Press Room
PR Contact:
Amy McDonald ¤
2500 E. Kearney ¤
Springfield, MO 65803 ¤
(417) 873-5900
03/01/2005
SUN TRACKER®'s 22 XP3 I/O Regency Edition is Built for Family Boating Fun
Some
people don't like to be weighed down with making a ton of decisions when buying a boat. They know what they want and they don't want to be nickel-and-dimed to death with a bunch of frivolous options.
Considera guy who wants a medium-size pontoon with all the necessities - and he likes it quiet, so make it a stern drive, please. One boat we think would cause even the most stubborn single-minded buyer to crack a smile is the 2005 SUN TRACKER® PARTY BARGE® 22 XP3 I/O Regency Edition, which our test team recently evaluated.
Oneof the first things we noticed when the SUN TRACKER® people handed us the literature on the 22 XP3 was that there are literally only three options for this boat: a ski tow bar, a dual axle trailer with brakes and a galvanized wheel exchange for the trailer wheels. That's it - everything else comes standard. Because we rarely come across a boat that comes standard with everything we feel it needs, this got us thinking that this boat was either missing some important features or that SUN TRACKER nailed it with just the right combination of features and amenities for the mid-size pontoon family.
PARTY ON
Witha published capacity of 14 people, the 22 XP3 allows you to bring along the family and then some. While we can see how you could squeeze 14 people onto this 8-foot, 6- inch beam boat, we'd put the capacity down to a more realistic eight adults, which would afford comfortable room for eight people is certainly nothing to scoff at.
Thecomfort begins in the bow, which is flanked by dual chaise lounges and has an entry gate in the middle forward. The forward ends of the lounges lift to reveal dry storage, which is always a necessity when bringing a large crowd aboard. The center sections of both lounges extend inboard to create two large sunpads. it would have been easier for SUN TRACKER® to just make more storage under the lounges instead of these pads, but we like the fact it took the extra measures to keep the comfort level high. Besides, the pads lift outward to reveal additional storage - and there' more storage built into the aft facing sides of the lounges, which accessed by opening cabinet-like hinged doors.
Allthe lounges are constructed of rocast plastic, which means zero potential for rot. All the upholstery is double- stitched - and the couches and pads are wrapped with a moisture barrier and assembled with stainless steel staples, which further enhances durability and longevity.
Themolded helm pod is starboard just aft of the forward lounge. We found its swivel bucket seat to be comfortable and functional - we especially liked the flip-up bolster, which improved visibility. The helm itself featured burlwood accents, a compass, full instrumentation, an AM/FM CD player and a tilt steering wheel. We also found a handy a handy trash receptacle, cupholders and dedicated storage for the removable cooler underneath. We're used to companies loading their boats with every conceivable option to please testers, which can sometimes be misleading to readers. in this case, however, we knew everything we were seeing was standard - so you can fully expect all these amenities to be included in your boat as well.
Toport and aft of the helm is a large elbow-shaped lounge. The port section pulls out to create another sunpad and the aft section lifts to reveal more dry storage. A stab-in table with three cupholders comes standard and can be located between the forward lounges or between the helm and rear lounge.
Behindthe captain's chair is a gated passageway that accesses the transom where the pop-up changing room is. The raised transom sunpad swings open with the help of hydraulic-assisted lifts to reveal a pop-up changing room with an interior bench - another nice touch. Attached to the starboard corner of the transom is a large foldout aluminum ladder, which makes boarding the 22 XP3 from the water a breeze.
Anothernotable topside standard is the color-matched Bimini, which is great for shade on hot days - and something we consider essential if you bring young kids out on the water.
PERFORMANCE
Aboat's construction always factors into its performance, and SUN TRACKER® likes to brag that, at 26 inches in diameter, the tubes on this boat are bigger than most others, which is true. Most pontoons have 23-inch diameters, but a lot of the performance pontoons we've tested have tubes 25, 26, or even 27 inches in diameter. One thing about the 22 XP3 tubes that did stand out was their multi-chambered construction, which provides flotation security in the event one of the tubes is punctured because only one chamber floods instead of the entire tube.
Wefound that the 22 XP3's all-welded all-aluminum construction of the tubes, deck foundation and transom provided a solid rattle-free ride. Its extruded aluminum decking with interlocking planks is joined with foam sealing at the seams, which results in a lighter weight than a wooden deck and provides a much longer deck life.
Thelightweight solid welded aluminum and the big tubes worked together to provide a respectable ride. We were loaded with two adults and half a tank of fuel (15 gallons) and our power was provided by a 135 hp 3.0 MerCruiser® Alpha I stern drive. Our top speed was 23.8 mph at 4,600 rpm and we found a comfortable cruising speed of 15 mph at 3,400 rpm. No, this isn't lightning fast, but a boat that's built for the family crowd doesn't have to be fast. In the corners the third tube down the center allowed us to cut sharper corners than we would be able with two tubes.
Withthe engine in an enclosed compartment, the ride was noticeably quieter than what we've experienced with outboard pontoons. And given the craft's modest top cruising speed, we had no problem carrying on a conversation with the throttles pushed to the wall.
OVERALL
TheSUN TRACKER® 22 XP3 is what we would call a really good boat even with better features. The fact that everything you need comes standard streamlines the whole decision- making process. The boat's solid aluminum construction means a sturdy ride and a long life. All this coupled with the fact that SUN TRACKER makes a lot of pontoon boats means you're getting a boat at an affordable price thanks to the savings that comes from a high production volume - savings SUN TRACKER passes on to you.
Ouronly gripe with the 22 XP3 is we wish there were a way to get some more horses in there With three tubes and solid construction, we'd imagine this boat could really get the blood boiling with more power. For those who can't do without more power, it is possible to get this same boat with a 150 hp outboard and slightly different transom configuration. For the day tripping family, however, the 135 ponies from the I/O will be more than enough.
MoreInfo: SUN TRACKER® (417) 873-4555; www.suntrackerboats.com. Circle 33 on reader service card, page 105
Tested: SUN TRACKER® PARTY BARGE® 22 XP3 I/0 REGENCY EDITION
BUILDER: SUN TRACKER®, 2500 E. Kearney, Springfield, MO 65803; (417) 873-4555; www.suntrackerboats.com
SPECIFICATIONS:
LENGTH 25 ft., 1 in.
BEAM 8 ft., 1 in.
NUMBER OF TUBES 3
WIDTH OF TUBES 26 in.
DRY WEIGHT 3,266 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY 30 gals.
MAXIMUM POWER 135 hp
BASES PRICE (W/ 135 HP 3.0L MERCRUISER®) $22,295
ENGINE PACKAGES AVAILABLE
(Test engine in italics) 3.0 Alpha 1 MerCruiser® (135 hp) For a complete list of test engine specs and available engine packages, visit goboatingamerica.com.
NOTABLE STANDARDS:
22-ouncesculptured marine-grade carpet, 30-ounce expanded back vinyl upholstery w/stain-resistant top coating, adjustable helm seat w/flip-up bolster and locking swivel, padded sundeck w/positive locking lid and hydraulic-assisted lifts, pop-up changing room w/bench, wheelchair access gate, 12-volt outlet, AM/FM CD stereo w/4 speakers, flush- mounted compass, power tilt steering, simulated burlwood dash accents, stainless steel fasteners, fire extinguisher, 36- quart carry-on cooler, color-matched 10-foot ployester Bimini top.
NOTABLE OPTIONS:
Skitow bar, dual axle trailer w/brakes, galvanized wheel exchange for the trailer wheels.
people don't like to be weighed down with making a ton of decisions when buying a boat. They know what they want and they don't want to be nickel-and-dimed to death with a bunch of frivolous options.Consider
a guy who wants a medium-size pontoon with all the necessities - and he likes it quiet, so make it a stern drive, please. One boat we think would cause even the most stubborn single-minded buyer to crack a smile is the 2005 SUN TRACKER® PARTY BARGE® 22 XP3 I/O Regency Edition, which our test team recently evaluated.One
of the first things we noticed when the SUN TRACKER® people handed us the literature on the 22 XP3 was that there are literally only three options for this boat: a ski tow bar, a dual axle trailer with brakes and a galvanized wheel exchange for the trailer wheels. That's it - everything else comes standard. Because we rarely come across a boat that comes standard with everything we feel it needs, this got us thinking that this boat was either missing some important features or that SUN TRACKER nailed it with just the right combination of features and amenities for the mid-size pontoon family.PARTY ON
With
a published capacity of 14 people, the 22 XP3 allows you to bring along the family and then some. While we can see how you could squeeze 14 people onto this 8-foot, 6- inch beam boat, we'd put the capacity down to a more realistic eight adults, which would afford comfortable room for eight people is certainly nothing to scoff at. The
comfort begins in the bow, which is flanked by dual chaise lounges and has an entry gate in the middle forward. The forward ends of the lounges lift to reveal dry storage, which is always a necessity when bringing a large crowd aboard. The center sections of both lounges extend inboard to create two large sunpads. it would have been easier for SUN TRACKER® to just make more storage under the lounges instead of these pads, but we like the fact it took the extra measures to keep the comfort level high. Besides, the pads lift outward to reveal additional storage - and there' more storage built into the aft facing sides of the lounges, which accessed by opening cabinet-like hinged doors.All
the lounges are constructed of rocast plastic, which means zero potential for rot. All the upholstery is double- stitched - and the couches and pads are wrapped with a moisture barrier and assembled with stainless steel staples, which further enhances durability and longevity.The
molded helm pod is starboard just aft of the forward lounge. We found its swivel bucket seat to be comfortable and functional - we especially liked the flip-up bolster, which improved visibility. The helm itself featured burlwood accents, a compass, full instrumentation, an AM/FM CD player and a tilt steering wheel. We also found a handy a handy trash receptacle, cupholders and dedicated storage for the removable cooler underneath. We're used to companies loading their boats with every conceivable option to please testers, which can sometimes be misleading to readers. in this case, however, we knew everything we were seeing was standard - so you can fully expect all these amenities to be included in your boat as well.To
port and aft of the helm is a large elbow-shaped lounge. The port section pulls out to create another sunpad and the aft section lifts to reveal more dry storage. A stab-in table with three cupholders comes standard and can be located between the forward lounges or between the helm and rear lounge.Behind
the captain's chair is a gated passageway that accesses the transom where the pop-up changing room is. The raised transom sunpad swings open with the help of hydraulic-assisted lifts to reveal a pop-up changing room with an interior bench - another nice touch. Attached to the starboard corner of the transom is a large foldout aluminum ladder, which makes boarding the 22 XP3 from the water a breeze.Another
notable topside standard is the color-matched Bimini, which is great for shade on hot days - and something we consider essential if you bring young kids out on the water.PERFORMANCE
A
boat's construction always factors into its performance, and SUN TRACKER® likes to brag that, at 26 inches in diameter, the tubes on this boat are bigger than most others, which is true. Most pontoons have 23-inch diameters, but a lot of the performance pontoons we've tested have tubes 25, 26, or even 27 inches in diameter. One thing about the 22 XP3 tubes that did stand out was their multi-chambered construction, which provides flotation security in the event one of the tubes is punctured because only one chamber floods instead of the entire tube.We
found that the 22 XP3's all-welded all-aluminum construction of the tubes, deck foundation and transom provided a solid rattle-free ride. Its extruded aluminum decking with interlocking planks is joined with foam sealing at the seams, which results in a lighter weight than a wooden deck and provides a much longer deck life.The
lightweight solid welded aluminum and the big tubes worked together to provide a respectable ride. We were loaded with two adults and half a tank of fuel (15 gallons) and our power was provided by a 135 hp 3.0 MerCruiser® Alpha I stern drive. Our top speed was 23.8 mph at 4,600 rpm and we found a comfortable cruising speed of 15 mph at 3,400 rpm. No, this isn't lightning fast, but a boat that's built for the family crowd doesn't have to be fast. In the corners the third tube down the center allowed us to cut sharper corners than we would be able with two tubes.With
the engine in an enclosed compartment, the ride was noticeably quieter than what we've experienced with outboard pontoons. And given the craft's modest top cruising speed, we had no problem carrying on a conversation with the throttles pushed to the wall.OVERALL
The
SUN TRACKER® 22 XP3 is what we would call a really good boat even with better features. The fact that everything you need comes standard streamlines the whole decision- making process. The boat's solid aluminum construction means a sturdy ride and a long life. All this coupled with the fact that SUN TRACKER makes a lot of pontoon boats means you're getting a boat at an affordable price thanks to the savings that comes from a high production volume - savings SUN TRACKER passes on to you.Our
only gripe with the 22 XP3 is we wish there were a way to get some more horses in there With three tubes and solid construction, we'd imagine this boat could really get the blood boiling with more power. For those who can't do without more power, it is possible to get this same boat with a 150 hp outboard and slightly different transom configuration. For the day tripping family, however, the 135 ponies from the I/O will be more than enough.More
Info: SUN TRACKER® (417) 873-4555; www.suntrackerboats.com. Circle 33 on reader service card, page 105Tested: SUN TRACKER® PARTY BARGE® 22 XP3 I/0 REGENCY EDITION
BUILDER: SUN TRACKER®, 2500 E. Kearney, Springfield, MO 65803; (417) 873-4555; www.suntrackerboats.com
SPECIFICATIONS:
LENGTH 25 ft., 1 in.
BEAM 8 ft., 1 in.
NUMBER OF TUBES 3
WIDTH OF TUBES 26 in.
DRY WEIGHT 3,266 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY 30 gals.
MAXIMUM POWER 135 hp
BASES PRICE (W/ 135 HP 3.0L MERCRUISER®) $22,295
ENGINE PACKAGES AVAILABLE
(Test engine in italics) 3.0 Alpha 1 MerCruiser® (135 hp) For a complete list of test engine specs and available engine packages, visit goboatingamerica.com.NOTABLE STANDARDS:
22-ounce
sculptured marine-grade carpet, 30-ounce expanded back vinyl upholstery w/stain-resistant top coating, adjustable helm seat w/flip-up bolster and locking swivel, padded sundeck w/positive locking lid and hydraulic-assisted lifts, pop-up changing room w/bench, wheelchair access gate, 12-volt outlet, AM/FM CD stereo w/4 speakers, flush- mounted compass, power tilt steering, simulated burlwood dash accents, stainless steel fasteners, fire extinguisher, 36- quart carry-on cooler, color-matched 10-foot ployester Bimini top.NOTABLE OPTIONS:
Ski
tow bar, dual axle trailer w/brakes, galvanized wheel exchange for the trailer wheels.Article by the GO Boating Test Team
Reprintedwith permission of GO BOATING, March 2005.
www.goboatingamerica.com
with permission of GO BOATING, March 2005. www.goboatingamerica.com
