SONIC 26

Boating Magazine/ 1998

Message In A Throttle Sonic 26: On the prowl for wave-jumpin'.

By Mike Smith

Who says you have to be rich to drive a fast, well-built boat? Not the folks at Sonic, whose 260 Prowler combines raceboat-tough construction, top-class gear, MerCruiser horsepower, a non-nonsense bottom and an affordable price. Listing at just $52,675 with a single 300-hp Merc 350 MAG MPI, and $69,680 with the test boat's 470 hp Merc 500, this 26'hot rod has enough rockets in its pockets to satisfy almost any go-fast fanatic.

Swimming against the current tide of hype and glory, the 260's designer, Sonic general manager Jay Ross, chose to stick with a tried-and-true-blue straight deep-V hull, with 23 degrees of deadrise and a reassuring lack of back magic under the water: no pad, no fancy strakes, no mumbo-jumbo. The result is a lively boat with predictable handling and a smooth ride, one that rewards its driver's skill rather than just taking him or her along for the company, which is too often the case with dialed-in-to-the-max-at-the-factory stepped bottoms. I don't know about you, but I like to at least fool myself into thinking that I'm making a difference in how my boat performs by fiddling with drives, tabs and so forth.

Unlike many high-performance boats of this size, the Sonic 260 Prowler comes with only a couple of options, albeit worthwhile ones. External hydraulic steering ($2,500) isn't really optional if you're talking about engines with real guts--I'd say if you choose the 385-hp MerCruiser 454 MAG MPI ($58,850) or larger, you need the upgraded steering. And if you want your marina neighbors to keep inviting you to their cocktail parties, spring for the Corsa Marine Silent Choice mufflers ($1,100). Otherwise, everything you need comes standard.

Most high-performance boats this size have very little underneath the deck, but the Prowler's layout makes room for an enclosed head with portable MSD, sink and shower--necessarily tight, but usable--and a galley with a sink and lots of stowage.There's even pressure water.

If you shipping this waterpark, check out the Hustler 26, another bullet-proof rocket with a bona fide cabin and first-rate gear. With the same 470 horses under the hood, the Hustler is faster than the Sonic--nearly 80 mph during a recent BOATING test--but also more expensive; $87,000 with a Merc 500, about $63,000 with a 502 MAG MPI. The Hustler is custom-built, so you won't have one right away, but a visit to your Sonic dealer should put you on the water while you're still young.

BOATING CERTIFIED TEST RESULTS SONIC 260 PROWLER

Standard Power: Single 300-hp MerCruiser 350 MAG MPI Bravo One V-8 gasoline stern drive.

Optional Power: Single stern drives up to 490 hp. Test Boat Power: Single 470-hp MerCruiser 500 Bravo One V-8 gasoline stern drive with 502 cid, 4.47" bore x 4.00" stroke, swinging a three-bladed 14 3/4" x 23" Mercury Mirage ss prop through a 1.5:1 reduction. Standard Equipment: (major items): Dual-ram trim tabs with Kiekhaefer indicators; Zero Effort controls w/trim in handler; Halon 1301 firefighting system; through-bolted ss motor mounts; drop-seat bolsters for driver and companion; ss exhaust tips; dual-cable power steering; battery in Rex Marine race bracket; fume detector; electric horn; compass; 2 fire extinguishers; sundeck pad; pressure water system; tonneau cover; Clarion stereo w/remote control.