Not Your Grandpa's 'Toon

Published in the April 2013 Issue April 2013

There’s something about stepping onto a nice boat that gives you a sense of inner peace. And, hey, if you don’t have to cash out your 401k and sell all your possessions at a garage sale to finance it, then it’s a win all the way around. When they asked me if I wanted to test the Xcusion 23RFE-13B, I didn’t even hesitate. This is my kind of boat and for a number of reasons.

This model has a ton of great features, but one of the best is the bar area. Forest River has mastered the entertainment aspect on a boat and the proof is in the pudding with Xcursion 23RFE. When I walked onboard and see a bar, I immediately get giddy with excitement because it’s my number one preferred feature. I like the cozy environment that it sets the rest of the boat up for.

Forest River rep and my trip guide, Greg Barsoda, agreed with me.

“The bar on this boat distinguishes it from other models in this price point,” says Barsoda. “It’s one of the best standard features available on the X23RFE.”

The bar on the Xcursion has four built-in cup holders and two bar stools, which is the preferred setup for a sunset cruise. The bar stools are complete with foot rests. Little details like this make this model so much more enjoyable. Plus with a sink onboard and faux marble countertops, the whole bar package has been well thought-out.

The flooring also caught my attention because it has snap-in carpet. Whomever we can credit for this invention deserves a medal because it rocks and it’s so much easier to keep clean. Not only is the carpet extremely nice, but the realistic hardwood-looking floor underneath looks extremely sharp. Basically you can go either way and still have a nice-looking boat. This kind of diversity is exactly what I’m looking for in my next boat. Another finishing touch that I love on the Xcursion is the fact that the changing room has snap-on loops at the top for easy removal. The OCD person inside me was jumping up and down because it would be so easy to take off and clean when needed. Naturally, I whipped out my measuring tape and was excited to find that changing room came in at 5 feet, 11 inches, which makes it nice for people in a taller demographic. I also climbed inside and this changing room has ample room for someone to actually use it for changing their clothes and not be accidentally strangled.

The test boat was set up with the sport tube package, which gave it the feel of a center pontoon without the price tag.

“The XS sport tube package is a partial center tube which increases the buoyancy of the boat,” said Barsoda. “But it’s much more cost effective than a full triple toon.”

This boat had plenty of storage where you would expect to find it: under seats, within the bar and under the helm station. There was no floor storage, but given that it only had a partial center tube, that makes sense.

Another awesome standard feature was the full LED lighting package that came standard on the boat. For a boat in the mid-range of the price point spectrum, I felt like this was a huge bonus.

The test boat was powered by a Mercury 150 which gave the boat plenty of get up and go. As we were cruising along, I was very impressed with the performance. I asked Barsoda if this was his preferred engine setup.

“I have been involved with Mercury for a lot of years and I think they make a great engine,” said the rep. “But I never make a motor recommendation for a customer. I tell them to go home and research what other people on their lake of choice are using. If they use the popular brand for their area, they will have a much easier time getting parts and certified techs if there’s a problem.”

It never hurts to take advice from a seasoned boater and Barsoda certainly fits that bill.

If I had to be nitpicky about a few things, I would point out there is no specified area for the trash can. Also, the glove box didn’t lock, which is not optimal. But, seriously, those were the only things I noticed that I would have changed. Everything on the boat was well thought-out and was designed exceedingly well.

I think there are a lot of people that would enjoy this boat. But both Barsoda and I agreed that growing families would love this setup.

“I had three kids in four years,” said Barsoda. “When they were little, I wanted to spend time doing activities with them, not fixing things. That’s what makes this boat so special. There’s less maintenance hassle and more having fun time.”

An active family would love this boat, especially if they added a ski/tow bar, which wasn’t on the test boat but is available an option. Even the styling onboard speaks to a younger generation, given the wide swim platform and classy looking upholstery.

“I think we can all be grateful that society is getting away from the mentality that a pontoon is a grandpa’s boat,” said Barsoda. “We built this boat to perform for water activities and be comfortable for cruising.

As I was testing the boat with tight circles, I was super impressed with the cornering abilities. It had the same turn you would expect on a v-hull boat, which was in part because it was built with lifting strakes on the outer logs that provided some lift while turning. Plus the strakes deflected any spray, which is a necessity for anyone with naturally curly hair that turns frizzy when wet, like myself.

My experience on the Xcursion 23RFE-13B was an extremely positive one. I would be proud to own this boat and use it to entertain my friends and family. The quality construction and stylish design all contribute to this sentiment. Well done, Forest River, well done.

NOTABLE STANDARDS

Fiberglass bar/4 speaker Clarion Stereo-AM/FM/USB/iPOD/MP3/SIRIUS CAPABLE. LED Courtesy light. EPA compliant fuel system. Water/fuel filter. Tilt steering. Full engine instrumentation.

OPTIONS ON TEST BOAT

Deluxe Option Package—includes wood grain steering wheel & table. High back captains chair, SS portable cupholders, Rail Mounted lights, SS rail braces, Sink pump & faucet. XS tube package/ SeaStar hydraulic steering/ snap in Berber carpet/ LED Courtesy floor lighting/ Removable bow bench/ Subwoofer and amp/ double bimini/ Reverse 2 tone fencing/ Privacy assembly & curtain

Number of Occupants 12

Price As Tested With Power $45.3K

Wild Ponies 150hp

No. of Gates 3

Ladder Measurement 2’ 10” deep

VITAL STATS

LOA 23’ 2”

Beam 8.6’

Hull Design 2 tube plus ‘XS’ center option

Dry Weight 2225 lbs.

Fuel Capacity 27 gallons

TEST DRIVE