NEW Sportsman Masters 227 Bay Boat

The 227 is the smallest boat in the Masters range and the one that shows how far the series has come. Sportsman call the current generation a significant leap forward in design and functionality, and the changes are structural rather than cosmetic: the hardtop frame is now extruded from a single piece of aluminium, which removes the deck legs entirely and opens up the cockpit behind the leaning post.

At 6.83 metres on a 2.54-metre beam drawing 0.36 metres, it is an easy boat to own: trailerable behind a family vehicle, comfortable for eight, and rated to 250 horsepower on 265 litres of fuel. Twin insulated 95-litre aquarium livewells sit at the transom and can run separately or together through a pressure selector valve, with a starboard Pro-Air bubbler, and the console-front livewell flips up out of the seat base and converts to a drink cooler.

The angling detail is a size above the class. Lockable bow rod storage for ten rods on guide tubes, six under-gunwale racks with room for a gaff and net, reel pads, four flush-mount Gemlux gunwale holders, five rocket launchers across the hardtop and side-mounted kingfish holders. The bow casting deck converts to a sunpad with cushions, there is a large bow fish box that doubles as a cruising cooler, and a rear fold-up bench brings two more adults inboard.

Underneath is the full Sportsman package: VACS with up to 70 per cent pitch and roll elimination, coordinated turn adjustment, auto trim, list control and hole shot optimisation; Boat-in-a-Box 2.0 rigging with removable electronics boards; SportLink with Garmin, JL Audio and digital switching on a pre-installed NMEA 2000 network; a 10-inch anodised jack plate; and a swim platform with a recessed three-step ladder and grab rails.

KEY SPECIFICATIONS
- Length overall: 6.83 m (22' 5")
- Beam: 2.54 m (8' 4")
- Draft, engine up: 0.36 m
- Deadrise at transom: 15 degrees
- Fuel capacity: 265 L, approx. 227 L usable
- Fresh water: 49 L
- Approx. Dry weight: 1,662 kg
- Maximum horsepower: 250 hp
- Person capacity: 8
- Bridge clearance with hardtop: 3.05 m

NOTABLE FEATURES
- SportTech no-wood, all-fibreglass hull with vinyl ester resin
- VACS: 70% pitch and roll elimination, coordinated turn, auto trim, list control and hole shot optimisation
- Single-piece extruded aluminium D-tube hardtop frame, no deck legs
- Twin insulated 95 L aquarium transom livewells with pressure selector
- Starboard Pro-Air bubbler system
- Console-front livewell flipping from the seat base, converts to cooler
- Large bow fish box doubling as a cruising cooler
- Bow anchor locker with moulded catch and rope cutout
- Step storage box, rear total access hatch
- Lockable bow rod storage for ten rods with guide tubes
- Six under-gunwale rod racks with gaff and net accommodation
- Under-gunwale reel pads, four flush-mount Gemlux gunwale holders
- Five hardtop rocket launchers, side-mounted kingfish holders
- Bow casting deck converting to sunpad with cushions, bow toe rail
- Large rear deck with recessed hardware and cup holders
- Rear fold-up bench seating two adults inboard
- Premium dual-chair leaning post with flip-up bolsters
- Console front seat with backrest, cockpit bolsters, console footrest
- SeaStar tilt helm, 40+ degrees, stainless Sportsman wheel
- Anti-fatigue helm pad with custom branding
- Integrated tempered glass windscreen with manual vent
- Lockable console storage usable as a changing room
- Access panel behind helm for electronics and fuses
- Dedicated trolling motor battery storage, pre-wired at anchor hatch
- Boat-in-a-Box 2.0 rigging, dual batteries with selector switch
- SportLink: Garmin displays, JL Audio, digital switching, NMEA 2000
- Two 10W IPX6 wireless phone chargers, USB and 12V, Ritchie compass
- Hardtop with built-in and spreader lighting, underwater lights
- Moulded-in navigation lights at front corners
- 10" anodised aluminium jack plate
- Swim platform with recessed three-step ladder and grab rails
- Freshwater and raw water washdown
- 10-year limited hull warranty