American Splendor
When the going gets tough, Splendor's 240 SunStar is a polished catamaran that's guaranteed to get going — no matter the conditions.
by Alan Jones
Face it. There are places a normal deck boat probably shouldn’t go, such as the shipping
channel in Miami when the wind is howling during a nor’easter. But the Splendor 240 SunStar isn’t
your average fair-weather deck boat. Cameron Steiner, the general manager of Splendor, and his
13-year-old daughter, Emily, are clearly enjoying the raw day for the simple reason that these are
the sorts of conditions that really set the 24-foot Splendor tunnel hull catamaran apart from the
herd.
Idling into the main channel, the wave pattern is chaotic, with 2- and 3-footers colliding
into each other at oblique angles from conflicting wakes, wind and tide. Steiner is driving first
to show the capabilities of the 240 SunStar before turning it over to you, whom he correctly
guesses would have chosen a more conservative speed. Emily, despite the conditions, stays up front
in the forward-facing bow lounge seat, which features lots of backrest angle for comfort and a low
bow rail that also serves nicely as a grab rail.
Steiner jams the throttle on the single 300-hp MerCruiser 350 MPI Horizon, and the Splendor
hops on plane in 3.3 seconds with negligible bowrise, which makes this craft a great choice for
skiing. Recently, MerCruiser discontinued the Horizon in favor of its new SeaCore sterndrive, which
uses a closed cooling system and hardcoat anodized XK-360 aluminum alloy on running surfaces to
provide the ultimate in corrosion protection. It also comes standard on the SunStar 240, making it
saltwater-ready. Since Splendor is a certified MerCruiser builder, it can even offer an additional
year of protection, bringing the engine/outdrive warranty up to four years. Settling into a cruise
speed of nearly 40 mph, the 240 handles the sloppy seas easily, and your hands slowly begin to
relax their death grip on the cockpit grab rails. The flat foredeck features an open walkthrough
into the cockpit and seems like it would be a liability in rough conditions, but the boat remains
level throughout the run.
The upscale SunStar series is the newest in Splendor’s lineup and features twin swiveling
bucket seats in the raised cockpit design, which sits 8 inches higher than the foredeck and gives
you great visibility when driving. In the portside console is a head compartment that’s just large
enough for adult use. The gunwales sit high on the Splendor, and along with the raised deck, it
gives it a sort of a “hot-tub-on-water” appearance, but you have to appreciate its primary mission
of keeping the passengers safe. The 240 has an extra-wide, open stern walkthrough that just has a
vinyl-covered chain to cordon off the cockpit, but families with small children can order an
optional rear door for added safety.
It’s clear Splendor takes a fresh approach to boat design as evidenced by the 240’s unique
two-level extended swim platform, which is a $750 option. Most sterndrive boat builders make their
platforms one height and position them high off the water, which allows the outdrive to trim up but
can make the swim platform awkward to use. The 240’s gull-wing design still allows you to trim up
the outdrive, but also gives you the ski boat-like low outward sections to get users right down to
water level.
Finding a marginally calmer bay to fully test the 240, Steiner gives up the helm seat, and
you slide in behind the large, well laid-out console, adjust the seat height, and slide it a little
closer to the burl-wood tilt sport wheel that matches the dash inserts. The standard twin-prop
Bravo Three hooks up nicely, and the Splendor accelerates to 30 mph in less than six seconds, which
is impressive with four passengers on board a 3,700-pound hull that draws just 12 inches. Top speed
in the choppy conditions is 48.4 mph, but in calmer water with a lighter load, the low 50s should
be attainable. Although the stable, easy-to-drive ride is among the 240 SunStar’s more impressive
features, its incredible cornering ability comes in a close second. Some cats turn with a funky
lean to the out- side, but not only does the Splendor lean inward like a V-hull, it also
turns phenomenally well into hard corners. Steiner says at 40 mph, it’ll turn in a 30-foot radius.
Priced at $42,998 with the 300-hp base engine, the 240 SunStar is a well-equipped boat with
touches like pull-up cleats, bow boarding ladder, bimini top, Sony CD stereo with MP3 input,
freshwater spigot at the cockpit entertainment center, upscale anodized gauge bezels, and triple
bilge pumps. For those who cruise coastal areas or large lakes, the 240 is a seaworthy deck boat
that can handle tough conditions when they crop up, but moreover, it’s a quality entertainer with
loads of storage that can handle a variety of fun activities on the water.
The Verdict
The 240 SunStar is an easily trailerable, well-built custom cat that performs well with a
single engine and is available either in a sterndrive configuration or with outboard power (the 239
model). With a plethora of top-notch amenities, there are only a few nitpicks: a stray bimini top
strap that gets in your face when sitting in the cockpit, and stereo speakers set below the
backrest on the recliner bow seats.
Splendor 240 SunStar
LOA 24'
Beam 8'4"
Weight 3,700 lbs.
Fuel 70 gal.
Top Speed 48.4 mph (w/300-hp MerCruiser 350 MPI Horizon)
Time To Plane 3.3 seconds
0-30 mph 5.6 seconds
Decibels @ Idle 62 dB-A
Decibels @ 30 mph 85 dB-A
Decibels @ WOT 94 dB-A
Base Price $42,998 (w/300-hp MerCruiser 350 Mag MPI SeaCore)
Price As Tested $43,900 (w/300-hp MerCruiser 350 MPI Horizon)
Hull Warranty 5 Years
Splendor Boats
9526 S. State Road 15
Silver Lake, IN 46982
(800) 359-7915
www.splendorboats.com
