There's a bridge in Jacksonville, FL named after Napoleon Bonaparte Broward. With a name like that, do you think his parents were expecting much from him? Same goes for the Berkshire 243 SLX. This pontoon's first name also has an illustrious provenance, being named after its parent company, Berkshire Hathaway, whose CEO, Warren Buffett, was identified by Forbes magazine in 2008 as the richest man on the planet.
Unique Factor
Rearward facing chaise lounges have been all the rage the past couple of years and we've seen all sorts of variations, but the ones on the 243 SLX are some of the best on the market. These oversized Cleopatra couches are wide enough for a couple of couples in love or a brace of NFL linemen and have just the right amount of recline. Upholstery piping can be annoying to sit on, especially when it has a diameter of Monster cable, but the silver piping on the 243 is recessed, so you get the look without the discomfort. The pull-up armrests are functional and give the loungers a Scandinavian contemporary look, and there's loads of storage in the seat bases.
The 243's styling is one of understated luxury with our test boat clad in rich navy blue with just enough graphics to give it some pizzazz. The Premium Series has an extra upper fence panel, which swoops down toward the stern to give rearward riders better visibility as they horizontally take in the retreating world.
Performance
When outfitted with the triple 25-inch-tube setup, called the BP3 Edition, the 243 transforms from sedate cruiser into sportboat. Because this pontoon doesn't have the usual stern sunpad to dampen engine noise, and people will be lying in close proximity to the powerplant on the chaise lounges, the motor needs to be especially quiet. Berkshire checked off that box with Mercury's 200 hp Verado, which is as stealthy as it gets, registering 56 dBA at idle, 78 dBA at 30 mph and 92.5 dBA at wide-open throttle while hitting 6200 rpm. Although the 243 SLX is rated for 225 hp, the new 200 Verado is probably a better choice since it's an in-line 4 as opposed to an in-line 6-cylinder (which it used to be) and weighs 130 pounds less.
The BP3 tubes are pressurized for extra rigidity and leak resistance, and lifting strakes helped us get on plane in only 2.8 seconds, with a big assist going to the Verado supercharger. Our time to 30 mph was 7.2 seconds, and we reached a top velocity of 42.4 mph by trimming out the Mercury just short of the ventilation point.
Dillon Donnelly
Dillon Donnelly
Handling
The BP3 triple tubes' lifting strakes are not just for quicker extraction during holeshots; they also help the 243 SLX ride higher in the water. The Premium Series gives you Teleflex Baystar hydraulic steering, which made the driving very easy. At planing speeds we could trim out the Mercury Verado to lift the bow free of the water, which helped us glide over the chop rather than having to cleave through it. An aluminum underskin made us more hydrodynamically slippery.
The three-tube configuration has an amazing effect on cornering, with the 243 SLX behaving more like a sportboat than a traditional pontoon. Hard corners caused an inward lean and allowed us to carve tight 180s, which comes in handy for towing tubes or picking up downed skiers.
Best Uses
The Premium Series 243 makes an excellent ski platform with features such as the stout stainless steel ski tow bar that frames the motor, giving skiers a high tow point and keeping the rope off the outboard's cowling. Unlike a lot of outboard-flavored pontoons, there's a usable rear swim platform complete with a swimming-pool-style boarding ladder. There's an immense centerline locker that can handle whatever you've brought along - an arsenal of skis, vests and even bulky items such as a Coast Guard kit. The locker even has its own bilge pump to remove water. The only problem is the huge Starboard lid, which is the same material as the synthetic cutting board in your kitchen. It gets very slippery when wet and its light color shows muddy footprints easily.
Cruising is right up the 243's alley with comfortable twin settee seating up front with another pair of recliners — heck, psychiatrists could do group sessions on this boat. This 24-foot, 5-inch platform, with a full beam of 8 feet, 6 inches, gives the 12 passengers this boat is rated for plenty of room. At the helm, the captain can go for long stints at the wheel with a deluxe, adjustable King bucket seat and ergonomically correct setting with a sporty wood-grain wheel and Mercury DTS electronic throttle control. The standard package includes extras like a flush-mounted Humminbird 383c color GPS depth/fishfinder. Night cruising is especially cool with LED mood lighting that even illuminates the cupholders.
Preferred Setup
The 243 SLX's Premium Series configuration takes care of most of the options with additional features such as Soft Touch vinyl, plush 30-ounce Berber carpet and raw-water washdown for easy cleanups in addition to the standard 3-gallon freshwater tank. Our test boat has the Premium Audio Package that includes Sirius satellite radio, a subwoofer with its own amp for extra low end and a remote control. Add the BP3 performance setup and you get a 54-gallon fuel tank. With the exception of a trailer for road trips, that's all you need.