Stingray 220CX

By Capt. Rob Smith

As your family grows and your love of the water grows past the basics, you need a little room and the opportunity to relax every so often. A 22-footer with a cuddy cabin is a nice way to move up to the next level of boating.

Bow Accommodations

The 220CX has a comfortable get-away inside up front in the cuddy. A plush raised berth has net storage built into the side panels. For more creature comforts, you have a freshwater sink and concealed port-a-potty with integrated holding tank. Overhead you have a large hatch for fresh air and ventilation and portals for more light. At the end of the bed, you can set up a comfortable seat to relax and read your latest novel or just kick back and spend some time out of the sun. The port side of the aft partition swings open to give an even more open feel to the cabin. A lot of thought has gone into this arrangement and there is actually more versatility here than on some of other cuddies.

Topside, you have a center windshield pass through with low rails and aggressive grip surface making it safer when going forward for anchoring.

From the Helm

At the helm and navigator’s positions, the 220CX offers good visibility when driving as well as an integrated footrest. The Dino Sport wheel is comfortable and the instrument gauges are arranged for good visibility when underway. A 12volt connection is under the gauges so you can power your portable GPS or cell phone and the rocker switches are grouped to the right under the gauges with a convenient drink holder just below for the driver. The dash itself is covered with low glare upholstery and the panel and wheel have matching gray graphite trim.

Your navigator and driver have matching custom bucket seats to stay comfortable underway. There is plenty of legroom and a grab rail on the side panel for added safety in rough conditions. Both have bucket seats for the driver and observer. An insulated cooler is in the sole between the driver and navigator seats. The side panels have open storage to keep your lotions and sunglasses handy when you are not using them. The bench seat at the stern adds room for three more friends to ride along in comfort.

The straight bench seat across the stern has a sunpad/engine hatch combination cover with a removable center cushion walkthrough so you don’t have to track up the cushions when getting back aboard from the beach. The hatch lifts up easily for access to the engine. There is room on either side of the engine for pre-launch checks and to keep wet items taking advantage of the warmth to dry them.

The engine is mounted on custom engine vibration dampeners that really did seem to work well. The large integrated swim platform creates a great place to relax and enjoy the anchorage, swim or just play. The telescoping swim ladder is mounted on the port quarter.

The Measurements

The Stingray 220CX measures 21’6” length overall with a beam width of 97”. This model has an average dry weight of 3143lbs and a fuel capacity of 38 gallons. Maximum capacity for this model is rated at 8 people or 1850lbs people and gear. She has about 28inches of freeboard and a maximum draft of about 33” with the drive down. The transom angle measures 15 degrees while the deadrise measures 19 degrees.

Test Results

The 220CX was tested with just me on board. It was powered with a Volvo 270-hp 5.0L GXi with a 14 ¾ x 21 stainless steel prop. She was on plane in 3.5 seconds and up to 30 mph in 6.6 seconds. I found her best cruise to be at 23.7 mph at 2500 rpm for a cruise range of 146 miles. Her top speed registered 57.59 mph at 4760 rpm.

Conclusion

With the comfort of a modern cuddy cabin and the performance of the patented Z-planing hull, the 220CX will make a good choice for the family on the go.

• Top speed for the Stingray 220 CX (Not in Production) is 57.5 mph (92.5 kph), burning 22.8 gallons per hour (gph) or 86.3 liters per hour (lph).


• Best cruise for the Stingray 220 CX (Not in Production) is 23.7 mph (38.1 kph), and the boat gets 4.27 miles per gallon (mpg) or 1.82 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 146 miles (234.96 kilometers).


• Tested power is 1 x 270-hp Volvo Penta 5.0GXi.