The good ergonomics are evident in this
helm shot where the wheel and seat are
well aligned, the controls conveniently
mounted on the binnacle and even a
drink holder is within arm’s reach.
fuel level. Illuminated rocker switches
control the horn, interior & navigational lighting as well as accessory
power. A 12-volt jack is also conveniently placed to the left of the wheel.
A Jensen marine-grade AM/FM CD
stereo with MP3 jack is recessed into
the dash routing party tunes to 4
strategically placed speakers. Overall,
the helm is well laid-out, however the
3-spoke adjustable steering wheel
obstructs the view of the gauges in
most of the selected positions. Lower
on the helm pod, a small lockable
glove compartment is provided for
carrying wallets, jewelry and the like
when folks decide to go for a dip.
Moving to stern, a ¾-width padded
and hinged rear sun deck is provided
for lounging. Raising the hinged portion of the pad reveals a 5’ high privacy enclosure with removable top
for onboard changing. This would
also be suitable for use with a porta-potty or the optional chemical toilet
with holding tank and pump-out. Also
tucked under the sun deck to port are
the onboard 125 L gas tank, oil reservoir and battery case.
Our test boat, adorned with red
and yellow accent graphics, was
equipped with the optional triple
pontoon performance package and
under deck spray shield. While the
manufacturer’s maximum rated power
is 175 horses, a Mercury 150 Optimax
two-stroke outboard running a 151/2
X 15 Black Max 3-blade propeller was
bolted to the transom.
With but two adults on board a
craft designed for up to 12 and one-third of a tank of fuel,
we headed out onto
the lake to conduct our
performance trials. As
expected, time to plane
was quick averaging a
mere 3.1 seconds with
minimal bow rise. Time
to 30 mph came in a
hurry as well at 7. 4
seconds ( 4,800 rpm)
certainly making it worthwhile to
include the optional elevated water
ski tow bar on the sales order.
Maximum speed was recorded at
40.2 mph (GPS) running 5,200 rpm.
Those wanting to spend the day
cruising will want to keep the speed
at approximately 22 mph to maximize
fuel economy.
Acceleration throughout the power
curve was strong and minimal banking
was experienced at speed, even in
lock-to-lock hard turns – a testament
to the performance enhancements of
the 3-log configuration. Engine noise,
while not as whisper quiet as the
Verado, was still quite acceptable.
That’s pretty important when you are
trying to hold a conversation with
someone who could be lounging 15
feet away. One item that I would suggest the engineers at Princecraft review
is the steering system. While requiring
fingertip pressure to steer at slow
speeds, carving turns at speed required
both hands and a degree of muscle.
Length 7.1 m/23’ 2”
Beam 2.6 m/8’ 6”
Weight 850 kg/1,875 lb.
Fuel Capacity 125 L/33 US gal.
Price (MSRP base)
$44,392.19 + taxes
TEST BOAT PROVIDED BY AND PRICE
QUOTED BY:
PRINCECRAFT BOATS INC.
WWW.PRINCECRAFT.COM
The matching “Princecraft” branded
galvanized trailer has tandem axles for
better support and bunks for easy loading
and secure highway travel.
The Vision 23 L was well equipped
for enjoyment at rest as well.
Designers with a flare for things
multi-functional came up with an
ottoman that doubles as a mini-cooler
complete with cup holders. An
optional pedestal mounted snack
table was also located between the
bow lounge seats. A stern-mounted
snack table is also available either as
a single option or as part of an attractive leisure package.
While pontoons can’t necessarily
boast the panache of a sleek runabout
or achieve the head-turning speeds of
a performance boat, no other offering
can match their versatility. And, as far
as amenities go, it would seem you
can trick out your pontoon with
everything but a fireplace and home
theatre system. Who knows, maybe
that’ll be new for ’09. ●
