Stingray 173 CC

Bigger than it looks.

by Heather Steinberger

As I drove into little Hartsville, South Carolina, on a quiet January morning, I felt grateful for the winter coat and wool hat I’d tossed into the backseat.

Photos Courtesy of Stingray

Temperatures hovered in the high 30s despite the sun, and I realized with amusement that this just might be the coldest boat test of my career.

Never mind. I was eager to check out Stingray Boats’ new 17-footer before its debut at the Miami International Boat Show, and a winter day in the South wasn’t going to bother me. I’m from the Great Lakes — at least the water wasn’t hard.

User-friendly features

Robert VanVollenhoven, Stingray’s vice president of sales and marketing, met me at the plant and introduced me to Drew Gantt, director of engineering. Together, they led me to an open side yard where the new 173 CC waited on its trailer.

This sleek new model is the smallest in the company’s center console lineup. An entry-level boat, the 173 CC is designed for user-friendliness and accessibility.

As I climbed up the stainless steel ladder to the swim platform, I was immediately struck by how much bigger this 17-footer looks and feels once you’re aboard. The high, wide gunnels, the broad beam carried forward, and the significant walk-around space belong to a larger boat, and Gantt says this was intentional.

“The bow is a little more blunt than a Key West-style boat, for example, but that trade-off gives you more space, storage and stability,” he explains. “But it’s not a deckboat; it still has that deeper-V hull for a better ride.”

In fact, the boat has both V and Z going for it. The Z refers to Stingray’s Z-plane hull design, and according to the boatbuilder, it produces a smoother flow of water. The prop will have better bite, which means better performance in terms of both speed and handling. I was looking forward to experiencing that, but first things first.

We started our tour at the helm, which provides a stainless steel wheel with hydraulic steering, power trim and tilt, 12V plug and dual USB ports, and a cushioned leaning post with an optional seat back. There is plenty of dash space for the available gauges or digital electronics displays, depending on your choice of power, and I liked the removable windshield.

“With the windshield off, this boat can fit into most garages,” VanVollenhoven advises.

Next, I took note of the thoughtful storage plan. Not only does the boat feature a sizable cooler/storage box with overboard drain, it also has storage underneath the bow seats. Anglers will appreciate the standard aerated livewell located between the collapsible aft seats, as well as an optional livewell forward of the center console.

The real headline when it comes to storage, however, is the center console itself. It’s large enough to accommodate a porta-potti, and as I investigated this clever space, I realized it easily could double as a changing room. Pretty useful if you have kids onboard.

Versatility is the name of the game these days. With the 173 CC, a boating family can easily experience all aspects of the on-water lifestyle — fishing, gunkholing, day cruising and, thanks to the available ski tow package, watersports too. Gantt agrees.

“We designed this boat with new boaters and families in mind,” he says.

Serious anglers won’t be disappointed, with the standard and optional livewells and the SS rod holders to port and starboard. Built in-house at Stingray, the fiberglass and stainless steel holders can accommodate 7-foot rods.

Once again, I marveled at how big the 173 CC feels once you’re onboard: The roomy feel, those deep gunnels, and the all-stainless fixtures, from the popup cleats and rod holders to the steering wheel and swim ladder. It even has a self-bailing cockpit — a rarity in this size class.

If I could put just one item on my wish list, it would be a grab handle at the top of the swim ladder. Then again, not everyone will be climbing aboard in winter clothing from a parking lot, so consider that an asterisk.

It’s all about the fun

After our tour, Stingray Boats President Barry Avent hitched the 173 CC to his truck, and we headed for 2,250-acre Lake Robinson. Nestled in the Pee Dee countryside northwest of Hartsville, this pretty little lake provides cooling for Duke Energy’s H.B. Robinson nuclear power plant. It’s also a popular boating spot.

“We’ve had lake property here for 42 years, since the beginning,” Avent says.

Stingray’s waterfront property incorporates a metal-roofed cabin with an expansive screened-in porch, a covered open-air pavilion, dock space for 16 boats and a private launch ramp. With the blue expanse of water and forested shoreline, it reminded me of family getaways in Wisconsin’s Northwoods.

“The dealers love it too when we have our annual meetings here,” Avent says with a smile. “It’s relaxed, and it feels like vacation.”

He launched the 173 CC quickly, and VanVollenhoven brought it around to the empty docks. The single 90-hp Yamaha purred while I climbed aboard.

“You can have Yamaha, Suzuki or Mercury power with this boat,” VanVollenhoven says. “We could put a 115 on it, but we prefer the 90. You get virtually the same performance, but with better fuel economy and affordability.”

Mercury’s official test data reports that the 173 CC has a top speed of 42.2 mph, with a sweet spot for cruising between 16.9 and 22 mph. At those speeds, the boat consumes 6.5 mpg, giving it a range of 136 miles.

The data also notes that the boat will hit 20 mph in 4.4 seconds and 30 mph in 7.37 seconds. Yamaha’s test data was not available yet, but I was ready to see firsthand what the 173 and its Z-plane hull could do with this engine.

Taking the wheel, I throttled up. The 173 CC immediately responded, sliding onto plane smoothly. Within seconds, we were charging down the lake at 41 mph.

Local boaters evidently weren’t eager to be on the water that afternoon, so Lake Robinson was all ours. And it was flat calm, so we’d have to create our own sea conditions.

I backed off a bit and spun through a few donuts and figure-eights. We crossed our wake again and again, and the 173 managed the chop effortlessly.

Dropping to less than 20 mph, I noticed that the boat stayed on plane longer than I expected. Despite any necessary trade-offs for space and storage, the engineering team clearly designed this boat with performance in mind. The 173 CC is rock solid, responsive and, most of all, fun.

Too soon, it was time to return to the dock. I hated to do it. All I needed now was the summer heat, the optional Bimini top, and a sheltered spot to drop the hook.

If you’re planning to attend the spring shows, Stingray’s newest achievement is a must-see. It’s a well-rounded family boat for the price, and what’s more, it’s a sweet little performer.

“I just talked to Drew, and he wanted to know if you liked it,” Avent says as we prepared to haul out.

My grin and wind-blown hair probably said it all. I was having such a good time, I completely forgot the chill in the air. And my hat.