For most boaters, pontoons are all about relaxing on the water. Well, no other model exemplifies this philosophy better than the Avalon 2385 Catalina RL. The interior invites you to step aboard, recline, unwind and soak up the sun in a quiet cove or raft up with fellow ’tooners for an afternoon.
Our test boat featured a layout that was symmetrical, stylish and comfy, with twin loungers forward, twin reclining suspension bucket seats amidships and twin rear-facing loungers in the rear. There’s plenty of open space down the center to traverse bow to stern, whether it’s to access the swim platforms aft or pluck an icy beverage from the cooler under the fiberglass helm console.
The seats and lounges are crafted from Matrix 50-ounce soft-touch vinyl for a buttery-smooth feel. Loungers feature sturdy aluminum frames, while the swiveling, adjustable bucket seats offer fold-down armrests. A pop-up privacy curtain unfurls from the port lounger.
Flow-through ventilation is integrated into the seating systems to help keep moisture from accumulating and creating mildew. A pedestal table sets up between the forward loungers.
Underneath it all, double-bolted hat-channel aluminum-crossbeam construction results in a rock-solid frame between the two outside logs and three-quarter-length center tube. Heavy-duty polished aluminum corners and a 3-inch rub rail with black rubber insert protect against the occasional “whoops” at the dock. Rakish exterior lines give the appearance of velocity, even when sitting still. A four-speaker, Bluetooth-enabled Infinity stereo system lets you unwind or get wound up, depending on the choice of music.
At the helm, we found a GPS speedometer, tach, voltmeter and fuel gauges. The black soft-grip steering wheel connected us via the SeaStar Solutions hydraulic steering system to an Evinrude E-Tec 135 H.O. outboard. Splash fins on the nose cones of the two 25-inch pontoon logs knock down spray for a dry ride. The 135 hp Evinrude E-Tec outboard powered our boat to slightly over 34 mph, which seemed plenty spry given a full tank of fuel and 450 pounds of crew on board. Also, remember that this boat is all about relaxing, and that’s what family and friends will remember most after spending an enjoyable and entertaining day on the lake aboard the Avalon 2385 Catalina RL.
High Points
* Plenty of seating to recline and relax yet with enough interior room to move about easily.
* Double-bolted hat-channel aluminum crossbeam results in a super-strong and durable frame.
* Wood-free construction means this boat is rot-free for life.
Price: $59,689 (as tested)
How We Tested
Engine: Evinrude E-Tec 135 H.O.
Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Tempest Plus 15 5/8″ x 13″ 3-blade stainless steel
Gear Ratio: 1.85:1
Fuel Load: 29 gal.
Crew Weight: 450 lb.
More Information
Avalon Pontoons – Alma, Michigan; 800-334-2913; avalonpontoons.com
