South Bay 925 Sport 3.0 Plus

August 2016 Boat Test Monday PDB Staff

This article originally appeared in our 2016 Shootout issue. If you are interested in seeing more stories like this, click HERE to subscribe.

Three Things

Performance and high-end luxury with an overall user-friendly layout is the focal point for this South Bay.

Breakdown

Clearly this is the Indiana-based manufacturer’s flagship model and to call it luxurious or high-end just doesn’t seem to do it justice. For starters, the standard electric-powered arch helps give the boat a distinctive look that is also quite functional. It can be lowered for storage or trailering and the control switch is located on the Murphy touch screen at the helm. Not only does this all-in-one digital display provide key information, it also controls everything from your lighting and stereo switches to the GPS map and depth finder. Plus it gives the dash console a clean and simplified look that we really like. Also at the helm dash is a designated place for your phone with a 12-volt outlet and USB/Auxiliary port next to it, with an identical electronics hookup in a separate glove box.

For the captain is a large helm chair that is mounted on an elevated platform for easier visibility, but it’s not the only plush chair onboard. Rated for up to 15 passengers, the padded bench seats are as comfortable as they look with a nice added touch of a different vinyl material inlay to increase the high-end feel. There are two chaise lounges in the bow and a third directly across from the helm that is part of the U-shaped seating area in the back. Built into the back of the portside bow chaise is a pop-up changing room that stands nearly 6 feet tall when open and built into the other bow chaise is a fold-out trashcan.

High-end touches include stainless steel handholds that can be found throughout the boat as well as a stainless bow gate, full LED lighting for cupholders, speakers and courtesy lights and full teak-looking vinyl flooring.

To access the stern swim deck you’ll need to step on the seats, but the tradeoff is the U-shaped seating we mentioned before as well as the large rear-facing bench seat on the stern deck. We love this rear area for a lot of reasons including the four-step stainless boarding ladder, massive ski/tow bar, stereo remote with an additional 12-volt outlet, plus a switch that powers the electric storage “trunk” that is large enough to hold your water toys. These are great features that we’re not used to seeing in the pontoon industry.

Inspection

Three 25-inch diameter .090 gauge aluminum pontoons are the base of this boat with lifting strakes on both sides of the full-length center pontoon and on the insides of the outside tubes. The cross members are on 16-inch centers for added durability.

Up top from inside the bow gate to the rear bench seat is over 16 feet of deck space and the rail height varies from 25 inches tall in the bow to 30 inches in the center, which we consider to be a very family-friendly and safe design.

Handling

One sign of a great hull is when the boat can dive into sharp corners at low and medium speeds like this one does. Powered with a Mercury 300 Pro four-stroke, we easily reached speeds over 50 miles per hour and because she handles so well it is extremely fun to drive.

Final Thoughts

While the price isn’t for everyone, it’s hard not to see the value of this South Bay as tested. It truly is loaded with all the features and amenities you could ask for, with a user-friendly layout that you probably won’t be able to appreciate until you spend some time onboard.

2016 Boat Specifications

Number of Occupants 15

Maximum Speed 50.2 mph

Wild Ponies 300 hp

No. of Gates 2

0-20 MPH 5.18 seconds

Ladder Measurement 4’ deep

Why we love this boat…Truly in a class by itself, from bow to stern this luxurious ‘toon is packed with a great mix of standard features and top-quality options.

Just being picky…Other boating segments are used to stepping on cushions so it’s not a big deal that you have to when accessing the swim deck, but we’d prefer that you didn’t have to on this pontoon.

NOTABLE STANDARDS

New trunk wiring harness, new “South Bay” font for logo, new gate hinge w/ spring, push-button courtesy light on helm, larger seat pedestal, full Tropical Weave floor, lighted table base, electric powered arch, stern LED cup holders, 165 Watt lighted speakers w/ protective inside covers, 2 exterior stern lighted speakers, amp and subwoofer, stern remote radio control, trash, woodgrain tilt steering wheel w/ SeaStar hydraulic, LED courtesy floor lights, LED exterior rail lights and rail-mounted docking lights, privacy hoop and curtain in chaise lounge, stainless steel cupholders, mahogany oval table w/ stainless steel base, 6-foot color-coordinated arch mounted SS framed Bimini w/ quick release and riser bracket, extended stern vinyl platform w/ transom wash-down and Murphy digital color touch screen w/ GPS and depth sounder.

OPTIONS ON TEST BOAT

Full teak vinyl floor upgrade, LED underwater lighting, LED underdeck lighting, rear view camera, in-floor storage, reinforced splash fins, 2 can speakers mounted on arch and pair of wakeboard racks.