Larson Senza 226
By Vince Meyer
Larson, now in its 95th year of building boats in Little Falls, MN., is among the nation's oldest fiberglass boat builders. You don't last that long in this ultra-competitive market by being a follower. So the company breaks new ground for 2008 with some radically new designs, none more obvious than those found on the Senza 226 we tested near Larson's headquarters. They've tooled the boat to have more dramatic lines, deep contours and chrome accents throughout. We think it's the sportiest production boat from Larson in recent memory.
Our test boat came with some extra bling Larson is now offering that made it stand out (way out) when docked among the rest of our fleet. The smoke windshield drew a lot of attention, especially as it played so well with the racy exterior graphics. We also had a tricked-out wakeboard tower that felt as sturdy as it looked powerful.
The 226, like all boats in the Senza line, has a 21-degree deadrise, which smoothed the ride enough to make a long run back to the dock safe and dry when the front edge of a storm came in. With a MerCruiser 350 Mag we easily ran into the mid-50s without pushing too hard. Equip the boat with a monster 320 hp V-8 and 60 mph is likely attainable. Perhaps most impressive is the standard warranty Larson includes on every Senza 226. Buyers get five-year coverage on the boat, engine, drive train and trailer. That's huge, because what matters most is how a boat performs after it's been used for a season or two - or five. The boat, with its new look and long warranty, comes at a price that we still think is a bargain.
Who should buy it: Sport boat buyers who like the idea of a long boatbuilding heritage but want to stand apart from the traditional looks of a runabout.
Vital Stats
- Length Overall: 22'3"
- Beam: 8'6"
- Dry Weight: 3,850 lb.
- Seating/Weight Capacity: 11/1,800 lb.
- Fuel Capacity: 56 gal.
- Max HP: 320
- MSRP (test boat w/ 6.2 MPI MerCruiser): $41,900
- NMMA Certified: Yes
Test Drive
- Test Engine: MerCruiser 350 Mag
- Test Prop: Vengeance 21"
- Test Load: People (385 lb.); Fuel (18 gal.)
- Top Speed: 55.7 mph @ 5,000 rpm
- Time to Plane: 4.7 sec.
- Time to 30 mph: 9.3 sec.
- Min. Planing Speed: 19 mph @ 2,300 rpm
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