Montara’s 2.0 25 came to market in 2024 and captured Boating’s coveted Boat of the Year award. It was a ringer when considering nobody ever melded an aluminum wake-making hull with the living-room comfort of a pontoon boat. And the wake? Riders love it.

We proved that in our testing of the 25 SL on Tellico Lake last October. The boat carries 4,200 pounds of ballast, has surf-tuning tabs, and features a digital touchscreen that offers control of ballast, speed and acceleration for up to 1,000 profiles, should you have that many friends—and with this boat, you probably will.

From the bow, the 25 SL looks like a triple-tube pontoon, but it is actually more akin to a tri-hull runabout. It has a center ski locker one might expect to find on a pontoon, but that’s the end of pontoon comparisons. Our professional riders surfed, wakeboarded and foiled, enjoying long rides in powerful, crisp wakes—something nobody ever expected from an aluminum hull with a pontoonish-­looking deck. But there was our guy, enjoying the wake’s powerful push and shredding it for all he was worth.

When the Montara is just cruising, its passengers sit high off the water on the tall hull, affording a better view of the passing scenery or the zigzagging rider. We ran the SL version with a broad stern lounge, leaving just enough room to starboard to access the generous swim platform equipped with a tow pylon and boarding ladder. The stern lounger has a reclining back that swings forward for an aft-facing lounge or swings to center for a back-to-back transom lounge. 

The 25 SL has stylish custom-contoured bow and stern corners that stiffen the sleek profile. To combat the single-direction reverse steering, Montara offers a stern thruster that mitigates so seamlessly, it was fun to experiment with it near docks. It will be handy at raft-up parties too.

The Montara 25 SL is the boss of the Montara line, which now includes a 23-footer that sacrifices nothing in terms of wake and comfort while saving space in the garage for those long winter days. We expect some owners to buy a little thicker wetsuits to extend their season and ­expand their circle of riding friends.

High Points

• Hull is a durable 4 millimeters thick.
• Combines the wake of a wakesports boat with the comfort of a pontoon.
• Electrically actuated power tower lowers quickly for storage.
• New convertible stern lounge adds sunning flexibility.

How We Tested

• Engine: PCM 6.2L DPI 465 hp
• Drive/Prop: V-drive/15.5″ x 15″ 4-blade nibral
• Gear Ratio: 1.72:1 Fuel Load: 104 gal. Water on Board: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.

Pricing and Specs

The post 2025 Montara 25 SL appeared first on Boating Mag.

Montara’s 2.0 25 came to market in 2024 and captured Boating’s coveted Boat of the Year award. It was a ringer when considering nobody ever melded an aluminum wake-making hull with the living-room comfort of a pontoon boat. And the wake? Riders love it.

We proved that in our testing of the 25 SL on Tellico Lake last October. The boat carries 4,200 pounds of ballast, has surf-tuning tabs, and features a digital touchscreen that offers control of ballast, speed and acceleration for up to 1,000 profiles, should you have that many friends—and with this boat, you probably will.

From the bow, the 25 SL looks like a triple-tube pontoon, but it is actually more akin to a tri-hull runabout. It has a center ski locker one might expect to find on a pontoon, but that’s the end of pontoon comparisons. Our professional riders surfed, wakeboarded and foiled, enjoying long rides in powerful, crisp wakes—something nobody ever expected from an aluminum hull with a pontoonish-­looking deck. But there was our guy, enjoying the wake’s powerful push and shredding it for all he was worth.

When the Montara is just cruising, its passengers sit high off the water on the tall hull, affording a better view of the passing scenery or the zigzagging rider. We ran the SL version with a broad stern lounge, leaving just enough room to starboard to access the generous swim platform equipped with a tow pylon and boarding ladder. The stern lounger has a reclining back that swings forward for an aft-facing lounge or swings to center for a back-to-back transom lounge. 

The 25 SL has stylish custom-contoured bow and stern corners that stiffen the sleek profile. To combat the single-direction reverse steering, Montara offers a stern thruster that mitigates so seamlessly, it was fun to experiment with it near docks. It will be handy at raft-up parties too.

The Montara 25 SL is the boss of the Montara line, which now includes a 23-footer that sacrifices nothing in terms of wake and comfort while saving space in the garage for those long winter days. We expect some owners to buy a little thicker wetsuits to extend their season and ­expand their circle of riding friends.

High Points

• Hull is a durable 4 millimeters thick.
• Combines the wake of a wakesports boat with the comfort of a pontoon.
• Electrically actuated power tower lowers quickly for storage.
• New convertible stern lounge adds sunning flexibility.

How We Tested

• Engine: PCM 6.2L DPI 465 hp
• Drive/Prop: V-drive/15.5″ x 15″ 4-blade nibral
• Gear Ratio: 1.72:1 Fuel Load: 104 gal. Water on Board: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.

Pricing and Specs

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In The Fly, a scientist tested his ­molecular transporter with a fly in the chamber, and the scrambled result was the source of horror. But the engineers at Montara decided that putting a water­sports boat and a pontoon boat through a similar genetic scramble would work. And it did, beautifully, resulting in the Montara 2.0 23 CWDH—a 23-foot, 6,000-pound wakesports boat with an aluminum hull and the capacity to carry 3,000 pounds of ballast to shape fantastic surf wakes.

From the rub rail up, you’d think it was a pontoon boat complete with apparent acres of comfortable lounges, with an optional convertible aft sun pad designed to let loungers face forward or aft to monitor the surfing arena. The 23-footer seems to have enough deck space to hold a dance recital. 

From the rub rails down, it’s an all-welded aluminum hull shaped to make epic wakes for surfing or wakeboarding. The PCM 6.0-liter V-drive in our test boat powered the rider up quickly, and the wake-shaping ballast and tabs carved a steep wake with a crisp edge and a powerful swell to drive the surfer. Our professional rider even foiled on the wake for miles, effortlessly swooping around in the swells.

The dashboard is kitted with a digital touchscreen panel that manages all wake profiles. Tactile switches are also included for a few of the most used things, such as navigation lights, the horn and more. 

Our tester had a Bimini top that raised and lowered at the touch of a button on the dash, handy for compact storage, as did the engine compartment cover ­beneath the spacious aft lounge. 

One cool option on this well-equipped boat is the stern thruster that not only mitigates the task of steering in reverse, but also helps nudge the boat to or from a pier or dock. Its battery system is charged with an onboard charger. 

When you first see this cool new wakeboat, your first thought is pontoon. But when you see it carve an epic wake while transporting your boating buddies in lounge-lizard luxury, an entirely new paradigm in wakesports enters your world.

High Points

• The 2.0 23 complements Montara’s 2.0 25, awarded ­Boating’s 2024 Boat of the Year.
• Premium audio includes Boston Acoustics speakers and optional  sub and amp.
• Optional stern thruster impressed us.

How We Tested

• Engine: PCM 6.0L 409 hp
• Drive/Prop: V-drive
• Gear Ratio: 1.72:1 Fuel Load: 40 gal. Water on Board: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 700 lb.

Pricing and Specs

The post 2025 Montara 2.0 23 CWDH appeared first on Boating Mag.

In The Fly, a scientist tested his ­molecular transporter with a fly in the chamber, and the scrambled result was the source of horror. But the engineers at Montara decided that putting a water­sports boat and a pontoon boat through a similar genetic scramble would work. And it did, beautifully, resulting in the Montara 2.0 23 CWDH—a 23-foot, 6,000-pound wakesports boat with an aluminum hull and the capacity to carry 3,000 pounds of ballast to shape fantastic surf wakes.

From the rub rail up, you’d think it was a pontoon boat complete with apparent acres of comfortable lounges, with an optional convertible aft sun pad designed to let loungers face forward or aft to monitor the surfing arena. The 23-footer seems to have enough deck space to hold a dance recital. 

From the rub rails down, it’s an all-welded aluminum hull shaped to make epic wakes for surfing or wakeboarding. The PCM 6.0-liter V-drive in our test boat powered the rider up quickly, and the wake-shaping ballast and tabs carved a steep wake with a crisp edge and a powerful swell to drive the surfer. Our professional rider even foiled on the wake for miles, effortlessly swooping around in the swells.

The dashboard is kitted with a digital touchscreen panel that manages all wake profiles. Tactile switches are also included for a few of the most used things, such as navigation lights, the horn and more. 

Our tester had a Bimini top that raised and lowered at the touch of a button on the dash, handy for compact storage, as did the engine compartment cover ­beneath the spacious aft lounge. 

One cool option on this well-equipped boat is the stern thruster that not only mitigates the task of steering in reverse, but also helps nudge the boat to or from a pier or dock. Its battery system is charged with an onboard charger. 

When you first see this cool new wakeboat, your first thought is pontoon. But when you see it carve an epic wake while transporting your boating buddies in lounge-lizard luxury, an entirely new paradigm in wakesports enters your world.

High Points

• The 2.0 23 complements Montara’s 2.0 25, awarded ­Boating’s 2024 Boat of the Year.
• Premium audio includes Boston Acoustics speakers and optional  sub and amp.
• Optional stern thruster impressed us.

How We Tested

• Engine: PCM 6.0L 409 hp
• Drive/Prop: V-drive
• Gear Ratio: 1.72:1 Fuel Load: 40 gal. Water on Board: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 700 lb.

Pricing and Specs

The post 2025 Montara 2.0 23 CWDH appeared first on Boating Mag.

You will be hard-pressed to find a better-built pontoon than the Montara Naxos, or one that mixes function so well with luxury. You’ll also need to ride it yourself to experience how truly good it runs.

The Naxos’ construction exceeds many other pontoons. The full-length keel that helps it deliver an awesome ride also provides great strength. Side panels are rugged 0.100 gauge, rather than the more common 0.60 gauge. Its 26-inch-diameter tubes feature four air chambers and are fitted with nose cones. Quarter-inch M brackets run full length. Cross members are installed every 16 inches.

Montara builds the Naxos’ interior functionally and luxuriously. For instance, seat bases are roto-molded, so they won’t rot and get soft. Plus, the storage compartments are fitted with drains, so gear that gets stowed dry stays dry. The Naxos boasts top-notch upholstery that looks nice, feels great, and will hold up to your boating lifestyle. The Naxos boasts a seating capacity of 15.

Sitting down at the helm aboard, a raised helm affords the captain increased visibility and an enhanced feeling of command. A 12-inch touchscreen MFD provides control and monitoring of accessory systems and engine data. You’ll also manage the music from the four-speaker Polk Audio sound system with four-zone control. Depth and seawater temperature are in view, and there’s even an emergency parallel battery switch wired in to help ensure you’ve got the amps to start the engine at the end of a long stay at the cove or sandbar. Heated and cooled drink holders and wireless phone chargers represent some of the options available.

Overhead, select from two optional power-tower choices to allow raising and lowering at a button push. (Our eye is on the deluxe Cast one.) Forward and aft Bimini options are available, as are four tower speakers, rear-facing camera options and a Lillipad diving board.

There’s more to tell about the ­Montara Naxos, and buyers seeking a pontoon that is luxurious, functional and built like a tank should check it out.

High Points

• Great ride thanks to full-length keels and three-sided lifting strakes.
• Rugged construction tubes with four air chambers, 0.125-inch nose cones and 1/4-inch chassis.
• Remote battery and parallel switch for peace of mind.

How We Tested

• Engine: 300 hp Mercury Verado
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/14.3″ x 18″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.85:1 Fuel Load: 50 gal. Crew Weight: 360 lb.

The post 2024 Montara Naxos appeared first on Boating Mag.

In testing more than 100 boats each year, Boating’s Tech Team gets to assess more boats—and more different kinds of boats­—than just about anyone else on the planet. Each editor brings their own Boat of the Year (BOTY) candidate boats to regular discussions, making our BOTY selection an ongoing and dynamic process. While candidates must meet the highest ­industry standards, as well as best practices in design, materials and construction, simply being a “great boat,” of which there are many, is not enough. The Boat of the Year must excel in its category more than any other boat excels in any other category. 

During 2023, Montara’s Surf Boss 2.0 rated that ­status. In fact, it was the first BOTY candidate in some time that our team agreed upon without much debate.

The Surf Boss 2.0 combines the best qualities of two of the most popular boat categories—pontoons and watersports—with hardly any compromise. Rendered in aluminum and powered by a V-drive inboard, its monohull is optimized for creating wakes and waves that pro riders have raved about. Topside, it offers the wide-open sociability of a pontoon.

Congratulations to the entire Montara Boats crew!

The post 2023 Boat of the Year: Montara Surf Boss 2.0 appeared first on Boating Mag.

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.

Let’s be clear: this is not some sort of compromise. The Surf Boss 2.0 is not a, “pontoon boat that also provides wakesurf waves and wakeboarding wakes.” It’s not a pontoon boat at all.

The Surf Boss 2.0 runs on a monohull bottom that’s optimized to create the kinds of wakes and waves that expert watersports enthusiasts can enjoy to the fullest. This hull was developed by a team that’s been designing and building—and riding behind—watersports boats for years. All of that combined experience was brought to bear in rendering the Surf Boss 2.0’s hull shape.

Pro wake athletes agree with our assessment. Gunner Daft, who was unaffiliated when we hired him to test this boat with us, was blown away by the wakes and waves delivered by the Surf Boss 2.0. Daft went on to sign with Montara. And, subsequently, Montara garnered the endorsement of legend, Scott Byerly, even developing a “Byerly Edition” of the boat. Visit the Instagram accounts of Byerly and Daft to see this boat’s watersports prowess.

And, though as stated, this boat is not a pontoon, it delivers the sociability of one. The wide-open deck is loaded with sofas and seating and the ability to swallow a whole crew of people and give elbow room and comfort to them all.  Innovations such as the massive storage area that Montara calls, “the basement,” are just so much icing on the cake.

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.

You can learn more details about this boat’s layout, features and construction by reading our boat test or by visiting the Montara Website.

To sum it up, Montara’s Surf Boss 2.0 delivers the best attributes of two very popular boat categories with little discernible compromise.

Congratulations as the 2023 Watersports Category Winner, Montara!

The post Boat of the Year Watersports Category Winner: Montara Surf Boss 2.0 appeared first on Boating Mag.

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.

Montara’s Surf Boss 2.0 blows the old saying about every boat being a compromise right out of the water. It delivers first-class wakes and waves for surfing and wakeboarding. And it ­delivers the space, seating and mega-­sociability provided by a pontoon boat. 

Pro riders have lauded its capabilities. Plus, you can see for yourself in the companion video we produced.

Its aluminum hull is refined by craftspeople with decades of experience building watersports boats. Topside, we noted a 12-inch touchscreen providing control of the 4,200 pounds of ballast, rider profiles and more. The Polk ­Audio head unit is also located here, with its four-zone control. The helm is raised, aiding ­visibility. In all, this helm will prove familiar to wake captains.

Grip the side-mount Livorsi throttle and take control of the PCM inboard, of which three versions are available. Our tester featured the 465 hp 6.2L DPI, which shot us to 30 mph in 8 seconds and hit 37 mph at wide-open throttle. It proved smooth and steady during our wave and wake sessions.

The base power tower folds easily for garage stowage. We’d opt for the Cast Power Tower, with its sheathing and white powder coat. It looks killer and ­offers great functionality.

Another old saying states that storage is at a premium on boats. Montara is down with that, offering the “Basement.” This huge compartment under the bow cockpit is large enough to step down into and swallow all of your gear. It also provides fantastic access to the batteries and electrical system.

Note that the Surf Boss 2.0 comes in a 23-foot length as well as the 25-footer we tested. Both offer two layouts. The CW plan comes with a single helm seat and a longer lounge along the port side aft. The CWDH plan comes with port and starboard captain’s chairs for the pilot and mate. We found the upholstery comfortable, well-sewn and attractive. Either way, this boat offers a 16-person seating capacity, and the 23-footer seats 14. 

Are you seeking a boat that’s a wake performer and an entertainer? Check out Montara’s Surf Boss 2.0.

High Points

• Wakes and waves impress the pros.
• Basement with in-deck storage. 
• Comfort, amenities, and ease of boarding unrivaled for a watersports boat.
• Lightweight, low-maintenance aluminum hull.

How We Tested

• Engine: 465 hp PCM 6.2L DPI
• Drive/Prop: V-drive/151/2″ x 15″ 4-blade nibral
• Gear Ratio: 1.70:1 Fuel Load: 60 gal. Crew Weight: 800 lb.

Pricing and Specs

The post 2024 Montara Surf Boss 2.0 appeared first on Boating Mag.

You will be hard-pressed to find a better-built pontoon than the Montara Naxos, or one that mixes function so well with luxury. You’ll also need to ride it yourself to experience how truly good it runs.

The Naxos’ construction exceeds many other pontoons. The full-length keel that helps it deliver an awesome ride also provides great strength. Side panels are rugged 0.100 gauge, rather than the more common 0.60 gauge. Its 26-inch-diameter tubes feature four air chambers and are fitted with nose cones. Quarter-inch M brackets run full length. Cross members are installed every 16 inches.

Montara builds the Naxos’ interior functionally and luxuriously. For instance, seat bases are roto-molded, so they won’t rot and get soft. Plus, the storage compartments are fitted with drains, so gear that gets stowed dry stays dry. The Naxos boasts top-notch upholstery that looks nice, feels great, and will hold up to your boating lifestyle. The Naxos boasts a seating capacity of 15.

Sitting down at the helm aboard, a raised helm affords the captain increased visibility and an enhanced feeling of command. A 12-inch touchscreen MFD provides control and monitoring of accessory systems and engine data. You’ll also manage the music from the four-speaker Polk Audio sound system with four-zone control. Depth and seawater temperature are in view, and there’s even an emergency parallel battery switch wired in to help ensure you’ve got the amps to start the engine at the end of a long stay at the cove or sandbar. Heated and cooled drink holders and wireless phone chargers represent some of the options available.

Overhead, select from two optional power-tower choices to allow raising and lowering at a button push. (Our eye is on the deluxe Cast one.) Forward and aft Bimini options are available, as are four tower speakers, rear-facing camera options and a Lillipad diving board.

There’s more to tell about the ­Montara Naxos, and buyers seeking a pontoon that is luxurious, functional and built like a tank should check it out.

High Points

• Great ride thanks to full-length keels and three-sided lifting strakes.
• Rugged construction tubes with four air chambers, 0.125-inch nose cones and 1/4-inch chassis.
• Remote battery and parallel switch for peace of mind.

How We Tested

• Engine: 300 hp Mercury Verado
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/14.3″ x 18″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.85:1 Fuel Load: 50 gal. Crew Weight: 360 lb.

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