Does anybody have experience with splendor boats. I like the layout and the idea of a 12" draft. It looks like they have a good top speed and are easy on fuel. I just can't seem to find many owner reviews.
I am asking as I would like to buy a new deckboat this fall. Something that would do mid 50's, use some where around 7gph at 30mph, seat at least 10 when needed, and have some fishing seats. I looked at the Glastron DX235 but it had very little fishing capabilities and was down on power abit.


Thanks

Didn't someone on here buy a Splendor a while back? Maybe they will step forward with some first hand experience.

A few old posts Stew...

Btw, welcome to the board!

Link 1

Link 2

Link 3

I like some cats myself. But you could save a lot of $$ by buying a used one instead of new. In addition to Splendor, cat type deckboats have also been sold by Harris Kayot and VIP.

Kelly

Splendor boats are some pretty high-quality stuff. Very nice if you are looking for a specific application where you need the ride/draft. I almost got one before I decided to get a pontoon boat.

You have to buy used or direct from the factory for new ones.

I had found Jthe thread by JimmyC. Doesn't really answer the question of how service was performe or how the boat held up. I was wondering about quality issues and performance. I get conflicting statements as to max hp figures also. I have emailed the Splendor and gotten some literature but even that conflicts with it's self.

I live in the Beaumont Tx area and was hoping that someone near the area would have one to look at. I was thinking new so we could option it the way we want. I have looked for deckliner boats used but none seem to really be all that good a deal when compared to the Splendor.

Thanks for the replies and the welcome!

The ride draft is what is selling me. Our lake is rather stumpy especially when the water drops a bit. We had thought of a pontoon ourselves but the speed, cornering ability, and fuel consumption put us off. The performance toons were considered but we may want to go out in the Gulf sometime (or some of the marsh bays) and besides, those toons are really expensive.

I have finally found a Sunstar used but it has the 350mag and was wanting a 496mag (an HO if they will take one).

Abort! If performance is your aim (ie 496mag) then search around for a Kayot Legend. Period.

Kelly

I have tried to do a little research on the Legend. I can't seem to find a 496 availible as an option. I really like the layout (except for the missing fishing seats/deck). The grandkids would love a dual helm seat! The few reviews I have seen of them do not really praise their performance esp their cornering ability. They seem to be quite a bit more then the Splendors new but less used (supply demand?). The problem with the reviews of the Splendors is the ones with hard data come from their site and makes them suspect. I was hoping there were some owners out there.

What is the draft with the Merc engine down and running at idle?

If cornering ability is high on your list then scratch all cats.

Kelly

Taken from "Boating Life": Don't be confused by the catamaran designation. Whereas the big offshore versions make large arcing turns, the Sunstar turns as tightly as a sport boat.


From "Boating World": Although the stable, easy-to-drive ride is among the 240 SunStar’s more impressive features, its incredible cornering ability comes in a close second. Some cats turn with a funky lean to the out- side, but not only does the Splendor lean inward like a V-hull, it also turns phenomenally well into hard corners. Steiner says at 40 mph, it’ll turn in a 30-foot radius.


Magazine reviews are usualy always positive but owners will give you the real scoop which is what I was looking for.
I can't find a draft with engine down at rest figure. Another reason to find an owner.

Right. No doubt this is why Correct Craft, Malibu, and Mastercraft have all switched over to cat hulls now. <sarcasm>

wude Kelly

Well I can tell you after owning the Splendor Sunstar for my third summer, I am still totally satisfied.

I used it for my first summer in Oklahoma City and the surrounding area and then moved to Panama City Florida up till now. With my third summer under my belt I don't really have any negative comments to say about the boat other than a few minor items that are common to most boat owners.

Some of my favorite items:

- Customer service - Had a fishing seat break on me the first summer of use and they sent me two brand new ones free of charge to include shipping. Anytime I called with questions about operation or maintenance they were only a phone call away and made sure my concerns and questions were fully answered. Because the motor is a mercruiser I had any maintenance done at the local certified Mercury marine dealer under warranty. Any other boat issue can be handled directly by calling Splendor or sub-contracting through local boat manufacturers via Splendors authorizations. (I didn't have any other issues)

-Layout of the boat - Seems like everytime we go to the beach, everybody always ends up in my boat lounging around. I think it's mainly due to the fact that it seats twelve it's easy to hold conversations. Because of the front platform and shallow draft I just nose the boat into the beach and everyone can get off or on with ease. I then just pull the boat back a few feet so the hull is not resting on the sand and anchor up with the nose in. I almost feel sorry for my friends who have to back their boats in while setting their anchors and then have to get off on the back of their boats while dragging all their gear on to the beach in waist-chest high water. My wife barely gets her feet wet when she sets foot on the beach. It's also set up as a great fishing platform. I've used it several time in shore and in the bay. It's easy to get to the shallow water because of the draft but I also like the stable platform especially when people are fishing off both side and front and back of the boat. Trolling motor makes fishing in the flats a blast. I've had it off shore a few times and in calm waters it works great, but I have a friend who has an off shore fishing boat that is more suited for the type of off shore fishing we do. I've had water come over the front of the boat but I've got a self bailing hull so it wasn't an issue.

- Love the engine - The duo prop and mercruiser horizon 350 motor are a great combo on this boat. I can cruise as fast as 45 mph fully loaded with 12 people and gear and have seen as high as 50 when I'm by myself with the boat empty and the bimini top down in smooth water. Usually I cruise at 25-30 to save on fuel, and because 45 mph wind isn't very fun unless you're behind the windshield. But it's nice to know you can go that fast if you want to. The engine is great for pulling skiiers and tubes. I've been doing a lot of wakeboarding and the boat will pull two wakeboarders with no problem. The duo prop is excellent for slow speed manuevering specifically in tight spots like the at boat docks and ramps. I've even had people ask me if it had side thrusters on it becuase it seemed as if I was able to spin my boat in a circle just by momentarily bumping the throttle forward and reverse while turning the wheel. Gets up on plane very quickly.

- Maneuverability - Unlike most catamarans this boat performs and acts just like a giant jet ski. When turning to retrieve downed skiiers I typically just turn the wheel full left or right without having to reduce the throttle. Most times I'll actually give it more gas when I enter the turns because this boat turns so sharply. Very reminiscant of an aircraft going into a turn.

- Pump out porta pottie - with kids and wife and boating on an island with no facilities it's saved me from having to cut a trip short on more than a dozen occasions. Only problem now is everyone knows I have one and all the kids want to use it...

- Fresh water wash down - when playing in the salt water, it's amazing how just quickly rinsing off with freshwater helps when you dry off. It also helps to keep the boat clean.

- Live well - great for keeping bait and all the other critters my kids find at the beach alive before we set them free.


Now for the negatives...

- Some hardware on the boat is not stainless and not designed specifically for saltwater use. This is common for most boaters and with the use of some naval jelly it really isn't a problem but no one like to see rust on their boat. Just replace non stainless hardware with stainless ones and you'll be set.

- Sterndrive engine compartment doesn't leave you with a whole lot of room to do engine maintenance. You can get the outboard but I really like having the swim platform and the look of the sterndrive. It's especially nice when people are swimming from the boat. The horizon engine is a must when operating in salt water as the water never goes through the enging block, but an outboard would be easier to maintain.

- Switch panel is not illuminated/backlit - Not an issue in the daytime but at night it would help to see which switches were which just by turning on the key. Instrument guages are nicely illuminated.

- Hull scupper valves (drain holes) are not screened. It's easy for larger items such as leaves, bugs and anything else that will fit to fall into the drain holes. I would recommend putting larger drain hoses and a screened drain cover on to prevent pluggin up the lines.

- Some of the hardware including the bimini top seem aftermarket instead of custom. I guess this has an advantage as well... to replace anything you can just order the exact items from boaters world or Overton's


That's about it. I'm sure there's something I forgot but if you have any questions just send me an IM. In the past three summers the only maintenance I've had to do was the standard scheduled maintenance and change the water pump (impeller).

Bottom line I really enjoy this boat and while it may not be as refined as some of the other expensive models, it really does it all and everyone I know that has seen it or has taken a ride in it feels the same way. See if you can't find one at a boat show. I'm sure any owner would love to take you out on it.

Cheers!

JimmyC,

Is your speed figures off the spedo or GPS? How much is the draft at the prop with the trim down at standstill? How much headroom is in the head? How is the weight of the vinyl? Do you have any figures on fuel consumption? How is the fit and finish compared to other boats? What type of warranty is on the boat?

Sorry to have so many questions but I guess you are the man with the answers!

Speed figures are from the GPS. The boat speedo is pretty close but my be off as much as 5mph at top speed (says 55 when gps reads 50) and speed at the low end on the boat speedo is not as graduated (doesn't have the fine speedo marks to really tell how fast your are going) 25-45 mph seem pretty close.

With the prop down all the way I would have to say the draft is at around 2 1/2 feet. But you can run it shallower by trimming the motor up a bit.

Not sure of the actual wieght of the vinyl but it has held up very well to 3 summers of serious use on the beaches just about every other weekend and I haven't noticed any fading.

As far as fuel consumption goes it varies quite a bit. Depends greatly on how you use it. Keep it below 3k rpm and you can run forever. Bump it up to 5k and it really starts sucking the gas but man does it haul the mail.

Typically I fill it up every other weekend If I'm skiing and traveling any distance. If I'm just going back and forth to the island and hanging out on the beach I typically fill it up once a month. As just about any boat owner will tell you fuel consumption is probably the largest variable when comparing boats and motors. Bottom line... moderate speed = longer times between fill ups; hauling the mail = fill it up every trip.

Trying to be non-biased I would say the fit and finish are a little better than average. I've seen better fit and finish on higher end boats and worse on lower end mass production boats. I give it a solid 7 out of 10.

As far as the warranty, I believe there is a one year on the boat and the hull and a 3 year on the engine. If you have any problems with the boat just give the folks at splendor a call and they will make sure it gets taken care of. If you don't get someone to answer I always got a call back the same day. NO automated answering services... you get real people. As for the engine, you can take care of any warranty work at any certified Mercury Marine dealer. My warranty is expired so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that nothing happens.

The splendor is definitely not a common boat to see at the lake or beach. I've only seen one other. But everyone that sees it is definitely impressed and I'm very happy. The only thing I would trade this boat for would be a large pontoon with at least a 250hp outboard and a pair of jet skiis. This boat would be the next best thing.

Hope this helps let me know what else I can help you with.

Below is a pic of the boat with the prop down.

Thanks Jimmy for your update. Sounds like a great boat and builder!

I am not sure about the look of the swim platform. I see the outsides are right at the water level but it looks strange and does not look very sturdy. Does it flex much? It also doesn't look very good to use as a rear fishing platform. How hard was the impeller change? How about access to alt, starter, water pump, plugs and driver belt? How does it handle chop and large wakes? Do you have any idea of the gph used at 30mph?

BTW we have the pair of jetskis and were considering the performance pontoons but they are very expensive for the same performance as a deckboat. They also consume more fuel. I hope Splendor gives you comissions as you are an excellent spokesman!
Sorry to ask so many questions but it is not like I can go down to the dealer and check them out, and they are still not cheap enough to be unhappy with the purchase of one.

Edit: I wonder how a pair of mecury 200hp jet drives, one in each sponson would work? Small draft, lots of hp and turn like only a jet boat can!

Jimmy,
Thank you for the update. I have looked at these boats once at the St. Louis Boat Show. I never got to crawl through like I would like to as the owner of the company and I got to talking. I guess we talked for about 25 minute and the next thing I knew my better half was dragging me away to the next exhibit.

I will look at them closely next year. It seems like a great family platform and a very personable company!

JimmyC,
Thanks for your informative, first-hand posts on Splendor boats
For what it is worth, I don’t see anything biased what-so-ever.
I have never been a fan of the appearance - but you make a solid case for anyone considering the whole package

Yeah definitely not getting any comissions from Splendor, but I know how many of you who are looking at the splendor boats feel especially since you don't see many people with these boats. I was looking at the big name brand boats (SeaRay and Hurricane) when I got this one. I just couldn't justify the cost. I got my boat for about 10k less than comparible models with less features. This boat definitely is not standard and while a lot of the options are not industry standard its is extremely very functional. The only thing I would think would be comparable to this boat would be a hi-performance pontoon or tri-toon with at least a 250hp motor. But you still wouldnt get a wrap around windshield or a hiddden port-a-pottie area.

As far as the port-a-pottie. There is enough room for a full sized adult to use the facilities with the doors shut. It isn't the roomiest when trying to drop or put your wet swim suit back on but it works and when you got to go you got to go. Perfect size for the kiddos. The only problem I have is that the port-a-pottie section has plenty of room to store all of my gear so I usually fill it with life jackets anchors towels and clean clothes and if I need to use it I usually end up having to drag all the stuff out to make room enough for adults. There's plenty of other storage on the boat but I just like the fact that this is a one stop shop for all items expecially the large items to include tubes, umbrellas, empty coolers, my fishing seats and the sort.

As far as the engine compartment is concerned. It has plenty of room for general maintenance as all the components are located at the front of the engine. For oil changes there is a oil drain tube that extends outside the center drain plug so you don't have to worry about pumping out the oil from the engine. The major components are located at the front of the engine compartment but if you had to change the plugs or do any maintenance on the exhaust manifolds it isn't very mechanic friendly and you will end up paying extra for them to do the work. My impeller change was a couple $100 but I got that done with the scheduled maintenance and I'm not sure of the actual cost. You could call Splendor and I'm sure they could tell you exactly how much it should cost by itself.

I was looking for the best compromise for what I was going to be using the boat for. I wanted a pontoon but being in the salt water I wanted something that would provide a little more of a deck boat/runabout feel that could pull skiiers and something I could fish from.

There are nicer boats out there. But you will pay 10k and more for the same setup with those. I got this boat brand new. Knowing what I know now, it was a great deal compared to buying a brand new Hurricane or SeaRay deck boat... Best bang for the buck. But if you're looking to fit in with the rest of the boat crowd, I would recommend buying a used SeaRay or Hurricane. If you could find a used Splendor you would really be in the money but that is the problem. Most people who own these boats don't want to get rid of them. Believe me I looked.

As far as the swim platform I didn't really like the non-symetrical look when I first got it but it is definitely more functional than I could have ever wanted. The lower portion is flush with the water when the boat is sitting still and rises out of the water when the boat is on plane. The elevated portion is necessary to be able to raise the stern drive up full trim. I thought it would be pretty cool to have a perfectly flat swim platform with a hinged center section that would raise up when the motor was trimmed up and lay flat when the trim was down but this was all they offered at the time. Maybe future development will provide better options but the current platform is very functional expecially when getting out of the water or standing on while fishing. As far as the sturdiness of the platform I weigh about 210 and my brother is close to 260 and it doesn't flex at all while either of us are gettin on or off of it while it's on the trailer during everyday cleaning.

Bottom line I took the road less traveled and I'm still very pleased. I haven't had any maintenance issues but I'm sure in the future like any other boat owner these expenses will come along. You're always going to have them if you own a boat. If you want to compare maintenance cost on this boat with any other mainstream boat I'm sure they would be very comparable but I don't know that for a fact because I haven't had to do anything other than scheduled maintenance on it.

Below is a picture of the engine compartment with the rear seat removed and the head compartment filled with both my fishing seats coolers table top and a bunch of other stuff. You could probably get a picture of it empty from the Splendor site. Don't let if fool you it really is quite caverness when it's empty...

Thanks for the detailed report Jimmy. That is very good design the way they used 2 doors for the head compartment instead of one huge curved door. More builders should take a look at that solution.

Kelly

Yup, thanks.

Most deck boat shallow vee I/Os are about two and a half to three feet draft, I thought. Where's the 12" draft, only when using a paddle/engine off/drive tilted into trailer position?

I would bet that alot of folks think its 12" draft with the engine on and the drive down rather when using a paddle.

It fooled me as I thought draft meant the lowest part of the drive? It still is more shallow than most. I wonder how an outboard would do?