Berkshire 250 Sport BP3-13

August 2013 Boat Test Monday Brady L. Kay

What You Need To Know

It's the new full-featured hard top that will first grab your attention when you see this boat, but really that's just the start of the unique features being offered on this 25-footer that focuses on style as well as performance.

The Highlights

Berkshire recently partnered up with Lexington Corporation, a seating company that has been in business for over 20 years and is known for its high-end products. Unique patterns and designs are found throughout the interior and we can't say enough good things about this high-quality vinyl.

Beside the stylish and futuristic look of the aluminum hard top that is not normally found on pontoon boats, we love the LED-lit speakers recessed into the ceiling. When you crank up the tunes you feel like you're at a concert once those overhead speakers start rocking. As-tested, the sound system is a mixture of standard amenities as well as options like the amp and subwoofer.

For the captain, all the controls are easily at your finger tips, including auxiliary ports for your iPod as well as a USB hookup. Just forward of the helm, built into the fiberglass stand, is a small sink with a hand-pump faucet. And because it has its own compartment lid, it's out of sight when you don't need it.

For added comfort the helm chair includes adjustable lumbar support, making it one of the most comfortable seats onboard which is really saying a lot. Inside the boat there are three chaise lounges, two in the bow and one across from the helm. Each has unique storage options, including the double flip-up pop-up changing room at nearly 6 feet tall that is built into the back of the portside bow chaise.

We wish you didn't have to step on the rear seats to gain access to the back deck, but we do like the added safety for smaller children this layout provides. On the back deck is a unique grey vinyl composite flooring that ties in beautifully with the colors used on the boat. We also like the solid ski/tow bar, stainless three-step boarding ladder, as well as the standard washdown that will help keep your deck cleaned off. Plus the rear-facing lounge chairs really complete the look of this stern design.

Inspection Notes

Three pressurized 25-inch pontoons with a full-length aluminum performance skin is the base of this vessel. The lifting strakes are on the insides of the outside pontoons and on both sides of the center tube. One advantage to this center pontoon (besides the added performance) is the deep in-floor ski locker that is over 6 feet long.

Overall the boat earned high marks for its quality construction, fit and finish work as well as its safe, family-friendly design.

Performance Evaluation

One finger steering is just one of the highlights from our performance test. With the BP 3 Performance Package we were able to dig in nicely on some very sharp turns. She flirted with the 50 mile per hour mark at full throttle and the zero to 20 mph time of just over 4 seconds really impressed us. If you're going to have a sporty hard top on your pontoon then you better have the performance to back it up. The good news is that Berkshire exceeds all performance expectations that we had and then some.

Final Thoughts

Fun to drive, check. Sporty-looking, check. Loaded with great standard features, check. This is a great all-around performance pontoon that includes stylish features and a luxurious-feel that we've come to expect from this manufacturer.

Number of Occupants 17

Price As Tested With Power $86.5K

Maximum Speed 47.7 mph

Wild Ponies 250hp

No. of Gates 2

0-20 MPH 4.6 seconds

Ladder Measurement 2' 10" deep

Why we love this boat.The unique styling of the vinyl, plus the hard top that includes built-in speakers overhead are just a sample of the great things this Berkshire has to offer.

Just being picky.We love that smaller children won't be able to get to the swim deck without an adult helping, but at the same time we wish you didn't have to step on the furniture to access this stern area.

NOTABLE STANDARDS

Full instrumentation w/in dash GPS, Tilt Hydraulic Steering, Aluminum Arch, S.S Swim Ladder, 6 speaker AM/FM/USB/MP3/iPod, Sirius Capable Clarion Stereo, Fiberglass rear facing loungers integrated to aluminum rail system. Rear washdown shower. LED Lighting package including cupholders, speakers and floor lights, Rear Teak Vinyl Flooring

OPTIONS ON TEST BOAT

Aluminum Sport Hard Top, Swing Away Wakeboard Racks, Sport Ski/Tow, Power-Assist Steering, Color Humminbird GPS, Amplifier/Subwoofer/rear Remote, LED underdeck light package, LED underwater lighting, Dual battery switch and charger

VITAL STATS

LOA 25' 7"

Beam 8' 6"

Hull Design Triple Pontoon

Dry Weight 2560 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 52 gallons

TEST DRIVE

Engine Yamaha

Cylinder Type V6

Cubic-inch Displacement/Horsepower 256ci/250hp

Lower Unit Gear Ratio 1:75:1

Propeller 17SS X 15 1/2