Viaggio’s premium Diamante 22S AT melds new tech, beaucoup features and a plush interior with a traditional approach. With a Suzuki 300, it roars to 30 mph in 6.9 seconds, with a top speed of 46 mph at 6,000 rpm. Fuel mileage? The Diamante’s most economical cruising speed comes at 23.5 mph, where it scores 2.9 mpg for a 153-mile range—or a weekend without refueling.

The Diamante employs an optional triple 27-inch-diameter pontoon tube setup, with spray rails on the outside tubes and lifting strakes on all three. A spray shield underneath keeps the water flowing smoothly. The performance package comes with SeaStar power steering. The Diamante takes full advantage, giving ­solid sure-footedness in afternoon lake chop and when crossing large wakes, as well as carving clean turns with a slight banking.

Viaggio upgraded its belowdecks superstructures last year. Thicker aluminum is used in tubes and splash guards, and heavier full C-channel crossmembers connect the tubes to the deck frame. 

The perimeter employs Viaggio’s distinguishing feature, a 3-inch-tall extruded top rail, giving the boat a solid look. New for 2025, the front vision gate features a see-through section at the top, which is a great aid when docking.

The interior layout features seating fore and aft separated amidships by the console and captain’s chairs. The console is raised 3 inches off the deck for better visibility. The pillow-top interior features white vinyl with black accents and diamond-­stitched inset cushions; the effect is rich and inviting. The bow loungers taper inward in the center to allow for easier movement around the boat without sacrificing room and comfort.

The helm station features a JL Audio system and RGB interior lighting. A Simrad NSX9 display combines with Viaggio’s electronic digital gauges to monitor the engine performance and boat functions.

Aft, the swingback lounge hugs the port side; it features a multiposition backrest that allows lying flat and sitting facing forward or aft. An extended stern deck is a perfect spot to prep for watersports, with an optional tow bar.

High Points

• Cellphone holder/charger in dashboard keeps phone safe and visible.
• Heated/cooled cup holder for the captain and two cup holders for the navigator are nice touches.
• New forward egress gate offers see-through section, which aids visibility.

How We Tested

• Engine: Suzuki 300 hp outboard
• Drive/Dual Props: Outboard/Suzuki 15.5″ x 19.5″ (front LH; rear RH) 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 2.08:1 Fuel Load: 44 gal. Crew Weight: 250 lb.

Pricing and Specs

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The Lago X is Viaggio’s ­bestselling pontoon series for good reason. One reason? Models like the X22Q we tested offer much of the same upscale details but maintain an affordable price. Bi-level perimeter fencing is finished in a trendy matte metallic finish. Beefy, rectangular rails provide structure but instantly distinguish this boat from other pontoons. The rails, trim and skirting are all anodized. The interior follows suit. The fiberglass helm is stylishly contoured, topped with a vinyl brow and smoked windscreen. ­Soft-touch vinyl (in a trio of shades) wraps seating and is bolstered below the thigh and pillow-topped on ­lounges. The Lago’s pontoons are built from 0.100 aluminum, thicker than many, and feature full-length lifting strakes, side keels, and crossmembers spaced 16 inches or less on center. 

While multiple floor plans are available, our test boat broke away from the typical bench or swingback layout featured on so many modern pontoons. In their place instead were four high-back captain­’s chairs. Face forward and occupants enjoy a secure, supportive ride underway. Chairs have flip-down armrests, recline for comfort, or swivel inward to allow passengers to socialize or snack around a removable pedestal table. In the bow, familiar lounges can pair with a gate-filler seat to fashion a generous U-shaped bench. A pair of single-passenger bench-style seats finish things off aft in the corners, flanking the rear boarding gate.

In terms of the Lago’s power and handling combo, Viaggio equipped the X22Q with a 200 hp Suzuki engine and the ­27-inch Tripletoon Performance ­Package. The latter includes SeaStar ­hydraulic steering, a performance underdeck shield to minimize drag from wakes and wind, and a trio of 27-inch pontoons with ­lifting strakes. 

Firewall the throttle and the Lago reaches 30 mph in 9.6 seconds. Top speed peaked at 38.5 mph. Use that speed to run to the cove or sandbar and you can experience yet another unique offering, the “party button.” Push it and your sound system can sync up with other Bluetooth-equipped boats at the sandbar for the ­ultimate jam session.

High Points

• Extended swim deck adds 2 additional feet of length, perfect for the sandbar or towing prep. 
• Clarion sound system includes four 6.5-inch speakers.
• Worthwhile options include an LED interior light package and wireless charging at the helm. 

How We Tested

• Engine: Suzuki 200
• Drive/Prop: Suzuki 16″ x 18.5″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 2.50:1 Fuel Load: 22 gal.

Pricing and Specs

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Overview

Measuring 18 feet, 4 ­inches, Viaggio’s Lago V 16U is one tiny ’toon. Why embrace shrinkage when supersizing seems the norm? Smaller boats cost less, and they stow and tow easier.

Though small, the Lago V 16U definitely lives large on the water. Its deck extends the entire length of the pontoons, and it measures 8 feet, 6 inches in width. That means more usable space than many similarly sized models. Viaggio also maximizes the floor plan. Your crew will enjoy seating that wraps nearly the entire perimeter, including a 12-foot-long  portside lounge.  

Interior and Accessories

True to Viaggio’s roots, the Lago V 16U retains a decidedly upscale vibe. The exterior follows the brand’s ­familiar palette of trendy, matte-­metallic finishes and sleek bilevel fence panels. Oversize rails, trim and ­skirting are all anodized in black and seem more like aesthetic ­accents than stodgy structure. Within, a sculpted ­fiberglass helm features a tinted windscreen, a vinyl-wrapped ­eyebrow, chrome-bezel gauges, backlit push-button controls and an illuminated ­Viaggio logo. ­Roto-molded seat ­bases, ­covered in vinyl, ­offer a contrasting color to the ­buttery-­soft pillow-top ­seating above. Standard ­amenities include a Clarion sound system, a 10-foot-long Bimini top with anodized frame, LED ­interior lighting, a polished stainless-­steel boarding ­ladder, and a mooring cover.

Viaggio’s construction details stand out as well. Twin tubes are 25 ­inches in ­diameter. C-channel crossmembers are spaced 16 inches on ­center and topped with ¾-inch marine-­grade plywood and durable, ­woven-vinyl ­flooring. All welds are backed by a ­limited lifetime warranty. The aluminum for the tubes is 0.10-inch thick. I’d contend that the only real trade-off in this pint-size pontoon is the choice of available power. While certainly fuel-efficient and fine for casual cruising, the 60 hp Suzuki outboard, even with the motor’s High Energy Rotation lower unit, had its work cut out for it when it came to performance on our test boat. Top speed failed to surpass 18 mph with our two-passenger load. The overall feeling, however, is of a boat-and-motor combo that definitely punches above its weight class.

Read Next: Viaggio Diamante 26U 

How We Tested

• Engine: Suzuki DF60AV
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Suzuki 11 5/8″ x 12″ 3-blade aluminum
• Gear Ratio: 2.42:1 Fuel Load: 14 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.

High Points

• Pillow-top furniture swathed in buttery-soft vinyl. 
• Standards include 10-foot Bimini with -anodized frame, mooring cover, woven vinyl flooring.
• Sculpted fiberglass helm.
• Wide beam compared with similar-length pontoon boats.
• Worthwhile options include digital depth finder/transducer, integrated docking lights with flip-up stainless-steel cleats, helm seat slider.
• Standard Clarion sound system

Low Point 

• Stylish and upscale—but many of today’s buyers might find its maximum 60 hp rating underwhelming. 

Toughest Competitors

• SunTracker’s Party Barge 18 DLX ($27,760 with a Mercury 60 FourStroke) is competitively priced but lacks the Viaggio’s upscale feel. 
• Another intriguing option is Sea-Doo’s Switch 19 ($36,199 with a 170 hp jet drive). It features a configurable floor plan and seating for up to 10 people.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

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Viaggio’s Lago X24S punches above its weight class, offering a premium high-end look and feel while competing at a midrange price point. The former is obvious in the trademark matte-metallic finishes Viaggio chooses for its bi-level perimeter fencing, unique rectangular rail structure, and black anodizing on rails, trim and skirting. Step through the bow gate with its raised 3D logo, and the interior follows suit. Seating is ­covered in rich three-tone vinyl. The gleaming fiberglass helm is topped by a sleek glass windscreen with new heavy-duty stanchions. Woven-vinyl flooring sports a unique, planklike pattern. Aft, gleaming stainless steel shines on the tubular retaining fence and boarding ladder. As to the latter, just look at the price tag. The Lago is as competitive as they come.

The S Model layout is defined by long, parallel couches forward, twin high-back chairs for captain and first mate, and a versatile, multiposition lounge aft. Roto-molded seat bases forward feature a recessed toe kick and vinyl covering for a seamless appearance. Access to the guttered storage within is simple thanks to hinged seat bases that allow cushions to lift out, then drop vertically out of your way. Aft, the expansive lounge accommodates tall humans. It is divided into both forward- and rear-facing couches. Pivot the backrest forward to create a comfortable, aft-facing recliner. Find more storage below seats that raise on gas struts. In a clever touch, dedicated vertical storage against the starboard fence interior houses the removable ­pedestal table when not in use. 

Impressive standard construction offers 25-inch pontoons, built from thicker 0.100 aluminum, providing durability. Full-length lifting strakes are sealed, and side keels offer tube protection at the dock. Deutsch electrical connectors protect underdeck wiring from corrosion. Cross members are 16 inches on center, with many spaced even closer. The end result is a solid, rattle-free ride and spirited performance. The 300 hp Mercury pushed the Lago, fitted with the optional center ’toon, to 30 mph in 7.1 seconds, peaking at a 44 mph top speed.

High Points

• Extended aft deck is 2 feet longer than the pontoons, maximizing space for swimming and watersports.
• Simrad touchscreen MFD.
• Dedicated storage for the table and pedestal makes it easy to put them up or put them away. 
• Abundant color choices, with 11 exterior shades, and multiple ­seating and flooring ­options.
• Options include center-tube storage, extended Bimini top, and a Lillipad diving board sure to be a hit with the kids.

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury 300XL Verado HP
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Rev 4 14.6″ x 15″ 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.85:1 Fuel Load: 20 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.

Pricing and Specs

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Viaggio’s Diamante 26U offers quality, appearance and features competitive with the best pontoon offerings. How does it perform? With a powerful Mercury Verado 400, it rips to 30 mph in 7.3 seconds and hits 48 mph at wide-open throttle. Fuel-mileage data shows 3.3 mpg, burning 4.8 gph.

Construction-wise, the Diamante is all-business. Triple ­25-inch-diameter tubes boast spray rails and lifting strakes. A spray shield keeps the water flowing smoothly underdeck. As a result, the Diamante gives strong ­performance in chop and crossing wakes, and carves sure-footed turns.

Viaggio has upgraded its hulls and below-deck superstructures for 2024. Underdeck wires and connections are concealed, and Deutsch connections are used to keep corrosion out. The aluminum material is slightly thicker in the tubes and splash guards, and heavier full C-channel cross members connect the tubes to the deck frame. Viaggio made its rough-water upgrade from previous years standard for 2024.

Above, the rub rail uses cast deck-corner caps with built-in navigation and docking lights. The perimeter enclosure is traditionally styled, but its distinguishing feature is a 3-inch extruded top rail, giving the boat a solid, beefy and formidable look.

This is a big boat with a 28-foot deck, and Viaggio makes excellent use of the space. There are gathering pits fore and aft separated amidships by the console and captain’s chairs. The console is raised 3 inches off the deck for better visibility. The pillow-top interior features ­cool-touch black vinyl with white accents and diamond-stitched inset cushions.

The helm station is sleek and well-designed. Sitting behind the dash, everything is within easy reach and sight. A JL Audio sound system and RGB interior lighting are standard. A Simrad NSX12 digital display combines with Viaggio electronic digital gauges to monitor the engine performance and boat functions.

The aft extended deck is a perfect spot for sports, and the optional tow bar with a toy-storage rack above is a unique touch.

High Points

• Helm station is intuitively easy to use and navigate.
• Contoured, ergonomically designed interior elevates the boat to class-leader status.
• Cool-touch black upholstery vinyl feels 30 percent cooler.

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury Verado 400XL FourStroke 400 hp
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Revolution 14.6″ x 20″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 14 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.

Pricing and Specs

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Viaggio’s Lago series offers high quality at a competitive price. Take the Lago Z 24S, a solid performer with a Suzuki 300 for power. It hit a brisk 44.2 mph and zoomed from zero to 30 mph in 8.9 seconds. Its most economical cruising speed was 14.2 mph, where we recorded 3.6 mpg. It’s also notably quiet; our decibel meter read 77 dB(A) at cruise speeds.

Viaggio builds boats to last. All under­deck wires and connections are concealed and use high-end Deutsch connections to thwart corrosion. ­Thicker ­aluminum is employed for tubes and splash guards. Heavier full C-channel cross members connect the tubes to the deck frame. Deck-corner caps have navigation and docking lights built in for a clean look. The triple-tube package features 25-inch tubes (27 inches is ­optional for bigger water) with sealed lifting strakes and spray guards. This package also comes with SeaStar Pro steering and a full underdeck spray shield. The result is a solid handler that gives a dry ride.

A new fiberglass helm with a 3-inch riser makes for easier viewing forward. The helm features an optional 9-inch ­Simrad multi­function screen and 5-inch ­electronic digital gauges, and a framed Lexan windshield is standard. It also comes with LED lighting around the seat bases and in the speakers, cup holders and table bases. Order the optional wireless phone charger in the dash. 

Seating areas feature storage underneath with a water-drip channel to keep gear dry. Recessed lumbar areas feature custom-stitched vinyl with USB charge ports and lighted cup holders, a recessed toe kick underneath with vinyl wrapped Rotocast seat bases, and dual-action knuckle hinges to make accessing the storage underneath easier.

In front, twin facing lounge seats form a bow conversation pit. Twin captain’s chairs come standard. Just behind, a wide lounge pad with a reversible Swingback multiposition backrest is fitted to the port side. A stainless-steel retaining fence keeps crew safe while underway. The ­extended aft deck proves as great for ­watersports as for sandbar gatherings. 

High Points

• The 2-inch-wide top-rail extrusions give Viaggio’s boats a distinctive, bold appearance.
• Docking lights integrated into the deck-corner castings are a cool touch.
• Heated and cooled cup holder is a great feature.

How We Tested

• Engine: Suzuki four-stroke 300 hp
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Suzuki 16″ x 18.5″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 2.08:1 Fuel Load: 20 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.

Pricing and Specs

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Just like the name (the Italian word for voyage or journey), Viaggio’s Diamante 23B has its own unique style. Find it in the perimeter rails, heavy-duty 3-inch-wide aluminum extrusions with precise angled corners meant to evoke the angles of the letter V. See it in flat-panel aluminum walls that combine an attractive matte finish with the subtle pop of metallic flake. Note that blackout isn’t an optional package name but the standard finish to metalwork abovedecks.

Step aboard and accommodations build on that initial impression. Lounges feature angular corners and a clean, minimalist color scheme, with vinyl wrapping the seat bases all the way to the floor. Roto-molded seat bases feature water-diverting channels to keep water at bay. Two-part hinges allow cushions to pivot down and perpendicular, making it easier to access gear. There’s also impressive attention to detail. Seat-base-mounted speakers are covered in housings, wiring wrapped in conduit, and screws covered with protective plastic tips.

At the helm, a standard Simrad Go9 dominates the dash, keeping GPS positioning and engine data front and center. Aircraft-style toggles for lights, the horn, bilge and the like are grouped to the left and right of the wheel. Aft, the layout is highlighted by a slender bar. Enjoy drinks seated on one of three stools featuring gleaming stainless-steel backrests. Drink holders smartly hold both cans and stemware. There’s also designated can and bottle storage, a bottle opener and USB charging. Note the design smartly angles aft midway along its length to maintain easy stern access. Opposite, add a trio of passengers on another comfy couch, or stretch out solo against an aft-facing backrest.

Our test boat’s Suzuki 200 was noticeably quiet, registering only 52 dB(A) at idle and 82 dB(A) at the boat’s 40.8 mph top speed. Optional triple 25-inch pontoons with performance-minded lifting strakes produced sharp handling while retaining more of a pontoon’s classic, flatter-turning personality. An efficient cruise was noted at 3,000 rpm and 16.5 mph, a combo that burned a minimal 3.4 gph.

High Points

• Triple-toon hull offers SeaStar hydraulic steering and drag-reducing underdeck shielding.
• Luxe seats with dry storage. 
• Standards include Rockford Fosgate PMX-2 audio, chrome docking and nav lights, woven vinyl flooring.

How We Tested

• Engine: Suzuki DF200
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Suzuki 16″ x 18.5″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 2.29:1 Fuel Load: 56 gal. Crew Weight: 160 lb.

Pricing and Specs

Viaggio Pontoon Boats – Bristol, Indiana; 855-842-4446; viaggiopontoonboats.com

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Viaggio’s Lago series entices buyers with high-quality, ample power and generous amenities at a competitive price. Rigged with a 150 hp Mercury, it delivers 40 mph speeds, and a zero-to-30 mph punch in 8 seconds. It won’t break the fuel budget, thanks to a most economical cruise of 16-plus mph, which yields 4.3 mpg (3.8 gph). 

The Viaggio’s strong build and warranty are high points. The welded superstructure comes with a lifetime warranty from the deck down, and Viaggio offers a five-year stem-to-stern warranty on everything above the deck. The triple 25-inch-round pontoons all boast lifting strakes plus full shielding under the deck, both of which enhance efficiency.

Outside, the black anodized perimeter railings are part of a standard package that coordinates the railings, trim and side skirting. Coupled with the deep-red metallic-and-white accent in the surrounding fencing, the effect is subtle and crisp. A standard folding, extra-large 10-foot Bimini top shades most of the deck.

Inside, bow seating features twin curved, facing lounges, each with high-density foam and lovely upholstery. An optional bow filler bench connects the two lounges. 

The all-fiberglass helm console features a Rockford Fosgate sound system, along with analog engine instruments and a low, smoke-tinted Lexan windscreen. Hydraulic steering with a tilt helm is standard, and our boat featured optional power-assist hydraulic steering. Twin medium-back captain’s chairs tilt, swivel and slide. The optional Lakeport Plank flooring makes for a solid look with easy cleanup. We suggest you opt for the in-floor storage locker and the stainless-steel watersports tow bar. 

The aft conversation pit is a mirror image of the bow, with twin curved, facing lounges. In back, an optional extended swim deck provides more than enough room for swimming, water-sports prep or sandbar gabbing. Optional stainless-steel fold-down cleats are positioned at all four corners. A retracting, folding stainless-steel boarding ladder is standard.

High Points

• Despite its smaller size, the Lago delivers performance and value on par with larger rigs.
• Luxury furniture features acrylic-coated vinyl seats for long life. 
• MarineMat at the base of the captain’s console gives secure footing.

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury FourStroke 150 hp
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Enertia 15″ x 15″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 2.08:1 Fuel Load: 58 gal. Crew Weight: 250 lb.

Pricing and Specs

Viaggio Pontoon Boats – Bristol, Indiana; 574-622-0490; viaggiopontoonboats.com

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Overview

For evidence of the ­Diamante 23B’s style, check its unique, wide extruded aluminum rails; bi-level, matte-finished panels that reveal a pop of metallic glimmer on closer inspection; and bold chrome logo and accent trim. As to quality, its 1/4-inch C-channel cross members are spaced 16 inches on center—and closer at the bow and stern—to handle increased loads. Welds are robotic MIG and handcrafted TIG. A custom bumper protects against ­inevitable dock encounters.

Interior and Accessories

The 23B’s angular furniture and minimalist color scheme inspire reclining on parallel bow lounges; add a pedestal table for hors d’oeuvres. Two-part hinges allow seat cushions to pivot out of the way, making it easy to access items from guttered storage in the vinyl-wrapped seat bases. Note the ­attention to detail within. Viaggio covers speaker backs in plastic housings, wraps wiring in conduit, and covers screw tips with plastic caps.

The helm features a ­Simrad GO9 on the dash. ­Aircraft-style toggles flank the steering wheel. An available helm upgrade elevates the helm for increased visibility and adds a leather-­wrapped Gussi wheel and twin Simrad GO7s. Either way, you can enjoy a swiveling high-back seat with supportive side bolsters and flip-down armrests. Ditto for the port seat across the way.

Aft, toast your voyage at the portside bar. Its slender design angles to open a traffic pattern to the stern. A trio of bar stools shine with stainless-steel pedestals and backrests. Cup holders and a trio of stainless-steel drink holders top the surface. The latter also secure stemware for more elegant gatherings. Can and bottle storage, a bottle opener and USB chargers are within easy reach. Opposite, cozy up on the love seat or relax solo against its aft-facing backrest.

Read Next: Nine Cool Pontoon Boat Features

Engine

Our test boat’s Suzuki 200 proved quiet, registering only 52 decibels at idle and 82 decibels at the boat’s 40.8 mph top speed. Optional triple 25-inch pontoons with ­performance-enhancing lifting strakes produced sharp handling while retaining flat turning. We noted an efficient cruise at 3,000 rpm and 16.5 mph, a combo that burned a thrifty 3.4 gph.

How We Tested

• Engine: Suzuki DF200
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Suzuki 16″ x 18.5″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 2.29:1 Fuel Load: 56 gal. Crew Weight: 160 lb.

High Points

• Order the triple-toon hull and get three full-length ’toons with lifting strakes, SeaStar hydraulic steering, and drag-reducing underdeck shielding.
• Power Bimini top raises and lowers with ease, a handy standard. 
• Rockford Fosgate PMX-2 audio, chrome in-rail docking and navigation lights, and woven vinyl flooring all come standard.

Low Points

• Watch your toes on the occasional angular metal brace that supports the perimeter fencing.
• Exposed bolt threads—and a spaghetti of wiring—could use tidying up in the underseat battery compartment.

Toughest Competitor

Bar variations differ, but Sylvan’s L3 DLZ Bar ($82,520 with a Suzuki DF200) features forward couches, an L-shaped swing-back lounge, and a four-stool bar that also converts to a large sun pad. The Sylvan features a triple-pontoon performance package and 12-passenger capacity. It can also be powered with the identical Suzuki outboard.

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

Pricing and Specs

Viaggio Pontoon Boats – Bristol, Indiana; 855-842-4446; viaggiopontoonboats.com

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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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