G3

First Glance
From the grab rails located throughout the boat to the bow and stern gates, there is a lot of stainless steel onboard and that’s not even counting the boarding ladder or ski/tow bar. We love the nautical look and feel this added touch gives the boat.  

Details
As you make your way through the bow gate that includes an etched SunCatcher logo, you’re greeted with two long benches with chaise lounges on each side. Hidden below the portside chaise is trash receptacle with two ways to access it. There is plenty of storage below these bow seats and if that’s not enough, the in-floor ski locker is nearly 7 feet long and well over a foot deep.

For the first mate is a third chaise lounge that is directly across from the helm with, again, more storage below. At the elevated helm is a beautiful dash that includes a large Simrad touchscreen GPS with multi-function gauges on each side to complete the symmetrical look. Just right of the steering wheel are well-labeled toggle switches and on the other side is access to the Kicker sound system. It sounds great with the four speakers and what surprised us a little was the stereo remote in the stern on the exterior panel that would be ideal for changing your tunes while at a sandbar or when swimming around the boat.

In the stern are two over-sized rear loungers with dual cupholders for each, plus separate glove boxes with 12-volt outlets hidden inside. Below the portside lounger is a pop-up changing room that is average in size and stands 5 feet, 3 inches tall when fully open. The swim deck includes a tall four-step stainless boarding ladder along with a massive ski/tow bar that flows well with the rest of the stainless railings in the aft. The sport arch and teak-looking vinyl flooring are two of the few options, but clearly worth the upgrade from a cosmetic perspective.

One option worth mentioning is the moveable padded cooler onboard that doesn’t necessarily have a fixed location, but is meant to be relocated as needed. We like the added value it offers, but it needs to be secured so it doesn’t slide around when not in use.   

Closer Look
A full-length underdeck performance shield along with three U-shaped pontoons are the base of this well-built boat. All SunCatcher pontoons feature the extra protection of heavier gauge aluminum in the nose cones and closed cell foam flotation blocks inside each tube for an added measure of safety. Up top there is nearly 22 feet of usable deck space inside the gates of this 26-footer. The lowest rail stands at 26 inches tall in the stern with the majority of the boat measuring at 29 inches.

Throttle Down
We’ve yet to confirm what “SHO” in Yamaha VF250 SHO stands for, but our guess is it’s for SHO’n off because with this kind of horsepower you’re going to gain a lot of attention. It actually stands for Super High Output, which explains why this G3 performed so well. Especially for a larger pontoon she’s quick to plane, as we easily reached speeds over 40 mph, plus she turns nice and flat in the sharp turns.   

Why Buy
We discovered a lot of added value on this boat with its favorable layout and comfortable seating that truly complements the high-end look. It’s a great all-around pontoon designed not only to get you on the water, but also keep you out enjoying it.

Lebanon, Mo.
800-588-9787
www.g3boats.com

Specifications
Number of Occupants            15                   
Price As Tested With Power  $69 K
Maximum Speed                    42.6 mph                   
Wild Ponies                             250 hp
No. of Gates                            3
0-20 MPH                               5.04 seconds 
Ladder Measurement             3’ 2” deep

Why we love this boat… A great entertaining boat, it’s well-designed with a beautiful interior and a solid list of standard features.

Just being picky… We like to see changing rooms as part of the standard features on all boats, but we just wish this one was a little taller. 

NOTABLE STANDARDS
Performance lifting strakes, Kicker sound system, woven vinyl decking, loungers w/soft touch vinyl, privacy enclosure under stern lounger, full-length underdeck performance shield, lifting strakes, ski/tow, and Navico Marine electronics.

OPTIONS ON TEST BOAT
Aqua Tread Holly Teak Neutral flooring, black painted logs/rails, slider refreshment cooler w/2 pillows, moveable cupholders and sport arch.

VITAL STATS
LOA                  26’ 5”             
Beam                 8’ 6”
Hull Design       Three U-shaped Pontoons
Dry Weight       3,340 lbs.
Fuel Capacity    38 gallons

TEST DRIVE
Engine                                                             Yamaha VF250 SHO
Cylinder Type                                                 V6
Cubic-inch Displacement/Horsepower           254.4ci/250hp
Lower Unit Gear Ratio                                   1.75:1
Propeller                                                          15 3/4 X 15

RPM     vs.      SPEED     vs.    DB-A
600                  3.2                     77
1000                4.9                     80
1500                7.4                     82
2000                8.4                     84
2500                10.0                   87
3000                11.1                   89
3500                16.2                   93
4000                20.4                   94
4500                25.3                   99
5000                31.1                   102
5500                36.0                   109
6000                40.7                   110
6200                42.6                   112

PRICE
Price As Tested                       $68,995
(Boat and Motor)