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2023 Princecraft Resorter 160 DL SC

Boat Reviews

Boat Review by: Rick Layzell

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Sometimes the best way to test a fishing boat is on a cool and soggy September morning. And that’s exactly what the BoatDealers.ca team were greeted with as we tested the Princecraft Resorter 160 DL SC. Wet, rainy, and 6 degrees C. We layered up to keep warm, masked up the camera gear as best we could, and set out to accomplish the task at hand. And it was awesome!

The Resorter has been a staple in Canadian made Princecraft boats’ lineup for several seasons and she plays a favoured role as a quality entry-level fishing machine. The same pride in craftsmanship and quality materials that go into her larger siblings are seen throughout the design of the Resorter 160 DL SC.

Princecraft uses 5052-H36 marine grade aluminum alloy in all their hulls, and they adorn their exterior with urethane paint with high gloss black finish. Underneath the hull you’ll find a reverse chine hull design meaning you get improved stability at all speeds and a smoother, quieter ride. On the transom there’s a full width self-draining splashwell, emergency reboarding ladder and she can take up to a maximum 40 HP outboard engine.

Her full interior features pressure treated wood flooring covered with anti-skid marine grade vinyl floor. New for 2023 is a level floor from bow to stern (previous models had a step-up into the bow section). There are four seat bases in her interior, and she comes standard with a pair of folding seats that feature no-pinch hinges. A total of four beverage holders are accessible. Storage compartments are neatly added throughout the interior and there’s even a lockable storage for fishing rods up to 7’ long. The side mounted livewell is 34” long, holds 49 L / 13 U.S. gallons of water and is outfitted with overflow protection and an anti-spill cover.

The helm/console is a basic but very functional– our test boat included the optional Superior package which adds a speedometer and tach on the dash, an ungraded exterior decal package, and a 3three-step telescoping reboarding ladder on her stern. I would highly recommend this cost-effective addition for all owners. The standard quick-release smoked windscreen was greatly appreciated on our cold test day, and the dash is outfitted with rocker switches to the starboard side. There’s available room below the console to store a tackle box or even a small cooler. The captain’s seating position was good with all amenities well within reach and plenty of legroom for my 6’1” frame.

While I thoroughly enjoy exploring new boats on our test days, I get my most excitement when our trusty camera man and I are allowed to pull away from the dock and go experience the boat. So, with two of us on board at a combined 480 lbs, plus various camera gear and a full tank of fuel, we set off to test out the Resorter on Lac William, Quebec.

I eased the boat up and on to plane without full use of the throttle and played with the trim for a few seconds to get that sweet spot where the hull is out of the water as much as possible. The reverse chine hull design did its job nicely by pushing the water from the underside back down. It wasn’t long before we began seeking out our test ranges.

We begin with hole shots to gain understanding of how capable the marriage of boat and engine combination works. In this case the 40 HP Mercury engine leapt the Resorter’s 16’ overall length up and on plane in a consistent 4 seconds. I would call those results ideal in these circumstances.

We then move on to experience various cruising speeds as we strive to find the sweet spot where the package performs the best. On this test day, with the rains on top of us again and the temperatures threatening to get colder instead of warmer, we experienced good cruising speeds at 20 and 24 MPH at 4,400 and 4,950 RPM respectively on my handheld GPS.

Our final trial is when we look for top speed capabilities. The Resorter willingly showed us 30 MPH at 6,100 RPM, and again I would deem all these results to be excellent for this package.

A note to all captains and first-time buyers. Please take the time to put your new watercraft, when and where it is safe to do so, through your own series of testing. This will help you understand how your vessel operates and prepare you for moments when your crew is on board.

Once our testing is complete, I then get the boat to myself as Jeff moves over to the photo boat with the tower to fly the drone and shoot video and still images. We typically run several miles with him shooting various video angles, and one of my favourite highlights is when the photo boat ‘parks’ and I do fly-by action shots.

During all the various running and testing the Princecraft Resorter 160 DL SC proved itself to be capable and consistent. She delivers a dry, safe, and comfortable ride and she is sure to help create many wonderful fishing memories for countless families.