ightning Powerboats was created by Ultra Custom Boats in response

to the escalating price of admission to the family-performance-boating realm, and a parade of ensuing models has struck a chord with the value-oriented enthusiast who doesn’t mind gMng up some nonessential frills for a highly attractive price.

At a Glance: Lightning’s latest offering is the stylish XS, which integrates more freeboard and cockpit room than any of the myriad 21s offered by Ultra or Ughtning. The dash has been compressed slightly, the sides flair slightly; and even

without the benefit of-a setback pump the focus here is on maximum seating room and a secure family feel.

Powered by the base-level Marine Power carbureted 454, which builds 340 horsepower to filter through its standard Dominator jet drive, the XS tows off on a sano Extreme tandem hauler for $28,900. Factor in the highly recommended pushbutton, hydraulic Place Diverter that helped shape the ride of our test machine, and you can jet off in a fully loaded performance custom for $30,180.

There are two keys to Lightning’s top-

heavy value ratio which was a frequent and ongoing theme in our evaluators' notes in the aftermath of the XS’s appearance at our tests. First, Lightning downscales the labor-intensive Ultra buying and production processes by replacing the anything-goes gelcoat and interior color options with a more reasonable field of choices. Second, they’ve selectively pruned a few items from Ultra’s nearly all-encompassing resumé of standard equipment.

Onboard: With their first year of production out of the way, the Lightning line has escaped Ultra’s shadow and now