Jim Dorris, founder of PlayCraft Boats, started the genre of super-fast pontoons back in the 1990s, and the Powertoon X-Treme 3000 is PlayCraft’s top of the line. It’s dual Mercury 450R powerplants boost the Powertoon X-Treme 3000 to a top speed of 77.8 mph at 6,450 rpm. It ripped to 30 mph in 3.5 seconds. With 900 horses on tap, the Powertoon is also poker-run-ready, delivering a range of 150 or more miles on a single fill-up.
While it’s a huge party platform, handling proves surprisingly agile for an 8.5-foot-wide 30-footer. It turns flat, predictably and smooth, with a clean arc and no banking. That’s due to PlayCraft’s lifting strakes that get the boat on top but hook into turns, helping the boat avoid that uncomfortable outward heeling of some performance pontoons. The center log is larger, adding buoyancy and contributing to its comfortable turning capabilities. For 2022, PlayCraft dropped the center tube 2 inches and toed in the outer logs 3 inches at the stern to help compress and pack air for added lift and speed. It worked and also reduced porpoising during high trim at high speed. The X-Treme 3000’s 30-foot length spans widely spaced rolling waves, so it’s stable even in Lake of the Ozarks’ holiday chop.
The Powertoon looks as good as it runs, with rally colors and complementary rally upholstery. Ours was purple, black, white and gray—a color combo that commands attention.
The interior layout is vast, plush and functional. Forward of the driver’s console, two exceptionally long facing lounges provide great seating for large groups. The driver’s console features a raised fiberglass platform for the captain’s chair. The helm is just as racy, with a full complement of instruments trimmed in matching purple bezels, and the captain gets a reclining high-back armchair, with inner springs and adjustable armrests to match the reclining angle.
The aft provides a great party pit. For swimming, a center-mounted folding ladder complements a patented three-step entry built into the center log. The feature complements the optional tow pylon or wakeboard tow point on the tower.
High Points
- Siren 3 Pro security monitors the boat’s geofence, access points and engine metrics, keeping your investment secure.
- Hydraulic jack plates optimize prop surfacing for maximum speed.
How We Tested
- Engine: Twin Mercury 450R FourStroke
- Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Bravo FS 15 1/4″ x 24″ 4-blade stainless steel
- Gear Ratio: 1.60:1 Fuel Load: 35 gal. Crew Weight: 500 lb.
Pricing and Specs
| Price: | $269,900 |
|---|---|
| LOA: | 30’0″ |
| Beam: | 8’6″ |
| Draft: | NA |
| Dry Weight: | 2,950 lb. |
| Seat/Weight Capacity: | 15/3,000 lb. |
| Fuel Capacity: | 100 gal. |
PlayCraft Boats – Richland, Missouri; 573-765-3265; playcraftboats.com
