Whittley XS 20 and XS 24: Review

Whittley is best known for its trailerable cruisers, the CR models, and the Sea Legend or SL fishing rigs. But the rise and rise of tow sports has led to the launch of the cool new XS 20 and XS 24 with groovy graphics, towers and tow kit, and just about everything you need to have an active day and comfortable night in and on the water. Life to XS they say...

OVERVIEW
- The proven Cruiser coupled with more cool kit and bling
The impetus and inspiration for the new XS Series from Whittley is the boom in wake sports. The foundation for the two new XS 20 and 24 models is, however, two popular trailerable Whittley Cruisers and their time-proven hulls.

The XS 20 is based on the popular Whittley Cruiser 2080 and the XS 24 owes its heritage to the Whittley Cruiser 2380, which you can read about in our reviews via these links.

 "Not everyone wants a bowrider to go wakeboarding, especially down here," says Alan Whittley as we prepare the two boats for their dip — and that of our rider — on a rather challenging day off Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula.

It was a day when neoprene was needed, the optional hot-water showers were appreciated, and we spent some time under the bimini tops. For this reason alone, the Cruiser foundation provided a nice time on the water.

"We felt there was a market for a saltwater wakeboat and these are boats for all seasons," Whittley reassured us. "We’ve maximised the time you can spend on the boats by offering more things to do."

Indeed, these could be ideal active family boats for Eildon, the Gippsland and, yes, Sorrento, as much as interstate waterways like Moreton Bay, the Hawkesbury and Perth.

With a U-bar on the swim platform and rod racks, as per the XS 24 we tested, you can still snapper fish from these wake cruisers. With the Cruiser fit-outs and accommodation you can definitely sleep aboard, too.

But with the new XS fit-out, you can now carve the wake with greater agility and airtime behind your Whittley.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT

The towers had board racks, speak cans and lights among the upgrades. As part of the standard package, the XS boats also had upgraded vinyl upholstery for greater durability in the cabin, cool black dashes with a carbon-look extending to other matching moulded surfaces, while the XS 20 gets an extended swim platform to assist your launch and ride.

Although they leave plenty of room for personalising, the two test boats with optioned up and priced realistically. Their base prices were about $80k for the XS 20 and $120k for the XS 24. As we drove them, with stereo upgrades and TVs and other goodies ready for your wet weekend away, the XS 20 was a $90k rig, while the XS 24 weighed in at $158k on road.

ENGINE OPTIONS
- Volvo Penta all-alloy V6 with sterndrives
Whittley soft launched its new XS Series at the Melbourne boat show in 2015 with Volvo Penta’s revolutionary Forward Drive, that is, with the sterndrive facing forward. Other water-sports boats use that system to great effect, but Whittley says the local market wasn’t accepting of the technology at the time and that there were trailering challenges.

With engine manufacturers constantly advancing new technology, the XS 20 was fitted with the latest (Gen 5, that is) all-alloy Volvo Penta 200hp V6 200G with Aquamatic sterndrive and Duoprop.

This new V6 petrol engine has a high-pressure direct-injection fuel system, electronic control, closed or freshwater cooling, and variable valve timing. The Duoprop adds to the bite when accelerating with your riders, too.

The XS 24 has the same new-generation 4.3L V6 engine but in the 280hp variant, which is basically rechipped to provide more grunt. It’s a viable replacement for the now discontinued small-block 5.0L V8s and both engines are the latest refined petrol sterndrives with exceedingly low emissions.

LAYOUT AND ACCOMMODATION
- Complete and comfy weekenders with activity options
Essentially, the seating, cockpit and cabin layouts of these boats are little changed from the CR 2080 and CR 2380 on which they are based. We have included links below to those reviews for greater detail.

On the XS 20, we were reminded of the surprisingly amount of room in the raked cabin. Although based on the smallest Whittley in the Cruiser (CR) range, the XS 20 manages to sleep two adults, include seated headroom, pack a portable toilet and feature flip-down mounting areas for a stove and sink under the helm seats. Our XS 20 and XS 24 had 12V TV screens in the cabins, too.

We ran both XS models with a bimini top off their well-setup tow towers — with board racks and speaker cans — to maximise our views and the open-air feeling that enlivens you when partaking in water sports. Add infills and side clears and you could easily stay aboard in the kind of Melbourne weather we scored for our day tow-sports test.

"This kind of boater has mum and dad in the cabin and the kids in the cockpit [under the full camper covers] sleeping on li-los. Do two or three days at Eildon then head off to resupply," Alan Whittley said of the CR 2080, which also counts for this XS 20, only you can now add tow-sports to your day-boating itinerary.

Storage is important in a small family boat and especially one intended for water sports. On the XS 20, there was dry storage in the cabin, pockets for personal effects alongside the helm seats, longer cockpit side pockets, and there was room to stash a portable ‘Esky’ under the co-pilot seat base. But for their additional water-sports role, the board racks on the towers of these XS boats are a necessity.

Also, as these are intended for tow sports, it would be ideal to have aft-facing observer seats. The seat backrest for the co-pilot on the XS 20 swings to the side. But perhaps an alternate rear-facing location or spigot for that backrest, and a rear footrest, will create a better observer’s seat. The XS 24 has a bucket seat that swivels about 45 degrees but not the full way around. However, its L-shaped cockpit lounge has a return to make facing aft somewhat more comfortable.

The transom treatment on the XS 20 was familiar. The standard low, extended integrated swim platform (SeaDek foam–topped, too) assists the rider getting in and out of the water — there’s also a swim ladder, of course — while also helping keep limbs away from props. But pretty much the balance of the boat was tried-and-tested including the lift-up table off the engine-bay cowling for doing on-board lunches, the drink holders and LED lights.

You can read more details about this boat’s cruising attributes and comforts in our previous review of the Whittley Cruiser 2080.

Obviously, the XS 24 has more of everything including hull volume, deck space, storage and amenities. There’s a stove and fridge, plus electric toilet, shower, and more. On road, it’s 2750kg loaded rig, while the XS 20 is more like 1850kg.

The cockpit seating is L-shaped and more accommodating. There’s a generally bigger boat feel, especially when the crew piles aboard for your wakeboarding sessions and, later, when the family decides to sleep aboard. There’s also more fuel and range.

You can read more on the Whittley Cruiser 2380 and its layout as published via this link and our previous detailed review.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- Handbuilt with a great finish and reputation
In early 2017, we dropped into the Whittley factory to find plenty of boats on the go. The XS 20 and XS 24 are foam-filled with a GRP matrix, fitted with top-shelf toughened glass windscreens and stainless deck fittings, and backed by five-year hull warranties.

The latest Volvo Penta V6 petrol sterndrive engines have all-alloy blocks for less weight and more power, boast improved fuel economy and lively output from the electronic direct fuel injection, with the closed cooling to extend engine life and reduce maintenance.

These V6s are promoted as the cleanest petrol marine engines on the market, which is good news when you are hanging out the back on a rope. Engine access and sound insulation were both good, especially on the XS 24 designed around a V6, though a little tight on the XS 20.

Optional hot water via a heat exchanger and dual batteries were fitted to both models as recommended upgrades. All Whittley sterndrive boats now come standard with a Volvo Penta battery control module, that replaces old-fashioned battery switches, and helps manage your onboard power.

Digital switching is increasingly common on Whittley boats and you can now get an all-encompassing Pulse systems linking back to one big Garmin screen. It costs about $5k — and we had that on the XS 24.

The Pulse system included battery-management upgrade, keyless switching and ignition, digital switching of your boat’s electrical functions, FusionLink for the stereo, Volvo Penta screen with all the engine data, and navigational functions from the GPS chartplotter and sounder. It’s a bit like what Riviera is doing with Volvo and Garmin these days but in a trailerboat.

Either way, the XS 20 and 24 rated highly for build quality, fit and finish, and engineering. Whittley and Volvo Penta work closely and it shows in this new pairing. With 100lt of fuel on the XS 20, you need to be mindful of the V6 consumption with lots of towing. But there’s 210lt of fuel in the XS 24 and its ‘re-chipped’ engine.

ON THE WATER
- Sporty performers with Volvo Penta’s V6
Hole shot and acceleration were performance highlights of the XS 20. I also added “bullet” and “sports” and descriptors in my notes. There was a bit of porpoising at certain speeds and, on the test day, some expected spray. But this has been a popular boat as the CR 2080 for about eight years in continual production.

Top speed at 5800rpm wide-open throttle or WOT was 36.5 knots, using plenty of leg trim as the Duoprops don't let go, while 5000-5200rpm gave around 28 to 30.5 knots fast cruise. At 4500rpm, we were doing 26 knots, but the smooth cruise was at 4000rpm and 20-21 knots during out review off Sorrento.

At 18-19 knots and 3500rpm you have a pretty handy wake boarding speed, using the high tow point off the tower to help launch. That said, there wasn’t a particularly rampy wave face. Keep your crew back on the aft lounge and add an aftermarket wakeboard ballast bag if you want a steeper wave face.

The boat planes level at 3000rpm and about 15 knots. With everything trimmed in I had it planing down to 10 knots at 2500rpm. But the surf wake wasn’t so clean. The XS 20 more of a social all-rounder.

The XS 24 is a considerably better tow platform. The bigger engine room with more sound insulation appeared to create a quieter boat, too. I noted top hole shot, V8-like power, and smooth cruise.

We hit 42 knots with the rev limiter chirping at 6000rpm. Fast cruise of 5000rpm returned 34 knots for 55lt/hr fuel burn, while smooth cruise was 26-27 knots at 4000pm using 34lt/hr, down to 22-23 knots at 3500rpm for 26lt/hr for a safe cruising range of 165nm.

The XS 24 has that big-boat, open-water feel, even on the trailer. You will want to range places and spend more time on the water here, so the added fuel capacity and the longer hull are welcome. Mind you, it costs an extra $60k over the XS 20.

In the mid range, the XS 24 had excellent poke with very good wakeboard towing ability, including some small steeper sections around 3000rpm and 17-18 knots or about 19-20mph on the tow-sports dial. You’ll be using around 23lt an hour at this speed, which is economical.

The XS 24 is an agreeable family Cruiser that doubles as a very decent water sports platform. Skiing also looks good back there.

VERDICT
- A new genre of wake cruiser
In the open water conditions on test, our wake was rather crumbly and, under grey skies, a better bet may well have rested with a DVD in the cabin or a snapper fish off the back. But that’s the great thing about the XS 20 and XS 24 — these trailerable SUVs of the sea can do a bit of everything.

Whittley has always been known as the builder of wave-piercing caravans and trailerable cruisers for weekending away. This new XS genre adds wake sports, tough vinyl upholstery, more bling and a coo folding tower to the mix. And with that you’ve suddenly got another option on those long hot days aboard. Sure beats sitting around on a folding chair.

LIKES
>> Sporty looks, eye-catching graphics, top-shelf folding tow tower
>> Latest all-alloy Volvo Penta V6 power
>> Excellent performance and poke
>> All the Whittley comforts and accommodation
>> Now with water sports in the mix

NOT SO MUCH
>> Could do with an observer’s seat on the XS 20 and 24
>> Limited fuel and tight bilge access on the XS 20
>> Not a lot of wave-face or wake creation

RATINGS – Whittley XS 20 and 24
Overall rating: 4.8/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.8/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.8/5.0
On the water Performance: 4.8/5.0
Value for money: 4.8/5.0
X-factor: 4.8/5.0

Specifications: Whittley XS 20 and XS 24
Price as Tested: As we drove them, with stereo upgrades and TVs and other goodies ready for a wet weekend away, the XS 20 with Volvo Penta V6 200G was a $90k rig, while the XS 24 with Volvo Penta V6 280G weighed in at $158k on road.
Priced From: About $80k for the XS 20 with Volvo Penta V6 200G, and $120k for the XS 24 with Volvo Penta V6 280G

Length Overall: 6.13m/7.05m
Hull or Centreline Length: 5.30m/6.00m
Beam: 2.20m/2.44m
Deadrise: 19 degrees/20 degrees
Dry Weight BMT sterndrive 1850kg/2750kg
Fuel: 100/210 litres
Water (optional): 40/100 litres
Passenger capacity: Seven
Sleeping: Four adults
Recommended HP: 200/280
Engine on test: Volvo Penta V6 200G/280G
Engine Type: 4.3L V6 four-stroke petrol inboard with sterndrive. Latest alloy block with high-pressure direct-injection fuel system, electronic control, closed or freshwater cooling and variable valve timing.

Supplied by:
Whittley Victoria Sales
101 Freight Drive, Somerton, Victoria, 3062
Phone: (03) 8339 1810
Email: sales@whittleyvictoriasales.com.au
Web: www.whittleymarinegroup.com.au.