Beam: 8’6″
Dry Weight: 6,100 lb.
Seating/Weight Capacity: 14/3,000 lb.
Fuel Capacity: 50 gal. More Information: playcraftboats.com Bill Doster
Leave it to PlayCraft to blur the lines between high-speed performance boating and the stately cruising of pontoon boats. It was first to open the pontoon category in the national Lake Rescue Shootout at Lake of the Ozarks, helping to bring attention to this new category. If pontoons weren’t flashy enough before, this new Powertoon Coppertone Special 2800 is certainly raising the bar today.
A crystal-metallic-copper finish on the tubes and rails offers a gleam that is nearly 3-D. The color is picked up in hammered-finish copper-vinyl insets in the upholstery. If that doesn’t draw enough attention, tap the horn button. Our test boat was equipped with the new owner’s custom train horn that unmistakably communicates navigation intentions.
PlayCraft teamed up with Seven Marine to bring the 627 to its transom. This Ferrari Testarossa of outboard motors growls demurely with a sound that belies its powerful acceleration and blistering top speed of 62-plus mph. In the infamous Lake Rescue Shootout, she topped 65 mph without the hefty train horns and Bimini top.
The helm features Seven Marine’s digital instrument screen. A short-stroke ZF throttle binnacle gives precise control in shifting and speed. Trim-tab paddle controls on the helm offer constant-contact control of both the helm and trim.
Double-stepped pontoon tubes maximize the effect of horsepower, breaking the flow of air and giving the Coppertone a running attitude as authoritative as its top speed. At rest, the outboard pontoons each have PlayCraft’s patented integrated boarding steps for the easiest reboarding ever.
Entertainment is provided by three bars staggered port to starboard with a two-tier master wet bar aft and a 12-volt refrigerator. It’s hard to imagine a better place to be than the Coppertone Special 2800.
High Points
*Built to order with nearly any color combination, propulsion equipment and deck furnishings.
*Powder-coated rails and gates are long lasting.
*Custom features, including the train whistle, can be added.
*Single-sheet plywood deck is durable, stiff and rot resistant.
How We Tested
Engine: 627 hp Seven Marine 627
Drive/Prop: Outboard/Enertia Eco 21 stainless steel
Gear Ratio: 1.75:1
Fuel Load: 44 gal.
Crew Weight: 400 lb.
Price
Unavailable (at press time)
Contact
PlayCraft Boats Richland, Missouri; 573-765-3265; playcraftboats.com
