Sunsation 29 CCX: Flying With Twins
A price-point offering roars with a pair of outboard engines.
September 5, 2014
Loyal readers of boats.com who favor performance-oriented center-consoles will recall our review of the new Sunsation Powerboats 29 CCX, which we called “Little Big Boat.” The thrust of the story was how pleased we were that the Algonac, Mich., semi-custom sportboat and center-console builder had added an entry-level CCX (Center Console Xtreme) model as a “price point” offering.
With twin 300-hp Verados, this 29-foot Sunsation center-console ran close to 80 mph right out of the gate.
That boat had a single 150-hp Mercury Four Stroke outboard engine and topped out at close to 60 mph. As you may recall from the article, we reported that the boat could easily handle more power thanks to its performance hull, essentially the same V-bottom that is the foundation of the company’s popular 28-foot closed-deck sportboat.
Since then, the company has built several 29-footers with various outboard power packages. Two that recently captured our attention were set up with twin 300-hp Mercury Verado outboard engines. As you’d expect, that power package significantly boosted the boats’ top speeds (and, of course, their sticker prices).
According to Wayne Schaldenbrand of Sunsation, the first one with twin 300-hp Verados reached 77 mph during its first day of testing.
"I think we'll be able to bump 80 mph with that one," said Schaldenbrand. "I was hesitant to put 300s on there until I knew everything was just right—center-consoles are going fast these days and we have to know a boat can handle the power before we release it to the general public. The 29 CCX is based on the hull of our 28-foot sportboat, so we knew it had a great hull. Gary Butler, the owner of the first 29 CCX actually had a 28 he traded in for this one. He says it handles better with the twin outboards than his 28 did with a big block.”
