2025 Princecraft Sport 188

Boat Reviews

Boat Review by: Rick Layzell

They’ve done it. Again. Princecraft has unleashed another ballistic missile in their arsenal of watersport utility boats that satisfy everyone in the family. CHECK this out, if your family (and/or friends list) includes:

Passionate anglers – CHECK

Watersports enthusiasts – CHECK

Sun worshippers – CHECK

On-water dining lovers – CHECK

Performance adrenaline junkies – CHECK

ALL OF THE ABOVE – CHECK CHECK CHECK

From its unique blunt nose bow – with very cool LED dock lighting feature – to her spacious bow and aft casting decks, to the seemingly endless array of seating configurations, the Sport 188 has something for everyone.

Let’s start with the anglers in the crew. Check out the elevated forward casting deck with an electric aerated livewell, seat mount floor base, 60 AMP trolling motor plug protection, 12V or 24V factory installed wiring harness, lockable rod locker with tubes for 4 rods, plus space for two batteries and a couple small tackle boxes. Move to the stern where you are welcomed with another raised platform, two seat base mounts, center bench seat that folds down (optional) with ease to enlarge the casting deck, and another battery storage compartment. Need another livewell for your catch? No worries, Princecraft has an optional solution for that too. And don’t forget to add in the optional polished black downrigger supports while you’re at it.

On to the watersports enthusiasts. From the transom, we find a telescoping reboarding ladder for getting on or off the boat and into or out of tubes, skis, or toys. The optional ski tow pole is a valuable feature, plus the Sport 188 incorporates storage solutions for all your gear in every nook and cranny.

For sun worshippers, the solutions are everywhere with both casting decks readily converting into large sun pads. With ease you could have 4-6 guests on board all bathing in sunshine. At the same time, two guests could take the port and starboard rear seat backs and quickly convert them to a rear-facing, sun-loving position. Time for some shade? No sweat, add the optional bimini top and catch a break while listening to your favorite sounds from the Jensen 160 watt Bluetooth sound system.

For the diners in the crew, there are solutions designed to satisfy your cravings. It starts with a total of 10 perfectly positioned beverage holders sprinkled throughout the 188’s interior layout. They’ve even got you covered with an oval table that nests elegantly in the stern seating section to create a perfect perch for afternoon snacks or a light evening meal. And the LED interior lights take ambience to the next level.

And finally, to our performance junkies. Oh boy, have we ever got you covered. With an all-new hull design featuring a 12” longer running surface, this hull provides more stability, improved fuel efficiency, and pumped-up performance. A Simrad NSX7 screen replaces standard gauges at the helm, which is also highlighted with a beauty of a tilt steering wheel with hydraulic steering package. The choice of power is yours with options ranging from the Mercury 115 four-stroke all the way up to their 200 V6 with DTS (Digital Throttle & Shift) package. We were treated to a 175 Pro XS and ‘giddyup!’ would be a serious understatement.

This package is a holeshot rocketship that yielded consistent 2.8 second results (not even kidding), and a top end speed of 49.6 MPH at 5,960 RPM. There is zero doubt in my mind that this combination will find 50 MPH, but that’s up to you. I had to get back to work.

She’s also a family friendly cruiser that sits comfortably and confidently on top of the water at cruise speeds ranging from 21 to 30 MPH. I could easily see my kids (when they were young) with grins from ear to ear sitting up in the bow as we cruised across the lake. It’s just as easy to envision and evening sunset cruise with friends, or an early morning rip across calm waters to my favorite fishing grounds.

Princecraft even packages it with a galvanized trailer featuring carpeted bunks, steel fenders, LED lighting, radial tires, sealed hubs, swivel tongue jack, and a 2” coupler. With a boat weight of under 2,000 lbs, trailer at 1,100 lbs, plus your engine and gear, you can easily move your Sport 188 to your favorite lake without having to buy a heavy-duty vehicle.

The Sport 188 truly is a weapon of a sport utility boat that offers excellent solutions to the most discriminate boaters. She truly has something for everyone.

*Test boat has optional features. Please contact your local Princecraft dealer for details.

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