Cypress Cay Cayman LE 230

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First Impression

The all-black exterior is not for everyone, but we really love it. When combined with the wakeboard tower it looks like a sporty high-end model that is sure to attract positive attention wherever it goes.

Breakdown

With the Blackout package you gain black exterior rails, panels and an anodized rub rail for a very sleek look, plus the wakeboard tower arch with Bimini top is all black too. The tower can be easily lowered for trailering and it comes with an easy-to-reach tow point and as tested the layout includes an optional black removable ski/tow pylon in the stern.

SL stands for single lounge and in the stern this is a great setup. With the push of a button you can reposition the backrest from the traditional L-shaped seating area and convert it to a wide rear-facing lounger. One of two Kicker stereo remotes in the stern is part of the rear lounge configuration and includes a media holder, 12-volt outlet and an auxiliary port. The other stereo remote is located near the rear-facing speakers and can be accessed from the water. One of our favorite stern features is the optional auto deploy/retractable boarding ladder that raises and lowers with a push of a button. Sometimes it’s the added touches that truly make the biggest difference.

At the raised helm platform is a good-looking dash console that includes a standard GPS speedometer as well as a full array of other gauges. The main Bluetooth-capable Kicker stereo controls are also located at the helm and the system includes a large subwoofer and an amp. Inside the locking glove box on the side is a 12-volt outlet plus a USB/Auxiliary port inside which we absolutely love and feel all boats should have something similar for the driver. Just below the steering wheel is another storage compartment for the captain, proving you can never have too many great places to store your smaller items.  

Directly across from the helm is a rear-facing chaise lounge that is part of the L-shaped seating layout. Moving forward, there are two chaise lounges in the bow with movable armrests and built into the back of the portside one is a pop-up table that is surprisingly sturdy and complete with two cupholders. This is a great space-saving design, but obviously blocks access to your side gate when up.    

Other key features include vinyl flooring throughout the boat plus a narrow but long in-floor ski locker with a false bottom to keep your stored items inside dry.

Inspection

We tend to mostly see square rails on boats, so the curved rails around the Cayman’s perimeter were a welcome sight. Again, a nice added touch. Below deck the three round-shaped pontoons have lifting strakes on the center tube and strakes on the insides of the outer tubes. From inside the gates we measured over 16 feet of deck space, which leaves a lot of room on the extended swim deck to towel off before coming aboard.

Handling

She banks beautifully in the sharp turns and performed like a sporty performance pontoon should. Powered by a Mercury 250 Pro Verado four-stroke, we quickly jumped up on plane and reached a top speed in the mid 40s with ease. 

Final Thoughts

Prices for top-of-the-line models with extra horsepower continue to climb across the pontoon spectrum for all luxury boats, but the quality is also on the rise and that’s evident with this Cypress Cay. You get what you pay for and in this case it’s a well-built, fully-loaded pontoon that is a thrill ride to drive.

Boat Specifications

Number of Occupants             12       

Maximum Speed                      45.1 mph                     

Wild Ponies                              250 hp

No. of Gates                            3

0-20 MPH                               5.47 seconds   

Ladder Measurement               3’ 8” deep

Why we love this boat…Even among high-end luxury pontoons this one stands out based on layout, features and performance capabilities.  

Just being picky…We like the idea of having a pop-up table, but with no way to sit near it we question how much it will really get used versus just having a permanent traditional table.  

NOTABLE STANDARDS

Mooring cover, depth sounder, GPS speedometer, stainless steel flip-up cleats, LED docking light pods, stainless steel cupholders, soft-sided cooler, Quick Release fender system, high-back reclining helm seat, black acrylic table w/ stemware holders, and a Kicker stereo w/ 6 speakers.

OPTIONS ON TEST BOAT

Blackout Edition, Lighting Pkg., raised helm, power deploying and retracting stainless steel ladder, safety rail, T3 Performance Pkg., in-floor storage, floor storage cover, ski/tow pylon, black wake tower, and a Kicker sound system w/ subwoofer and lighted speakers.

VITAL STATS

LOA                  25’ 1”             

Beam                 8’ 6”

Hull Design         Three Pontoons

Dry Weight         3,575 lbs.

Fuel Capacity     50 gallons

TEST DRIVE

Engine                                                              Mercury 250 Pro Verado        

Cylinder Type                                                  Inline 6

Cubic-inch Displacement/Horsepower           158ci/250hp

Lower Unit Gear Ratio                                    1.85:1

Propeller                                                          15 X 15 Enertia

RPM     vs.      SPEED     vs.    DB-A

500                  2.3                     78

1000                3.2                     82

1500                6.2                     77

2000                9.0                     80

2500                10.5                   89

3000                15.3                   91

3500                20.3                   94

4000                24.0                   94

4500                28.8                   95

5000                32.7                   99

5500                37.0                   99

6600                45.1                   104 

Fort Wayne, Ind.
260-432-4555

www.cypresscaypontoons.com