Pontoons are rapidly becoming the

“go anywhere, do

anything” vessel of

choice for today’s

boating enthusiasts.

by Michael Hauenstein

RecreationalRevolution

photo courtesy of qwestmarch 2013 | LAKELANDBOATING.COM 3938 LAKELANDBOATING.COM | march 2013

A s the saying goes, “all boats are a compromise.” This is

why we struggle to balance speed, economy, capacity,

luxury, and price when weighing the pros and cons of different

boats. But what if we aren’t properly calibrated when making these

distinctions? What if there’s a boat out there that we haven’t thought

about in a while, but which might surprise us? With this in mind,

please consider the pontoon boat if you haven’t lately.

“Pontoon boats can do far more today than ever before,” says

Bob Wachs, brand manager at Godfrey Pontoon Boats of Elkhart,

Indiana. “They’re sportier, they’re quicker, they’re more responsive.”

He says triple-tube designs have not only improved performance

but are ushering in a culture change: People of all ages are taking

notice and, nowadays, there’s no “typical” pontoon buyer.

This hasn’t always been the case. Greg Knight, marketing

consultant for Alma, Michigan-based Avalon Pontoons, says there

has been a performance revolution in recent years.

“Prior to the last decade, pontoons were generally twin pontoons

not made for high-speed running, and they didn’t provide much

in the way of versatility,” says Knight. “Over the last decade, our

company and many others have made an effort to change that.”

In addition to the performance aspect of the new designs,

pontoons also have a much greater “cool” factor these days.

“Pontoon boats now rival the luxury entertaining often found on

daycruising yachts, and features like bars, Flexsteel furniture, and

galleys make the options for enjoying a day on the water endless,”

says Connie Weinman, sales and marketing coordinator at Premier

Pontoons of Wyoming, Minnesota. “The new performance and

luxurious designs have made pontoons some of the most versatile

boats built today. They can be designed to meet the needs of any

boater, the construction standards are continually improving, and the

innovation has really caught consumers and the industry by surprise.

“The old perception of your grandpa’s pontoon has changed

drastically in the past 10 years,” Weinman adds.

Out with the old, in with the newIt’s not a stretch to say that pontoons carry a certain cachet these

days. “The pontoon boat has become a more attractive all-purpose

boat, and has become a greater source of pride for its owners,” says

Avalon’s Knight.

Evidence of the possibilities offered by the pontoon boat platform

is seen in the myriad deck layouts, sports and entertainment

packages, fishing equipment, and camper canvas options that

builders offer.

“The boats are becoming so universal, and they’re becoming

a better option for more folks, especially as the performance

improves,” says Godfrey’s Wachs, noting that today’s pontoons can

pull skiers and wakeboarders. “They’re a lot more flexible than other

types of boats, and they’re starting to break out into new places like

the Great Lakes and coastal areas.

“The boats have gotten bigger, the boats have gotten wider, and

the tubes have gotten larger, so they can go out in rougher water,”

he explains. “They’re becoming more seaworthy.”

In fact, Knight says Avalon has run one of its pontoon boats from

Chicago to Mackinac Island. He notes that owners can use them on

the Great Lakes “with due care” — in other words, avoid huge water.

While pontoons might not be ready to replace the purpose-built

wakeboard boat or go 12 miles offshore to fish, their versatility

appeals to a wide swath of boaters. So does their value.

“Ultimately, what drives it is the price paid for the value received,”

says Wachs. “You get a lot of boat for the money in a pontoon, which

you can use for cruising, fishing, water sports, and entertaining.”

Knight concurs.

“From all the statistics we’re getting, pontoons now are the best

selling of all types of boats,” says the Avalon Pontoons marketing

man. “Even as the price of pontoons has gone up overall, the value

compared to other types of boats has remained excellent. And you

can do the same things, with limited exceptions, as you would on

a cabin cruiser or runabout.”

To drive the point home, Godfrey Pontoons’ Wachs compares the

capacity of a pontoon with that of a runabout: If you spend $30,000

on a runabout, you might expect to carry six people comfortably; that

same money in a pontoon and you can carry 12 to 14 people, he says.

More space, more amenities, more innovationFor one thing, pontoon boats carry their beam all the way to the

bow for maximum capacity. This allows boatbuilders to be creative

with layouts and amenities. From pop-up changing rooms and

concealed portable marine heads to waterslides, expansive swim

platforms, and multiple-chaise-lounge layouts, manufacturers are

taking full advantage.

One trend that has really taken off in recent years is the onboard

bar — complete with barstools — that you’ll see in several of the

new boats profiled below.

“The whole concept of a bar boat came out about three years

ago,” says Wachs. “People are viewing the pontoon boat as more of a

multipurpose platform. These people like to entertain and like to have

a good time, and for families with kids they like the counter space.”

Indeed, when you take a look at some of the layouts and furniture

options on today’s models, you’ll understand why Wachs says that

pontoon boat owners “don’t feel like they’re sitting on a park bench

anymore.” Boring-old will be the farthest thing from your mind after

you see these 10 remarkable pontoons. LB

Avalon Catalina 22Avalon Luxury Pontoon Boats has been building pontoons for more than 40 years with an emphasis on heavy-duty construction and materials, both in the hull and the interior. Its lineup ranges from 14 feet to 29 feet and from premium to economy models.

While the Catalina is part of the company’s A (“Affordable”) Series, it combines design elements from the top-of-the-line Deco Series with the construction and materials with which Avalon has made its name, including a fiberglass helm station.

The Catalinas are full-size pontoons that come in lengths of 20, 22, and 24 feet. Each of the three boats has an 8-foot beam and the same basic layout, featuring an L-shaped lounge with a wood table on the port side and a swim deck with vinyl flooring in the stern. A 10-foot bimini top is standard, while numerous canvas options are available.

Other popular options include built-in docklights, a GPS/fishfinder, hydraulic or mechanical tilt steering, carpet upgrades, and the company’s Waveglider high-performance triple-pontoon system. In addition, a ski tow bar, wakeboard tower, refreshment center, electric wine rack, refrigerator, washdown kit, livewell for fishing, stainless steel grill, and plenty more options are available. Base price without power for the 22-foot Catalina (pictured) is $18,612.

avalonpontoons.com

Bennington2550 RCLBennington Marine, based in Elkhart, Indiana, builds pontoon boats from 17 feet to 28 feet and in a variety of trim levels and layouts. A good example of what Bennington can do is found in the 2550 RCL. A big boat with luxury touches throughout, the 2550 RCL measures 27 feet, 1 inch with a beam of 8 feet, 6 inches, and has cushy wraparound lounge seating throughout the cockpit, with three chaise lounges built into that seating.

The portside chaises can be designed to conceal a pop-up changing room or a galley (or one in each, on either side of the port entry gate; there are also entry points in the bow and stern). The starboard chaise backs to the fiberglass helm console, which contains storage, a stereo, and an integral footrest for the captain, who gets a reclining helm seat with headrest, tilt steering, and a custom steering wheel with teak trim.

Aft filler cushions and a teak dinette table are standard, as are a pair of portable armrest cupholders with teak trim. The 2550 also has an extended aft deck with a telescoping swim ladder, not to mention a selection of options including performance packages, furniture upgrades, and tops and enclosures.

Manufacturer suggested retail price for the 2550 RCL with Yamaha T50 engine is $37,845.

benningtonmarine.com

march 2013 | LAKELANDBOATING.COM 4140 LAKELANDBOATING.COM | march 2013

Harris FloteBote Crowne 250Harris FloteBote of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is another pontoon builder that’s finding the formula for fun on the water. The new Crowne 250 measures 26 feet, 9 inches in overall length, with a beam of 8 feet, 6 inches, and looks that could kill. It has a sleek fiberglass superstructure with sweeping lines, plus a thoroughly modern interior with dual aft-facing loungers, an optional touchscreen control at the helm, and an optional entertainment bar with barstools, rope lighting, lighted cupholders, wine bottle storage, sink, and further optional appliances. An optional sport arch with integrated bimini top and sunshades completes the look for a boat that its builder calls “the next generation of Harris FloteBote.”

“Pontoon boats like the Crowne are popular because they provide a good balance of performance and comfort,” says Harris FloteBote marketing manager Jane Schlegel. “They can pull a skier or take out the whole family for an evening cruise.”

Other features include a telescoping/collapsible teak bow table, a changing room, and a six-speaker stereo system — two of which speakers can be enjoyed from the aft swim deck.

Manufacturer suggested retail pricing for the Crowne starts at $60,960 with a 90-hp Mercury 4-stroke outboard.

harrisflotebote.com

Crest Savannah250 CP3+Crest Marine has been building boats in Owosso, Michigan, for 56 years. Clearly, they’ve picked up a few tricks along the way, as one look at the Savannah 250 CP3+ will show you.

The Savannah is the flagship of Crest’s line, which runs from 19 feet on up to this 25-foot, 10-inch stunner. The company employs fiberglass construction extensively on both the interior and exterior of its Savannah models — a 23-footer is also available — which gives the boat a sophisticated look, inside and out.

The Savannah has a high-end layout, with twin chaise lounges forward; stern lounge seating with a fiberglass cockpit table; and an entertainment center, abaft the helm station, featuring a sink, storage, vanity mirror, and a 12-volt receptacle.

Meanwhile, below the deck, the CP3+ Performance Option means the Savannah 250 has a triple-pontoon configuration with lifting strakes, aluminum underdeck skin, electric-assist hydraulic steering, stainless steel ski tow bar, and in-sole ski storage. It also means the boat can handle an outboard of up to 300 hp. Pricing for a Savannah 250 CP3+ Performance Edition with a 250-hp Mercury Verado 4-stroke outboard and options including polyvinyl teak-and-holly flooring and a premium stereo system is $77,000. Or, plan to shell out $68,500 for the Mercury 150L 4-stroke version.

crestpontoonboats.com

Premier Boundary Sky DekThe Boundary Waters Sky Dek from Premier Pontoons is a great example of just how far you can take the pontoon boat concept. The flagship of Minnesota-based Premier’s line, the Sky Dek measures 31 feet, 5 inches (not including the standard waterslide, we should note) and features upper and lower decks with plenty of lounging and entertaining amenities found on both.

The boat, with its 10-foot, 2-inch beam, has a rated capacity of 20 people on the lower deck and five more on the upper deck. With such a large platform to work with, it’s no wonder Premier was able to include pretty much any amenity possible on this boat: Wraparound seating in the bow with standard filler cushion and portable armrest cupholders; a pair of large recliners on the port side, athwart the helm station with captain’s chair; a galley with vessel sink, electric faucet, and refrigerator on the starboard side, abaft the helm station; an L-shaped settee with table to port; a pop-up changing room aft; and stairs leading to the upper deck with additional seating, table and bimini top. All the boat’s furniture is by Flexsteel and additional floor plans are available. Phew! But that’s not all: Options include teak flooring, a double bimini with enclosure, a wine waiter, and twin engines.

The boat pictured has the optional 300-hp Mercury Verado 4-stroke outboard and is priced at $130,816 — the base model starts at $95,073. Premier’s PTX triple-pontoon performance package comes standard on the Sky Dek.pontoons.com

JC TriToon Classic 246 I/OThe JC TriToon Classic 246 is a 24-footer and the most popular TriToon model from Indiana-based JC Manufacturing. And that’s really saying something: JC has been building triple-pontoon boats for more than 25 years and holds the trademark on the name “TriToon,” according to JC’s Chris Hackleman.

The TriToon Classic 246 I/O comes equipped with sterndrive power from 190 hp to 350 hp — outboard power up to 250 hp is optional — and is said to combine deckboat performance with pontoon comfort. “We say it is the ‘SUV of the lake,’ ” according to Hackleman. “It’s a great boat for cruising, and pontoons are becoming the boat that will go fast and are able to pull skiers and kids on tubes.”

In addition, the choice of powerplant makes it a great pick for boaters used to driving a sterndrive, Hackleman says.

While standard features mean the 246 already comes decked out for lounging, entertaining and tow sports, some neat optional features include a changing room (optional at no additional charge); sink; fishfinder, GPS, and stereo upgrades; wakeboard tower; hardtop; and power bimini top that Hackleman says is great for going under bridges and putting the boat on its lift. Retail price for the 246 I/O starts at $58,000.

jcpontoon.com

42 LAKELANDBOATING.COM | march 2013 march 2013 | LAKELANDBOATING.COM 43

Qwest 820 LS Splash PadThe Qwest 820 LS Splash Pad is a 21-foot pontoon boat from Michigan-based Apex Marine. The notable feature on this model is the eponymous Splash Pad: While most recreational pontoon boats are characterized by their wraparound seating in a gated, carpeted main deck area, the Splash Pad adds an open aft sundeck with removable barstools to the mix — perfect for entertaining or using as a swim platform.

Like many pontoon manufacturers, options abound on Apex’s boats, and the LS (“Luxury Series”) Splash Pad is no exception, from propulsion choices to the number of pontoons: The standard model has double pontoons, while a triple-tube package is available.

“The standard model can be equipped with anything from an electric drive up to a 90-hp outboard,” says Apex general manager Brad Lemerand, who says that the standard model, with double pontoons and a 50-hp outboard, has enough power to pull kids tubing and will run about 18 mph ($21,436). “For those who want a pontoon to perform more like a runabout, we offer the Triple Tube Package.” This boat, equipped with triple tubes and 115-hp Mercury 4-stroke outboard, can reach speeds up to 40 mph and can pull skiers ($29,150).

Apex focuses on the smaller end of the pontoon segment, offering models ranging in size from 16 feet to 21 feet. The company even offers paddlewheel models — think of an oversized pedalboat — in addition to electric drives and outboards.gillgetter.com

South Bay 724E DeluxeWhen it comes to pontoon boats, entertaining is never far from mind. On the South Bay 724E Deluxe Series, the “E” literally stands for Entertainment. And the boat really delivers, as notable features include a granite topcoat entertainment bar with LED lighting and plenty of stainless steel: A stainless steel refrigerator, stainless steel propane grill, stainless steel three-drawer storage system, and more.

The Entertainment model also comes equipped with an upgraded stereo system including a pair of stern speakers. The 25-foot, 2-inch boat has an extended swim platform and a capacity of 12 people (standard) or 14 (with optional Trifecta Package).

The 724E Deluxe Series with the Trifecta Package — which includes a full-length center tube, lifting strakes, a full under-deck aluminum skin, hydraulic steering, a stainless steel water sports tow bar, 52-gallon fuel tank, and more — and a Yamaha F150 4-stroke outboard has a manufacturer suggested retail price of $63,350. If that’s not enough to impress you, the Trifecta Package-equipped 724E can handle quite a bit more horsepower, with engine options available up to 300 hp. Plus it can be equipped with outboard or sterndrive power.

southbaypontoon.com

Sweetwater 220 Wet BarGodfrey Pontoon Boats says it’s been in the pontoon business since it unveiled the first all-aluminum pontoon boat in 1958. The company now boasts three popular brands: Aqua Patio, Sanpan and Sweetwater.

The Sweetwater 220 Wet Bar is a boat designed with cruising and entertaining in mind. Like the Qwest LS Splash Pad, it’s noteworthy for its aft bar area setup with a pair of barstools; however, the bar in the Sweetwater is located within the confines of the 24-inch-tall cockpit gates for a cozier cocktail-party vibe. The bar area also features cooler storage, bottle storage, cupholders (as you’ll find, it’s the more the merrier when it comes to cupholders on pontoon boats), and an acrylic bar top; a four-speaker stereo system is also standard.

The boat measures 23 feet, 8 inches and has a beam of 8 feet, 6 inches, and when equipped with Sweetwater’s “TOTAL Package” (Triple Outperforming Tube And Launchpad) and a 150-hp outboard can push the 220 Wet Bar to speeds up to 40 mph — proving that high-performance is within reach for the “value-oriented” boater.

Pricing for the Sweetwater 220 Wet Bar starts at $26,930 with a 50-hp engine.

sweetwaterboats.com

Sylvan Mandalay 8525 LZ PortSylvan Marine has been building boats since the late 1940s when the company was founded near Sylvan Lake in Indiana. The company pushes performance across a lineup that ranges from 18 feet up to the 26-foot, 10-inch Mandalay 8525 LZ Port, which carries the tagline “Luxury Meets Velocity.”

Options include a portable marine toilet for the boat’s standard walk-in changing room, a second cockpit table, a refrigerator for the galley, a triple-pontoon design with in-floor storage and a ski tow.

There are actually a variety of Mandalay 8525 models: The 8525, the 8525 Bar (with barstools in the aft cockpit), the 8525 LZ, the 8525 Port, and the 8525 LZ Port. Decoding the name 8525 LZ Port we find an “LZ” seating layout — plenty of plush lounge seating aft and on the forward starboard side — with the “Port” seating arrangement forward and (you guessed it) to port — a pair of swiveling, helm-style chairs. Don’t forget the captain, who rides in style in a reclining helm chair with a slider feature, armrests and headrests.

Manufacturer suggested retail price for the Mandalay 8525 LZ Port with a Yamaha F150 4-stroke outboard is $53,249.

sylvanmarine.com

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