2009 Larson 180 Sport

What better place than Lake of Bays in Muskoka to try out a great cottage boat? We headed up to the heart of Ontario’s cottage country to take a spin in the Larson 180 Sport, a peppy and comfortable model that would be a welcome addition to any cottage boathouse.

Out on the water, the MerCruiser 4.3-litreTKS popped our test boat from 0 to 20 mph in an impressive 3.34 seconds.The boat was quick to plane with the trim right down, which will help to maximize visibility. Through the mid-range and up to top speed, the 180 turned smoothly and held well during various manoeuvres. Overall, cruising was nice and comfortable, but the boat tended to slap a bit while crossing wakes from passersby.

The interior on the Larson 180 Sport boasts lots of features that will serve well for the diverse needs of cottagers. The large transom sunpad, integrated swim platform and telescopic boarding ladder lend themselves to long days spent sunbathing with periodic cool-off dips in the water. The easy clean fibreglass cockpit ensures the focus is on the party – as does the standard upgraded Sony AM/FM CD stereo system and MP3/iPod jack. Space for passenger seating is available on either a stern bench seat or at the bow, all of which offer under storage for gear. Both captain’s chairs are comfortable flip-up bucket seats that are nice and high for those (like me) that are on the smaller end of the height scale! A step-up at the bow provides access to the water or the dock whenever necessary.

Not to be forgotten is the “Sport” designation on this model. The fit and finish throughout the boat, stainless steel accents, stylish graphics and helm all speak to the other side of this recreational fun machine. A particularly neat touch is the steering wheel, which is flattened across the top to offer an unobstructed view of the gauges. If the host of standard sport features on our test boat just isn’t enough, other options include tilt steering, tinted sport windshield, wakeboard tower, and tower speakers with amp.

And all of this comes at a price sure to keep the fun in your summer boating budget.

TEST BOAT ENGINE
MerCruiser 4.3L TKS, 190 hp.

ACCELERATION(mph/sec)
0-20 / 3.34 ; 0-30 / 7.6

TOP SPEED (rpm/mph)
4100 / 49.1

CRUISING SPEED(rpm/mph)
2500 / 25 ; 3000 / 32.9 ; 3500 / 39.2

SOUND LEVEL AT CRUISE (3000 rpm)
Helm– 84 dbA ; Aft cockpit – 86 dbA

SOUND LEVEL AT TOP SPEED (4100 rpm)
Helm– 92 dbA ; Aft cockpit – 96 dbA