Beam: 8’6″
Dry Weight: 3,700 lb.
Seating/Weight Capacity: 15/2,075 lb.
Fuel Capacity: 52 gal.
More Information: princecraft.com
These days, prospective pontoon boat buyers aren’t just looking for a boat with a lot of creature comforts on deck; they’re looking for one with some performance oomph. Princecraft, long known for its aluminum-hull fishing boats, delivers on 21st-century ’toon expectations with the new Vogue 27 SE, a boat that mates three marine-grade aluminum logs with a well-thought-out floor plan. With the triple-tube package you get a boat that can support a 300 hp Mercury Verado and — with the 52-gallon fuel tank built into the center tube — the juice to support it. We skirted 45 mph on test day, climbing onto plane in a scant three seconds and accelerating to 30 mph in under eight seconds. Hard-over turns still feel a little flat compared with the inboard lean of a fiberglass V-hull, but with the triple tubes the feeling is far less pronounced.
While the performance numbers are noteworthy, pontoon boaters still expect a lot of leisure room from the interior layout. The Vogue 27 SE scores on that front too, with a floor plan primed for entertaining, especially with the four-person bar set up to port opposite the helm. The seats are adjustable and they all swivel, allowing for access to the additional counter surface tucked into the aft port corner. Note all the strategically placed cup holders with LED accent lights to enhance the ambience. There’s a chaise lounge to starboard to complete the main cockpit layout. Two opposing chaise lounges adorn the bow; there’s plenty of stowage under the roto-molded seat bases.
Our favorite seating feature is on the large swim platform, which has appealing wood-grain vinyl nonslip and a telescoping swim ladder angled away from the outboard. We are enamored of the two rear-facing seats — which are great for prepping for a tow session or maybe the best seats for kicking back at anchor. And kicking back and socializing are really what owning a pontoon boat is all about.
Buyer’s Spotlight
*Check out the LED lights in the cup holders, in the bar trim and around the boat’s interior.
*Telescoping swim ladder on the extended swim platform is angled away from the outboard’s propeller to maximize swimmer safety.
*Two rear-facing seats on the swim platform provide great purchase for gearing up for water sports, or are to lounge on while the boat is at rest.
*Performance package adds a third tube that helps support a 52-gallon fuel tank and a 300 hp outboard capable of pushing this boat into high-40s speeds.
How We Tested
Engine: 300 hp Mercury Verado outboard
Prop: 14¼” x 21″ 3-blade aluminum
Gear Ratio: 1.75:1
Fuel Load: 25 gal.
Crew Weight: 420 lb.
Price
$78,152 (as tested)
Contact
Princecraft Princeville, Quebec, Canada; 800-395-8858; princecraft.com
