It’s well known that Hurricane is the specialist for building deckboats that can literally do it all on the water. But what’s truly amazing is that the company can produce a fully featured model with a huge foredeck with loads of cockpit space for 10 people in a sub-19-foot package. While the SunDeck 187 IO might only stretch 18 feet, 10 inches, it takes cruising, skiing and fishing seriously. Our test boat has the optional fishing package that gives you a bow fishing seat, a livewell and a trolling motor plug for only $507, making it a no-brainer option, because you know someone’s going to bring along a rod.
One of the keys to the quality of its build, and what helps give it its Cadillac ride, is the heft. Weighing in at 3,580 pounds, it’s even beefier than Sea Ray’s 21-foot deckboat. This makes it extremely stable at rest and gives it a solid feel in the chop. It also helps the SunDeck perform a ski trick of its own. At 20 mph with the trim up a little, we were able to plow up a compact but well-formed wake for jumping, but at 30 mph the wake flattens out nicely for slaloming.
For storing skis, there’s a large centerline locker in the bow that opens automatically when you undog the latch, thanks to twin hydraulic struts.
Powered by the 220 hp 4.3L MerCruiser MPI that features a catalytic converter for lower emissions, the SunDeck 187 performed well. We reached plane in 3.9 seconds with moderate bowrise and reached 30 mph in 9.8 seconds, with an outstanding top speed of 49 mph. You can order the SunDeck 187 with a 3.0L sterndrive, but unless you live in Europe, don’t — or you’ll spend your time on the water wishing you’d gotten the 4.3L instead. The SunDeck hooks up in corners brilliantly, carving an extreme radius smoothly.
The cockpit is deep for added security and is expertly upholstered in GX48 expanded vinyl. With a J-lounge in the cockpit and an ultra-wide bow section, the boat provides maximum seating. On the huge foredeck, there is a boarding ladder off to the side that doesn’t interfere with the anchor compartment. And in the stern, the boarding ladder resides on the captain’s side of the platform, so the driver can monitor activity from behind the full-sized windshield.
