Pontoon and Deck Boat Shootout 2022
Splendor Boats
239 SunStar
Splendor Boats
239 SunStar
Silver Lake, Ind.
574-598-2628
www.splendorboats.com
Why we love this boat… Like a high-end sports car, the catamaran hull holds well in tight turns with no slipping and allows you to dive into some sharp turns.
Just being picky… For sandbars or anchoring, the Polk Audio stereo remote in the stern is a great addition, but it’s located a little too close to where you board the boat from the water.
PRICE
Price As Tested
(Boat and Motor)
$87,997
Base Price
(Boat Only)
$62,947
First Impression
Building a solid and smooth-running deck boat would be enough for a lot of manufacturers, but for Splendor it’s only the beginning. The use of space, overall layout, attention to detail, and quality craftsmanship are what help make this 239 SunStar a popular option.

Highlights
As you step onto the bow you’ll notice there is no listing from side-to-side like you might get with a non-catamaran style hull. The boat’s stability at rest is very impressive and also worth noting in the bow is a built-in boarding ladder/anchor locker that is well hidden in the deck, yet easy to use.

As you step down into the boat you’ll notice the recessed speakers and cupholders below the seatbacks as well as the 12-volt outlets that are found in all four corners of the boat to help keep your passengers charged up. All the upholstery, canvas and even the wiring harnesses are built in-house to control the quality and it shows. We love the color scheme for the vinyl seating and it is as comfortable as it looks. Below the seats, the storage compartments are fiberglass-lined to keep your items protected.

Having dual helm chairs is a nice look and the all-new fiberglass wind screen is a nice added touch to help complete the sporty feel. All your information is easily accessible from the Simrad touchscreen since the manufacturer has completely gone away from analog gauges. We love the clean look of the dash as well as the vertical row of rocker switches.

Directly across from the helm, the first mate has access to the Polk Audio stereo controls, plus this is where you’ll find one of the deepest head compartments in the deck boat segment. Just behind the captain’s chair is a sink with a washdown hose that runs off a 13-gallon freshwater tank that’s located in the deep storage compartment below the rear bench seat.

The stainless steel ski/tow bar is part of the long list of standard features. Plus, there’s a second boarding ladder in the stern.

Inspection
No wood is used in the construction of this boat and during the production process each fiberglass layer is hand laid by an assembly team when constructing the hull. Below deck the gelcoat work is clean and consistent and up top the boat earned high marks for its quality and craftsmanship. The hidden areas are especially well done, including the wiring found under the helm that is bundled and well-protected with a well-labeled fuse box.

Top view of the - 239 SunStar boat
Performance
There are many benefits of having a catamaran hull from a top deck perspective (such as added stability and deep storage compartments) but the performance is where this Splendor really shines. With the maximum-sized Suzuki 250hp four-stroke on the back, we recorded a 0-to-20 mph time of just over 5 seconds while comfortably reaching the 40 mph mark at full throttle. It effortlessly dives into sharp turns without slipping for a truly controlled ride. The performance of this catamaran hull is special and it really shines when gliding across rough water.

Final Thoughts
A family-owned and operated company, Splendor is continuing to grow after making the decision after 30 years in the business to go from selling factory direct to creating a nationwide dealer network. Its 239 SunStar is just one of the models leading the way.

239 SunStar's Steering wheel
239 SunStar's seating area
239 SunStar's rest room
239 SunStar's leather seats
NOTABLE STANDARDS
Hand-laid Fiberglass Construction, Wood-free Construction, Dual Captain’s Chairs, Under-seat Storage Compartments, Large Rear Storage Area, Sink w/ Transom Shower, Power Assist Steering, Oversized Head Area, Polk Bluetooth AM/FM Stereo, Four Polk 6.5-Inch Speakers, Digital Dash Display, Simrad GO9 XSE & Total Scan Transducer, Dual Batteries w/ Manual Switch, 12-volt Accessory Plug, LED Courtesy Lights, LED Docking Lights, SS Pull-up Cleats and Mid-ship Cleats, Tilt Steering, Horn, Manual/Auto Bilge Pumps, Bilge Blower System, Self-Bailing Deck, 54-gallon Fuel Tank, SS Forward and Aft Boarding Ladders, SS Hardware, Sunbrella Bimini Top, Sunbrella Bow Cover and Sunbrella Cockpit Cover.

OPTIONS ON TEST BOAT
Fiberglass Windscreen, Cool Vibes Lighting Package (LED Courtesy Lights, LED Drink Holders, LED Light Ring Speakers, LED Underwater Lights), Snap-in Vinyl Flooring (Gray), Seating: Elite Design (Gray Tones w/ Chill Welt), Elite Upholstery Design.

SPECIFICATIONS
Number of Occupants
12
Price As Tested With Power
$88K
Maximum Speed
43.9 mph
Wild Ponies
250 hp
No. of Openings
2
0-20 MPH
5.03 seconds
Ladder Measurement
3’ 2” deep
VITAL STATS
LOA
24’
Beam
8’ 4”
Hull Design
Catamaran
Dry Weight
3,900 lbs.
Fuel Capacity
54 gallons
TEST DRIVE
Engine
Suzuki DF250
Cylinder Type
V6
Cubic-inch Displacement/Horsepower
220.5ci / 250hp
Lower Unit Gear Ratio
2.29:1
Propeller
3x16x21.5
RPM vs. SPEED vs. DB-A
650
3.0
73.5
1000
5.4
78
1500
6.7
82
2000
8.5
86
2500
11.2
92
3000
16.1
92
3500
25.5
94
4000
30.5
98
4500
35.8
100.5
5000
39.3
103
5500
40.6
107
6000
43.9
109.5