Versatility at Your Fingertips

With the Escape 204 you don’t have to pick and choose…you can do it all.

Tested By Capt. Bob Smith

Larson touts the Escape line of deck boats as platforms that can do it all with a choice of size in sterndrive or outboard power plants. They are fully equipped and offer plenty of room for passengers and gear with performance and premium products. Our Escape 204 test model was outfitted with a fishing package that included a trolling motor, pedestal fish casting chairs, fish finder and large livewell in the stern platform. The Escape 204 also comes standard with a custom fit trailer so you can take your ride anywhere you choose.

Layout

In typical deck boat styling, Larson has taken advantage of the wide bow and made a spacious platform for fun or fishing. About the only thing I could see being added up front is a four step telescoping boarding ladder. Wrap-around seating in the bow is comfortable and spacious. Pull the seats up and you have lots of under seat storage room. Add an optional filler cushion and you have a nice sun pad up front for working on your tan. A wrap-around windshield with large walkthrough closure separates the bow area from the cockpit.

L-shaped seating on the port side wraps around the stern and has a nice lounger seat on the port side. The port console has a wet bar with pump action sink and lots of storage below. A carry-on ice chest easily stores under the wet bar with lots of room left over. Access is either from the front lounge seat back or the port cockpit seat.

At The Helm

The Clarion Marine Stereo with CD comes with Sirius Satellite capability. The first year is on Larson and you will never want to be without once you have it. The helm sports a bucket style seat with a flip up bolster that swivels for easy conversations at anchor and slide adjusts for better control at the wheel. Instruments are arranged for easy reading at speed and switches have lights for easy location at night.

In floor storage between the port and the helm seats offers room for skis and other long items. The stern platform has a nice starboard side walkthrough transom for easy boarding and a three step telescoping boarding ladder.

Specs

The Escape is a modified V-hull that gave us a smooth ride, excellent stability and easy handling. Hull noise was significant in the fact it was minimal. She weighs in at 3100lbs and is 20’1” long. The 204 has a beam of 8’6” and a deadrise of 17 degrees. This sterndrive model requires a depth of 29” and she can carry up to 11 people for a full day of fun in the sun.

Performance

If you prefer sterndrives, she can be delivered with five versions of MerCruiser sterndrives from 190-hp to 220-hp and eight versions of Volvo sterndrives from 190-hp to 270-hp. Our tests proved she could be on plane in just under 3 seconds and passing 30 mph in just under 7 seconds. With ½ tank of fuel and two persons on board, she cruised along at 3000 rpms at just over 28 mph burning 8.4 gph. She topped out at 4900 rpms and 49.1 mph burning just over 20 gph. Although she has a quiet hull, this version with a 5.0 GL 220-hp sterndrive topped out the sound meter with a 99 dBa reading at top speed.

If you are looking for a boat that has the power, space and features to do just about anything on the water, Larson’s Escape 204 surely should be on your short list of boats to test drive.

• Top speed for the Larson Escape 204 is 49.1 MPH (79 KPH), burning 20.5 gallons per hour (GPH) or 77.59 liters per hour (LPH).


• Best cruise for the Larson Escape 204 is 24.9 MPH (40.1 KPH), and the boat gets 3.94 miles per gallon (MPG) or 1.68 kilometers per liter (KPL), giving the boat a cruising range of 178 miles (286.46 kilometers).


• Tested power is 1 x 220-hp Volvo Penta 5.0 GL.

Larson Escape 204 Standard and Optional Equipment

Systems
CD Stereo
Power Steering
Trim Tabs
Exterior Features
Carpet: Cockpit
Ice Chest
Outlet: 12-Volt Acc
Swim Ladder
Swim Platform
Wet bar
Canvas
Bimini Top
Cockpit Cover

= Standard = Optional