Our First Impression
This Tahoe is a very inviting pontoon boat in more ways that
just one. For starters you've got to love the three chaise lounges and the
comfortable seating throughout. We also like the double-wide three-quarter
sundeck, comfy helm chair, plus the clean look of the layout really helps draw
you in.
Consumer Test
Good news: the tall pillow backs on the seats and the leg
bolsters are as plush as they look. Rated for up to 12 people there are plenty
of great places to get comfortable on this boat. And below those seats, the
aluminum-framed seat bases provide plenty of great storage room because of the
oversized design. Speaking of storage, the in-floor locker is huge, which is a
perfect spot for skis, boards, tubes and extra gear. It's always nice to have
this storage feature to help keep your floor space clear of items not being
used.
At the helm is a simple, yet fully functional console that includes
a full set of gauges. There is room for future options like a GPS, but in this
case, less is more, and we like the clean look, including the attractive
steering wheel that ties in well with the console. For the captain is a fully
adjustable helm chair that slides, swivels and reclines and there is even a
small storage box for the driver for loose items and paperwork.
Below the well-padded sundeck is an easy-to-use pop-up
changing room that stands nearly five-and-a-half feet tall when fully opened.
It really is simple to use and also doubles as additional storage if needed.
With the rear-entry design there is just enough room to
board the boat before coming inside the gate. The handholds are extra wide at
the top and we love the non-skid flooring in this area as well as in the bow.
In fact, having the optional snap-in carpet is a real bonus because you still
get the high-end look inside, but easy cleanup at the end of the day. Also in
the stern is a large ski/tow bar, which will get plenty of good use with the
225 E-TEC, but we'll get to that in a minute.
Inspection Test
Three 25-inch diameter pontoons are the base of this
22-footer, and the weld quality on the chambered tubes with lifting strakes on
both sides of all three is excellent. The C-channel cross-members are screwed
to the plywood deck and are on 16-inch centers overall and on seven-inch
centers near the transom. There is a full aluminum splash skin as well, and the
wiring below is nicely protected. We found no dangerous or sharp edges as the
undercarriage earned high marks for craftsmanship.
Performance Test
Despite the Evinrude 225 HO E-TEC, we still felt like this
Tahoe could be considered a sleeper when it comes to performance. With the
clean and elegant look, for some reason we just weren't expecting such a fun boat
to drive. We experienced no propeller cavitation in the tight and flat turns,
and at full throttle we reached speeds near the 50-mile-per-hour mark. Even the
zero to 20 mph time of five seconds flat pleasantly surprised us as we found
out quickly that this boat can really move. The E-TEC proved to be a perfect
match for this Tahoe.
Who Should Buy It
This `toon could be a solid option for the family upgrading
from an entry-level model who is ready to have a higher-end feel with great
performance and doesn't need a lot of options. We love the simplistic look and
feel of this Tahoe and we were impressed by the fit and finish work as well as
craftsmanship.
Number of Occupants 12
Price As Tested With Power $46.4K
Maximum Speed: 48.7
mph
Wild Ponies: 225hp
No. of Gates 3
0-20 MPH 5.0
seconds
Ladder Measurement: 3'
6" deep
Why we love this boat.Believe it
or not, the performance surprised us. We just weren't expecting this kind of
fun on an elegant and conservative-looking pontoon.
Just being picky.Two cosmetic items were all we could find
to be picky about. The Plexiglas door under the helm looks a little out of
place and the white door on the in-floor ski locker really stands out against
the mostly tan interior.
NOTABLE STANDARDS
CD
stereo, tilt steering, fiberglass stand, two speakers, mooring cover, 24-gallon
fuel system and built-in dock lights.
OPTIONS ON TEST BOAT
Waveglide
high performance package, Sea Star hydraulic steering, 42-gallon fuel system,
vinyl floor, snap-in carpet, ski/tow bar, aluminum wave shield and mood lights.
VITAL STATS
LOA 22'
Beam 8'
5"
Hull Design Three Pontoons
Dry Weight 2,800 lbs.
Fuel Capacity 42
Gallons
TEST DRIVE
Engine Evinrude
E-TEC 225 H.O.
Cylinder Type V6
Cubic-inch Displacement/Horsepower 200.1ci/225hp
Lower Unit Gear Ratio 1.71:1
Propeller 14 3/4 X 18
RPM vs. SPEED
vs. D-A
500 1.5 mph 75
1000 3.9
mph 78
1500 5.7
mph 80
2000 8.4
mph 87
2500 13.1
mph 90
3000 17.8
mph 90
3500 22.3
mph 96
4000 28.3
mph 98.5
4500 33.7
mph 99.5
5000 40.0
mph 103.5
5500 44.5
mph 104
6000 48.7
mph 109
Alma, Mich.
Phone: 800-334-2913
Website: www.tahoepontoons.com
