Won't Sell the Farm,' the throttle is
dropped and the Bryant 188 accelerates to 30 mph in a little more than six and a half seconds. The
188 planes fast, helped along by the 34-gallon rotocast fuel tank that's placed farther forward
than most. Powering the Bryant is MerCruiser's 4.3L V6 engine, which puts 190 hp to the Black Max
prop on the Alpha I outdrive. At slalom skiing speeds the wake is fairly flat and should be easy to
cut across. The 188 stays on plane at 20 mph ' the preferred speed for wakeboarding ' but still
plows up enough of a wake to satisfy those who dare to catch air.
Whether going 20 mph or the top speed of 46.7 mph, the handling is neutral. There's almost
no prop torque trying to pull you to one side, and even with the trim up, dodging lake debris isn't
a problem. Only the hardest turns with the trim up provoke any ventilation, and with the drive
tucked in, the 188 can turn with the best of them. Although the lake is calm, crossing over large
wakes reveals a decent ride in the chop, with a medium-V hull that has 17 degrees of deadrise at
the stern. It's a good compromise that still gives the 188 plenty of side-to-side stability at
rest. This boat's 'happy speed' is somewhere around 35 mph, a velocity that allows the boat to be
trimmed up to get some hull out of the water, while allowing the MerCruiser V6 to move along at a
nice econo-cruise. At 30 mph the noise level is 80 decibels, which is quiet enough to listen to the
radio, although owners might opt for the premium 300-watt Sony stereo with 10 CD disc changer and
subwoofer and ask, 'What engine noise?'
One of the first things you notice about the 188 is the stylish helm station. The aggressive
wraparound dash features an array of VDO gauges that look good, are accurate and have a low failure
rate. There's an eyebrow dash overhanging the gauges and a three-spoke Dino wheel that help to give
it an exotic sports car look and feel. In front of the wheel is a large, gently sloping area where
the Ritchie compass and a captain's cupholder are located. The compass is set far enough back not
to create a visible reflection ghost on the windshield and is mounted in-line for easy reading. Set
into the side of the lower tier are the accessory rocker switches, which sit high enough to easily
see the status lights. Reaching into the locking glove box to hit the power button brings the
standard six-speaker Sony Explode stereo system to life. The test boat contains a remote-control
panel for the stereo, which is part of the sport option package that also includes tilt steering,
compass and auto bilge pump.
The wraparound bucket seats for the crew are comfortable and adjust forward and backward as
well as swivel. Built on polyethylene bases, the firm, high-density foam gives good support and
provides a good foundation for the thick, 36-ounce expanded vinyl. When seated, there is plenty of
room under the console, and the captain can stand comfortably when driving if the seat is scooted
back. The windshield height is ideal for a 6-footer. When sitting tall, the line of sight is just
over the stout top aluminum brace, but for cool-weather driving, the skipper can lean forward
slightly and receive full protection.
The 188 has a well-laid-out cockpit, and feels bigger than its 18-foot-8-inch length and
8-foot beam would suggest. The stern bench can hold four adults and gives everyone plenty of
legroom. Up front, twin bowrider seats have enough legroom for a 6-footer, and the ergonomically
correct raised calf-resting cushion is comfortable. Although it would have decreased legroom, a
little more angle for the backrest would improve comfort. In addition, a couple of nit-pick points
are deducted for the grab rail, which is placed a little too far forward. An interesting design
feature is the removable Coleman cooler that sits beneath the rearward-facing bow seat. Easily
accessible due to the flip-up seat, bowriders can quickly get a cool one, although on rough days it
might be advisable to tap the top of the can a few times to avoid wearing your beverage of choice.
Bryant obviously believes no one should be far from a cupholder, so there are two up front, two for
the co-pilot and four more in the stern.
Pop the lid on the roomy sundeck to reveal the engine compartment and you find the standard
convertible top stowed neatly away. There's plenty of room to perform routine maintenance on the
4.3L MerCruiser, and there is voluminous storage. Under the bow and stern seats is more storage
space, which is carpeted and drains into the bilge. As usual, the folks at Bryant are sweating the
details, so they run the carpet all the way up the sides and install it before the deck is fastened
to make it as tidy as possible. All carpet aboard the 188 is heavy-duty, 28-ounce marine grade for
long life and comfort. The cockpit carpet is glued to the composite floor in one piece for a clean
look and to make sure a seam doesn't get scuffed up from repeated use.
Amidships is the oversized ski locker that features a door with a gas-assisted strut to keep
occupants from doing the 'smashed my toes' jig. Another foot-friendly feature is the swim
platform's perforated non-skid mat made by Ram Technologies. There is a rope locker with a notch so
you don't have to detach the rope when it's not in use, and on the starboard side is the three-step
telescoping stainless-steel ladder that stows under a hatch to preserve the platform's uncluttered
appearance.
The Bryant 188 is no entry-level bowrider, and its price tag bears that out. This is a boat
for discriminating boaters who take the time to compare notes with other models. The 188 is a
full-featured boat ' complete with trailer ' with some well-thought-out details such as an anchor
locker with a cradle for Danforth type hooks. Other good ideas are the forward fuel fill for easy
pumping, pull up cleats, and the optional graphics and pin-striping that are not decals that will
get scraped off, but are set into the gel coat. The strength of the Bryant 188 is in the myriad of
details that add up to make it an excellent choice for those in search of a bowrider under 20
feet.