Princecraft’s Copper Special Edition package really ups the Vectra 23 RL’s game for 2024. It includes bold copper exterior and interior accents, raised black logo decals, and deluxe driver and passenger seats, each clad with stylish hard-shell backing. Also included are LED lighting below the helm and upholstery, and an upgraded steering wheel and docking lights. The end result is a pontoon boat that punches above its weight class while maintaining a surprisingly affordable price tag.
The 23 RL’s layout is a versatile mix of traditional passenger seating and laid-back lounge options. Parallel bow lounges feature ample storage in the roto-molded bases below. Those Copper Edition chairs cradle the captain and passenger while underway and when they spin around to join the social opportunities provided by an oversize pedestal dining table aft. The versatile Rear Lounge adds more seating on the opposite side of the table. Pivot its backrest forward to create a rear-facing mega-recliner. An optional perimeter rail allows passengers to use the lounge while underway. A smart addition is that aft and side sections of that rail can pivot down to seat level, allowing passengers easy access to the lounge from the aft platform, as well as revealing the pop-up changing room hidden below.
Our test boat got its go from a Mercury 150 XL outboard and featured Princecraft’s Sport pontoon configuration, a blend of the twin-pontoon Speed package and triple-pontoon Performance layout. It had 25-inch pontoons to port and starboard, and a 25-inch center pontoon that ran about two-thirds down the boat’s length as a means to blend performance and affordability. Tube noses are reinforced, lifting strakes are added to all three tubes, and the underside of the deck is covered in an aluminum spray shield. The result was a soft and solid ride, with a touch of inside lean in the corners and predictable control provided by SeaStar hydraulic steering. The combo pushed our test boat immediately onto plane with no significant bow rise. Top speed peaked at 37 mph.
High Points
- Extruded aluminum cross members, full-length keels and full-length skirting.
- Standard ski-pylon base.
- Optional Mood Package adds a bow snack table, glove box, wireless phone charger and removable windscreen.
How We Tested
- Engine: Mercury 150 XL
- Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Enertia 15.3″ x 14″
- Gear Ratio: 2.08:1 Fuel Load: 23 gal.
| Price: | $48,444 (with Mercury 150 XL) |
| LOA: | 23’6″ |
| Beam: | 8’5″ |
| Draft (max): | NA |
| Dry Weight: | 2,042 lb. |
| Seat/Weight Capacity: | 12/1,623 lb. |
| Fuel Capacity: | 27 gal. |
Princecraft – Princeville, Quebec, Canada; princecraft.com
