Sea-Doo turned the pontoon market on its ear for 2022, building a pontoon boat that, in many ways, shares little in common with the rest of the market. Rather than a trio of pontoon logs below its deck, the 21 Switch Cruise rides on a tri-hull, with narrow, outriggerlike hulls straddling a much larger PWC-like center hull. Sea-Doo positions that center hull more than 7 inches lower than the outboard sponsons to provide the Switch with a stable yet responsive ride. And unlike most pontoon boats, the hulls are not aluminum. Rather, those hulls are made from PolyTec, Sea-Doo’s proven durable, lightweight blend of polypropylene and fiberglass reinforcement. Its matte finish is trendy and features a stylish pop of accent color. The Sea-Doo Switch also forgoes a pontoon boat’s typical aluminum perimeter fencing, instead opting for clear vinyl panels that give the boat an open, airy feel and allow the captain a great view of the dock or a downed watersports rider in the water. Additionally, the clear panels make for a more open feel for all aboard the boat, captain and crew alike.
Step aboard and the twists continue. Rather than a traditional wheel, the Switch opts for handlebar controls at the helm, lifted from the personal watercraft line. They offered excellent control of the craft, especially when used in conjunction with Sea-Doo’s Intelligent Brake & Reverse system around the dock or launch ramp. Toggling between forward, neutral and reverse, we were able to spin the craft almost within its own length and rapidly decelerate at speed. As to the ride, our test boat handled more like a PWC than a pontoon, carving through aggressive turns with flair and, with our test boat’s supercharged Rotax 1630 ACE engine, peaking at 38 mph.
The Switch’s most compelling feature, however, is its interchangeable floor plan. By using a unique set of tiles for the deck surface, owners can move furniture almost anywhere they want it, setting up the boat for maximum-passenger cruising one minute or clearing the deck for fishing the next. Multiple accessories also get in the act, from corner and pedestal tables to various storage boxes, coolers and even fuel caddies. Cushy rubber deck pads can snap into place anywhere owners desire a softer feeling underfoot. It’s like one big Lego set, ready to be tailored to the needs of each individual owner.
High Points
- Modular design allows cockpit configuration in seconds.
- Jet drive adds transom space and control, with handlebar-mounted controls and a braking system.
- Easy towing and an entry price of $17,999 with a trailer.
How We Tested
- Engine: Rotax 1630 ACE-230
- Pump/Impeller: 161 mm high-pressure/stainless steel
- Gear Ratio: 1.00:1 Fuel Load: 30 gal. Crew Weight: 390 lb.
Pricing and Specs
| Price: | $42,619 (starting, with 230 hp Rotax 1630 ACE) |
|---|---|
| LOA: | 20.4′ |
| Beam: | 7.8′ |
| Draft: | 1’6″ (max) |
| Dry Weight: | 2,508 lb. |
| Seat/Weight Capacity: | 9/1,466 lb. |
| Fuel Capacity: | 29 gal. |
Sea-Doo – Valcourt, Quebec, Canada; 888-272-9222; sea-doo.com
