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The Crownline 225 SS is a large bowrider built in moulded fibreglass by Crownline of United States, a builder trading since 1991. On our measurements it works out at roughly 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m) of hull with a beam near 9 ft 8 in (2.94 m), which places it squarely in the trailerable family bowrider class: one vehicle, one trailer, one afternoon of prep, and the boat is in the water. Styling-led bowriders with distinctive hull graphics and FACT hull technology.
Layout is classic bowrider and that is the whole point of the boat. Twin lounges run forward of the windscreen with a walk-through to the anchor well, the helm and companion seats sit amidships behind a wrap screen, and a full-width lounge spans the transom for sunbathing and socialising. Around 11 people fit aboard comfortably in sheltered water. Cushions lift out, backrests fold and filler pads convert the cockpit from a conversation pit into one long sun bed in a couple of minutes.
The ride is what most owners talk about first. Deadrise through the forward sections knocks the top off bay chop, the running surface aft keeps the boat stable at rest, and the hull sits level when six people crowd one side to watch a skier. At cruise it feels like a bigger boat than it is.
Power is a 185-280 hp four-stroke outboard package, and that suits both the hull and the way these boats are used. Keeping the machinery outside the hull frees up stern storage, simplifies servicing and removes the bellows and gimbal wear items that punish neglected stern drive boats. It also lifts the swim platform clear of the exhaust.
Watersports are well covered. A tow point is standard on almost every boat in this class, and Crownline owners regularly add a pylon or a folding tower for wakeboarding. A healthy outboard package pulls a slalom skier out of the water cleanly and tows children on an inflatable biscuit all day without protest. Skis, ropes and vests live in the under-floor and under-seat lockers so nothing sits underfoot while the boat is loaded.
Anglers do well out of the 225 SS. The bow converts to a casting deck once the cushions are stowed, there is room to swing a rod without hitting the screen, and lockers swallow tackle, nets and a cooler. It is not a dedicated fishing boat, but it catches fish and it still takes the family out the next morning — which is the entire argument for owning a bowrider.
Build and finish sit where you would expect for a mid range boat from United States. Crownline leans hard into sport-boat styling — swept hull graphics, aggressive windscreen rake and moulded detailing that makes the boats look faster than they are — but there is real engineering underneath. The FACT (Forward Accelerating Chine Technology) hull throws spray outward and down rather than up, which keeps the cockpit dry in a head sea and is the feature owners mention first. The E and SS ranges cover roughly 20 to 26 feet in both stern drive and outboard form, with big transom sunpads, wide walk-throughs and unusually generous in-floor ski lockers. Interiors are well finished for the price, sitting between the volume brands and the premium builders, and the helm layouts are cleanly laid out with proper instrument visibility. Crownline appeals to buyers who want the sport aesthetic without the Cobalt price, and because the brand is well represented on the American used market, second-hand examples represent strong value for money in the 10 to 15 year age band.
Options worth having on the 225 SS are the practical ones: a bimini for shade, a decent bow and cockpit cover so the upholstery survives being stored outside, an upgraded sounder if you fish, and a stereo package that can be heard over the engine. On fibreglass, a ceramic coat or a good polish once a season keeps the gelcoat looking new and protects resale.
As a used buy, check the same things you would on any bowrider in this size band: transom firmness, stringer and floor soundness, hours and service history on the engine, steering and trim function, and the state of the upholstery seams, which are the first thing to fail on a boat that lives uncovered. Boats from this builder hold their money well, so a tidy example will not be cheap, and that is usually a sign you are buying the right one.
Our price guide for the 225 SS is US$58,000 - US$77,000 new, which moves with engine choice, trailer, tower and how recently the boat was refreshed. Judged as a whole, it does what people buy a bowrider for: cruise, tow, swim, fish and entertain in one boat, without asking the family to compromise on any of them. Crownline has been refining that formula since 1991, and the 225 SS is a straightforward, well-judged expression of it.
The world's best selling bowrider size, Light, simple and easy to tow.
US$38,000 - US$52,000 new
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US$72,000 - US$95,000 new
A premium 25-foot bowrider renowned for its deep seating, convertible lounges, refined ride and exceptional finish.
US$155,000 - US$210,000 new
Featured Boat of the Week
This week we are putting the Bayliner Bayliner DX2000 in the spotlight, and it earns the spot. At 20 ft 2 in (6.16 m) long on a 8 ft (2.44 m) beam, this is a bowrider that reads the water well and still feels roomy enough for a full day out. A 20-foot deck-boat-width bowrider with outboard power and a huge social cockpit. Power comes from 115-150 hp mercury fourstroke outboard through a outboard package, and the fibreglass hull keeps the ride settled when the afternoon breeze puts a chop on the surface.
Seating is rated for 8 people, so there is space for family, friends, towels, eskies and the tow rope without anyone climbing over gear. Owners tend to buy it for family, water ski, leisure — which is exactly where it shines. Fuel is 30 us gal (114 l), and on the second-hand and new market you should expect to land somewhere around US$42,000 - US$58,000 new depending on hours, trailer and options.
Our full deep dive covers the layout in detail: bow lounge comfort, helm ergonomics, the rear entertaining area, storage that actually swallows a weekend, plus standard features, popular options and honest notes on where the boat compromises. If the Bayliner DX2000 is on your shortlist, start there — and check back next week, because the featured boat changes every week as we complete more full model reviews.
Featured Bowrider Article
Engines & Drives
Stern drives — sometimes called inboard/outboards or I/Os — powered the bowrider boom for forty years. Today the market is shifting hard towards outboards, which leaves buyers asking whether a sterndrive is a bargain or a liability. The honest answer is that it depends entirely on how and where you boat. The engine sits under the rear sun pad inside the hull, with only the drive leg outside. That layout produces a clean transom, an uninterrupted swim platform and a quiet, low centre of gravity. For families who swim, board and lounge off the back of the boat, a sterndrive transom is genuinely nicer to live with. Weight distribution helps the ride too. A few hundred kilograms of iron sitting low and forward of the transom keeps the hull settled in a chop and reduces the porpoising that light, transom-heavy boats can suffer. Sterndrive bowriders also tend to hold a plane at lower speeds, which matters for water skiers. There is also value. A well-kept sterndrive bowrider often costs 20-30 per cent less than an equivalent outboard model of the same age, simply because of market fashion. Servicing is the main penalty. Bellows, gimbal bearings, U-joints, drive lubricant, anodes and the transom seal all need…
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