2016 Tahoe 450 TS Boat Review

The Tahoe 450 TS has everything you would expect from an easy-to-trailer, peppy family runabout, and then some.

The stepped, longer and wider Powerglide II hull allows you to fly across the water. It pops onto plane quickly with a three-second holeshotwith a solo driver and, fully loaded, it’s a still impressive six-and-a-half seconds to plane.

The compact Tahoe was as confident through tight turns as it was cutting through the waves of the Arlington River at the north end of Florida’s Lake George.

With the 115 Mercury, I pushed it to just under 45 miles per hour and cruised very comfortably at a lively 35 miles per hour. Cruising closer to 30 may be more comfortable in bigger chop.

The high windscreen wasn’t much of a concern on a hot test day at noon in central Florida, but further north where the season starts and ends with cooler weather, it would be a very welcome feature.

The wider hull of the 450 TS means that even with a traditional layout and a smaller length you have plenty of bow seating. The bucket seats mid-ship look racecar inspired, as do the gauges and wheel. Over on the port side, the glove box and stereo controls also feature an MP3 input and 12V power source.

There’s an impressive amount of storage for an 18-and-a-half foot boat. Compartments are hidden under the seats and in-floor and there’s storage in the coamings right beside some of the many built-in cup holders.

Grab handles and speakers are intuitively placed, flanking the rear bench seating area that flips up to reveal more stowage space and, handily concealing a full-size cooler.

The transom sunpad cushions can be unhooked from the locker storage doors to create a large launch pad. The deep reaching ladder off the starboard swim platform makes it easy for kids to climb back aboard.

The Tahoe 450 TS is a lot of boat for a very reasonable price. This boat proves you don’t have to break the bank to get a new boat. 

Test Boat Engine

Mercury 115 FourStroke, 2.1 L, 150 hp in-line four-cylinder four-stroke, single overhead cam with EFI 

ACCELERATION (mph/sec)

0-20 / 4

TOP SPEED (rpm/mph)

6,000 / 44.2

CRUISING SPEED (rpm/mph)

4,000 / 26.7; 5,000 / 36.4

SPECS

Model year: 2016

Make: Tahoe

Model: 450 TS

Category: Runabout

Length: 18ft 5in / 5.61 m

Beam: 7ft 10in / 2.39 m

Pricing Notes: With 90exlpt Fourstroke And Trailer

Hull Type: Fiberglass

Engine Type: Outboard

Fuel Capacity: 24

According: Boatus.com