SEE THE
VIDEOSPEED EFFICIENCY OPERATIONnaut. stat. n. mi. s. mi. sound
rpm knots mph gph mpg mpg range range angle level
1000 4.61 5.30 1.80 2.56 2.94 187 215 0 70
1500 6.52 7.50 2.80 2.33 2.68 170 195 1 66
2000 9.99 11.50 4.20 2.38 2.74 173 200 3 74
2500 15.12 17.40 5.60 2.70 3.11 197 227 3 73
3000 19.99 23.00 7.70 2.60 2.99 189 218 3 76
3500 25.63 29.50 10.00 2.56 2.95 187 215 2 78
4000 30.07 34.60 13.10 2.30 2.64 167 193 2 80
4500 35.37 40.70 17.90 1.98 2.27 144 166 2 82
5000 39.54 45.50 23.80 1.66 1.91 121 139 1 85
5300 42.32 48.70 27.20 1.56 1.79 113 131 1 89
MOST ECONOMICAL CRUISING SPEEDHigh Points
XAnglers will appreciate the
standard Lowrance Hook-3x fi sh
fi nder/depth fi nder featured promi-
nently in the center of the dash.
XA center tube not only enhances
performance but also adds the
space for a large, 16-inch-deep
ski locker with its own dedicated
bilge pump and woven matting to
protect water toys.
XStandard features include digital
gauges, a high-back helm seat,
sea-grass fl ooring, and four-step
stainless-steel telescoping ladder.Specs
· LOA: 26'1" · BEAM: 8'6"
· DRY WEIGHT: 5,490 lb. · SEATING/
WEIGHT CAPACITY: 11/2,572 lb.
· FUEL CAPACITY: 81 gal.How We Tested
ENGINE: Mercury MerCruiser 6.2L
350 ECT
DRIVE/PROPS: Bravo Three/24" propset
GEAR RATIO: 2.00:1
FUEL LOAD: 20 gal.
CREW WEIGHT: 320 lb.
Price
$86,890 (with test power)HARRIS
Grand Mariner
SEL 230
often felt on pontoon boats.
Within the perimeter fencing, the lay-
out is all comfort. Forward, an optional
g a t e s e a t c o m b i n e s w i t h t h e 4 - f o o t p o r t a n d
5-foot-6-inch starboard couches to form a
wraparound U-shaped lounge. Underknee
bolsters, diamond-pattern lumbars, and
pillow-top seats display Harris’ clas-
sic attention to detail. Aft, an L-shaped
lounge follows suit, with a fl ip-over back-
rest expanding the already generous sun
pad to create one large recliner overlook-
ing the swim platform. As to the driver’s
accommodations, the optional raised
helm is elevated a full 5.5 inches for en-
hanced visibility well beyond the industry
norm. A classy leather-wrapped, three-
spoke stainless-steel wheel rounds out the
hit list.Sterndrive power may still be rare in the
pontoon-boat market, but the Harris
Grand Mariner SEL 230 clearly show-
cases the platform’s advantages. Start at
the stern, where a large, un-
encumbered swim platform
off ers uninterrupted sight-
lines and plenty of real estate
for those wishing to hang
out while at anchor or nosed
into the beach. The lack of
an outboard means you can
tow with a ski pylon rather
than a bulky over-engine
tow bar or cumbersome tow
harness. And Harris doesn’t
resort to an elevated aft deck
to conceal the power; the aft
bench and sun pad combine
to seamlessly — and anony-
mously — form the enginecover, maintaining the open interior
layout that is so important to pontoons.
Performance is impressive. Our test
boat’s 350 hp MerCruiser 6.2 topped out
at 48.7 mph, with a 7.1-second time from
zero to 30 mph and a confi dent nature in
the turns. A good portion of the latter is
thanks to Harris’ PIII Performance Pack-
age, a design incorporating three 25-inch
pontoons that drops the center tube 1 inch
and adds performance-oriented strakes
to both sides of that center tube and the
interior of each outer pontoon. Underway
at speed, the result somewhat mimics the
feeling of a V-hull, with the craft confi -
dently banking into turns with a familiar
inside lean, as opposed to the outside leanPHOTOS: BILL DOSTERHARRIS
Fort Wayne, Indiana; 260-432-4555; harrisboats.comTo see our video
review of the
Grand Mariner
SEL 230, scan
this tag or visit
boatingmag.com/
bbg18/harris
grandmariner.
C
CERTIFIED
TEST
RESULTSPONTOON
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