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First Impression
It starts with the smooth exterior panels and carries over to the interior with an attractive-looking color scheme that boasts of elegance and luxury. Yet as tested this 24-footer is packed with a nice blend of standard and optional features while still coming in at a value-driven price point.
Details
The Graphite Interior package is one of our favorites because everything ties in so well, including the vinyl flooring and all the furniture. The seat color is a three-tone combination of graphite, white, and a little gray, and new this year are pillow-top cushions that showcase the Tahoe logo on all four chaise lounges. The two lounges in the bow with two more rear-facing in the stern are part of the Quad Lounge floorplan that is one of the manufacturer’s most popular and for good reason. The aluminum-constructed seat bases provide plenty of storage below and the quarter-inch gap between the floor and side panels allows for quick drying and added ventilation. On this specific model there is also a bow filler cushion bench seat that can be placed in any of the boat’s three gate openings to provide even more seating options.
Speaking of comfortable seats, the redesigned sport high back captain’s and co-captain’s helm chairs both slide, swivel and recline and also tie in well with the overall color scheme. In the past these helm chairs have seemed a little bulky, so we love the sleek and sporty new look.
At the helm is a large touchscreen that controls everything from your fuel capacity to your docking lights and so much more. To the right of the chrome-spoke steering wheel is a Garmin fishfinder built into the dash and controls to the Fusion stereo on the left. Tahoe is including Fusion sound systems on all its boats starting in 2021 and this specific model was upgraded to its high-performance system that includes a 10-inch subwoofer to complement the six lighted speakers.
If we’re being picky, we would like to see some type of a locking glove box for the captain to store those loose items like keys or wallets, but otherwise we like the look and function of this helm.
Other highlights worth noting include a nearly 19-inch-deep in-floor ski locker, a removable square table and a pop-up changing room that is built into the back of the portside chaise lounge, and when open stands at just over 5 feet tall.
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Closer Look
The Sport Performance package includes 25-inch diameter pontoons with lifting strakes on all three tubes, a full aluminum Waveshield and heavy-duty double-bolted hat channel cross members that provided added strength below. Above deck, the rail height varies from 24 inches tall in the bow and stern to nearly 26 inches tall on the sides for a safe and family-friendly design.
Throttle Down
In less than 5 seconds we went from 0-to-20 mph with the Mercury 150hp four-stroke on the back and we topped out just shy of 40 mph. She handles well and is makes comfortable and flat turns with ease.
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Why Buy
By taking a little less power and going with fewer options, you could reduce the overall price while still getting a well-crafted and well-built pontoon. However, we feel the complete setup makes a lot of sense as tested. Simply put, what makes this boat so appealing is the combination of those options with the long list of standard features that come together for a solid value-driven model that consumers are going to appreciate.
Alma, Mich.
800-334-2913
www.tahoepontoons.com
Number of Occupants: 12
Price As Tested With Power: $57K
Maximum Speed: 37.0 mph
Wild Ponies: 150 hp
No. of Gates: 3
0-20 MPH: 4.65 seconds
Ladder Measurement: 4’ deep
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Why we love this boat… The graphite color scheme and overall flow of the interior help make this an attractive-looking, family-friendly pontoon.
Just being picky… A locking glove box for the captain would be nice for storing smaller items like keys and wallets, but otherwise we really like this helm.
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NOTABLE STANDARDS
Crew Roto Helmstand w/ Large Dash & Side Storage, 12-Volt Power Point, Silver Sound Package Fusion RA-210 Radio w/4 Fusion EL Speakers, Mechanical Tilt Steering, Black Soft-Grip Steering Wheel, Removable Windshield, Courtesy Light on Helmstand, Sport Low Back Driver’s Chair with Arms, Chair Adjustment Slider (Front, Back & Rotate), Riptide Vinyl Rear Deck, SS Cupholders, Rectangle Heavy-Duty Greywood Table w/Large Cupholders, Lifetime Aluminum Seat Frames w/Flow-Through Ventilation, Custom Designed Furnishings w/Matrix 5o Primary Seat Vinyl, Deluxe Seat Frame Cladding, Suspension Seating, Lounge Arms w/Storage, Vinyl Non-Skid Strips for Entry Gates, Deco 4 External Multi-Panel Smooth Walls, Bimini Top w/1 1/4-Inch Square Anodized Aluminum Frame, Mirror Chrome Logos and Gates w/Lift-N-Lay Hinge.
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OPTIONS ON TEST BOAT
Mercury Pre-Rig, Smart 80 Touchscreen Dash w/Garmin SCV Fish/Depth Finder, High-Performance Sound System w/10-Inch Subwoofer, Upgrade to Chrome Spoke Steering Wheel, Sport Performance Pontoon Package, In-Floor Storage, Two-Tone Wall Color, Upgrade to 4000 Series Furniture, Bow Filler Cushion, Privacy Station Curtain & Rail, Graphite Interior Package, Sport High Back Recliner Chair Upgrade, Mooring Cover, Full Riptide Vinyl Flooring, Polished Deck Corners, LED Chrome Built-In Dock Lights, Blue Ice Interior Lighting Pkg. and Ski/Tow Bar.
VITAL STATS
LOA: 24’ 6”
Beam: 8’ 6”
Hull Design: Triple Pontoon
Dry Weight: 3,100 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 38 gallons
TEST DRIVE
Engine: Mercury 150 FourStroke
Cylinder Type: Inline 4
Cubic-inch Displacement/Horsepower: 183ci/150hp
Lower Unit Gear Ratio: 1.92:1
Propeller: 15 X 15
RPM vs. SPEED vs. DB-A
800 1.8 72.5
1000 2.7 78.5
1500 5.3 81
2000 6.8 84.5
2500 9.9 91
3000 13.4 91
3500 18.4 98.5
4000 22.8 102
4500 27.2 99.5
5000 31.9 98.5
5500 36.7 101.5
5600 37.0 105
PRICE
Price As Tested: $56,985
(Boat and Motor)
Base Price: $32,356
(Boat w/90hp Mercury)
This article originally appeared in our 2021 Shootout issue. If you are interested in seeing more boat tests like this, click HERE to subscribe.
