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WATERSKI Magazine
GTO 22
Length 21 ft. 7 in.
Beam 96 in.
Seating capacity 8
Fuel capacity 35 gal.
Test prop Acme 13×13 3-blade
Test engine PCM Excalibur 5.7L, 330 HP
Top speed 46.3 mph 5,000 rpm
Accel. to 30 mph 4.29 sec. 101.68 ft.
Accel. to 36 mph 5.62 sec. 166.37 ft.
Noise levels (db) Neutral 69 D 76 R, 36 MPH 94 D 99 R
This is the kind of boat you’d
expect a slalom freak to build. Gekko CEO Mark Overbye admits that
he’s a little obsessive when it comes to water skiing, but
the GTO 22 does him proud.
This slalom-centric inboard aims for the
heights of tournament-level performance while coming in at a
budget-minded price. Its copyrighted hull design is key to
achieving that goal. The specially engineered flutes running the
length of the boat limit the chine spray, and the wakes overall are
soft and small throughout a range of speeds and line lengths. We
had a satisfying set behind this world-class tracking boat,
****what’s a “tracking boat”?**** especially
considering its value. ****means “price”?****
While the skiability is what we’ve
come to expect from Gekko, the company has made some great updates
to the GTO 22 for 2003. The dashboard has been tweaked with domed
gauge lenses, polished chrome bezels and the Gekko logo. The trunk
sports a new design, while the sun deck has revamped coaming pads.
The swim platform, which is uniquely molded in to the rear of the
boat, now comes with nonshrink material. New in-gel graphics and
more colorways juice up and polish off the style.
If
your serious skiing sometimes gives way to a wakeboarding set or
two, Gekko offers a tower and other features to get a recreational
rider up and running. But really, what self-respecting slalom freak
would mar a ski machine that way? As Mark Overbye might say,
“If loving skiing is a crime, let me be
guilty.”
The Lowdown:
•Low-slung sports-car design complements zippy hull.
•Slalom performance is great throughout the range with
small wakes and little spray.
•Innovative interior seating includes a gull-wing
two-person observer’s seat and a rear seat that converts into
a sun deck.
•Revisions for 2003 include an enhanced dash, sun deck,
in-gel graphics and colorways.
•Easily accessible swim platform comes built in with new
nonshrink material.
•Even the trailer has been revamped to allow for easier
loading and unloading.
