MANITOU 22 ENCORE

If you have never been aboard a true high-performance pontoon, your first ride will forever change the way you think about these floating living rooms. Manitou’s Sport Handling Package (SHP) changes the pontoon experience from “Driving Miss Daisy” to a go-fast, hair-on-fire thrill. A great example of this transformation is the new 22 Encore powered by Evinrude’s 250 E-TEC H.O. - a souped-up version of the standard E-TEC that pumps up the power to approximately 270 hp.

The Evinrude pushes the near 23- foot Encore to plane in 3.2 seconds and accelerates strongly to reach 30 mph in just 5.6 seconds and on to a face-slapping top speed of 53.5 miles per hour. The great performance can be credited to the standard SHP triple pontoon package, which uses a larger, 27-inch center pontoon log with lifting strakes and is set lower.

While the E-TEC tends to burn more fuel at wide-open throttle than a comparable four-stroke, at idle it’s extremely efficient – consuming less than 1/5 a gallon per hour thanks to its stratified combustion.

Maybe even more impressive is the Manitou’s cornering ability. With its tube configuration, hard turns have a very pronounced lean inward as we carve seemingly impossibly tight turns that feature little, if any slip.

The word that best describes the styling of the 22 Encore is clean. Tasteful graphics and a classy upholstery scheme with well-executed stitching highlight the boat's aesthetics. The helm features a bucket seat without a high-riser bolster and some of the gauges are partially obscured by the fat sport wheel, but ergonomically, it’s very comfortable. Triple chaise lounges with lots of recline are featured in the twin bow couches and L-lounge in the stern with a flip-up amidships changing room built in. There is a very sturdy optional ski tow in the stern, and Manitou has given owners a large, drainable activity locker for towels, PFDs and ski paraphernalia.