Bentley 243 Cruise

March 2015 Boat Test Monday

This article originally appeared in our 2015 Shootout issue. If you are interested in seeing this in print along with 25 other boat reviews, click HERE to purchase the back issue.

What You Need To Know

Value might be the best way to describe this Bentley that is loaded with standard features along with some key options that allow it to still come in at a very budget-friendly price point. This ‘toon gives you a lot for your recreational dollar and is worthy of a closer look.

The Highlights

For 2015, more focus has been placed on the interior to provide high-quality and extremely comfortable plush seating. The Special Edition (SE) option upgrades the vinyl from white to a more elegant-looking tan color scheme that ties in with the marine carpet. In the bow are two chaise lounges, although the angle on the back might be a little too vertical for some to really get comfortable. However, the seats themselves are extremely comfortable and you can tell there was an emphasis placed on seating this year.

At the fiberglass helm is a unique dash console that isn’t symmetrical, which only helps make it more unique.

Behind the L-shaped rear bench is a pop-up changing room that is easy to access and stands 5 feet, 7 inches tall when open. Outside the rear gate is a vinyl deck and just enough room to drip dry before coming inside on the carpet. The fixed ladder with great handholds at the top is just over 3 feet deep when folded down into the water and there is also a large ski/tow bar in the stern as well.Not only will the captain appreciate the tilt wheel and the tall helm chair that slides, swivels and reclines, but the multi-function gauges are easy-to-read. Also within reach are the Bluetooth-capable Jensen stereo controls and the 12-volt and MP3 ports, as technology continues to help make listening to music easier and easier when onboard.

Inspection Notes

The three 25-inch diameter pontoons are through-bolted to the deck with optional lifting strakes and the all-aluminum transom is well-braced. There is also a full-length aluminum shield to help protect the cross members and to improve the overall performance (which we’ll get to in a minute).

Up top the gate entryway are extra wide and as far as family-friendly is concerned, we love the impressive 32-inch tall rails around the perimeter of the boat. Also worth noting, the rails are all powder coated black, which not only provides a great look, but also helps with durability.

Performance Evaluation

In the auto industry a “sleeper” vehicle is a car or truck that looks stock, but surprises everyone by its performance. The elegant look and feel of this Bentley had us thinking it was just a great cruising pontoon, so when we nearly reached the 50 mile per hour mark at full throttle, needless to say we were pleasantly surprised. Obviously with the Mercury 200 Pro XS on the back we expected some power, but the zero to 20 mile per hour time of just over 4 seconds is nothing short of amazing. The ski/tow bar is an option on this model, but with this kind of power and performance it really is a must-have upgrade in our opinion.

Our Take

As-tested with the included options, we love the value of this Bentley. Of course the power helped make it fun to drive, but it’s really the elegant and high-end feel that made the strongest impression. We also appreciate the extra mile effort to help make this pontoon safe for families with younger children.

2015 Boat Specifications

Number of Occupants 16

Maximum Speed 48.6 mph

Wild Ponies 200 hp

No. of Gates 3

0-20 MPH 4.35 seconds

Ladder Measurement 3’ 3” deep

Why we love this boat…While traditional in a lot of ways, it’s comfy with an elegant feel and even with power it still comes in at a nice price point as tested.

Just being picky…While the majority of the seating is extremely comfortable, we wish the two bow chaise lounges had a little more angle to the backs and were not so upright.

PDB Days Reader Choice Feedback

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NOTABLE STANDARDS

All through-bolted deck, 25-inch diameter pontoons, all-aluminum transom, powder coated railing, custom fiberglass console, full instrumentation, 12-volt receptacle, changing room, stereo with MP3 adapter, Rotocast furniture, rear entry ladder, sundeck, docking & nav lights, 9’ bimini and bumper guards with splash panels.

OPTIONS ON TEST BOAT

SE pkg., color matched rails, hydraulic tilt steering, underskin, lifting strakes, elite capt. chair, rear deck vinyl, ski/tow bar and play pen cover.