Newcomer though Balise may be, the Michigan pontoon builder’s bold goal is to be the most luxurious and innovative pontoon on the market. Judging by our day aboard the Balise ­Helix 24, it’s off to a good start. A brand that traces its roots to Crest and parent company MasterCraft, Balise has imbued the Helix with a seemingly never-ending list of amenities. Some, such as the gelcoated fiberglass exterior and powder-coated pontoons and skirting, give the boat the upscale look and feel of a luxury sports car or high-end wakeboat. Others, such as heated seats, chilled cup holders, a powered cooler lift that lowers into the water off the transom, and a steering wheel designed by ­Italian race-car driver Max Papis, seem intent on proving there’s no limit to the ­Helix’s luxury touches. The end result is a boat that instantly competes with the market’s most elite brands.

In terms of layout, Balise doesn’t reinvent the wheel. Our test boat’s Cruise configuration included a pair of lounges forward, twin chairs for the captain and co-captain, and raised helm and twin aft lounges behind with rear-facing seat backs, all swathed in cool-touch vinyl. Again, it’s the details that stand out. Lumbar cutouts feature lit cup holders and wireless phone chargers. The insulated cooler below a bow seat is labeled as such with a placard so there’s no confusion. The Cordova cooler below the helm pulls out via a massive drawer. Adjacent, the snack table that emerges from the forward side of that console is made of actual teak. 

And then there’s the custom Balise premium audio system. It features eight midrange speakers, four aluminum tweeters and a subwoofer, all completely hidden behind textile covers. The in-water entertainment system at the transom adds two speakers and even a vented subwoofer to deliver rich bass under the deck.

As to the ride, underway the ­Helix handled a choppy test day with ease, riding across the water atop a trio of 26-inch pontoons with lifting strakes on both sides of all tubes. Our test boat’s 400 hp ­Mercury Verado pushed the boat to 30 mph in a relatively brief 7.9 seconds. Top speed peaked at 47.1 mph.

High Points

• Standards galore: shock-assist tower, integrated Bimini, stainless accents and woven flooring.
• Lighting includes the logo, exterior-interior zone-controlled RGB, and bow and helm pop-ups.
• Standard 12-inch Simrad NXS touchscreen and room for another. 

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury Verado 400
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Revolution X 14.625″ x 19″ 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 15 gal. Crew Weight: 540 lb.

Pricing and Specs

The post 2025 Balise Helix 24 appeared first on Boating Mag.

Balise, a new pontoon boat builder, launches today.

It’s hard to imagine another pontoon boat maker offering a different experience given the number of pontoon boat brands from which boat buyers can choose. But, Balise is promising to deliver a new experience for boaters in several ways. 

According to a company spokesman, every Balise pontoon boat model is meticulously designed and fitted with distinct features to make your time on the water exceptional. Timeless artistry, the company says, defines Balise, and such precision is mastered from perfecting innovation, performance, comfort and quality.  

The team behind Balise (MasterCraft Boat Company) can claim more than 60 years of hand-built legacy and are, Balise claims, the same torchbearers designing a new way to experience pontoon boats. 

Read Next: How to Choose a Pontoon Boat Propeller

These ideals were shared with Boating during a recent meeting. At that same meeting, we committed to testing Balise Pontoon Boats models so as to confirm for pontoon boat buyers that Balise lives up to the ideals its messaging espouses. 

Boating established that Balise Pontoon Boats are powered by Mercury outboards.

For more information, visit Balise Pontoon Boats on Facebook and Instagram.

Stay tuned for our tests, and learn more about this new brand, below.

Crest Marine, LLC., a leader in the recreational powerboat industry and subsidiary of MasterCraft Boat Holdings, Inc., today announced the expansion of its portfolio with the launch of an all-new, independent luxury pontoon brand, Balise Pontoon Boats (“Balise”). 

Balise was born from the singular mission to be the most luxurious and innovative pontoon boat on the market. The team behind Balise prioritized timeless artistry, sophisticated entertainment, radical innovation, and uncompromising quality in developing this new brand. And from these principles this vision has come to life.

“The launch of the Balise brand is the culmination of nearly three years of careful consumer research, design, and engineering to redefine the way consumers experience on-water luxury and sophisticated entertainment,” said George Steinbarger, President of Crest Marine. “Jointly developed by a dedicated team of Crest Marine and MasterCraft professionals, we leveraged more than 120 years of combined premium boat building experience, design, and innovation to develop a brand whose single goal is to deliver a standard of elegance, performance, and quality not previously experienced in the pontoon segment.”

The Balise brand will initially launch with two distinct models, the Horizon and Helix. Every model is meticulously designed and fitted with distinct features to make your time on the water exceptional. Both models are available in either 24- or 26-foot lengths, and can be outfitted with the Cruise (“C”) or Lounge (“L”) layout configurations. 

Each model is fully suited for on-water entertainment with premium comforts including plush upholstery, wireless phone chargers, and RGB interior lights throughout. For even greater comfort and convenience, both models offer numerous upgrades such as dual 12-inch screens at the helm, dual windshields, underwater lighting, diving board, and a user-friendly low-profile ladder. And in an industry-first, Balise is introducing an in-water power cooler that automatically brings your cooler down to water level while anchored – greatly enhancing your in-water entertainment experience. Additionally, Balise has revolutionized in-water audio with its 4D sound system, designed to deliver full-range, crystal-clear sound to you and your guests while relaxing in the water.

To achieve the premium performance standards consumers expect at this level, Balise has partnered with Mercury Marine to be the exclusive outboard engine supplier. The Helix and Horizon models come equipped with a base Mercury 5.7L V10 350 Verado, and the choice to upgrade to a Mercury 5.7L V10 400-hp Verado or Mercury Racing 4.8L V8 Supercharged 500R.

“Boating is about spending quality time with your family and friends – creating memories that will last a lifetime. I have been in the boating industry for more than 40 years, and in that time, I have never seen a brand put so much attention into every detail as I have with Balise. Every design element, feature, and innovation tell a story, and were born from our singular focus to elevate every aspect of the consumers’ boating experience,” said Rick Skinner, Director of Sales and Marketing. “Every model is meticulously designed and fitted with distinct features to make your time on the water exceptional. Whether seeking high performance, quality craftsmanship, or unmatched comfort, the Horizon and Helix models deliver.”

After months of anticipation, these exceptional vessels are now available to order through select dealers across the United States. To learn more about Balise Pontoon Boats, visit BalisePontoonBoats.com. 

About Balise Pontoon Boats

Balise Pontoon Boats is the most refined pontoon brand in the luxury watercraft space. Each model boasts premium features and intentional design elements to navigate exceptional experiences. Balise is dedicated to guiding sophistication unlike any other on the water. Leveraging more than 120 years of mastery in the boating industry, Balise’s sophisticated entertainment, radical innovation and uncompromising quality deliver the most luxurious and innovative pontoon boat on the market.

About MasterCraft Boat Holdings

Headquartered in Vonore, Tennessee, MasterCraft Boat Holdings, Inc. is a leading innovator, designer, manufacturer and marketer of recreational powerboats through its four brands, MasterCraft, Crest, Aviara and Balise. Through these four brands, MasterCraft Boat Holdings has leading market share positions in two of the fastest growing segments of the powerboat industry – performance sport boats and pontoon boats – while entering the large, growing luxury day boat segment. For more information about MasterCraft Boat Holdings, and its brands, visit: Investors.MasterCraft.com and MasterCraft.com.

The post Balise Pontoon Boats Launches appeared first on Boating Mag.