5 Best Pontoon Boats For 2023
These are the best pontoon boats for 2023. They’re great to take out on Arizona lakes and we were surprised to see how far pontoon boats have come over the years. They aren’t just the quintessential ‘party barge’ anymore. They are packed with performance, luxuries, and new technologies that will keep your friends and family happy all day long.
The best pontoon boats for 2023 are Berkshire, Sea-Doo, Premier, Regency, and Harris.
Best Pontoon Boats For 2023
Berkshire SPORT
The 2023 Berkshire Sport has all the bells and whistles you’d expect from Berkshire plus the performance to go with it. A similar pontoon is the Berkshire 23 Ultimate Lounger STS which comes standard with adjustable sun loungers. It’s a 28 foot pontoon boat with a max capacity of 15 passengers.
Berkshire is known for luxury, quality, and craftsmanship. Chassis and decks are built twice as strong and 40% lighter than competitors. The deck is made with Z42 Composite which is unique because it has no seams. It’s made of 1 solid piece of composite. This eliminates mold, moisture absorption, and deck rot.
Luxuries
In her luxurious helm, you’ll get full color touch screen controls, cameras for rear views and docking assistance, an Italian sport wheel, and all the gauges and gadgets you need. It comes standard with electronically-operated arches, tons of seat storage, an electric powered sports arch, and even a privacy hoop and curtain around the chaise lounge.
Performance
For performance, you'll get 900 HP and Berkshire’s Signature 3.0+ Performance Package.
Berkshire’s Performance Packages
The 3.0+ package is the premier performance package Berkshire has to offer. The
3 full center tubes with lifting strakes
Aluminum underdeck performance skin
Power assist steering pump
Sport ski tow
Pad running surface
47 gallon fuel tank
Overall, the Berkshire Sport CL9 DC pontoon boat leads the pack for luxury and performance. You’ll get the quality you need with the luxurious touches you want.
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Sea-Doo Switch Cruise 21
The Sea-Doo Switch doesn’t have the wonderful luxurious touches of the Berkshire, but it is the most versatile pontoon boat of its kind and has the performance power to move fast. You can use this pontoon for watersports, too.
This 21 foot pontoon seats 10 passengers and is the largest Sea-Doo Switch available. Small pontoon boats like the 13-foot Sea Doo Switch - Mini Compact Pontoon Boat have a max capacity of 5 passengers but are great at getting into small fishing holes or as entry-level pontoon boats.
Versatility
It’s called the Sea-Doo Switch because you can change and move furniture around as you see fit.
This pontoon boat comes with a Lego-like floorplan that can be changed easily for different situations. If you want to take the family out, you can move benches and seats into a more social arrangement. If you want to go fishing with your buddy, you can either remove seats completely, or move seats to either side of the boat.
Rotax Engine Performance
Pontoon boats are not typically known for their performance. But the 2023 Sea-Doo Switch is a jet-propelled boat with Rotax power in 130-,170-, and 230-horsepower variations.
Rotax engines are high-performance powersport engines manufactured in Austria. Rotax offers a wide range of engines from 8 HP, 1-cylinder, 2-stroke models to 310 HP, 3-cylinder, 4-stroke supercharged engines. You can find Rotax engines in aircraft, snowmobiles, karts, on-road and off-road vehicles and Sea-Doos.
Watersports
The Switch Sport is a great pontoon for watersports. Not many pontoon boats are decent when it comes to watersports. But with Sea-Doo’s long history of watercraft, this boat is an exception.
It comes with Ski Mode. Ski Mode helps you tap into the boat’s cranking power to lift the rider up. It doesn’t have the deep V hull design that is ideal for wakeboarding, but it will make a nice long flat wake which is optimal for water skiing and tubing.
Helm
The helm of the Sea-Doo Switch has handlebar steering and Sea-Doo’s Signature iBR System. The iBR system lets you put on the brakes and go in reverse. You’ll also have a 7” touchscreen GPS.
Overall, the Sea-Doo Switch is compact, versatile, and powerful. It’s a great starter boat and will definitely turn some heads out on the water.
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Premier Escalante 330 CL
The Premier Escalante CL is a fully equipped double decker luxury pontoon boat complete with water slide. It is a 33 foot boat with a 10 foot wide deck, and 12 foot upper deck. And for such a large boat, it has surprisingly good performance.
Entertainment and Amenities
If you want a luxurious boat that will be comfortable and spacious for your family and friends, then this is your boat.
The water slide descends from the 12 foot upper deck. It adds a huge element of fun while you’re anchored in the lake or pulled over into a cove.
There is a unique light-up staircase that looks amazing and ties the whole boat together. This pontoon boat has a galley kitchen with a wet bar, refrigerator, paper towel holder, and electric sink.
It has a hard-sided changing room for privacy, built-in sink in the changing room, and even a curved porta potti toilet.
Seating
There’s enough seating for 20 passengers. Everyone will have a place to sit comfortably and enjoy the view. You’ll have refrigerated cup holders, fast-charging USB, and a 9 foot Evolution bimini for shade.
The 12 foot upper deck has 2 couches and a bimini for more seating options. All upholstery is premium ultrafabric which is designed to stand up to the elements.
Performance
Most pontoons are designed just to cruise. But the Premier Escalante 330 CL goes fast. It has a 900 hp max and is built with PTX technology.
Helm
The helm is complete with a SIM-RAD display, classic-style steering wheel with touch controls, and a refrigerated cup holder.
Overall, if you’re looking for a huge boat with all the amenities and tons of space, plus a lot of power, then this pontoon should be your new boat.
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Regency 230 LE3 Sport
The Regency 230 LE3 Sport pontoon boat is a 26 foot tritoon with 8’6” of width. You’ll have enough space for 12 passengers to cruise in luxury, but also have a ton of fun doing watersports. Plus, Regency added extra storage behind the backrests.
Performance
The LE3 Sport pontoon has a 250hp max. This makes it a great choice for cruising. But it also has enough power to get a water skier up and going. It comes with a 250hp Mercury Verado V8 outboard motor. It’s the new generation of motors and really gets your pontoon moving.
Comfort
You’ll get a social seating arrangement for up to 12 passengers. It has a power bimini for shade and lots of cup holders. There’s a switchback pull out for lounging. But the best part is the mood lighting. From stern to bow it has beautiful LED lighting that will add a nice ambience to evening cruises.
You have 2 rear facing speakers on the transom so you can still hear the music when you’re in the water. And when you’re done swimming in the lake, rinse off with the freshwater shower on the transom. There’s tons of storage not only under the seats, but also behind the backrest. You’ll have a huge sun pad that can either be a 3-person forward facing seat or flip it over and get a lounger.
Helm
There is a raised helm with push button switches, a Kicker stereo system, and touchscreen GPS.
Overall, Regency 230 pontoon boats are full of luxury and performance. You can do water sports or just cruise. Everyone will have a great time on a Regency.
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Harris Solstice 230 SL
The 2023 Harris Solstice is packed with new tech and luxuries than any year before. They are partnered with CZONE to create a pontoon boat loaded with features for a great day on the lake.
The Harris Solstice pontoon is 26 feet with a beam of 8’6”. It can accommodate up to 13 passengers. But this boat has been redesigned to be more spacious than ever before.
Technology
The helm is equipped with a fully digital dashboard and CZONE. CZONE digital switching gives you greater control over your boat and ride-enhancing performance packages. The helm has been lowered for 2023 without compromising space for your legs. You’ll love the feel of driving this pontoon boat.
You’ll have a huge selection of LED light colors and brightness. You can change them manually or turn on the single button mode and let the boat take over your mood lighting. For safety, there’s a SOS mode which is just a simple tap and you can get help if you need it.
You’ll have a key fob to control the stereo, lighting, and power tower while you’re lounging on your lakeside beach. It has the most USB ports you can find on a pontoon so everyone can stay charged up.
Performance
The Harris Solstice 230 SL comes with a Mercury outboard motor and 300 HP max.
Luxury Features
The transom lights have been replaced with newly designed lights on the side. No more stubbing your toes on the elevated lights! It comes with a flag pole, a new bold logo design, and new interior and exterior colors. The middle seat moves simply from a backrest into a sun lounger.
Overall, the Harris Solstice for 2023 has a lot of newly designed features and innovations. You’ll love taking this pontoon boat out on the lake.
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Final Thoughts
These are some of the best pontoon boats for 2023. You’ll find luxury, performance, and lots of extras to keep you and your friends and family happy all day long.