Manitou’s Explore 24 represents a cool advancement in design, construction and appearance. Futuristic perimeter fencing gives a clean, automotive look. Integrated LED docking and navigation lights blend into the curved bow walls. Made from individual panels that are removable and replaceable, all the wiring and plumbing for the boat is hidden inside the exterior walls. The top rail features exclusive BRP LinQ attachment points to install accessories, such as fender clips, cup holders and wineglass ­holders.

With Mercury’s Verado 250, we hit 47 mph and raced to 30 mph in 5.8 seconds. Best economy comes at 13 mph, where we recorded 3.8 mpg. Triple pontoons with full-length lifting strakes and an underdeck spray shield combine for stellar performance and rough-water ­capability.

The Explore 24’s furniture features rectangular cushions that look firm, but feel plush and accommodating. With long lounges featuring easy-opening storage, the bow can comfortably handle several riders per side. The aft seats reverse, allowing guests to face forward or aft. Manitou’s Trifold Bench aft features facing seats with a flip-out table, or it can reverse to be a filler cushion for lounging. Seat bases offer a recessed toe kick.

The pilot and navigator sit in matching high-back chairs behind oversize consoles with low-profile windscreens. The port console features a large locking glove box with USB charging inside. The captain’s console features a phone cubby with an optional wireless charging pad, a Fusion RA-210 sound system powering four 6-inch speakers, a Garmin 9-inch digital-control center graph, and digital switches for all boat functions. A 12-foot Sport ­Bimini features a transparent plexi panel that looks solid from the outside and remains rigid at up to 55 mph when fully deployed. It also houses a storage net underneath the top, and lights for navigation and anchoring above. The decking on the ­Explore and Cruise models is composite, so there’s no wood to worry about. Options include lighted center-tube storage, twin batteries with a Smart Switch, and a ­dinette table.

High Points

• Standard Sport Bimini is rated to 55 mph.
• Redesigned helm has four focused sections: audio,  vessel monitoring, switching and charging.
• Trifold Bench folds from a seat to a table or folds away to create more space.

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury Verado FourStroke 250 hp
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Enertia 14.5″ x 17″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.85:1 Fuel Load: 32 gal. Crew Weight: 260 lb.

Pricing and Specs

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The Manitou Explore’s trademark MAX Deck returns for 2024—with 2 feet more. The Explore MAX features a wide-open aft deck, ideal for watersports compared to typical pontoons. Additionally, BRP LinQ mounts make it easy to install accessories, like a cooler or a gear box. The hidden, low-profile Rotax S150 outboard that makes the MAX design possible also gets a companion, creating a 300 hp duo that adds nearly 15 mph to top-end performance. Twin engines and digital power steering also make joystick piloting possible, taking the stress out of close-quarters ­maneuvering.

While the deck-outboard combo aft is a game-changer, it’s the Explore’s sleek perimeter design that first draws the eye. Formed from a near-seamless collection of formed aluminum panels, it’s automotive-­inspired and thoroughly modern. Individual panels are removable in the unlikely event of damage. A top rail cap includes LinQ Lite mounts ready for everything from fenders to stemware. The overhead Sport Bimini flows from the design and incorporates a ­sturdy, gas-assisted Bimini top rated for up to 55 mph. Belowdecks, Manitou’s patented V-Toon Technology drops the center tube to create deadrise, mimicking the feel of a V-hull.

Accommodations complete the boat’s modern aesthetic. The Switchback layout pairs forward couches with parallel lounges aft that feature adjustable backrests fore and aft. Recline them back for forward-facing comfort, or pivot forward to switch the focus to a more social setting or to look out onto the water and the MAX Deck. A pair of Manitou’s ­Trifold Benches, concealed in the middle of each aft couch, offers additional three-in-one functionality by converting from seating to a dinette table, or pivoting entirely out of the way to create two facing seats with feet-on-the-floor legroom. 

Discretely tucked within the inwales are speakers and cup holders. A sleek, minimalist helm includes a standard 12-inch Garmin display featuring ­Garmin Boat Switch digital switching, a Fusion stereo head unit and a wireless ­charging cubby.

High Points

• Three available color combos.
• Fusion RA-670 audio with six speakers, a subwoofer and an eight-channel amp.
• Standard composite decking, powder-coated tubes, woven flooring, lit center-tube storage and USB charging.

How We Tested

• Engines: Twin 150 hp Rotax S outboards
• Drive/Props: Outboard/Rotax Viper 14.5″ x 21″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 2.08:1 Fuel Load: 50 gal.

Pricing and Specs

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Accessible/Skiff: Veer V13

The Veer V13  won first because we found it to be affordable for a segment of society not typically served by boatbuilders. It’s also offered colors that appeal to a younger, non-traditional demographic. We believe both of these features are great for the future of boating by helping to introduce new participants to the activity and lifestyle that is boating. Finally, we found the Veer V13 functional and safe, and it’s offered with your choice of internal combustion or electric outboard power.

Watersports: Montara Surf Boss 2.0

The Montara Surf Boss 2.0 is one the most innovative boats we have ever tested, seamlessly blending the very best of a V-drive towboat with the attributes of a pontoon boat. There’s more: Innovation alone isn’t enough. To win a category, the boat must be built to a high standard and meet ABYC standards, as well as the discerning eye of our editors, each of whom possesses decades of experience evaluating boats for a living. The Montara Surf Boss 2.0 ticked all these boxes.

Runabout: Four Winns H2e

First, this is an exceptionally well-done bowrider. The interior is luxurious, its construction is excellent and its appearance is at once fresh and classic. Performance-wise, it delivered superior speed, handling and ride quality. Finally, this Four Winns H2e bowrider is powered by an electric outboard. It gives boat buyers the choice of electric or internal combustion propulsion with the confidence of a longstanding and well-known—iconic, really—boatbuilder.

Center-Console: Formula 387

Our team tests over 100 boats per year, many of them center-console models. We selected the Formula 387 for its great ride and top-notch construction and pristine finish. But Formula has long maintained those bars high. What really wowed us was that Formula produced two distinct variants of the same boat for center-console buyers—a sport version and a fishing version. Putting a finer point on it, these two variants serve different missions with very little compromise between them.

Deckboat: Tahoe T21

Why did this Tahoe win? First, we found it to be priced lower than similar-size boats. But, a low price alone doesn’t win awards. No less than two members of our Tech Team stated that the Tahoe T21 is equivalent (if not superior) in ride, performance, construction and equipment to other similar boats. A review of our boat-test archive backs those assertions. As such, the T21 represents an outstanding buying experience delivering a higher-quality, higher-performing boat for a lower price than others in its category.

Pontoon: Manitou 24 Explore MAX

The Manitou 24 Explore MAX takes pontoon-boat ownership to another place. Powered by twin 150 hp Rotax S outboards (which themselves won our Marine Power Innovation award last year), which live under the expansive MAX deck aft, this ’toon offers sporty performance and the convenience of a joystick for docking control. But most importantly, the wide-open MAX deck provides pontoon buyers the ability to choose wide-open access to the water, as well as wide-open views.

The post Boat of the Year Category Winners 2023 appeared first on Boating Mag.

Manitou’s Explore 24 represents a cool advancement in design, construction and appearance. Futuristic perimeter fencing gives a clean, automotive look. Integrated LED docking and navigation lights blend into the curved bow walls. Made from individual panels that are removable and replaceable, all the wiring and plumbing for the boat is hidden inside the exterior walls. The top rail features exclusive BRP LinQ attachment points to install accessories, such as fender clips, cup holders and wineglass ­holders.

With Mercury’s Verado 250, we hit 47 mph and raced to 30 mph in 5.8 seconds. Best economy comes at 13 mph, where we recorded 3.8 mpg. Triple pontoons with full-length lifting strakes and an underdeck spray shield combine for stellar performance and rough-water ­capability.

The Explore 24’s furniture features rectangular cushions that look firm, but feel plush and accommodating. With long lounges featuring easy-opening storage, the bow can comfortably handle several riders per side. The aft seats reverse, allowing guests to face forward or aft. Manitou’s Trifold Bench aft features facing seats with a flip-out table, or it can reverse to be a filler cushion for lounging. Seat bases offer a recessed toe kick.

The pilot and navigator sit in matching high-back chairs behind oversize consoles with low-profile windscreens. The port console features a large locking glove box with USB charging inside. The captain’s console features a phone cubby with an optional wireless charging pad, a Fusion RA-210 sound system powering four 6-inch speakers, a Garmin 9-inch digital-control center graph, and digital switches for all boat functions. A 12-foot Sport ­Bimini features a transparent plexi panel that looks solid from the outside and remains rigid at up to 55 mph when fully deployed. It also houses a storage net underneath the top, and lights for navigation and anchoring above. The decking on the ­Explore and Cruise models is composite, so there’s no wood to worry about. Options include lighted center-tube storage, twin batteries with a Smart Switch, and a ­dinette table.

High Points

• Standard Sport Bimini is rated to 55 mph.
• Redesigned helm has four focused sections: audio,  vessel monitoring, switching and charging.
• Trifold Bench folds from a seat to a table or folds away to create more space.

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury Verado FourStroke 250 hp
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Enertia 14.5″ x 17″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.85:1 Fuel Load: 32 gal. Crew Weight: 260 lb.

Pricing and Specs

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The Manitou Explore’s trademark MAX Deck returns for 2024—with 2 feet more. The Explore MAX features a wide-open aft deck, ideal for watersports compared to typical pontoons. Additionally, BRP LinQ mounts make it easy to install accessories, like a cooler or a gear box. The hidden, low-profile Rotax S150 outboard that makes the MAX design possible also gets a companion, creating a 300 hp duo that adds nearly 15 mph to top-end performance. Twin engines and digital power steering also make joystick piloting possible, taking the stress out of close-quarters ­maneuvering.

While the deck-outboard combo aft is a game-changer, it’s the Explore’s sleek perimeter design that first draws the eye. Formed from a near-seamless collection of formed aluminum panels, it’s automotive-­inspired and thoroughly modern. Individual panels are removable in the unlikely event of damage. A top rail cap includes LinQ Lite mounts ready for everything from fenders to stemware. The overhead Sport Bimini flows from the design and incorporates a ­sturdy, gas-assisted Bimini top rated for up to 55 mph. Belowdecks, Manitou’s patented V-Toon Technology drops the center tube to create deadrise, mimicking the feel of a V-hull.

Accommodations complete the boat’s modern aesthetic. The Switchback layout pairs forward couches with parallel lounges aft that feature adjustable backrests fore and aft. Recline them back for forward-facing comfort, or pivot forward to switch the focus to a more social setting or to look out onto the water and the MAX Deck. A pair of Manitou’s ­Trifold Benches, concealed in the middle of each aft couch, offers additional three-in-one functionality by converting from seating to a dinette table, or pivoting entirely out of the way to create two facing seats with feet-on-the-floor legroom. 

Discretely tucked within the inwales are speakers and cup holders. A sleek, minimalist helm includes a standard 12-inch Garmin display featuring ­Garmin Boat Switch digital switching, a Fusion stereo head unit and a wireless ­charging cubby.

High Points

• Three available color combos.
• Fusion RA-670 audio with six speakers, a subwoofer and an eight-channel amp.
• Standard composite decking, powder-coated tubes, woven flooring, lit center-tube storage and USB charging.

How We Tested

• Engines: Twin 150 hp Rotax S outboards
• Drive/Props: Outboard/Rotax Viper 14.5″ x 21″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 2.08:1 Fuel Load: 50 gal.

Pricing and Specs

The post 2024 Manitou Explore 24 MAX appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

Manitou has literally changed the shape of pontoons. The sleek new 24-foot-­​4-inch Cruise 22 MAX Switchback model features curvaceous bodywork, and stealthy and uniquely engineered Rotax outboard power tucked below the expansive MAX Deck aft that unlocks 38 square feet of extra “back porch” space. The MAX Deck is a standard feature on three entry-priced Manitou Cruise and three midrange Explore models equipped with the Rotax S outboard.

Engine

Exclusive to Manitou in the pontoon market, the Rotax S is available in 115 and 150 hp iterations, and features standard digital controls, power steering and ­automatic trim. At both power ratings, the Rotax S utilizes a proven 1.9-liter three-cylinder, two-stroke powerhead—formerly an Evinrude product—oriented horizontally and enclosed in a watertight case so it fits below deck level. The point is to offer outboard power without having to see or play around the outboard.

Because the motor lives in the water, its cast-aluminum cover is secured with 15 bolts and a hermetic seal. Maintenance that requires removing those bolts for access to the powerhead is ­scheduled only after five years or 500 hours. A number of ­internal ­features—probes, small pumps and check valves—are intended to protect the powerhead from condensation forming in the sealed case and water backwashing through the exhaust. BRP says the rigged Rotax outboard weighs about 522 pounds—about 57 pounds heavier than a ­Mercury 150 FourStroke outboard, and a rather significant 150 pounds heavier than a Mercury 115 ­FourStroke.

The patented triple-tube Manitou ­V-Toon hull features 25-inch-diameter outboard tubes and a 27-inch center tube. The bottom of the center tube is 5 inches lower than the outboard tubes, so at speed the boat rides on the center tube with the outboard tubes acting as stabilizers. Initiate a turn and the boat heels over slightly, which helps the Cruise 22 MAX carve neatly and improves passenger comfort. All tubes are equipped with lifting strakes and reinforced nose cones with splash guards. We’ve noted the impressive agility of this hull in past Manitou reviews, and the Cruise 22 MAX upholds this reputation.
The Rotax S150 option ($1,530) powered our test boat to a top speed of 35 mph with a light load, a competitive performance with similar 150 hp pontoons. The motor is smooth, and we noted about 80 dB(A) at cruising speed—not whisper-quiet but not objectionable either. However, we think the higher-pitch tone created by the two-stroke Rotax engine makes it seem louder than a 150 hp four-stroke outboard.

The eye-catching Cruise profile is ­created by forming the sides of sheet aluminum in a process similar to that of pressing automobile bodywork. This technique is exclusive to Manitou and enables forming complex shapes and integrating forward lighting. The look is sleek and modern—the boat looks like a Tesla skimming over the water—and the sides are lighter than those formed from fiberglass. The aluminum panels are finished with a durable powder coat and secured to an inner composite structure that also forms the seat bases and storage ­compartments.

The motor trims below the platform. When tilted clear of the water, it raises a hinged center section of the MAX Deck by simply pushing it up on a pair of plastic sliders. We tried to lift the deck section by hand, and it’s really heavy—not much chance it’s going to bounce around in rough seas. But just in case, Manitou has placed powerful magnets below the deck to hold it down on the boat.

Interior and Accessories

Step aboard and note the clean, modern and integrated interior design. The seats have a new, contemporary shape and crisp colors in premium Simtex vinyl that complement the exterior. Drink holders and speaker enclosures are integrated into molded inwale panels. Switchback aft seatbacks pivot forward and aft, and there is another Switchback seat at the port console. The helm has no traditional instruments—all critical information is displayed on a 7-inch Garmin touchscreen multifunction display that also incorporates GPS navigation capability. Our boat featured the Signature Package ($2,500) that includes lighted center-tube storage, a helm seat bolster, LED docking and courtesy lights, a second battery with a Smart Switch, a privacy station curtain and a dinette table. The optional Sport Bimini ($3,140) is supported by a tubular aluminum arch with a hydraulic assist. This 12-foot-long one-piece top covers the deck from the helm aft and is speed-rated to 55 mph.

There is no question the new Manitou Cruise and its Explorer sibling bring a new level of style and function to the pontoon segment—the MAX Deck is a revelation. But unless you are a rabid early adopter, there will be understandable hesitation to consider a boat with an engine this ­radically different. Bringing the Rotax outboard to market required a determined effort. A few seasons on the water will be the true test of this interesting marine-propulsion concept.

How We Tested

• Engine: Rotax S150
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/BRP Rogue 13.5″ x 17″ 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 2.08:1 Fuel Load: 34 gal. Crew Weight: 380 lb.

High Points

• LinQ integrated attachment points can be used to secure an accessory 13.5-gallon LinQ cooler to the MAX Deck.
• Rotax S outboard requires no service for five years or 500 hours and self-winterizes.
• TransCore composite deck resists rot and is 30 percent lighter and 50 percent more rigid than plywood. It is also made from 100 percent recycled materials.

Low Points

• No track record for this new Rotax S outboard—how will it hold up?
• Raised center section of the MAX Deck could be a serious toe-pincher; make sure the kids are clear before lowering the outboard.
• Sound levels are not lower, and its stroke tone contrasts starkly with the newest four-stroke outboards.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

Manitou Pontoons – Lansing, Michigan; manitoupontoonboats.com

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There’s 38 square feet of wide-open aft deck space aboard Manitou’s Explore 24 MAX Navigator. Thank the concealed Rotax outboard for that acreage. Available in 115 and 150 hp ratings, our test boat’s 150 delivered a top speed of 35 mph. Acceleration? We clocked zero to 30 mph in 12.8 seconds. We noted smooth idling and living-room-quiet running from this two-stroke engine. Dynamic Power Steering (electrically assisted) is standard.

Fitted with MarineMat, the aft MAX deck’s hinged center section tilts up as the Rotax outboard tilts for shallow water or trailering. The BRP exclusive LinQ modular attachment system allows a cooler to reside securely on the port side—a nifty, well-placed feature. A telescoping boarding ladder extends from starboard.

The boat’s modern fencing—bulkheading might be a more apt term—also offers unique benefits. Providing sleek looks with integrated LED docking and navigation lights, it’s comprised of removable panels that hide all the boat’s wiring and plumbing within the walls. The top rail, cleverly formed as a handrail, also features the LinQ system. Add fender clips, cup holders, wineglass holders and more as you see fit.

Manitou’s contemporarily styled furniture proved plush and accommodating. Long bow lounges will swallow several guests per side and feature easy-opening seat bases for storage. The reversible aft Switchback loungers allow forward- or aft-facing relaxation. The aft port seats are what BRP calls a Trifold bench, which features facing seats with a flip-out table for dining, or reverses to be a filler cushion for lounging. Seat bases are roto-molded plastic, with recessed toe kicks.

The pilot and navigator sit in matching high-back chairs behind oversize consoles with low-profile Lexan windscreens. The port console features a large locking glove box with USB charging inside. The captain’s console features a phone cubby with an optional wireless charge pad, a Fusion RA-210 sound system powering four speakers, a Garmin 9-inch EchoMap, and light-touch digital switches for accessories operation. It’s well set up for fun and function.

High Points

• Rotax outboard unlocks more functional space.
• Revolutionary wall design is modern, sleek and functional.
• LinQ attachment system allows for quick and secure mounting of accessories.

How We Tested

• Engine: Rotax S150
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/BRP Rogue 13″ x 17″ 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 2.17:1 Fuel Load: 18 gal. Crew Weight: 250 lb.

Pricing and Specs

Manitou Pontoon Boats – Lansing, Michigan; 800-999-9788; manitoupontoonboats.com

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The Explore 26 Navigator offers bold new styling and a pair of potent 300 hp Mercury Verados. Go ahead. Slam that throttle down. The Explore responds by jumping onto plane in a scant 3.5 seconds, the same amount of time it takes to cross the 30 mph threshold. Keep those throttles pinned and run out to a 60.7 mph top speed. 

Things belowdecks haven’t changed. Manitou’s patented V-Toon technology still provides handling response reminiscent of a V-hulled sportboat by pairing 25-inch outer pontoons with a larger 27-inch center tube that sits 5 ¼ inches lower in the water. Power into a turn and the boat responds with an intuitive inside bank, just like a sportboat. Keep cranking and it stays hooked up, leaving a pontoon boat’s stodgy reputation bobbing in its wake. Low-speed maneuvering doesn’t suffer, especially when those twin Mercs are paired with joystick steering. Even with a fierce crosswind, we maneuvered into a crowded dock space with utter confidence.

That topside makeover, however, can’t be missed. Formed aluminum wall panels combine to give a futuristic, one-piece look to the sleek exterior. Accent details at the panel’s termination point aft flow directly upward into the overhead sport Bimini. The beefy bow gate blends almost seamlessly into the perimeter wrap, and opens and shuts like a car door. Integrated LED docking and navigation lights peek out from a bold black bezel, much like you’d see on a modern luxury sedan. 

While the floor plan isn’t radical—twin couches fore and aft are complemented by matching captain’s chairs—the execution offers unique touches. Switchback seats aft pivot the backrest to focus attention forward or aft. Modular bases include individual storage compartments and cup holders. Speakers are integrated to be heard but not seen. Finally, consider the versatility of the Tri-Fold Bench. Take out the center cushion and it converts to face-to-face seating. Fold out the table hidden under the center seat and break out the hors d’oeuvres. It’s one of the many unique ways that Manitou capitalizes on design elements to maximize space and amplify the fun.

High Points

• Powder-coated black pontoons, skirting and Bimini frame look great.
• Sport Bimini is rated for up to 55 mph.
• Standards include 9-inch Garmin EchoMap, Fusion audio with four speakers, and 12 USB charging ports.

How We Tested

• Engines: Twin Mercury 300 Verados
• Drive/Props: Outboard/Mercury Rev 4 14 ¹/₂” x 21″ 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.85:1 Fuel Load: 86 gal. Crew Weight: 340 lb.

Pricing and Specs

Manitou Pontoon Boats – Lansing, Michigan; 800-999-9788; manitoupontoonboats.com

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Manitou changed the shape of pontoons. The all-new Cruise 22 MAX Switchback model features the expansive MAX Deck that unlocks 38 square feet of unobstructed space for lounging, angling or toting a big tube. It’s unobstructed because the new and exclusive Rotax outboard lives below the deck. The motor’s 1.9-liter three-cylinder, two-stroke powerhead is oriented horizontally and enclosed in a watertight case. The point is to offer outboard power without having to see or play around the motor. The Rotax outboard trims below the platform; when tilted clear of the water, it raises a hinged center section of the MAX Deck. The Rotax is available in 115 and 150 hp, and features standard digital controls, power steering and automatic trim. The Rotax S150 option powered our test boat to a top speed of 35 mph with a light load. The Manitou V-Toon tritoon hull responds instantly to steering input and carves neat turns at speed.

The eye-catching Cruise profile is created by forming the sides of sheet aluminum in a process similar to that of pressing automobile bodywork. This technique enables the formation of complex shapes and the integration of forward lighting. The boat looks like a Tesla skimming over the water, and the sides are lighter than those formed from fiberglass. The aluminum panels are finished with a durable powder coat.

The interior design is clean and modern. The seats, covered in premium Simtex vinyl, have a contemporary shape and crisp colors that complement the exterior. Drink holders and speaker enclosures are integrated into molded inwale panels. Switchback loungers pivot forward and aft. At the helm, all critical information is presented on a 7-inch Garmin touchscreen multifunction display. Our boat featured the Signature Bundle ($2,500) and includes lighted center-tube storage, a helm seat bolster, LED docking and flooring lights, a second battery with a Smart Switch, a privacy station curtain and a dinette table. The optional 12-foot Sport Bimini ($3,140) is supported by a tubular aluminum arch. This pontoon is a real shape-shifter, and provides many opportunities for fun and comfort.

High Points

• Sport Bimini raises with one hand, and it’s speed-rated up to 55 mph.
• LinQ integrated attachment points secure accessories.
• Rotax outboard needs no service for five years or 500 hours and self-winterizes. 

How We Tested

• Engine: Rotax S150
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/BRP Rogue 13.5″ x 17″ 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 2.08:1 Fuel Load: 34 gal. Crew Weight: 380 lb.

Pricing and Specs

Manitou Pontoons – Lansing, Michigan; manitoupontoonboats.com

The post 2023 Manitou Cruise 22 MAX Switchback appeared first on Boating Mag.

Sometime between the era of your grandparents’ nightly putt-putt around the lake and the more recent trend of 20-somethings partying at the sandbar, pontoon boats became cool. Cool because whether you’re young or old, hip or square, a novice boater or an old salt, you’re likely to dig what’s new on pontoons. Cool as in while they can still cruise and fish with the best, modern pontoons can also run with a go-fast, handle like a sportboat, haul you and your friends on your favorite towable and, yes, when the situation calls for it, party like a rock star.

One big reason for this is that pontoon-boat manufacturers have introduced more than their fair share of cool innovations. Some are big-ticket items, dramatic enhancements to handling or ultra-plush interior amenities. Others are of the “Why didn’t I think of that?” variety, smaller touches that make life aboard more enjoyable or fun. We’ve seen more than we can count in recent years. Here are nine of the coolest.

Transformer Bar

Manufacturers have introduced multiple variations on the aft lounge design in recent years, but most have centered around morphing the combination bench/sun pad into various stages of recline. Sibling brands Starcraft and Sylvan opted to follow the transformer theme and make the aft lounge transform into something else entirely—a bar. The one aboard the Sylvan L5 DLZ Bar really caught our eye. Pivot each half of the 5-foot-square sun pad upward, as if closing a giant book, to reveal adjoining halves of the bar complete with a faux-granite top, six recessed cup holders and LED accent lighting. A collection of bar stools awaits along the starboard rail. Remove and install them into floor mounts on both sides of the bar and you’re ready to belly on up. And should you party too hearty, that bar just as easily transforms back into a sun pad. Raise your drinks! This design deserves a toast. sylvanmarine.com

Pets Are Crew Too

Barletta has long manufactured some of the most pet-friendly pontoons on the market. Slide-out food and water bowls tuck into the base of every helm. But though the easiest way to a pet’s heart is likely through its stomach, the Indiana manufacturer also acknowledges that most pets’ other favorite pastime is watching the world go by—something a pontoon’s fenced-in perimeter often prevents. Enter the Doggie DockView, a finely perforated panel in both the bow and side gates we saw on the Barletta Lusso 25M that lets pets take in the view without jumping on the furniture. (Not that jumping on the furniture is discouraged; Barletta also advertises its vinyl as ready to stand up to paws and claws.) Bonus? The Doggie DockView likewise improves the captain’s visibility when docking or pulling alongside a downed skier or tube rider. barlettapontoonboats.com

One Small Step for Man…

Lillipad’s REVO boarding ladder aboard the Bennington Q25 Fastback immediately appealed to our keen eye for innovation. Or maybe it was just our aging physiques. Whatever the case, the REVO promised to get us aboard without requiring the muscle—and flexibility—of an American Ninja Warrior. The secret to the REVO’s design is that it’s less like a boarding ladder and more like your porch steps. Deploy the five-step REVO and it angles away from the boat at a gentle slope and extends nearly 4 feet in length. Broad, flat treads offer traction while proving more comfortable on bare feet than traditional rungs. Even pets can clamber in and out with ease. Does that sound overly bulky and hard to handle? The hinged, two-part design can be deployed and retrieved from a standing position and measures only 2 feet tall, 7 inches deep when closed. lillipadmarine.com

Bay-tona 500

V-hull designs have long dominated the boating market. They knife through wakes and chop to deliver a superior ride in rough water and bank into turns with the tenacious grip of a race car at Daytona. How to give a stable but relatively flat-turning pontoon that same sporty feel? Manitou does it with V-Toon Technology, a patented bottom design that pairs smaller outer pontoons with a larger center pontoon dropped over 5 inches deeper in the water. The effect gives a pontoon boat deadrise. Crank into a turn and a V-Toon-equipped Manitou banks much like a V-hulled sportboat while dramatically decreasing the boat’s turning radius—manners far removed from the party barges of old. Add positive-angle lifting strakes and the design also enhances stability, improves the boat’s hole shot and acceleration, and even increases top speed. We got to experience the full effect on board the Manitou Explore 26 Navigator. manitoupontoonboats.com

The Split-Level ’Toon

Any boat that puts crew forward of the captain—think not just pontoons but also bowriders and deck boats—creates a visibility issue. Forward passengers can obstruct the captain’s line of sight, a challenge in open water, but one that proves especially troublesome when docking. With abundant forward seating and fenced-in perimeters, pontoons only add to the clutter. Bennington’s bowrider design tucks the issue out of sight. The secret? Seat bottoms are essentially placed at floor level while a molded, recessed footwell drops into the interior of the V-shaped center pontoon. The result? The forward half of the boat sits a full foot below the norm. That V-shaped central ’toon, combined with the boat’s lower center of gravity, also sharpens handling, improves ride quality, and offers a close-to-the-water feel rarely experienced on a pontoon. Check it out on the Bennington 25R Swingback Bowrider pontoon boat. benningtonmarine.com 

Cowabunga!

Not just one but two products from Lillipad? Yes, Lillipad’s diving board is just too cool to ignore, enticing kids young and old to cannonball or dive into the drink without rocking the boat. Rather than flexing like a traditional diving board, Lillipad’s board combines an aircraft-grade aluminum platform with urethane springs at its base that allow the entire board to drop and then rebound. The solution provides the necessary bounce without placing undue stress on the board’s mounting location. A connection pin between the spring and board can reposition to adjust tension and accommodate a wide variety of users, with a 250-pound weight limit. When not in use, the board folds vertically to free up space on the platform and allow for easy docking, or it removes from the boat entirely. We saw this aboard the Viaggio Diamante 23S. ​lillipadmarine.com

Stacking the Deck

Pontoons have an abundance of deck space within their perimeter enclosures, but aft platforms often suffer from sterndrive envy. Outboard motors bisect any attempt at an uninterrupted platform, making everything from fishing to gearing up for watersports more cumbersome. The props are exposed to swimmers and boarders. Manitou addressed the issue by redesigning the aft platform and the outboard motor itself. BRP’s stealthy Rotax outboard pairs a horizontal powerhead with a propeller drive, resulting in a low-profile motor that sits partially submerged and tops out at only gunwale height. The design, which we saw on the Manitou Cruise 22 MAX Switchback, allows up to 38 square feet of added space on an uninterrupted platform that extends over the engine. The result clears sightlines, offers room for recreation, and even provides space to mount coolers and water toys to declutter the interior deck. manitoupontoonboats.com

Switch It Up

If there’s one thing the pontoon market has in abundance, it’s floor plans. But once built, the placement of topside furniture is pretty much set in stone. Sea-Doo’s Switch breaks the mold with a floor plan boaters can reconfigure like a supersize Lego set. The key to the design is in a simple locking interface between the individual tiles that form the craft’s deck and the modular furniture pieces that mount above. Like to lounge? Assemble individual seats to form lengthy couches and stretch out. Want to create separate areas for more intimate socializing? Rearrange seats into cozy nooks. You can even go crazy and fashion school-bus-style rows. Accessory pieces like pedestal or corner tables, coolers and storage boxes can also factor into the mix. Or pop out much of the furniture and clear the deck for hardcore fishing or a floating dance floor. sea-doo.com

Party Cove

Looking for a pontoon that’s its own adventure island? Fill the Premier Escalante 350 with up to 19 of your closest friends and get the party started. The 350 features a massive 36-foot-4-inch-long platform filled with cushy couches forward, a club-worthy booth amidships, and a sizable aft galley with a sink and refrigerator. A pop-up changing enclosure? Puh-leez. The Escalante’s adult-size changing room trades clingy curtains for a hard-sided room complete with a sink, shower and portable head. And that’s just the downstairs. Ascend an LED-lit, curvy staircase to the second-story rooftop lounge and find more spots to kick back and chill. A waterslide awaits to plunge second-story occupants into the cool waters below. It’s not even an intimidating beast to drive. Joystick piloting will have you slip-sliding into the dock to pick up partygoers with ease. pontoons.com

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