PDB Shootout: Lexington Pontoons

First Glance
We love budget-friendly boats, especially when they look like this Sporttoon. It’s one of those great compromises between a fishing boat and a family boat where nothing is really compromised and everyone wins. 

Details
We love the look of the soft touch high-end upholstery that includes a dark inlay pattern that carries over to all the furniture and seats onboard. At the helm the console is symmetrical with a Simrad GPS with white gauges on each side. Just right of the steering wheel are well-labeled rocker switches and on the other side is access to the JBL stereo with a USB and auxiliary jack. To get to the console wiring there is a door below the steering wheel that makes it easy to work on. Worth noting, the wires were all well-bundled and chafe protected. 

Directly across from the helm is a rear-facing chaise lounge that is part of the L-shaped stern bench floorplan. From this point in the boat forward it’s all about entertaining and keeping the family happy. In the stern is a great fishing station that includes two folding fishing chairs, two rod holders and storage for up to four fishing rods. Plus, the aerated livewell is a nice touch, but one of our favorite features is the designated tackle storage. It would be nice if it had a lock, not so much for keeping lures from getting swiped but so your friends don’t know what you’re throwing when they’re being skunked. Speaking of casting a line, with the two stern gates next to the fishing chairs it would be really easy to open up these gates and comfortably fish off the back. Clearly this fishing layout was designed by engineers who know a thing or two about how anglers prefer to fish. There isn’t much of a swim deck as the majority of the boat is inside the rails, but there is just enough room for the three-step boarding ladder. 

Closer Look
There are lifting strakes on both sides of the center pontoon with a full length splash skin to complete the hull. Up top there is over 19 feet of usable deck space from inside the gates, and the rail height varies from over 25 inches tall to 33 inches on the sides. We found no fit and finish issues at all, but if we had to be picky from a cosmetic standpoint only, we’d prefer not to be able to see the rivets in the white interior panels. Higher-priced boats use different fastening methods so this really isn’t a big deal and the tradeoff is clearly the budget-friendly price.  

Throttle Down
The maximum horsepower rating on this particular model is 150 and that’s what was on the back. With the Suzuki 150 four-stroke she reached speeds in the mid 30s at full throttle while leaning slightly in the sharp turns. At the optimum cruising RPM of 2500 you could go around 74 miles with the 25-gallon fuel tank before fueling up. 

Why Buy
The 6 Series lineup is Lexington’s highest price point for its boats, which means it caters to value-driven pontoon boats like this one that won’t break the bank. The boating industry could use more pontoons like this to help continue the growth and popularity of these crafts. A lot is packed into this floorplan and being able to successfully combine key fishing amenities on a comfortable family pontoon means everyone wins with this Lexington.

Americus, Ga.
678-699-8811
www.lexingtonpontoons.com

Specifications
Number of Occupants            11                   
Price As Tested With Power  $34.0K
Maximum Speed                    35.0 mph                   
Wild Ponies                             150 hp
No. of Gates                            3
0-20 MPH                               4.85 seconds 
Ladder Measurement             3’ 1” deep

Why we love this boat… For all that you get in return with the comfort and fishing amenities on this pontoon, there is surprisingly a lot of added value to be found. 

Just being picky… With the white panels the exposed rivets stand out a little, but it’s nothing to be concerned with.

NOTABLE STANDARDS
Soft Touch high-end upholstery, changing room, two-tone/powder-coated railings, fully adjustable captain’s chair, Bimini top, tilt wheel, Executive high-end console w/full backlit instrumentation, zinc corrosion protection, LED docking lights, waterproof stereo w/speakers, Seagrass flooring, forward and aft lounges w/storage, two rear fishing seats, livewell w/built-in tackle box/rod holders, removable lounge cupholders, and folding stainless steel swim ladder. 

OPTIONS ON TEST BOAT
None.

VITAL STATS
LOA                  22’ 4”             
Beam                 8’ 6”
Hull Design       Three Pontoons
Dry Weight       2,756 lbs.
Fuel Capacity    32 gallons

TEST DRIVE
Engine                                                             Suzuki 150
Cylinder Type                                                 Inline 4
Cubic-inch Displacement/Horsepower           174.9ci/150hp
Lower Unit Gear Ratio                                   2.50:1
Propeller                                                          15 1/4 X 17

RPM     vs.      SPEED     vs.    DB-A
650                  2.0                     73
1000                3.5                     76
1500                4.3                     78
2000                6.5                     84
2500                8.5                     82
3000                11.4                   89
3500                15.5                   91
4000                19.6                   91
4500                23.7                   93
5000                27.8                   96
5500                32.7                   97
6000                34.3                   98
6100                35.0                   101

PRICE
Price As Tested                       $33,990
(Boat and Motor)