Let’s face it deck boats are all about space. But few manufacturers are able to combine space with performance and good looks. It looks like Harris Kayot has been doing their homework. After all, they have been building pontoon boats for almost half a century, so they know a lot about decks. And by taking a look at the V220, they also know a few things about style. At 22 feet, 4 inches, the V220 has a massive cockpit and bow seating area. So much space, that you’d think you are on a much larger boat.

Personally, my favorite part of this performance deck boat, is the circular aft seating and the jumbo activity platform at the stern. Now this is no ordinary swim platform, it is more like a … well, a deck. There is more than enough room for a crowd to dangle there feet in the water or for two skiers to gear up simultaneously. Transitioning from the platform is a breeze thanks to the roomy transom walk through located to starboard. Once in the cockpit, the circular seating invites all aboard to relax. A removable table can be installed to convert the cockpit into a dinning area with a view. You can also convert the bows wrap-around settee. Of course there is tons of storage space below all of the cushions, and a large ski locker in the sole of the boat.

At the helm are twin, fully adjustable bucket seats, which keep the captain and the observer happy. Kayot offers two types of wind protection for the driver. The first type is a typical, wrap-around tempered glass windshield with a folding pass-through door. The second option is a pair of small, acrylic fairings. If you are a fair weather boater, the fairings are cool looking and provide enough wind deflection to keep you happy. If you like to be on the water regardless of conditions, then you will definitely appreciate the glass windshield. High quality controls and instrumentation make up the business part of the helm. All the gauges and switches are conviently located on the 220’s large dash panel. The stereo is also conveniently located on the left side of the dash for quick access. On the companion side, you’ll find a large glove box that doubles as a self-draining cooler along with a stainless steel grab rail.

This sport machine was designed with performance in mind. Boasting a quick 4-second time to plane and a decent 53 mph top speed, the V220 is an excellent wake boarding boat. Hull efficiency gets most of the credit as our test boat ran the above numbers with only a Volvo-Penta 5.7 liter Gxi motor. You can equip yours with a list of health power outputs from either Volvo or MerCruiser. Hammering down the throttle, we achieved 30 mph in just over 7 second, but we did notice some prop slip during the acceleration. We also felt that the boat was noisy, not just from the engine, but from the rattling that came mostly from the optional wake board tower. Should you opt for the mega watt, Sony ‘Xplode’ sound system, then you won’t be bothered by any of these noises.

During our intense slalom testing, the V220 received high marks as it powered through tight turns. The deep-V bottom hull provides a smooth, stable ride no matter how rough it gets on the lake. For all of you boarders, the V220 provides a nice size wake to perform tricks, all without having to add ballast bags.

To top off all these great features, Kayot offers many additional options to equip your boat just the way you want it. Plus, you can choose from ten, that’s right ten different color schemes. This way you can personalize your sport barge with a conservative Taupe or a wild Tiger orange décor.

By Capt. Ron Svoboda

Test Captain

• Top speed for the Kayot V220 is 52.9 mph (85.1 kph), burning 22.7 gallons per hour (gph) or 85.92 liters per hour (lph).


• Best cruise for the Kayot V220 is 30.3 mph (48.8 kph), and the boat gets 3.64 miles per gallon (mpg) or 1.55 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 141 miles (226.92 kilometers).


• Tested power is 1 x 320-hp Volvo Penta 5.7GXi.