Boating

Tests

Aftermarket. Not Afterthought.

A ermarket towers that look factory installed. For less.

SAVE UP TO $700 ON TOWER PACKAGES WITH OUR MOST POPULAR ACCESSORIES.

Affordable Quality Universal-Fit Towers I 2.5” Anodized Aluminum or Custom Colors I Risk-Free Guarantee http://www.monstertower.com I 877-778-6937

Manitou

23 XT X-Plode

WE SAY Manitou’s 23 XT X-Plode is

one of the slickest-looking, smartest-

handling performance pontoons we’ve

tested. Stepping aboard through a

distinctive billet-aluminum bow gate,

we found ourselves beckoned by plush

seating that includes stern seats that

convert into a pair of large, aft-facing

lounges; twin Millennium Falcon-

inspired captain’s chairs amidships;

and wraparound lounge seats forward.

The 23 XT X-Plode’s deck is surrounded

by double-walled fiberglass side panels

with an aluminum wakeboard tower

overhead and a raised fiberglass helm

console — all of them complementing

this ’toon’s dynamic design and

color graphics.

The X-Plode’s performance is

equally dynamic. Twin 23-inch-diameter

V-Toons flank a 27-inch-diameter center

tube. These combine to create a

mono-hull ride experience. We noted

a wide-open-throttle speed of 53 mph

on the touch-controlled Smart Screen

readout, an easy-to-read, high-tech panel

that serves as ground zero for monitoring

the gauges and controlling the powerful,

Bluetooth-enabled, Kicker-boosted

sound system, as well as the remote-

controlled retractable wakeboard tower.

This unique, high-performance pontoon

will turn heads at the dock and on the

water. — Dan Armitage

WHO’D WANT ONE Boaters seeking PHOTO: BILL DOSTER

( #2945 )

watersports capability aboard a

distinctive performance pontoon.

ANOTHER CHOICE The Harris Crowne

SL 250 ($93,035 with a 300 hp

Mercury Verado).

BOTTOM LINE $106,800 (as tested);

manitoupontoonboats.com

TBOATINGCertified Test Results

HOW WE TESTED

ENGINE: 250 hp Evinrude E-TEC G2 DRIVE/PROP: Outboard/Rebel

153 / 8 " x 18" 3-blade stainless steel GEAR RATIO: 1.86:1 FUEL

LOAD: 30 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 240 lb.

XLOA: 24'4" XBeam: 8'6" XDraft: 2'0" XDisplacement:

3,100 lb. XFuel Capacity: 44 gal.

SPEED EFFICIENCY OPERATION

rpm knots mph gph mpg mpg range range angle levelnaut. stat. n. mi. s. mi. sound

1000 4.87 5.60 0.70 6.95 8.00 275 317 0 68

1500 6.00 6.90 1.50 4.00 4.60 158 182 1 70

2000 8.69 10.00 2.60 3.34 3.85 132 152 2 74

2500 13.90 16.00 3.80 3.66 4.21 145 167 2 78

3000 17.38 20.00 5.60 3.10 3.57 123 141 1 78

3500 20.86 24.00 7.70 2.71 3.12 107 123 2 81

4000 26.07 30.00 10.30 2.53 2.91 100 115 2 84

4500 32.15 37.00 12.40 2.59 2.98 103 118 1 87

5000 37.37 43.00 16.00 2.34 2.69 92 106 1 88

5500 42.58 49.00 19.70 2.16 2.49 86 98 1 91

5900 46.06 53.00 21.70 2.12 2.44 84 97 1 93

MOST ECONOMICAL CRUISING SPEED