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First Impression
When you pair the optional Rose Gold reflective exterior panel with the Blackout Trim package you get a luxurious-looking pontoon that received a lot of positive attention during our test. Simply put, it was instantly the talk of the dock and for good reason.
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Details
We could continue to rave about how much we love the exterior, but there are plenty of other features to be excited about on this Trifecta. The full model name is Swingback 2 Port Chair or SB2 PC, which translates to dual helm chairs with an extremely versatile rear lounger. Starting with the captain’s and co-captain’s helm chairs from Wieland Designs, both feature a cable tension slide so no matter how tall you are, you’ll always find a comfortable position to recline.
At the helm is an attractive display of gauges with an offset Simrad touchscreen for optimum viewing that isn’t blocked by the steering wheel. The helm also has an upgraded Wet Sounds premium audio system with a full-color display and a wireless charging system for your phone which comes standard. On the side of the helm stand is a glove box for your loose items such as keys and wallet with a larger storage area below for bigger items such as a portable cooler.
Just behind the dual helm chairs is the multi-position swingback seating area that includes a forward-facing bench seat or rear-facing lounger and by ratcheting up one of the seats you can also create a rear-facing bench seat. And the nice part about this design (other than the additional storage offered below) is that the swingback seating area is safely contained with the stainless stern rail. Speaking of having a safe and family-friendly design, a ski/tow bar safety net comes standard to keep passengers clear of the engine.
Other features worth noting include Cool Touch upholstery that is extremely comfortable, vinyl flooring with recessed table mounts, a 10-inch-deep in-floor ski locker and we counted nearly a dozen cupholders on this popular floorplan. If we’re being picky, the cupholder for the captain – that is located forward of the helm stand – is not in the most convenient location and it would be nice if there was one a little closer for the driver.
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Closer Look
Below deck the Z42 chassis includes zero wood, zero rot, zero seams and zero expansion/contraction, while being 40 percent lighter and two times stronger than marine-grade plywood. This specific model was equipped with the optional 3.0 Performance package that includes a third pontoon with lifting strakes on both sides, aluminum underskin, large lifting strakes on the inside of the outer tubes, SeaStar hydraulic steering and a 37-gallon fuel tank.
Up top, the rail height measures at a safe height of 31 inches tall for most of the pontoon to 24 inches tall in the stern.
Throttle Down
Our lightning fast 0-to-20 mph time of just over 4 seconds with the Yamaha 250hp four-stroke on the back provided an exhilarating thrill ride. We topped out just shy of 50 mph at full throttle and were able to dive into some really sharp turns while staying in complete control.
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Why Buy
Anytime you can successfully combine comfort amenities and space-saving designs with a performance hull and more than ample power, you’re doing something right. It’s in the high-end category for a reason and while the price as tested is not for every budget, the value with what you get in return is something everyone can admire.
Middlebury, Ind.
574-825-8696
www.trifectapontoon.com
Number of Occupants: 13
Price As Tested With Power: $99.9K
Maximum Speed: 48.3 mph
Wild Ponies: 250 hp
No. of Gates: 3
0-20 MPH: 3.31 seconds
Ladder Measurement: 4’ 2” deep
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Why we love this boat… Sporty performance and high-end luxury merge beautifully on this Trifecta that is loaded with a nice mix of standard and optional features.
Just being picky… We wish the glove box on the side of the helm was lockable and the captain had a cupholder that was a little easier to reach, but we’re told these issues are being resolved.
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NOTABLE STANDARDS
10-Foot Bimini Top w/Stainless Quick Release & Trailering Struts, 28-Gallon Fuel Tank in Motor Pod w/Fuel & Water Separator, Bow Reinforcement Bumper, Cable Tension Infinite Reclining High Back Helm Chair, Deustch Waterproof Electrical Wiring Harness, Docking Lights, Exterior D-Rail Design on Rails, Oval-Shaped Woodgrain Table w/Matte Finish, Radius Deck w/Integrated Deck Trim and Vinyl Rub Rail, Raised Chrome Logos, Reinforced Splash Fins, Scanstrut Wireless Phone Charging & Mount, SS Ski/Tow Bar, Stern SS Corners, Surlast Playpen Cover, Transducer Bracket on Starboard Tube, Vinyl-Wrapped Furniture Bases, Wet Sounds MC2 Source Unit and 120-Watt Wet Sounds Speakers & Transom Remote.
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OPTIONS ON TEST BOAT
3.0 Performance Pkg., Blackout Trim Package, Cool Touch Upholstery, Teak Floor, Dual Battery Switch & Charger, In-Floor Storage, Power Assist Steering, Rail Stripe Pkg., RGB Floor, Table & Seat Bases, RGB Exterior Rail Lights, Sport Ski/Tow Bar, Amp, Subwoofer, Wet Sounds Audio System and USB Ports w/Lighted Panel.
VITAL STATS
LOA: 24’ 5”
Beam: 8’ 6”
Hull Design: Triple Pontoon
Dry Weight: 2,450 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 38 gallons
TEST DRIVE
Engine: Yamaha VF250XA
Cylinder Type: V6
Cubic-inch Displacement/Horsepower: 256.3ci/250hp
Lower Unit Gear Ratio: 1.75:1
Propeller: 16 X 15.5
RPM vs. SPEED vs. DB-A
600 2.7 68.5
1000 4.8 77
1500 7.1 83.5
2000 9.7 86
2500 15.0 91
3000 20.3 90.5
3500 26.3 92.5
4000 30.7 96
4500 35.7 99.5
5000 39.6 104
5500 44.1 106.5
6000 47.6 109
6150 48.4 114
6200 48.6 107
PRICE
Price As Tested: $99,900
(Boat and Motor)
Base Price: $78,800
(Boat and Motor)
This article originally appeared in our 2021 Shootout issue. If you are interested in seeing more boat tests like this, click HERE to subscribe.
