Press Room

BY Monte Burch

Luxurious is the only way to describe the new Party Barge 22 Sport Fish from Tracker Marine. It’s so luxurious that the Purely Pontoons crew had a hard time completing its testing chores.  The boat pushes fishing comfort to a whole new level. The lounge furniture and the captain’s chairs up front are deep, soft and plush—and seem to invite you in for a nap. The chairs swivel and recline, with self-leveling arms and ventilated storage pouches. These big captain’s chairs are actually a bit too big as they can block the view of the driver if not turned sideways while under way.

          New from the water up for 2008, the Party Barge 22 is a model in the Regency line of luxury pontoon boats. The new lineup features a one-piece, full-length extruded deck support system of anodized aluminum. A new 2-inch top rail and fence are stylishly shaped, rather than the boxy appearance found on some pontoon boats.  

          This is basically a very big fish ‘n’ ski rig, one that will be readily appreciated by the entire family. In ski and pleasure mode, boaters will enjoy the rear swim platform, folding boarding ladder and the aft padded sundeck with built-in storage and pop-up changing room.A weather-resistant polyester Bimini can be adjusted to shade more or less of the deck. Gates are wide enough for wheelchair access, and swing inward for safety while under power. Padded lounges on both sides of the bow provide lots of comfortable seating. The portside lounge has a lockable arm storage bin. Drink holders are built into the seating, attractively recessed in the back.  The table can be conveniently used in two locations and at different heights.

          In addition to the fishing chairs, mounted in the bow, anglers will appreciate the rod storage in the rear deck couch. The captain of this luxury liner will enjoy the molded console with full instrumentation, including compass, depth finder, tilt steering, illuminated rocker switches, molded windscreen and cooler.

          The new console also features a Sony stereo and storage space for CDs or an MP3 player. The music is channeled through four Kicker high-performance speakers that provide lots of sound throughout. A refreshment center with sink and on-demand fresh water is another nicety. The Party Barge 22 rides as great as it looks, and it handles easily. It is available with the new Mercury Vazer 100 hp sterndrive or the Mercury 115 OptiMax. We tested the Opti, and top speed was 34 mph with three aboard—more than enough speed and power for a boatload of water enthusiasts. Regardless of whether your pleasure is cruising, skiing or fishing, the Sun Tracker Party Barge 22 Sport Fish is a great choice.

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