Sportsman Open 232 2018 Review

OVERVIEW

Established in 2012 by US boating industry stalwarts and experienced boat manufacturers, Tommy Hancock and Dale Martin, the South Carolina based Sportsman Boats has earned a strong following with US fishermen in the few short years since the launch of the company.

The manufacturing plant in Summerville, SC, has already been expanded several times and Sportsman Boats is claimed to be among the fastest growing boat brands in the US right now.

Looking at the current 20-plus strong model range (and the diversity in the designs and layouts across the various model lines), Sportsman's rapid rise to prominence comes as no real surprise. There is a centre console model to suit nearly every application - from shallow water flats fishing through to offshore sport fishing.

For the latter, Sportsman offers its Heritage and Open series models. The two lines share the same hulls (up to 7.6m) but the interior layouts differ. The Heritage boats have more seating and storage space to cater for family boating, while the Open models are specifically targeted at offshore fishermen with features and equipment to suit.

Our review model is the latest addition to the Open series, the Sportsman Open 232 which we paired with a V6 Yamaha 250hp four-stroke outboard.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT

There are eight models in the Sportsman Open range stretching from 6.4m-9.5m in length. The Sportsman Open 232 is the second to smallest model and readily trailerable -- although it is slightly over-width on Australia roads with its beam of 2.59m.

Our test boat arrived on a very sturdy looking US Road King alloy trailer complete with U-bolt construction, stainless steel fixtures, quality alloy wheels and tyres, over-sized Vortex brand hubs, spare wheel, torsion axle suspension, carpeted skids/planks (no rollers) and an electric hydraulic break-away braking system.

All up, complete with a Yamaha F250 XCA 250hp V6 four-stroke outboard, full fit-out and low fuel and water, the package has a weighbridge-confirmed weight of 2500kg - which makes it a breeze to tow behind the wide choice of 3000-3500kg rated towing vehicles on the market.

With regard to pricing, our test boat represents great value at $146,067 from Brisbane dealer, Northside Marine. This is not the starter package but a fully rigged Open 232 complete with the maximum power Yamaha outboard, dual Simrad NSS9 EVO3 multi-function displays and Sportsman's $15K Platinum Package.

Included with the Platinum Package is the fibreglass hardtop with lighting and colour matched underside (blue in the test rig), alloy frame, spray shield, misting system, freshwater wash-down, underwater lighting, porta-pottie in the console head compartment, compass, helm-pad, and a light coloured gelcoat hull.

The test boat was also rigged with a tackle storage centre behind the helm lean seat, an electric anchor winch, anchor and rode, gull wing spray covers, a fender pack, offshore safety gear and 12 months registrations.

And the above features are on top of the very impressive standard inventory.

We don't have the space here to list all the standard kit, but key features include a single Simrad NSS9 EVO3 display, Bluetooth stereo with four speakers, all fibreglass construction with clever moulded underfloor stringer system, dual batteries with master switch, bow seating areas with storage lockers, cushions and bolsters, horizontal under-gunnel rod racks, four flush coaming rod holders, 94L stern quarter live well, pop-up cleats (for clear, snag free coamings), two-person width centre console with windscreen, change room/head compartment, collapsible rear folding bench seat, self draining cockpit, trim tabs, eight cup holders, hydraulic tilt steering wheel, raw-water wash down, boarding ladder, and more.

With a smaller Yamaha 200hp four-stroke outboard, coupled with the big Road King alloy trailer (and the above standard features), the Sportsman Open 232 is remarkable value with package pricing starting at $106,745.

DESIGN AND LAYOUT

The Sportsman Open 232 has a similar layout to most of the US centre consoles we have tested in recently times — in the sense that it has bow and stern seating areas, a two-person width console and broad fishing decks.

At the bow, the wrap-around seating has moulded side benches topped by comfortable, durable looking cushions. Head-rests drop into the seat boxes so you can create two forward facing chaise style lounges.

An infill board and cushion can be purchased to convert the bow area into either a casting fishing deck, or a full width sun pad.

Fender/safety gear lockers are contained within each of the side seat moulds, while there is an underfloor bin for buckets, deck lines, etc. We’d also be tempted to use this as a fishbox as the boat does not have a designated kill tank aft.

Interestingly, each of the bow storage box lids has tensioned hinges so that they stay open when you lift them up. This comes in useful when you need to stow items single-handed.

The bow seating area is flanked by recessed stainless steel coaming rails above nicely padded seat back-rests - which encircle the seating area.

The forepeak anchor well is of a decent size and equipped with an anchor windlass. The plough anchor itself is permanently secured so that it protrudes out through the stem, ready to drop at the press of a button back at the helm.

Within the bow area you'll also find four cupholders, a pair of stereo speakers, flat, wide side coamings (should you want a few more rodholders) and a forward facing padded seat/ice box on the front of the centre console.

On the port side of the console there is a door to the change room/head compartment. Inside there is room for a chemical porta-pottie, but not much else. This compartment is relatively small by comparison to some other centre console boats in this size range.

The console itself is also quite compact in size and the short forward windscreen is relatively low and provides minimal shelter. Thankfully the Sportsman is a very dry riding boat, so you will rarely get wet.

The test boat also came with optional gull-wing console covers for additional weather protection.

Despite its compact profile, the helm console has ample space on the dash and fascia for electronics displays, engine instruments, switch panels and the like. As noted, our test rig was rigged with dual Simrad NSS9 EVO3 displays and can also be optioned with a single larger 12-inch Simrad NSS12.

The helm console is also nicely configured and generally well equipped. It has a key/cell phone shelf, a glove box, foot-rest shelf (with pad), cupholders, and a port side offset tilt-adjust steering wheel with the binnacle throttle suitably positioned alongside it.

The alloy framed hard-top towers over the helm and provides excellent sun shelter, as well as providing the base for LED deck lighting, navigation lights, radio antennas, stereo speakers, forward storage shelf, and a five-rod rocket-launcher.

The hardtop is strong, durably constructed and solid. It did not move or rattle at anytime during our boat test.

In standard configuration, the Open 232 comes with an alloy framed lean-seat with a single, full width removable back rest and individual seats with flip-up front bolsters for the skipper and first mate. Our test boat had a similar seating layout, but with the seats secured to a large tackle/storage box in place of the alloy frame.

Key features of the optional box seat set-up include fold-out front foot-rests, a side storage bin with tackle trays, and dual rear doors which open to reveal three slide-out tackle drawers. This is a great feature and rear on a boat in this size category.

Additional fishing features surrounding the helm seat box includes the aforementioned horizontal gunwale rod racks, a massive 94-litre starboard side transom live bait tank, raw-water deck wash, dual coaming rod and cupholders, pop-up cleats, and a port side transom door with step/storage box.

For fishing and crew comfort offshore, the Sportsman Open 232 also has ample freeboard. Across the rear of the boat there 680mm of space between the cockpit sole and the coaming top. This then rises to around 755mm along the sides of the boat and combines with stainless steel toe-rails to give the angler a great feeling of security.

For servicing steering gear, pumps, filters, etc there is access to the bilge compartment via a hatch behind the collapsible transom bench seat.

ON THE WATER

The Sportsman Open 232 features a cleverly designed hull with a very fine forward entry shape for wave cutting, but a modest 18-degree vee back at the transom to ensure the hull is easy to plane, buoyant in the stern and stable at rest.

The hull also has a distinctive sheer to the deck-line, classic Carolina flare in the high topsides, dual, full length spray/lifting chines, as well as a slight rocker (or banana bend) in the hull bottom.

All of these characteristics and features combine to provide the Open 232 with a superb all-round hull - one that is equally at home carving through the chop and swell enroute to wide offshore fishing grounds, as cruising around the harbour with family and friends aboard.

Throughout, the hull performs admirably with great handling, a dry, comfortable ride and excellent performance. This is especially so with the top of the range Yamaha 250hp V6 four-stroke outboard on the transom.

On mild conditions on Moreton Bay the test boat proved quick and agile, accelerating strongly and achieving a top speed of 42.5kts (84km/h) at 6000rpm.

In light of the excellent performance with the maximum power engine, you could certainly save a few dollars by dropping down to Yamaha's inline four-cylinder F200 XCA outboard. You would lose a bit in both hole-shot and top speed, but you will still retain adequate performance for offshore fishing applications.

VERDICT

The Sportsman Open 232 proved to be significantly better than expected. We had anticipated the Sportsman brand to be budget to mid-range with regard to performance, build quality and equipment levels. However, it is better than that. Impressively good in fact.

The performance of the hull is very strong and the standard of build, fit and finish is high.

Accordingly, if you're in the market for a trailerable centre console fishing/family boat, then this new Sportsman Open 232 should be on your short list. It is not only a very fine craft, it is also sharply priced with entry packages available for less than $110,000.

How much is the Sportsman Open 232?
Price: $146,067 with a single Yamaha 250hp extra-longshaft (25”) six cylinder four-stroke outboard with hydraulic steering, Road King tandem axle Australian specification alloy trailer with break-away braking system, spare wheel and torsion axle suspension, Sportsman Platinum package (including fibreglass hardtop with lighting and colour matching underside, alloy frame, spray/wind shield, freshwater wash-down, underwater lighting, porta-pottie, compass, helm-pad, light hull colour), fibreglass lean-seat post with tackle centre, gull-wing covers, shipping cover, anchor windlass, anchor and rode, two x Simrad NSS9 EVO3 9" multi-function displays, Simrad RS20 VHF radio, fender pack, open water safety gear pack, registrations and more.

Priced from: $106,745 with a single Yamaha 200hp extra-longshaft (25”) in-line four cylinder four-stroke outboard with hydraulic steering, Road King tandem axle Australian specification alloy trailer with electric hydraulic break-away braking system, spare wheel and torsion axle suspension, and a Simrad NSS9 EVO3 9" fish finder/GPS with Wi-Fi and Airmar SS60 thru-hull transducer.

Length: 6.93m
Beam: 2.59m
Draft: 350mm
Deadrise: 18 degrees
Hull weight: 1247kg
Weight on trailer (dry): 2500kg
Maximum power: 250hp (25" extra-longshaft)
Engine as tested: Yamaha F250XCA 250hp four-stroke outboard
Fuel: 390L
Water: 56L (optional tank)
Live well: 94L
Maximum persons: 10

Supplied by:
Northside Marine