Summer on the lakes is all about sharing. In midsummer, when the air is hot and the water is warm, it’s never a problem to find some friends who want to come out for a cruise. In fact, a more common problem is that you don’t have enough room to take everyone.
That’s where a pontoon boat comes into its own. When you’re looking to take some friends, nothing beats a pontoon boat, says Steve St. Onge, Owner of St. Onge Recreation. “This entire class of boats was designed as a way of getting the maximum number of people out in safety and comfort,” he says. “That’s what they’ve always been all about.”
Of course, pontoon design has come a long way in the past couple of decades. These are no longer your grandparents’ party barges: modern pontoons have all the comfort – and power – you need to make the most of your time on the water.
Take the Sylvan L3 for example. “This is a beautiful, well-thought-out, do-everything boat,” says Steve. “Whether you’re looking to take some friends for a sunset cruise or take the family out for an afternoon of play on the water, Sylvan has you covered – and offers excellent value for money.”
Sylvan has been building boats since 1903 and is still owned by the same family. So they know a thing or two about putting essential details into a boat. “They were a pioneer in building high-performance pontoon boats, and they remain at the front of the pack,” Steve says.
Besides excellent performance, Sylvan boats also feature plenty of well-thought-out details, like stainless steel aft rails, and gently curved two-tone fencing, which speak of luxury on the water. There’s a pop-up change room, high-back seating for the captain and the adjacent passenger, and incredibly versatile seating arrangements. “Your passengers can all face forward, or flip the seating into two lounges facing each other with a removable table in between, or switch things up to make a pair of extra-long rear-facing recliners… all in a matter of moments,” says Steve.
The ultimate in luxury
To take your pontoon ride to the next level, though, check out the Manitou Explore 22.
“Manitou only builds pontoon boats, and they really have redefined what pontoon boats are all about,” says Steve. “These truly are the ultimate mix of luxury and performance.”
One of the first things you notice about the Explore 22 is the sleek exterior – the aluminum side panels with integrated LED lighting are made using a process Manitou has borrowed from the luxury car world and used to great effect.
Other details that owners appreciate include the large gas-assist bimini, which is rated to stay in place at speeds up to 55 mph – the highest rating of any pontoon bimini. “What that means is that on the hottest days, you and your guests can cruise in the shade and remain comfortable at any speed,” says Steve.
Depending on the configuration you choose, the Manitou Explore 22 can accommodate as many as 14 people, all seated in style and comfort.
But for maximum floor space, check out the Rotax S engine. “This is a feature that really sets the Manitou apart,” says Steve. Rather than mounting on the stern the way most outboards do, the Rotax engine is mounted beneath the floor.
It’s still classified as an outboard, but the way it’s mounted creates additional deck space at the stern of the boat – an incredible 38 square feet of space. “A 22-foot boat with the Rotax S engine actually has 26 feet of usable deck space,” says Steve. “That’s a huge difference.”
Buyers can also opt for more conventional outboards if they choose: the Manitou is rated for up to 600 hp, which will carry you and your guests across the lake in no time at all.
Jet boat thrills
For a different kind of power unit and handling, there’s nothing quite like a jet boat.
If you’ve driven a PWC, you’ve driven a jet boat – rather than having a prop, a jet boat has a powerful pump that shoots a jet of water out the stern, driving the boat forward.
Scarab has taken that personal watercraft technology and upsized it to a 26-foot runabout.
“The Scarab 255 ID is fast, nimble, and extremely versatile,” says Steve. “It has a tunable wake that makes it perfect for towing riders. And it’s also just a great family runabout.”
Because there’s no prop at all, it’s a great option for anyone nervous about children swimming off the stern. And, like all jet boats, it’s considerably lighter than what you might expect, which is excellent if you’re towing to different lakes.
“No matter what kind of boating you’re in to, we’ve got you covered,” says Steve. All you need to do then is call up some friends, launch, and get ready for a fabulous summer.
TEXT A. WAGNER-CHAZALON
