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The Maxum 2100 SR3 is a mid-size bowrider built in moulded fibreglass by Maxum of United States, a builder trading since 1988. On our measurements it works out at roughly 21 ft 0 in (6.40 m) of hull with a beam near 9 ft 0 in (2.75 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. Discontinued Brunswick brand that remains one of the best-value used bowriders anywhere.
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.
Underway the 2100 SR3 behaves the way a well-sorted mid-size bowrider should. It comes onto the plane early, holds a low tow speed without wallowing and tracks flat through a hard turn instead of skating out. In short chop you slow down and let the hull do the work, and it stays surprisingly dry for the size.
Power is a 160-240 hp petrol stern drive package, and that suits both the hull and the way these boats are used. A stern drive keeps the transom clean and the engine low in the hull, which lowers the centre of gravity and gives that quiet, torquey feel off the mark that skiers appreciate.
Watersports are well covered. A tow point is standard on almost every boat in this class, and Maxum owners regularly add a pylon or a folding tower for wakeboarding. A healthy stern drive 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.
Fishing is the quiet strength of this hull. Pull the bow cushions and the forward lounge becomes an open casting platform with clear access all the way around the bow, and the rear lounge lifts out to open up the transom and side gunwales. Ten minutes of work turns the family boat into a genuinely capable fishing boat, and ten minutes the other way turns it back again before anyone gets home.
Build and finish sit where you would expect for a budget used boat from United States. Maxum was Brunswick's mid-market sport boat brand, sitting between Bayliner and Sea Ray, and although production ended in 2009 the boats remain everywhere on the used market. That makes Maxum one of the cheapest routes into a well-equipped fibreglass bowrider. Models such as the 1800 SR, 1900 SR and 2100 SR3 offered wide beams, deep cockpits, decent upholstery and mainstream MerCruiser stern drive power, and they shared much of their engineering with Sea Ray hulls of the same era. Because the brand no longer exists, badge value is low, which is exactly why buyers get so much boat for the money — but parts are not a problem, since the engines, drives, hardware and trim were common Brunswick components still supported today. Condition is everything: check stringers, transom and floor for moisture, and budget for bellows and gimbal service. Get a sound one and a Maxum delivers 90 percent of the family boating experience for half the price of a current model.
Options worth having on the 2100 SR3 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. At this end of the market condition matters far more than model year — a well-kept older boat beats a neglected newer one every time.
Our price guide for the 2100 SR3 is US$35,000 - US$46,000 used, 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. Maxum has been refining that formula since 1988, and the 2100 SR3 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
The refined mainstream benchmark: quiet, dry, and beautifully finished for the money.
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
Buying Advice
Fifty thousand is a genuinely useful bowrider budget. It buys a new boat with a warranty, a nearly new mid-size boat, or a large premium boat a decade old. Which route gives you the best boat depends on how much maintenance risk you are willing to carry. At this level, new means entry-level: aluminium bowriders around 4.8-5.5 m with 90-115 hp outboards, or the smallest fibreglass models from mainstream builders with modest sterndrive or outboard power. Trailer, basic bimini and a simple sound system typically fit inside the figure. You get a warranty, dealer support and zero unknown history — real value for first-time buyers. What you sacrifice is size and equipment: expect vinyl floors, manual canvas, single-battery wiring and few luxury touches. Two to five years old is where the budget stretches furthest. The same money buys a 5.8-6.4 m boat with 150-200 hp, a better-finished interior, a decent bimini, upgraded upholstery and often remaining warranty on the engine. Depreciation has already taken its biggest bite, reliability is still high, and the trailer, cover and safety gear are usually included. For most families this is the smartest fifty thousand in the market. The same budget also buys a ten-to-fifteen-year-old premium bowrider of 7 m…
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