Princecraft Vectra 21: Video Boat Review
Looking at affordable pontoon boats? Don't miss the 2015 Princecraft Vectra.
The 2015 Princecraft Vectra 21 is a pontoon boat that hasn’t lost sight of what pontoons are all about: having fun. Many of today’s pontoon boats sport huge powerplants, have oodles of high-end features, and are rigged with everything ranging from ice makers to touch-screen displays. All this stuff is great, but it adds cost. Lots and lots of cost—which can take the fun right out of a relaxing day on the lake. Not so, on the Vectra 21. This pontoon is built more for pleasure than panache, with a straightforward but comfortable seating arrangement, simple controls, and a low, low price tag that beats many other affordable pontoon boats. Join us for this video boat review, and we’ll show you the boat’s high points and its lows.
Boat Test Notes
Concept
Keep boating fun and simple, with a low-cost, easy to operate, simple pontoon boat that’s well-built but easy to afford.
Construction
-Aluminum construction consists of 5052 H-36 allow, which is a grade above that used by most aluminum boatbuilders. It has higher fatigue, sheer, and tensile strength.
-Seat bases are rotomolded polyethylene, and seats flip up with stowage underneath. Stereo speakers are built-in, but their wires are exposed.
-Deck is constructed of pressure-treated plywood, with a no-rot guarantee.
-Pontoons have both strakes and spray shields.
Performance
-Test boat had a 115 HP Mercury outboard, the maximum for the Vectra 21.
-Top-end hit 34.3 MPH and cruising speeds were in the mid-20’s.
Handling
-Exactly what you expect from a pontoon boat; slight outward lean in turns, and a bit clunky compared to a V-hull, but easy to control.
-Handled a lake chop in a 10-knot breeze with no problems or spray.
Unique Features
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Length | 21'6" |
| Beam | 8'5" |
| Draft (hull) | N/A |
| Deadrise | N/A |
| Displacement | 1,704 lbs |
| Fuel capacity | 27 gal. |
-Even outfitted with all the options and the biggest powerplant, price still is just a little over $30,000.
-Down-size the powerplant and don’t get all the extras, and you can buy a new Vectra 21 for under $16,000.
-Helm includes a slick switch panel with lighted rocker switches, and the throttle mounts on an arm rest with a built-in cupholder.
Is a Princecraft Vectra 21 the right pontoon boat for you? Would a slightly larger model, like the Vectra 23 be a better choice? That’s a call you’ll have to make for yourself. But if you think the answer might be “yes,” to the 21, check out these Vectra 21 listings. You’ll be surprised at how reasonable the pricing is—and once you’re out on the lake in your new pontoon boat, you’ll be surprised at just how much fun you can have, on the Princecraft Vectra 21.
Check out these other pontoon boat Video Boat Reviews, First Look Videos, and Lifestyle videos.
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