Solid Connection: Challenger's 302 FPS is a comfortable ride for the entire family.

By Matt Trulio

The transition from a runabout to a sport boat—especially if you have a family—can be tricky. Sure, you want a little more in terms of styling and performance. But you also want something that's easy to drive, handles predictably and is comfortable for a crowd. You want something that feels safe. You probably even want something with a useable cabin and an open bow, which you won't find in a lot of hot rod-focused sport boats.

If those are your priorities as a buyer, the 302 FPS from Challenger Powerboats might just be your boat. The FPS designation stands for "Family Performance Series," and from what we learned during our time with the stepped 30-footer, that description is appropriate.

The midcabin of the 302 FPS was as functional and as well equipped as that of any in its class. Useful features included a galley with a refrigerator, an entertainment system with a flat-screen TV, a DVD player and a stereo, and a surprisingly spacious head locker. Headroom above the facing lounges was excellent.

In the open bow, there were twin forward-facing contoured lounges. The bow area was reassuringly deep, a definite benefit when you have kids onboard.

Though the midcabin and open bow had a family oriented appeal, the cockpit—even with an arch mounted above it—felt very much like that of a sport boat. At least part of that came from the twin McLeod bolsters with power dropout bottoms and billet footrests for the driver and co-pilot.

Our test driver and co-pilot found those bolsters to be a tad close to the dash pods. A representative from the builder said the seats would be moved back 5 inches in subsequent models.

Mercury SmartCraft instruments in simulated wood-grain panels were at the helm station. A Dino steering wheel on a tilt helm enhanced the sporty feel of the driver's position. Grab handles were appropriately placed within reach of the rear bench.

Hardware in addition to the grab handles included six retractable cleats, a retractable navigation light and a boarding ladder on the swim platform. The builder installed a stainless-steel rubrail to protect the boat at the dock.

Power for the 302 FPS came from a 425-horsepower MerCruiser 496 Mag HO engine with a Bravo Three drive and two 25"-pitch propellers. With that propulsion package, the builder estimated the boat would top out at 52 mph. We weren't too far off, as our test driver coaxed it to 51.4 mph with the engine running 4,660 rpm.

That top speed was by no means blistering. It was, however, adequate for a model targeted for "family" use. So, too, were the 30-footer's acceleration numbers. With its trim tabs down, the boat came on plane in 5.1 seconds and reached 44 mph in 15 seconds. Running from 20 to 40 mph took 7.7 seconds.

But where the 302 FPS acquitted itself best was in handling drills. Nicely responsive to steering-wheel input, the boat glided through turns. It leaned into corners gracefully, rather than diving hard into them, and leveled off gently. Regardless of how abruptly and aggressively our test driver cranked the steering wheel, he could not force the boat to slide or catch.

Thanks to the Bravo Three drive, straight-line tracking was excellent at all speeds, whether accelerating or decelerating. The dual-prop Bravo Three drive also made the 302 FPS a bit easier to dock than the average Bravo One-equipped sport boat.

Another plus was the boat's soft ride in rough water, which was impressive for a 30-footer. The absence of rattles and squeaks made for a pleasant ride. It also indicated, as did the boat's smooth mold work and generally good engine-compartment rigging, that the boat was well built.

With a 320-hp MerCruiser 6.2 MPI engine, base price for the 302 FPS was $123,799. To be frank, we can't see ordering the boat with that docile power package—owners likely would have to run the engine pretty hard to top 40 mph.

The as-tested price with the 425-hp engine and other options jumped to $174,715, but we wouldn't want the boat with anything less. With that package, it's spunky enough to be interesting but tame enough to have family appeal.

The 302 is the largest model in Challenger's FPS line. It's not just a runabout with performance-boat styling, but it's also far from being a hot rod. P

Contact Information

Challenger Powerboats, 300 Westlink Drive, Washington, MO 63090, 636-390-9000, http://www.challengerpowerboats.com

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