Beam: 8’6″
Dry Weight: 3,859 lb.
Seating/Weight Capacity: 16/3,100 lb.
Fuel Capacity: 50 gal.
More Information: harrisboats.com
Harris blurs conventional pontoon lines with the cutting-edge Crowne 250. Gaze along its length: There’s nary a hint of a pontoon’s traditional perimeter fencing. Instead, sleek fiberglass modules form much of the exterior, as well as house the interior seating. Going with fiberglass allows Harris to give the Crowne a flowing, seamless look, while still maintaining a pontoon’s trademark layout. Forward, opposing lounges offer nearly wraparound bow seating. Aft, an L-shaped lounge and a pivoting, high-back helm seat complete this crew-friendly floor plan. Subtle two-tone vinyl with contrasting piping, along with attractive faux-teak flooring, further added to our test boat’s upscale vibe. So too did the optional power Sport Arch hovering above. Its swept-forward styling perfectly complements the Crowne’s contemporary aesthetic, while its combination of acrylic sun shades and an integrated Bimini offer welcome function.
That L-shaped lounge is a new feature for the Crowne for 2015. In addition to its forward-facing bench, it includes a 5-by-3-foot-10-inch sun pad directly behind. Push a button and the two seating areas’ shared backrest pivots forward to make the rear area a substantial chaise. A stereo remote, along with 12-volt jack, audio input and MP3/phone holder are at the ready. Rear-facing speakers are molded into the fiberglass to ensure the tunes are broadcast to the back of the boat when you’re relaxing at the beach or on the hook. A handy door gives quick access to the stowage potential below. Raise the whole sun pad to reveal a generously sized pop-up changing station.
Our test boat was equipped with Harris’ Performance III package. It provides the characteristics of a V-hull by adding a center tube, dropped 1 inch below the flanking logs. With a Mercury Verado 300 Pro providing the power, the Crowne jumped instantly onto plane and reached 30 mph in 6.9 seconds. Top speed at 6,500 rpm was a crisp 48.6 mph.
Buyer’s Spotlight
*Say goodbye to boxy perimeter fencing. Fiberglass seating modules and sleek lines combine for award-winning contemporary styling.
*The captain will love the high-back helm seat.
*Multiposition aft lounge morphs from seat to sun pad to ultimate chaise.
*Center tube is installed 1 inch lower than the outboard pontoons to provide V-hull-like handling and smoothness.
*Check out that massive sun pad.
*Stereo speakers, mounted on molded fiberglass wedges, are angled to broadcast the tunes behind the boat, so you can rock whether wakeboarding or just wading at the cove.
How We Tested
Engine: Mercury Verado 300 Pro
Prop: Enertia 15″ x 15″ 3-blade stainless steel
Gear Ratio: 1.75:1
Fuel Load: 37 gal.
Crew Weight: 150 lb.
Price
$81,219 (with test power)
Contact
Harris Fort Wayne, Indiana; 260-432-4555; harrisboats.com
