Let the Princecraft Ventura 224 Accompany You on Your Outing

Princecraft Ventura 224 Review

Type: Deck Boat

Weight: 2250 lbs

Centerline: 22’2″

Capacity: 12 people

What We Liked About It: The boat’s sensible layout and wide range of entertainment equipment gained a lot of favor.

What we don’t like about it: Heavy hull and high horsepower result in high fuel consumption.

Rating（4.8/5）

The Princecraft Ventura 224, as an outstanding performance deck boat, has a wide range of on-water recreational features, but will actually focus more on the fishing features.

The professional trolling motor, live well system, and a total of 4 fishing chairs on the front and rear decks are comparable to a professional level fishing boat. On top of that, the comfortable ride is ideal for a relaxing vacation.

In the following article, we will take a look at the Princecraft Ventura 224’s ride, entertainment, specification details, and comparisons with other boats, hoping to help you understand more about this boat so that you can make the best choice.

Driving Feel

I grew up fishing under the influence of my father and I still find time to go out at weekends now that I’m working. Unfortunately, my wife and children have not shown much enthusiasm for this activity, so I usually go out with friends who share the same hobby.

Over time, I’ve come to feel that I’m able to spend too little time around my family, and it seems like it’s been a long time since we’ve traveled together. As a father, I thought I should be more involved in my children’s development, not only in school, but also in leisure time.

I decided that I wanted to surprise my family and planned our outing early on, including contacting the charter company I work with regularly for the right boat.

Based on my request, the charter company recommended this Princecraft Ventura 224, which not only satisfies my fishing hobby, but is also capable of providing a variety of water recreational activities such as water skiing and swimming, which I thought would be a perfect fit for me. So I quickly settled on a means of transportation for the trip.

I told my family a week in advance to make sure to reserve the weekend for me, for I had a very important thing to accomplish with them. When the day finally arrived, I drove with my family towards the reservoir, and of course I invited my wife’s father and mother and myself to join me; I didn’t want anyone to be absent from such an enjoyable event.

The car, with me at the wheel, gradually pulled away from the city, and the scenery around us began to become more and more verdant. The kids in the backseat were eight or nine years old and curious about everything, so there was no harm in taking them out more often.

Soon we arrived at the perimeter of the reservoir, which is well-maintained and the surroundings are very safe and secure. I could see the surprise in my family’s eyes as the beautiful Princecraft Ventura 224 came into view. It was a great feeling to bring joy to others.

Priming Effect

I greeted everyone as they boarded the boat, which had a 12-person cap and gave us plenty of room to move around. After watching my family take their seats on the couch, I took the driver’s seat and started the boat away from the shore.

Thanks to the maximum drive energy of 200 horsepower, the boat picked up speed quickly. I felt that the boat was very easy to drive and to master.

First of all the steering wheel in my hands is adjustable in angle, and I had already adjusted it to the right position according to my driving habits before starting the boat.

There is also a special non-feedback steering design that guarantees the boat turns smoothly and smoothly, and I didn’t feel any difficulty in steering that I might have had with a conventional boat.

The seat underneath me also contributed to my comfortable driving experience, and even if I didn’t want to turn my body dramatically, the seat with slides and swivel mechanism helped me to smoothly observe the water around me. Coupled with the seat cushion that folds upwards, I was able to see the distant water with a higher perspective.

Last but not least, the tachometer, voltmeter, speedometer, trim and fuel gauges helped me to fully understand the parameters of the boat’s operation, which provided a further safeguard in terms of safety. Overall, it was really a good driving experience.

Feels of Entertainment

After pulling up to a shady stretch of water, I pulled out my pre-prepared fishing gear from below deck and sat down in the bow fishing chair. Of course, I was sitting next to my father while both of us are huge fishing enthusiasts.

The trolling motor design helped us get closer to where the fish were, and this quiet running motor didn’t disturb the fish. There was also a live well system under the foredeck that was perfect for storing our trophies.

I accompanied my father to fish for a while and then sat down on the L-shaped sofa with my wife and kids to relax. Putting on my sunglasses and enjoying the cool breeze on my face made me feel very comfortable even if I did nothing.

The small table in front of the sofa also had a variety of favorite snacks and drinks. The folding escalator at the stern of the boat is designed for swimmers to get on board, and the boat is also very well equipped for swimming.

The weather was really nice, I got in the water and swam around a bit, and with the help of the escalator, I was able to get on the boat very easily. The most thoughtful design is the removable privacy room, for those who just got out of the water, there is a place to change into dry clothes. So great!

Specification

The Princecraft Ventura 224 is very appealing in terms of boat layout and features.

First of all, from the design of the driver’s seat, the simple and generous console helps the captain to understand the changes in the performance of the boat while traveling. The seats are adjustable in both direction, the fore and the aft, making them comfortable for people of all sizes.

Secondly, the support of various entertainment facilities is also one of the highlights of this boat. The powerful fishing function adds a lot of color to the boat, with a total of 4 fishing chairs in the front and rear, a professional trolling motor and two large inflatable live wells in the front and rear to fully enhance the fishing experience.

The soft and spacious sofas provide a comfortable ride. The stern of this boat also supports various water activities such as water skiing and swimming. Dissecting the details, the design of the removable privacy room is my favorite part of the boat, and it’s great to have a private place for privacy-conscious people.

There are also a variety of water cup holders within easy reach, making it extremely convenient for passengers.

Other Version

If you’re pretty impressed with this Princecraft Ventura 224, but want a more comfortable ride, then divert your eyes to this Princecraft Ventura 222.

The Princecraft Ventura 222 does not differ much from the Princecraft Ventura 224 in terms of the basic shape and parameters of the boat, with the most obvious differences centered on the layout of the cabin.

The Princecraft Ventura 224 focuses more on professional fishing, so it has two fishing chairs in the bow and two in the stern. The Princecraft Ventura 222 is more appealing to those who prefer to sunbathe, with a full-width rear padded sundeck and chaise lounge at the stern to satisfy more people’s need for sunbathing.

What we like about it

• This boat can accommodate up to 12 people at the same time, with a high number of core passengers.
• The ample drive power of 200 horsepower ensures that the boat sails at a decent speed.
• The 46 gallon fuel tank storage capacity is conducive to a long lasting boat range and mileage.
• Four folding fishing chairs and two large electric inflatable live wells greatly facilitate fishing activities.
• The optional removable privacy enclosure is a very friendly and practical design for those who are very privacy conscious.

What we don’t like about it

• This versatile vessel is not as friendly in terms of price, and if you don’t value more functionality, then this boat is a bit overpowered.
• The 2,250 lb. vessel weight and 200HP horsepower cap means there is a lot of pressure on the vessel’s fuel consumption.

FAQ

1. Are deck boats good for ocean？

From the design of the hull, the deck boat can sail in the sea water, but it is only limited to the part of the coastline.

The V-shaped design of the hull has some advantages in cutting the body of water, and can withstand some small wind and waves. For the rough deep sea waters, the deck boat is still unable to do anything.

2. Are deck boats good for fishing？

Absolutely. Deck boats have always been known for their versatility, and fishing is one of the many recreational activities that are indispensable. The spacious deck provides plenty of room for anglers to move around.

However, compared to professional fishing boats, the V-shaped hull of a deck boat is less capable of traveling in shallower waters and may pose a risk of hitting bottom.

3. Are deck boats safe？

The safety of the boat should be the first thing we consider. For the deck boat, the spacious hull and stable design provide a certain guarantee for the safety of the boat.

At the same time, the configuration of various life-saving equipments in the vessel is indispensable, and the experienced captain will also play a role in guaranteeing the safety of traveling.

Princecraft Ventura 224 Spec

Standard

Center line	6.8 m (22’-2”)
Beam	2.5 m (97”)
Bottom width	2.1 m (83″)
Maximum depth	0.8 m (32″)
Approximate draft	0.8 m (31″)
Transom height	0.64 m (25″)
Approx. weight	1021 kg (2250 lb)
Dead Rise (degres)	13

Video

Comparison Table

Boats	Full Deck Length	Maximum Horsepower Limit	Maximum Capacity Limit
LOWE SD224 SPORT DECK	22′	200 HP	12 persons
Chaparral 23 SSI OB	23’6″	250 HP	13 persons
Starcraft SVX OB 231 OB	22’8″	300 HP	14 persons

LOWE SD224 SPORT DECK VS Princecraft Ventura 224

If you feel that the Princecraft Ventura 224 is a bit overpowered and you just want a deck boat in a basic configuration, then the LOWE SD224 SPORT DECK may be more in line with your expectations.

The LOWE SD224 SPORT DECK will be a bit smaller in terms of fuel tank capacity compared to the Princecraft Ventura 224. Even though this boat is lighter in weight, the fuel capacity of just 32 gallon will still have some impact on the range of the boat.

When it comes to the fishing capabilities, the Princecraft Ventura 224 is more luxuriously appointed, with 4 fishing chairs front and rear compared to the LOWE’s 2 chairs.

In addition, from the consideration of humanized design, Ventura 224 has one of the most prominent advantages in privacy enclosure. This design not only does not take up too much space, but also provides a more private room for passengers.

Chaparral 23 SSI OB VS Princecraft Ventura 224

If you prefer a more premium ride, then consider the Chaparral 23 SSI OB. This boat maximizes the most comfortable experience you can give.

The forward and aft semi-wraparound sofas offer more seating, and the beige color scheme and soft texture immediately caught my attention. The aft sunbathing deck is also an advantage of the Chaparral 23 SSI OB, and sunbathing on the spacious deck is indeed a very good option for those who love tan skin.

In addition, the Chaparral 23 SSI OB’s wrap-around windshield protects both driver and passengers, but it also impedes the flow of passengers.

Starcraft SVX OB 231 OB VS Princecraft Ventura 224

The Starcraft SVX OB 231 OB is a much better performer than the Princecraft Ventura 224.

The Starcraft SVX OB 231 OB has a definite advantage both in terms of boat size and in terms of the maximum number of people it can carry, with a maximum horsepower of 300HP pushing the Starcraft boat to travel faster.

The increase in boat size also has some consequences in higher deadweight, which may also contribute to the increase in fuel consumption.

In order to maintain some range in spite of the high fuel consumption, the boat has been designed with a fuel tank that has a higher capacity, 60 gallons compared to the Princecraft’s 46 gallon design.

Summary

Are you seeking a luxuriously appointed deck boat? Supporting versatile entertainment and a quality ride with a comfortable sofa are all things that the Princecraft Ventura 224 can bring to you.

Of course, if you are more focused on the cost-effectiveness of the boat, this Fish-Whisperer Wanderer of ours is really a good choice as well.

With a similar layout, we’ve managed to get you a very competitive price for the Fish-Whisperer Wanderer. If you are interested, please contact us for more details.