Passenger-friendly seating, however, remains a pontoon’s bread and butter. The S224SB2 3.0 provides a Transformer-like lounge/sun-pad combo aft. Its forward half consists of an L-lounge with nearly eight feet of seat space. Adding the pedestal table lets captain and crew gather for food and drinks. Behind, a 5-foot-2-inch-by-3-foot-9-inch sun pad awaits those who want to chill or mix things up. Pivot the backrest forward and reclining depth increases nearly 20 inches. A separate backrest with five positions of recline can also be lifted from within the pad to create two back-to-back lounges and prevent occupants from bumping heads.

Naturally more space awaits forward. Twin lounges span 4 feet and 4 feet 8 inches along port and starboard perimeters respectively. Convenient stowage is found beneath nearly all seating in the roto-molded, vinyl-covered bases. Inside, protective covers wrap four standard speakers spread around the living area, a feature often missing even at higher price points.

South Bay introduced a slim-profile, roto-cast helm for 2019. It offers stylish upscale lines with matte woodgrain accent panels, and that accent theme carries over to the steering wheel. South Bay’s Deluxe Package adds a Kicker KMC10 stereo to that dash, as well as lighted speakers and several performance-minded additions below deck, including 25-inch diameter pontoons. The 3.0 Performance Package also affords the S224SB2 3.0 a full-length center tube, four large 4-inch extruded strakes, full aluminum under-deck skinning, SeaStar hydraulic steering and a 37-gallon fuel tank.

On the water, the end results with our test boat’s Mercury 150 outboard included a quick time to plane of just 2.8 seconds, time to 30 mph of 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 34.9 mph.

High Points

• Blackout Package adds anodized Bimini frame, boarding gates and fence-rail floor shims.
• Stainless-steel ski tow bar.
• Open aft deck includes chrome stainless-steel rail, four-step aluminum boarding ladder.

Price: $57,945

How We Tested
Engine: Mercury 150
Prop: Mercury Enertia 15.6″ x 13″ 3-blade stainless steel
Gear Ratio: 1.92:1
Fuel Load: 28 gal.
Crew Weight: 330 lb.

South Bay Marine – Middlebury, Indiana; 574-825-8696; southbaypontoon.com

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Decked out in a pristine pearl white with contrasting black and in-your-face lime-green accents, South Bay’s 925 Super Sport is definitely not your father’s pontoon. At both the bow and stern, stylish fiberglass seating modules break from traditional aluminum-panel-and-fence construction, using the familiar anodized rails and fence panels only to seamlessly link the bow and stern. Those forward seating consoles incorporate dual 4-foot-4-inch-long couches with generously padded thigh bolsters, forward-facing backrests and unique slide-out armrests. Amidships, dual reclining captain’s chairs with flip-up bolsters accommodate the captain and mate. Aft, a U-shaped lounge looks like it was lifted from a luxury cruiser. Step through the raised transomlike walk-through to the swim platform and find a 6-foot-wide couch that overlooks a full-beam swim platform with EVA deck padding. Stowage is located below all the seats, including the electrically raised couch. A sculpted, stainless-steel bow gate completes the upscale imagery.

Take a seat behind the fiberglass helm console and the decidedly premium vibe continues. The centerpiece is a Mercury VesselView 7 digital color touch-screen display. It provides control over nearly all the onboard functions, and includes a GPS, chart plotter and sonar. Controls for the Clarion waterproof stereo with MP3, iPod and Bluetooth capability sit to the left of the wheel.

Equipped with South Bay’s Trifecta performance package, our test boat included a trio of 25-inch-diameter pontoons paired with interior lifting strakes to plane more quickly and enhance maneuverability. Combined with the color-matched, white-hooded Mercury Verado 300s at the stern, the boat planed instantly, hit 30 mph in 5.8 seconds, and topped out at a speedy 58.9 mph. Linked to the optional Mercury joystick control, the engines moved independently to allow precise maneuvering around a crowded dock.

High Points
*South Bay’s 52-inch nose cones promise to enhance speed, reduce fuel consumption and provide an overall more comfortable ride.
*Full-length, roll-formed underdeck skin better manages water and airflow, resulting in greater efficiency.
*Triple-tube configuration provides space for an oversize ski locker.

How We Tested
Engines: Twin Mercury Verado 300s
Drive/Props: 145/8″ x 19″ Revolution 4 4-blade stainless steel
Gear Ratio: 1.85:1
Fuel Load: 57 gal.
Crew Weight: 550 lb.

Price
$227,273 (with test power)

Contact
Forest River Marine Elkhart, Indiana; 574-825-8696; forestriverinc.com

The post South Bay 925 Super Sport appeared first on Boating Mag.

That’s easy. Long-term satisfaction, though, is rooted much deeper than a walk-through. For example, when we pulled up the changing room from the sun pad, we found a carpeted seat fastened to its own sturdy frame, with a continuation of the vinyl surface seen on the platform. To port of the sun pad is a dry compartment with easy access to the battery, power-assist steering reservoir, fuel filter/ water separator and hoses and wires that, on our test boat, were neatly coiled and zip-tied — a positive sign for construction details we would find throughout.

That glimpse of the power-assist steering source and the careful routing of cables gave us an idea about why the 722CR Trifecta would be among our favorite test drives. The entire chassis squats just enough to lift the front half of the tubes off the water once the boat reaches 3,000 rpm and above. This, and the easy one-hand steering, gave us the maneuvering qualities of a runabout. South Bay uses an arched performance skin on the underbelly, so the boat rides on something akin to a catamaran hull. The resulting ride is something you can’t appreciate in pictures or short intros — it has to be experienced over the long haul.

Extra Points
• Swim ladder has a stainless-steel frame that doubles as grab rails to assist in reboarding.
• Optional stainless-steel package on our test boat adds durability and bling.
• Seat in changing room folds up when not in use, so space is not impeded.
• The clearance offered by the optional ski tow bar is a huge help when pulling water toys with an outboard motor.

Test Drive * Test Engine: Honda BF150 4-stroke * Test Prop: 15.5″ X 15″ stainless * Test Load: People (400 LB.) Fuel (25 GAL.) * Top Speed: 35.9 MPH @ 6,400 RPM * Time to 20 MPH: 5.9 sec. Vital Stats * Length Overall: 24’10” * Beam: 8’6″ * Dry Weight: 2,610 LB.(boat only) * Seating/Weight Capacity: 14/2,030 LB. * Fuel Capacity: 54 GAL. * Max HP: 300 * MSRP: See Local Dealer * NMMA Certified: Yes

The post South Bay 722CR Trifecta appeared first on Boating Mag.

With the engine throttle set at wide open and with three people aboard, the 722CR TT still hit 57 mph, and looked good in the process. South Bay has earned a well-deserved reputation for quality, as anyone who treads the 30-ounce Berber carpeting and sinks into the soft-touch upholstery can easily surmise. Underneath the comfort is a rugged chassis that’s designed to handle the higher speeds and higher stresses of a large engine.

South Bay’s answer is to set cross members on 16-inch centers as opposed to the 24-inch industry norm. This, plus corrosion-resistant fasteners, creates a significant increase in longitudinal rigidity.

The addition of a full-length aluminum underdeck performance skin and lifting strakes creates lift as speeds increase, and allows the boat to bank into turns — we noticed the effects as early as the 15 mph range. At higher speeds, the combination of lift and power-assisted hydraulic steering makes for a very enjoyable driving experience.

Key Note: Premium appointments are a bonus in this pontoon experience, but the real story is the underlying construction and the performance potential.

Standout Features
• Center-mounted 54-gallon fuel tank will slake the thirst of a big outboard while keeping the weight balanced.
• Helm includes a premium MP3/iPod-ready sound system and a Humminbird depth finder and GPS nav system.
• Driver sits in a reclining, adjustable seat with spring-backed upholstery.
• Passenger seats are topped with premium soft-touch vinyl.

Vital Stats
* Length Overall: 24′
* Beam: 8’6″
* Dry Weight: 2,590 lb.
* Seating/Weight Capacity: 14/ 1,915 lb.
* Fuel Capacity: 54 gal.
* Maximum HP: 300
* MSRP: See local dealer
* NMMA Certified: Yes

Test Drive
* Test Engine: Mercury 300 Optimax
* Test Prop: 21″ Revolution
* Test Load: People (350 lb.); Fuel (35 gal.)
* Top Speed: 57.1 mph @ 6,000 rpm
* Time to 30 MPH: 9.5 sec.

The post South Bay 722 CR TT appeared first on Boating Mag.

On this 925 CRTT, we settled into the spring-suspension reclining and swiveling helm seat. It was so comfortable, we could’ve dropped anchor on the near-deserted lake and napped. But the view from the elevated helm platform was so great, we cruised and enjoyed the vantage point. Actia instrumentation with fuel monitoring at the helm was integrated with a Garmin GPS Map 430S, giving us a reading on our miles per gallon, so we tuned the throttle to the most-efficient cruise speed of 3,200 rpm.

Special conveniences abound. The optional entertainment galley was topped with a marblelike top and equipped with a cordless blender. Exterior bling included stainless-steel corner castings, cleats, cup holders and table mounts.

The transom seating area converts from forward seating to aft seating to a double-wide sun pad. At anchor, when the seating module is in sun-pad mode, you can roll right off the cushions onto the full-beam swim deck that protects passengers from the gearcase and prop. Add the word convenience to luxury and performance, and you get what South Bay boats are built to provide.

Key Note: South Bay focuses on luxury performance, then builds fun into the chassis with a full-beam platform and tow point.

Standout Features
• Jensen stereo has woofer and tweeter speakers in zones for optimum sound wherever you sit.
• Garmin GPS Map 430S gives plenty of how-to-get-there info, as well as nearby marinas.
• Sonar sensors monitor fuel levels, so there is never a float in the tank to fail.
• Supple upholstery and sculpted styling keep this model high on the luxury list.

Vital Stats
* Length Overall: 26’4″
* Beam: 8’6″
* Dry Weight: 3,125 lb.
* Seating/Weight Capacity: 14/1,910 lb.
* Fuel Capacity: 51 gal.
* Maximum HP: 600
* MSRP (test boat w/ MerCruiser 350 Mag MPI Bravo 3): See local dealer
* NMMA Certified: Yes

Test Drive
* Test Engine: MerCruiser 350 Mag MPI B3
* Test Prop: 24″ Bravo 3
* Test Load: People (400 lb.); Fuel (20 gal)
* Optimum Cruise Speed: 26 mph @ 3,200 rpm @ 7.6 gph
* Top Speed: 43.5 mph @ 5,500 rpm
* Time to 30 MPH: 8 sec.

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