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2020 Princecraft Holiday 162 DLX WS

Boat Reviews

Boat Review by: Rick Layzell

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The 16’ fishing boat market segment is a crowded category filled with ideas and options from a broad range of manufacturers. Princecraft takes stock in their decades of experience and incorporates years of skilled craftsmen’s design expertise and they’ve thrown it all at the Holiday 162. Featuring a new interior layout and big boat features, the 162 is a must look for any angler ready to make the next step.

She rests beautifully at the dock with her gloss finish urethane paint accented perfectly by a great looking decal package. Her interior inspires confidence and boasts an openness akin to boats of a much larger stature. Mercury’s 75 HP four stroke nestled perfectly on her transom and me – I just wanted to get this package out on the water to see what she’d do!

But….before I could drive her we needed to understand her. The folks at Princecraft were kind enough to walk us through not only her key customer benefits, but also the new changes recently adapted to this important selling model.

Her interior features four seat bases in the main cockpit and a pair of very comfortable folding seats with no pinch hinges. You’ll appreciate the lockable rod storage compartment for your favourite 7-foot rods on the port side as well as the additional storage compartment to starboard. The new helm layout features room to mount your choice of sonar beside the tastefully designed dash featuring multiple gauges. There’s storage netting underneath both helms which are perfectly tucked in behind a tall generous full windshield with a door which is dressed in black anodized aluminum. New on the 162 is the – now standard – PrinceTrak system which readily accommodates your choice of fishing accessories like rod holders, tool holders and more.

The raised bow casting platform is set up with storage compartment, electric filled aerated livewell (34” / 61 L), deep cycle battery storage, in floor seat base, 12V trolling motor plug and a pad for mounting your preferred trolling motor.

The aft platform transitions beautifully with the optional jump seat design that opens quickly to create a sizable platform with another seat base and access to battery storage.

The Holiday 162 lies 16’ 2” length overall, she carries an 85” beam, runs on a 69” wide reverse chine and weighs in at only 435 kg (960 lbs). Her built in 72 L (19 US gallon) fuel tank will take you where you need to go.

When I was finally allowed to get out on the water the smiles she delivered were endless. Our conditions were 10 degrees C, light to nil chop, one on board (c’est moi!) and ¾ tank of fuel. The Mercury 75 delivered excellent performance and while running solo I found consistent time to plane hole shots of 3.63 seconds. Cruising speed preferences were 23 MPH @ 3,800 RPM and 28 MPH @ 4,450 RPM. Top speed was a welcome 37 MPH @ 5,850 RPM. Note that speed results are from my hand-held GPS based device.

The Holiday 162 DLX WS corners nicely, planes perfectly and delivers the results that I would expect / demand from a boat of her size. You’ll not be the fastest on the lake, but who cares! You’ll get to the fish safely and securely while riding in style.