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ahoe emerged from a compa-

ny, Tracker Marine, that

brought bass fishing to “everyman”

with a fully rigged bass boat at a

bare-boat price.

T

So when we stepped into the Q8i

runabout and noted the stainless-steel

hardware, the rich upholstery and the

all-fiberglass construction, we wondered

where the bargain image went.

Then we turned the key and the

optional 350 Mag MerCruiser throttled us

up to a blistering 52 miles per hour. We

knew the bucks weren’t saved on horse-

Value Premium

Fresh Water Salt Water

Protected Water Open Water

Economy High-Performance

AT A GLANCE

The new Tahoe Q8i hits two major

targets for potential runabout

owners: it’s an upscale sport boat

with a downsized price tag.

power. In fact, with a base V-8 220-hp

engine, the boat and a trailer tickle the wal-

let at under $30,000. With our test engine,

the base price is just a tick under $35,000.

We didn’t test the rig with the small V-8,

but we think it would reach satisfying

speeds in the low 40s and provide good

punch for recreational skiing, wakeboard-

ing and tubing.

We even loaded the test boat with sev-

eral adults to get a feel for acceleration and

speed. It was still quick and authoritative.

The boat made crisp 180-degree turns for

easy skier pickup — or just for the fun of

feeling this boat carve up the water.

At the helm we found the boat

extremely responsive, thanks in part to the

standard power steering. We had an excel-

lent view all around the boat whether ful-

ly seated or settled on top of the flip-up

bolster.

Under our feet, the Q8i had a solid

Tahoe Q8i

SPOTLIGHT ON

BY RANDY VANCE

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feel that comes from an integrated fiber-

glass stringer system and solid construc-

tion techniques. Under the snap-in car-

pet is a fiberglass non-skid deck that

cleans easily, and water drains to the

bilge to be pumped overboard. We’d

give the rig higher marks for saltwater

use if the deck drained overboard, but

most boats we’ve tested that do drain

overboard still get cockpit runoff into the

bilge from swimming and play.

The boat is well-equipped topside to

handle tough conditions, too. Standard

are five pull-up cleats of stainless steel,

stainless bow and transom eyes, and a

stainless bow protector plate for secure

trailering. Hinges and hardware are of

top quality as well. COURTESYTAHOE

Tahoe has also added a great touch

to their transom — a standard, molded-

into-the-deck extended swim platform.

Most boat builders charge extra for that

feature, but here it was included in the

base price. A full-width, padded swim

pad is also standard and makes the boat

even more fun at anchor. At the dock, a

pull-away cushion reveals a transom

walk-through for easy boarding.

We struggled to see how Tracker

brings so much boat to the Tahoe line at

this price, and then after checking online

we remembered the base price also

includes a custom trailer with surge

brakes and submersible lights. That

solidly seals the Q8i as one of the year’s

better deals.

NOTABLEFEATURES• Four coolers (two in the bow, one under the

back seat and one at the helm) make refresh-ments easily accessible.

• Rich, new upholstery has plenty of body and resilience to hold its shape.

• Integrated transom platform extends beyond the prop so swimmers can safely re-board.

• Bimini top is a standard feature on the Q8i.

VITALSTATSLength Overall: 21’8”

Beam: 8’6”

Dry Weight: 3,500 lb.

Seating/Weight Capacity: 10/1,550 lb.

Fuel Capacity: 54 gal.

Maximum HP: 320

NMMA Certified: Yes

MSRP (test boat w/o tower): $34,860

TESTDRIVETest Engine: MerCruiser 350 Mag MPI Bravo 1

Test Prop: Vengeance 19”

Test Load: People (230 lb.); Fuel (40 gal.)

Top Speed: 52.5 MPH @ 4,800 RPM

Time to Plane: 3.5 sec.

Time to 30 MPH: 8.0 sec.

Minimum Plane: 18.0 MPH @ 2,300 RPM

TO SEE MORE ON THIS BOAT

• boatinglife.com/tahoeq8i• Circle #147 on p. 123

The optional wakeboard tower

includes an integrated Bimini top.

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