A Sea-Doo Pontoon Boat Had Me Smiling Like I Was on a Jet Ski
Eventually, even the most uninhibited of personal watercraft (PWC) fanatics ponder a larger, more luxurious ride. Enter the Sea-Doo Switch, a happy medium for the jet ski fan looking to hit the water on an agile, modular pontoon. Better yet, my time aboard the 21-foot Sea-Doo pontoon boat delivered nothing short of smile-inducing cruising and drama-free docking.
The Switch is a Sea-Doo Pontoon Boat lovechild between a jet ski and a luxury pontoon
Imagine a jet ski’s basic application. Think jet pump, nimble handling, and responsive handlebar controls. You couldn’t possibly have those on your sun-soaked family boat, right? Well, the Sea-Doo Switch insists on bringing some of that chuckable fun to an easily configurable pontoon.
My first impression of the Switch was that the pontoon lacks some of the chunkier, more substantial elements of a more conventional luxury pontoon, like the stylish Manitou Explore or Bennington R Bowrider. However, a step aboard the Switch revealed modularity– movable seating, configurable speaker setups, and even the LinQ system for lake day favorites like coolers.
Of course, creative seating, GoPro mounts, and beverage-ready coolers are nothing without a ride that prompts you to push your appointments. Fortunately, the Sea-Doo pontoon boat channels its jet ski DNA to wonderful effect. The Rotax 1630 ACE engine delivered its 230-horsepower output smoothly. And, once the Switch Cruise Limited model was on-plane, it cruised happily at 44 mph.
What’s more, the Switch is a Tritoon, meaning three pontoons instead of two. Tritoon boats take a standard pontoon model’s stable, lazy platform and add stability and comfort. Beyond the pontoons and Rotax mill, the Sea-Doo pontoon boat’s Standard 10.25-inch touchscreen and 7-inch Garmin navigation unit were intuitive. Of course, weekend boating enthusiasts will be smitten by the Cruise Limited’s BRP audio system.
Sure, there are larger, more comfortable, and luxurious pontoons on the market. However, the Sea-Doo Switch Cruise Limited lives at the intersection of customizable, cool, and easy.
