Tested by Capt. Ron Svoboda

Ready for the 2004 boating season is the all-new 2000 SR3. Maxum designed and built this bowrider to maximize your family’s fun on the water. For starters, this entry-level twenty-footer comes in three different cockpit seating configurations. And you have five choices of engine and drive combinations to select from. All three models utilize a full fiberglass cockpit liner and contoured composite box beam stringer system. Now that’s a mouthful to say in one breath, but it greatly improves the boat’s hull rigidity and strength. Plus, affords those on board with a better ride and more space.

Up front, the bow area is thickly padded and accompanied by vinyl grab handles. The wrap-around seating employs good use of space with a removable front cushion, which hides an anchor mount. The port and starboard side cushions are hinged and provide you with significant storage room below.

The Helm

The helm layout is sweet and simple. The non-glare dash has a very stylish, oval gauge cluster. Six other analog gauges join a large speedometer and tachometer. These provide info on fuel, temp, oil pressure, voltage, trim and water depth. A comfortable European Sport steering wheel and tilt mechanism are mounted between two switch panels.

Cockpit Layout

Cockpit seating is where all the choices come to play. The standard seating configuration includes two, contoured sleeper seats forward, and two, jump seats at the transom. There is an Optional, seating package available as well as a Sport layout. Innovatively, the aft seat cushions can be removed, rotated 90 degrees and reinserted into slots near the top of the transom. The seats combine to make the padded engine box into one long sun pad.

Other goodies in the cockpit include a large glove box divided into several compartments. One section is for the JBL stereo and 12 volt power outlet, while another section is a self-draining beverage cooler. Amidship is the boat’s ski locker, which is fiberglass and hinged and lifted with a single gas strut.

Transom Storage

At the stern, you’ll find a large transom trunk for stowing all kinds of wet gear. Just like her larger siblings, the little SR3 gets to enjoy the super convenient trunk along with a wide swim platform that adds almost two feet to the boats length. Unfortunately, you won’t find a swim ladder to help you in from the water.

With standard power, the SR3 weighs 3,140 pounds dry. Overall length, with the extended swim platform attached, measures in at 22 Feet and 3 inches. While the widest part of the boat came in at 8 feet even. So, depending on the size of your garage, she could be a perfect fit!

• Top speed for the Maxum 2000 SR3 (2004-) is 48.8 mph (78.5 kph), burning 18.3 gallons per hour (gph) or 69.27 liters per hour (lph).


• Best cruise for the Maxum 2000 SR3 (2004-) is 34.1 mph (54.9 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 115 miles (185.07 kilometers).


• Tested power is 1 x 220-hp MerCruiser 5.0L.