Watching the clock can be a grueling experience on a Wednesday morning at work, unless that clock is a stopwatch, and your office is a pontoon boat that's seemingly breaking all known laws of physics by zipping past 40 mph, leaving even a few bass boats in its wake.

But you're there, at the helm of the Voyager Express 25 Cruise on Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks on a pristine day. Essentially, it comes down to this choice: two logs or three?

Those are the numbers Voyager offers on many models in its pontoon boat line, but it's clear - when you're running the Express 25 Cruise on Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks - Express equals three. A twin-log boat just doesn't have the structural DNA to perform like this. The Express 25 Cruise is zipping along at 44 mph, turning sharply as a pontoon boat can, without the potential spin-out feeling of a runabout. The lake has a slight breeze, but the wave action is almost nil in the coves we're running through, and any chop is just driven over, rather than pounded through like a series of speed bumps. It's definitely an Express. What you're getting is a sport boat ride with the benefits of pontoon space.

The 25-footer is built with three U-shaped, .100-gauge pontoons, and in the test boat's case, its highlights also include the optional aluminum deck, 225-hp Evinrude E-TEC (base power is a 90-hp outboard), 12-foot high bimini (no bumping heads on this bad boy, and the company representative does chin-ups to prove how sturdy it is), hydraulic steering for easy turns and a stainless-steel ski/tow bar.

Voyager has a picture in its catalog of an Express pulling four teens on water skis, and though Boating World doesn't do a tow test, the layout makes it obvious that the boat would be a kid-pleaser. The storage space is excellent throughout, including the massive 7-feet-9-inch ski locker - enough space for water skiers to stow their skis or other water toys.

The deck layout is also a good indicator of why the boat has "cruise" in its title. It's rated for up to 16 people, though eight or nine might be a better fit. The Voyager has four doors, which makes for excellent access throughout and plenty of seating. Matching L-shaped lounges on the front half could seat three comfortably. The back part of the seat slants back, so one lucky passenger can lean back and enjoy the view while the boat's running, or snooze under the sun while at rest. In front of the center locker, a table can be set up for onboard picnics or barbecues. Across from the helm seat, a rear lounge is positioned on the left side of the boat. This has a full, pullout sleeping seat, perhaps the coolest feature in the cockpit. The wet bar is also a big plus for cruising with crowds, with a 2.5-gallon Whale freshwater system and an outside fill.

The four doors offer ample protection so nobody stumbles out. The front gate leads out to 15 inches of foredeck width across the bow - not bad, compared to some pontoon boats that offer less than 6 inches off the top. It works well for the line handler up front.

Back at the transom, the gate offers decent entry to the rear swim platform. Off the back, a sturdy, three-step ladder has easy access to the water. Just to the left, a 54-inch-by-57-inch pad is positioned over the changing area. The pad is soft and cushiony, with an extended lip over the rear portion to prevent accidentally slipping off the back. The ski tow bracket also gives some protection against falling on the motor. The changing area pops up, and the canvas snaps shut for privacy. It's simple and quick to use. The second half of the sunpad leads to the outboard and battery box.

This is a boat where the overall product is more than the sum of its parts. Although there are a few knockout features, such as the pullout bed and cavernous kid locker, you won't find a lot of gee-whiz gimmicks on the 25 Cruise. It's just a solid, spacious deck that's thoughtfully laid out. The off-white and yellow exterior, beige carpet, and yellow stripe on the upholstery are fairly standard items in the pontoon world.

It's a pity Voyager can't show off the bottom to give the Express 25 Cruise more curb appeal. Because that's where this boat really shines - literally. From below, the sharp, gleaming pontoons look like something out of a Star Wars movie. Voyager uses three U-shaped pontoons instead of an O-shaped log to enhance performance, and it fills them with a water-impervious foam for strength, sound-dampening and buoyancy. Voyager has a picture in the brochure of a pontoon filled with 6-inch holes with no sign of sagging in the water to prove its buoyancy. But standard production calls for the pontoon cap to be placed inside the top of the U-shape and welded shut for a water-tight seal. The pontoons are 5052 marine aluminum alloys with .100 gauges, so they can be fastened directly to the extruded aluminum decking.

On all Voyager Express models, the central third log is designed full length into the hull shape with an integrated motorpod. It's as much of the hull shape as the outside logs, without being added as an afterthought. Lifting strakes are designed into the logs. You can see the effect from land: The Express 25 cruises by with its bow pointed slightly out of the water. A drag shield is also a great hidden feature in the boat. It diffuses water pressure and prevents the aluminum logs from sounding like a washing machine when the boat's really humming along.

Like any fast boat, the real place to be is at the helm station. The helm seat is 24 inches across, 18 inches high and 19 inches deep - good for just about any size driver. There are eight Faria gauges in a burlwood setting on the single-piece center console, including depth sounder. Below, the Clarion CD unit pumps out the tunes and features an optional Sirius satellite function. Bottom line, it's just a fun boat to drive with a plethora of amenities to go around.

The Verdict

At first glance, the Voyager Express 25 Cruise looks like a traditional pontoon boat. But let the throttle rip, and it runs like a dedicated sport boat. You get the best of both worlds: a fast, smooth hull and a crowd-friendly deck for socializing.

Voyager Express 25 Cruise

LOA 25'
Beam 8'6"
Weight 2,650 lbs.
Fuel 41 gal.
Top Speed 42.5 mph
(w/225-hp Evinrude E-TEC)
0-30 mph 6.3 seconds
Decibels @ Idle 57 dB-A
Decibels @ 30 mph 91 dB-A
Decibels @ WOT 93 dB-A
Base Price $29,795
(w/115-hp Evinrude E-TEC)
Price As Tested $39,995
(w/225-hp Evinrude E-TEC)
Hull Warranty Lifetime Limited
NMMA Certified? No

Voyager Marine
7755 S. State Hwy. 5
Camdenton, MO 65020
(573) 346-1904