SPEED EFFICIENCY OPERATIONnaut. stat. n. mi. s. mi. sound
rpm knots mph gph mpg mpg range range angle level
1000 3.2 3.7 0.7 4.6 5.3 186.0 214.1 0 59
1500 4.3 5.0 0.9 4.8 5.6 195.5 225.0 0 61
2000 6.9 7.9 1.8 3.8 4.4 154.5 177.8 1 67
2500 8.3 9.6 2.2 3.8 4.4 153.6 176.7 2 69
3000 12.7 14.6 2.9 4.4 5.0 177.2 203.9 1 79
3500 15.3 17.6 4.1 3.7 4.3 151.1 173.9 1 87
4000 17.5 20.1 5.5 3.2 3.7 128.6 148.0 1 87
4500 20.9 24.1 7.6 2.8 3.2 111.6 128.4 1 88
5000 24.1 27.7 8.7 2.8 3.2 112.1 128.9 1 91
5500 27.5 31.7 10.9 2.5 2.9 102.4 117.8 1 92
MOST ECONOMICAL CRUISING SPEEDHigh Points
XIce-blue LED courtesy lights
illuminate the cockpit for evening
cruises.
XPowder-coated rails look great,
and interior panels are upholstered
to quiet the ride.
XStylish looks are all around, from
the weathered teak-look vinyl deck
to the exterior panel colors.Specs
· LOA: 25'3" · BEAM: 8'5"
· DRY WEIGHT: 2,650 lb. (plus motor)
· SEATING/WEIGHT CAPACITY:
13/1,770 lb. · FUEL CAPACITY: 29 gal.How We Tested
ENGINE: Mercury Pro XS 115
PROP: Black Max 15" pitch 3-blade
aluminum
GEAR RATIO: 2.38:1
FUEL LOAD: 5 gal.
CREW WEIGHT: 450 lb.
Price
$56,078 (as tested)TAHOE
2585 Cascade Elite
striking in the eye-appeal department
was the vinyl fl ooring that oozed with
ambience due to looking like sun-worn
teak planking. The surface is textured for
grippy footing and padded for comfort.
The pontoons shone brightly, and the
rails are all powder-coated in a jet-black
gloss. Inside panels are padded and uphol-
stered for a rich look and to end the drum-
ming sound heard on less well-appointed
boats. Forward panels have a rounded look
that is sleek and sporty, which also serves
to soften the corners of loungers’ favorite
forward seats. A hassock with cup holders
and cooler beneath add more comfort and
convenient access to refreshments.
For docking convenience, there are en-
try points forward, amidships and astern,
plus docking lights to illuminate the way.When we pressed the throttle of the
Cascade Elite, we didn’t expect snappy
acceleration nor did we hope to achieve
a rewarding top-end speed. After all,
this was one of Tahoe’s largest pontoons,
heavy with a center tube and pushed by a
compact Mercury 150 hp outboard. But it
got the job done and then some.
We noted power to spare for bringing
giggles from tube-riding kids or giving
water-skiers or wakeboarders a challeng-
ing ride. Part of that power comes from the
motor and part from the triple-tube de-
sign with lifting strakes to raise the boat
up on top as that power is applied.
It was after running performance
numbers that we throttled down to neu-
tral and looked about this pontoon that
had surprised us with its pep. Taking
stock, we noted luxury accommodations.
For instance, the helm and bucket seats
were ergonomically comfortable thanks
to possessing a swiveling mechanism andalso adjusting for legroom. The fi berglass-
molded helm station was situated for a
clear view over the bow, and the throttle
was positioned naturally under the driv-
er’s right hand. A combination of analog
gauges, a GPS speedometer and a Garmin 5
DV fi sh fi nder were all we needed to safely
pilot the ’toon on any waters.
If the captain is well-coddled on the
Cascade Elite, the crew should be ecstatic
with their luxuries. Lounges look fore
and aft, with slanted backs for the ideal
position for reading a book. Cup hold-
ers are mounted into the seat bases for a
convenient and handsome eff ect. A pair
of movable dual cup holders add more
options for securing refreshments. MostPHOTOS: BILL DOSTERTAHOE PONTOON BOATS
Alma, Michigan; 800-334-2913; tahoepontoons.comC
PONTOON
CERTIFIED
TEST
RESULTS
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