PR Contact: Amy McDonald ¤ 2500 E. Kearney ¤ Springfield, MO 65803 ¤ (417) 873-5900
03/01/2005
A Ride Like Royalty: Family Fun On The SUN TRACKER®'s Regency 22

Ifthere's one thing you want to avoid when shopping for a boat of any shape or size, it's the hidden cost of options and upgrades. Thankfully there are at least a few brands out there that take this issue off the table by simply including such features as standard. Definitely among those brands is the Regency Edition of SUN TRACKER®'s PARTY BARGE® line. That much is true in 2005 more than ever before.
Inour sampling of the 22-foot Regency, we were quite impressed with how the boat utilized every square inch of its 8 ½-foot wide layout to offer a boatload of convenience and comfort.
Highlystyled furnishings define this boat, and are indicative of its overall versatility and sound design. The unique furniture bases are made of single-wall rotocast material that is screwed to the deck. Single stitched, marine quality expanded vinyl is utilized on all of the furnishings.
Sohow does this translate to onboard comfort? We aimed to find out.
Interms of aesthetics, the forward-chaise lounge seating seemed particularly inviting, and appeared to offer more-than-adequate storage for a variety of gear. The same caliber of comfort can be had at the helm thanks to a handy flip-up bolster (which, in our humble opinion, just about every cruising toon should have) plus slide and swivel adjustments for a perfect fit.
Likeits 25-foot sibling that we tested at last fall's PDB Shootout, this 22-foot version boasts nice curves, smooth angles and a great color scheme. It's an aesthetic eye-popper no matter how you look at it. More importantly, it's as user-friendly as a boat can be.
Forstarters, a roomy pop-up changer is perfectly placed on the boat for access, and includes a bench for added convenience. It also sports an aft entry with an oversized boarding ladder with handholds for easy swimmer access. SUN TRACKER® has designed a new latch that holds the ladder in a vertical position and self engages when in the proper storage position. The ladder's steps are plenty wide compared to many boarding ladders we've come across, and it has non-slip strips at the top.
Nearbyis the boat's modest-size aft sun deck, certainly large enough for one person to spread out and soak up the sun. On a related note, this comfy surface area has a pronounced, bolstered edge around the back. As we've stated countless times, this added detail is more than just cosmetic. It provides an added feel of security when using the sun deck and makes a great head rest as well.
Thetwo 26-inch round pontoons on this boat are fine examples of some of the largest logs on the market. Each is multi-chambered. In our own inspections, the weld quality on the tubes (and the rails too, for that matter) appeared to be excellent with no sharp edges or inconsistencies. The overall design is clean with excellent wiring and easy access.
Alsoworthy of note on the standard model is the extended aluminum transom and its extruded box beam design-lighter, stronger and more durable than most toon transoms on the market. The deck rails and trim are all anodized to deliver a superior looking and long-lasting finish. The expanded list of quality features on this boat includes a sturdy 10-foot polyester bimini with all-aluminum hardware, double-latched gates for that extra measure of safety and a custom molded console with plenty of dry storage, full instrumentation and stereo CD with four directional speakers.
Onthe I/O version that we sampled, the boat performed like it should: good acceleration out the hole, stable and responsive on the go. Turns were flat, steady and always predictable. The benefits of 26-inch tubes were just as evident at cruising speed as when the boat was at rest. Stability is only part of it. The boat also tracked well, and felt solid at all speeds. Steering this boat was easy, and like the 25-footer, it is quite a pleasure to maneuver in tight quarters.
TheRegency 22 comes standard with a 50 ELPTO Mercury® Outboard. Combine that with its 30-gallon fuel tank, and you won't need to be hunting down the nearest gas dock anytime soon. (Note: maximum outboard power rating on this boat is 125 HP.)
Theend result is a versatile recreational machine that offers all you would want or need in a pontoon boat: room, style, comfort, performance and beyond. The kicker, which will come as no surprise to long-time TRACKER® fans, is the great price at which you can obtain one of these fine boats. The standard package retails for $16,295, and you can opt for the I/O standard version for $19,895 with a MerCruiser® 3.0L 136hp sterndrive.
Formore information about the PARTY BARGE® 22 Regency Edition, log onto www.suntrackerboats.com, call TRACKER® Marine directly at 888 487 2253 to request a free brochure, or see your local TRACKER dealer.
Regency'05 Upgrades
Inaddition to its new model introductions, TRACKER® Marine also has a slew of product changes for this year's SUN TRACKER® fleet, a number of them pertaining to the Regency Series. Here's a quick overview:
-Colors:Each Regency up to 27-feet in length will be available in the black, blue, platinum and red. The PARTY HUT® 30 continues to be offered in black only and the PARTY CRUISER® 32 is offered in taupe.
-Eachrear-entry Regency has a new rear ladder latch that is self-engaging when the ladder is in the proper storage position.
-Theseries has all new upgraded upholstery with vinyl covered rotomolded bases. The furniture features high-density foam and heavy duty 29-ounce expanded back marine grade vinyl. All the vinyl features the SRT (Stain Resistant Topcoat) for maximum stain resistance.
-Thenew couches feature a carpeted kick panel with under-seat courtesy lighting, and the furniture ensembles feature at least one lounge arm with storage. (Some models have multiple arms.) The furniture is completed with top stitching for a rich finished, tailored appearance.
-TheAM/FM CD now features four speakers. The 22, as well as the 25 and 27, feature four directional speakers, while the PARTY HUT® 30 and  PARTY CRUISER® 32 feature two directional speakers plus two speakers in the cabin area. The directional speakers are aligned to give maximum sound in the cockpit.
-Thenew Regency console includes a small items tray as well as a hidden storage tray.
-Ingeneral, the Regency all-new look features an all-new deck trim with an oversized rub rail, which is corrugated to provide a stronger fence and a rich, appealing look. This fence material has been relocated to the outside of the rail for that purpose.
-Thetraditional "M" bracket has been replaced with a heavy duty one piece, full-length extruded deck support that has hidden attachment points. This new support not only gives the Regency a polished look, but also provides a tremendous support to the deck for the entire length of the log.
-Clipshave been added to hold the top braces in place when it is being stored or in the radar position.
-Aski tow option is now available for most every 2005 model.
Formore information:SUN TRACKER® 2500 E. Kearney St.Springfield, MO 65803 800 872 2537 www.suntrackerboats.com
 
PDB Staff Report
Reprinted with the permission of Pontoon & Deck Boat, March 2005.



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