Tahoe 450 TS (2016-)

Brief Summary

The Tahoe 450 TS is a value-priced, turn-key package complete with a 90-hp Mercury 4-stroke outboard and matching trailer, sized to fit most suburban garages with a 20’3” storage length. She features useful standard touches like a tow-line rack hidden away on the bottom of the aft hatch lid and under-sole racks for storing running lights. The 16-degree deadrise proved a good compromise between quick planing and delivering a respectable ride in choppy water during our test runs. Handling was agile.

Key Features

• Longer, wider, and deeper hull
• Powerglide II hull for outstanding performance, nimble turning and better wakes
• Encapsulated transom with fiberglass-infused, high-density composite core
• AM/FM Bluetooth-capable stereo with MP3 port and 2 speakers
• Walkthrough tempered safety glass windshield with aluminum frame
• Adjustable driver and passenger bucket seats with slide and swivel
• 2-tone high-density marine-grade vinyl upholstery with stain-resistant coating
• Premium stainless steel hardware and fasteners
• Factory-matched trailer with color-matched powder-coat finish

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	18' 5'' / 5.61 m
Beam	7' 10'' 2.39 m
Dry Weight	2,270 lbs. 1,030 kg
Tested Weight	3,005 lbs. 1,363 kg
Draft Up	14'' 0.36 m
Draft Down	29.5'' .75 m
Deadrise/Transom	16-deg.
Max Headroom	open
Bridge Clearance	7' 2.13 m (max)
Weight Capacity	1,300 lbs. 590 kg
Person Capacity	8
Fuel Capacity	24 gal. 91 L
Water Capacity	N/A
Total Weight	3,005 lbs. 1,363 kg

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane	4.6 sec.
0 to 30	12.6 sec.
Ratio	2.07:1
Props	13.25 x 17
Load	3 persons, 9/10 fuel, no water, 50 lbs. of gear
Climate	76 deg., 60 humid,; wind: 0-0 mph; seas: flat

Engine Options

Tested Engine	1 x 115-hp Mercury EXLPT 4-stroke
Std. Power	1 x 90-hp Mercury EXLPT 4-stroke
Opt. Power	1 x 115-hp Mercury EXLPT 4-stroke 1 x 150-hp Mercury XL 4-stroke 1 x 115-hp Mercury ELPT Pro XS 4-stroke Command Thrust

Captain's Report Learn More
Watch Our Video

Overview

The Tahoe 450 TS is designed to be a turn-key boat that gives a family what they need to start recreating on the water. She’s reasonably priced and comes packaged with an outboard motor and a single-axle trailer with a tongue jack and fold-away tongue. The trailer saves about 2’ (.61 m) of overall package length, allowing the boat to fit more easily into many garages.

Buyers can choose the base 90-hp 4-stroke Mercury outboard or step up to the optional 115-hp or 150-hp version. Standard equipment includes eight cup holders, a walkthrough windshield in an aluminum frame, an AM/FM Bluetooth-capable stereo with MP3 input and a full complement of gauges.

Features Inspection

Power and Performance

The Tahoe 450 TS has a LOA of 18’5’’ (5.61 m), a beam of 94’’ (2.39 m) and a draft of 14’’ (.36 m). With an empty weight of 2,270 lbs. (1,030 kg), 90% fuel, test power and three people on board, we had an estimated test weight of 3,005 lbs. (1,363 kg).

The 450 TS comes standard with a 90-hp Mercury 4-stroke outboard, while the 115-hp and 150-hp versions are available options. We tested the boat with a 115-hp motor turning a 13.25” x 17” three-blade aluminum prop and hit a top speed of 43.5 mph at 6000 rpm, burning 10.95 gph for a range of 86 miles. Best cruise was at 3500 rpm, where we saw a speed of 21.5 mph and fuel burn of 3.6 gph, resulting in a range of 131 miles. The boat planed in 4.6 seconds and ran out to 20 mph in 8.7 seconds and to 30 mph in 12.6 seconds, which is respectable given the power.

In maneuvers, the boat worked smoothly through slalom turns and tracked cleanly through 360-degree rotations. When we crossed boat wakes and lake chop, the 450 TS took it without flinching.

Construction

Tahoe manufactures the 450 TS with all hand-laid materials in three primary pieces, the hull, stringer system and deck. The one-piece stringer grid is bonded to the hull and all voids are filled with flotation foam. The hull-to-deck joint is mechanically fastened and chemically bonded and capped with a plastic rubrail with a rubber insert. For the hullsides, buyers can choose from Black Cherry, Victory Red, Onyx or Blueberry gelcoat.

Features Inspection

The Bow

The 450 TS' bow has adequate space for kids, but would be a bit tight for most adults due to the leg space. Adults can sit against the backrests facing forward with their knees bent when necessary, however. There are cup holders and grab handles in reach, and each seat has storage in the base beneath hinged cushions.

The Cockpit

Passengers can easily move from the bow to the cockpit by opening the walkthrough windshield. We’d like to see Tahoe offer an optional folding door to close off the passageway between the consoles for those days when it's needed to cut chilly breezes. Bucket seats at each console swivel and adjust fore and aft. The rear bench can seat three and there’s a one-person sun lounge just aft. There are swim steps on each side of the outboard with a four-step boarding ladder to starboard.

The Helm

Drivers will find all the operational information and accessory switches they need at the 450 TS' dash. The instrument panel includes a speedometer and tachometer plus gauges to monitor fuel level, water pressure, trim and volts. The switches are easily visible above the wheel and the 12-volt plug and horn button are to starboard.

Storage Capacity

The port side console has a glove box with a 12-volt plug and MP3 input. Trays in each gunwale have retainer lips to keep contents in place. Between the bucket seats, the ski locker has racks for the stern light and cover posts. There’s dedicated space for the optional 36-quart (34 L) cooler beneath the center of the bench seat and 10-gallon insulated compartments outboard on each side beneath the individual cushions. To get to the largest compartments, the sun lounge cushions can be removed, revealing two big hatches that open to huge lockers in the stern. In fact, these lockers are so expansive that we’d like to see Tahoe install some partitions to keep gear organized.

Individual Options to Consider and Pricing

• • 115-hp Mercury 4-stroke outboard ($1,000)
• • 150-hp Mercury 4-stroke outboard ($3,800)
• • Cranking battery charger ($75)
• • Depth sounder ($175)
• • 36-quart (34 L) cooler ($45)
• • Ski tow pylon ($220)
• • Auto bilge switch ($50)
• • Bimini top with aluminum frame ($795)
• • Cockpit and bow covers ($620)
• • Driver’s seat bolster ($125)
• • Bow filler cushion ($300)
• • Tilt steering ($100)
• • Tilt hydraulic steering (with 90 or 115-hp motor) ($690)
• • Tilt hydraulic steering (with 150-hp motor) ($940)
• • Hydraulic steering (with 90 or 115-hp motor) ($625)
• • Hydraulic steering (with 150-hp motor) ($815)
• • Folding wakeboard tower with racks (includes Bimini top) ($2,750)
• • Spare tire kit for trailer ($290)
• • Single-axle brake up-grade ($445)

Price

• • $24,595 (90 Mercury ELPT FourStroke)
• • $25,595 (115 Mercury ELPT FourStroke)

Observations

Packaged with an outboard motor, trailer and standard equipment that the typical boater needs to get out on the water, the Tahoe 450 TS is a turn-key runabout at a reasonable price.

She exhibited solid performance with the 115-hp outboard and the boat should be able to handle towing duties for a growing family. She has a roomy feel for her size, and the stowage capacity is a plus.

Her standard equipment list is adequate, with swiveling bucket seats, a boarding ladder, full-instrumentation, a couple 12-volt plugs and a stereo with a MP3 input. Since Tahoe provides dedicated space for the cooler, it seems that the manufacturer could just include it as well instead of making it a $45 option.