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02/01/2008
PONTOON & DECK BOAT magazine tests Sun Tracker ® Party Barge 25 Regency Edition
By PDB Testing Team
Our First Impression
Very few boats impressed us the way this Sun Tracker did. The appearance of the interior alone was enough to catch our attention, but the amenities were equally as nice. This boat was dubbed the “contour beauty” at our test for its soft and round sculptured seats and inviting layout.
Consumer Test
We can’t begin to give enough praise for the overstuffed-looking seats that could easily double as couches in your own living room. This is what a high-end luxury boat is supposed to feel like. The furniture comfort is as good as it looks and we really liked the three chaise lounges. Below each chaise is a lockable door for the storage compartment. However, you can also gain access from lifting the cushion up top, which defeats the purpose of a locking door. Plus the dual captain’s chair opposite of the helm blocks the access to the lockable door on the rear lounge, but the tradeoff is probably worth it. The first-mate chair is just as comfortable as the helm chair and both slide, swivel and recline.
Below the thick padded, threequarter sundeck is a large changing room. To gain access, just pull on the two side straps and once the enclosure is open you’ll find the battery box that doubles as a bench seat.
The rear entry gate is one of three openings on board and each gate has a positive latch for safety. What we really like is the carpeted stern swim deck, which is something we haven’t seen on a lot of pontoon boats. The four-step rear boarding ladder is one of two ladders on this model including the bow-mounted one.
At the raised helm is a very luxurious console that includes a multifunction gauge, 12-volt with its own compartment, Sony CD stereo and a Lowrance depth finder. The burlwood on the console ties in well with the rest of the boat, but there might be too much burlwood trim used in the overall design throughout the boat. Other notable features include plenty of drink holders, including some stylish looking ones near the floor as well as those hidden in the seatbacks. Behind the captain’s chair is an entertainment center with a sink and faucet as well as sliding drawers below. Everywhere we looked we found amenities that we liked.
Inspection Test
Two 26-inch pressurized pontoons are the base of this 25-footer and there are lifting strakes on the inside and outside of each log, which are Sun Tracker’s new NV performance strakes. The C-channel cross members are bolted to the risers and the below deck wiring is above average. From the modified porpoise nosecones to the beefed up transom, the weld quality is excellent. And like the transom, the extended rear sundeck is also well-braced.
Above deck there is over 18 feet of usable deck space inside the gates and the Rotocast seat bases are screwed to the plywood deck. The fiberglass helm (that includes a nice non-glare insert) is also screwed to the deck and the wiring under the helm is above average.
This pontoon earned high marks for its exceptional fit and finish work and overall safe family design.
Performance Test
With a name like Party Barge you have to understand that this boat’s main purpose is to be comfortable and amenity-packed, not to turn on a dime and pull sharp corners. Yet, it does have a good initial kick of power with the Mercury 135hp Optimax. At full throttle we reached speeds over 35 miles per hour, which is actually quite impressive. The SeaStar hydraulic steering made it easier to corner, but she did lean a little in the wide turns.
Final Thoughts
This high-end and very plush contour beauty caught the attention of a lot of people on the docks. Sun Tracker builds a very inviting and attractive-looking boat that provides a lot of style. Plus it’s well-built with extra attention going to the fit and finish details.
For complete article, please click on the PDF file below.
View 395_Pages from PDB08Shootout_ST PB25 Regency.pdf