The RL23 uses a 23-foot tube platform with an overall length of 25 feet, 6 inches and an 8-foot, 6-inch beam. It carries up to 13 people, offers Mercury outboards from 150 to 300 horsepower and starts at $144,581.
That price keeps the RL23 firmly in premium-pontoon territory, but the boat is intentionally less extreme than Revel’s larger RS models. Revel describes it as a simplified leisure-focused platform built for everyday cruising, entertaining and watersports.
Size and Layout
The RL23 measures 25 feet, 6 inches overall with 23-foot tubes and an 8-foot, 6-inch beam. Revel lists a 33-inch draft, 4,700-pound dry weight and passenger capacity of 13 people or 1,833 pounds.
Revel says the boat uses a 25-foot deck layout to maximize usable space despite the RL23 designation. The bow is rated for as many as six people or 900 pounds, giving the forward lounge enough capacity to handle a significant portion of the passenger load.
Storage is distributed throughout the boat, while the aft lounge can be reconfigured for different uses. Revel specifically describes the rear seating as a convertible aft lounge that can shift between conversation and relaxation.
Power From 150 to 300 HP
Mercury supplies the power, with three current engine choices: a 150 FourStroke, 225 FourStroke and 300 Verado.
The 150 is a 3.0-liter inline-four, the 225 uses a 3.4-liter V6, and the 300 Verado is a 4.6-liter V8. That gives buyers a meaningful spread between a more conventional cruising setup and a considerably more powerful package.
The lower end of the range fits the RL23’s leisure-oriented mission, while the available 300 Verado gives buyers room to add more performance without stepping into the higher-horsepower RS models.
Because the RL23 is new, we haven’t found reliable independent instrumented testing that would allow us to publish verified top speed, acceleration or fuel economy. Those numbers will be especially useful when comparing the 150-, 225- and 300-hp configurations.
41 Gallons of Fuel
The RL23 carries 41 gallons of fuel.
That figure is worth noting because it reinforces the boat’s intended role. The RL23 is designed primarily around day boating, cruising and recreation rather than long-distance range.
Actual range will depend heavily on engine choice, passenger load, speed and conditions. Until independent performance testing is available, we’re not going to estimate how far each engine package will run on a tank.
Technology at the Helm
A 15-inch touchscreen anchors the helm and consolidates system monitoring into a single interface. Revel also uses its Control Wings for commonly used functions, giving the driver physical controls instead of forcing every adjustment through the touchscreen.
Wireless smartphone connectivity is integrated into the system, and front- and rear-view cameras are standard.
The cameras are particularly well suited to a pontoon that may spend much of its time docking, swimming and pulling watersports. Revel says they are intended to assist with docking, low-speed maneuvering and watersports activity.
Comfort Takes Priority
The captain and co-captain each get dedicated adjustable seats that can raise, recline and swivel toward the rest of the boat.
That arrangement fits the RL23’s emphasis on social cruising. Rather than treating the passenger beside the driver as another place on a bench, both front seats are designed as individual helm-style chairs.
A self-booting power Bimini is another standard feature. It raises and lowers at the touch of a button, reducing the amount of manual setup normally associated with deploying and storing a pontoon top.
Together with the convertible aft lounge, the seating and shade systems allow the boat to adapt relatively easily between cruising, lounging and time at anchor.
Swimming and Watersports
The RL23 is intended for more than slow cruising. The available 225- and 300-hp Mercury packages give owners considerably more power for pulling tubes and other recreational use.
Engine selection will matter here. A buyer primarily interested in relaxed cruising may have little reason to move to the largest engine, while an owner regularly carrying a full passenger load or participating in watersports may place more value on the additional horsepower.
Without comparable test data, we’re not ready to call one engine the best fit. The broad range is useful because buyers can choose how much performance they actually want rather than paying for maximum horsepower by default.
What We Like
150-to-300-hp engine range: The RL23 can be configured as a relatively straightforward cruiser or with considerably more power for buyers who want stronger recreational performance.
15-inch touchscreen: The large display gives the helm a clean, modern layout without eliminating physical controls.
Front and rear cameras: These have practical value around docks, swimmers and watersports rather than simply adding another technology feature.
Convertible aft lounge: The rear seating can change with the way the boat is being used instead of locking owners into one arrangement.
Self-booting power Bimini: Quick shade without manually folding and securing the top should make day-to-day use easier.
Dedicated co-captain seat: Both the driver and passenger get adjustable individual seating.
Price
The 2027 Revel RL23 currently starts at $144,581.
That makes it a premium pontoon rather than a budget-oriented 23-footer. Revel’s larger RS25 currently starts at $190,500, while the RS25L starts at $226,660.
The roughly $46,000 gap between the RL23 and RS25 helps explain the RL23’s place in the lineup. It offers much of Revel’s modern design and technology without requiring buyers to move into the larger, higher-powered RS platform.
As always, the starting price is only part of the buying equation. Engine selection and optional equipment can change the final price substantially.
BoatingWorld Verdict
The RL23 makes sense as Revel’s next step.
The company’s larger RS models established a premium, performance-oriented identity, but that approach naturally limits the audience. Not every pontoon buyer wants or needs 400 or 500 horsepower.
The RL23 keeps many of the features that make Revel distinctive — the large touchscreen, physical Control Wings, front and rear cameras, power Bimini and flexible seating — while bringing the engine range down to a more conventional 150-hp starting point.
The 41-gallon fuel tank, 23-foot tube length and 300-hp ceiling also make the boat’s mission fairly clear. This is intended primarily as a day boat for cruising, entertaining and watersports rather than a smaller version of Revel’s highest-performance models.
The biggest question is value. A starting price of $144,581 places the RL23 among premium pontoons, and there are plenty of boats in this size range that cost considerably less.
For buyers already shopping at the higher end of the pontoon market, however, the RL23 offers an interesting combination of technology, comfort and engine choice in a package that’s smaller and less expensive than Revel’s RS lineup.
2027 Revel RL23 Specifications
| Specification | Revel RL23 |
|---|---|
| Length Overall | 25′ 6″ |
| Tube Length | 23′ |
| Beam | 8′ 6″ |
| Draft | 33″ |
| Dry Weight | 4,700 lbs. |
| Fuel Capacity | 41 gal. |
| Horsepower Range | 150–300 hp |
| Passenger Capacity | 13 people / 1,833 lbs. |
| Maximum Bow Capacity | 6 people / 900 lbs. |
| Engine Options | Mercury 150 FourStroke, 225 FourStroke, 300 Verado |
| Starting Price | $144,581* |
*Manufacturer-listed starting price at time of publication. Engine selection, options, freight, dealer preparation and other charges can affect final price.
Images from: https://revelboats.com/rl23/
