Parti Kraft Monaco 240 CR

September 2014 Boat Test Monday

This article originally appeared in our 2014 Shootout issue. If you are interested in seeing this in print along with 25 other boat reviews, click HERE to purchase the back issue.

What You Need To Know

For nearly a year we kept hearing about plans for a new look Parti Kraft line, so forgive us if we seemed a little anxious to finally get a sneak peak. Simply put, it was worth the wait. There are now three different lines within Parti Kraft with Monaco being its mid-level offering and we could hardly wait any longer to get behind the wheel.

The Highlights

With a manufacturer like Nautic Global Group who offers several different lines of high-quality pontoons, it can be a difficult task to come up with a great new look while not competing directly with your other brands. Somehow the engineers were able to pull off this feat by offering an interior that was inspired by high-quality outdoor patio furniture.

The wicker/weave-like sides for the seating perfectly complement the tall and overstuffed seat cushions that are extremely inviting.

All of the tan furniture ties in nicely with the layout and we especially like the fabric striped insert found on the helm chair that gives this boat a little splash of color. The striped fabric also matches up with the two throw pillows that are part of the Moonstone Décor package that also includes Sea Grass flooring for the aft deck. The majority of the boat is covered with Palm Sand carpet and with the palm tree logo, having a palm leaf pattern in the carpet is a nice added touch.

In the stern we love the extended swim platform that gives you plenty of room to towel off before coming aboard from the water. Speaking of boarding, the optional S-shaped stainless steel ladder is truly designed to make getting out of the water as simple as possible.

At the helm is a functional helm console that includes large easy-to-read gauges as well as access to your stereo controls. If we had to be picky the location of the throttle control seemed a little low, but it’s nothing to be overly concerned with. Key options include the stainless hardware upgrade, in-dash depth finder and a beefy ski/tow bar.

Inspection Notes

Below deck, the two-log pontoon design consists of 25-inch diameter pontoons that are chambered with a full keel and include splash guards. The C-channel cross members are on 16-inch centers and bolted to the plywood deck.

Up top there is nearly 17 feet of usable deck space from inside the bow gate to the rear bench. Like the wring below deck, the wiring under the helm console is also protected and very organized.

Overall, this Parti Kraft earned high marks for its craftsmanship as well as the design. We found no dangerous or sharp edges and all the hidden areas were well-finished.

Performance Evaluation

Powered with a 90hp Yamaha, this is a great cruising pontoon that is capable of speeds in the mid 20s at full throttle, which only proves just how versatile and family-friendly this new look pontoon from Parti Kraft really is.

Our Take

There’s not a lot of color onboard and we like it that way. With the tall seatback cushions you’re immediately drawn into the interior and with just the right mix of great standard features and key options, as tested this pontoon is loaded and ready for a great day on the water. It wasn’t easy, but Parti Kraft was able to redesign and improve this popular brand that is going to attract a lot of new buyers.

Number of Occupants 12

Maximum Speed: 24.8 mph

Wild Ponies: 90hp

No. of Gates 3

0-20 MPH 6.1 seconds

Ladder Measurement: 4’ 4” deep

Why we love this boat…The out-of-the box thinking that went into the seating provides a refreshing look at pontoon interiors. We love unique concepts that are well executed.

Just being picky…You shouldn’t be constantly adjusting your throttle anyway so this isn’t a bid deal, but we felt the throttle position was a little low for most drivers.

NOTABLE STANDARDS

Canopy, extended stern platforms, 25” tubes, Palm Sand carpet, Beige vinyl in stern, Sony CDXM-20 stereo with MP3 input & 4 speakers, LED dock lights, full instrumentation, fire extinguisher, courtesy lights and Camel soft touch vinyl.

OPTIONS ON TEST BOAT

Moonstone Décor package (Sea Grass aft deck, 2 throw pillows), hardware upgrade package (SS S-shaped ladder, SS bow corner castings with navigation/docking lights, SS pull-up cleats, SS cup holders and SS speaker grills), in-dash depth finder and ski/tow bar.

VITAL STATS

LOA 24’ 4”

Beam 8’ 6”

Hull Design Two Pontoons

Dry Weight 2210 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 29 Gallons

TEST DRIVE

Engine Yamaha F90 LA

Cylinder Type Inline 4-Cylinder

Cubic-inch Displacement/Horsepower 97ci/90hp

Lower Unit Gear Ratio 2.27:1

Propeller 13 5/8 X 14