When it comes to current trends, Suzuki Marine knows very well the popularity of the pontoon segment. As those in the boat business have continued to witness, pontoons are hot and in some ways the driving force of the entire boating industry. Okay, so we may have a slightly biased opinion when it comes to pontoon boats, but no one is denying the popularity of the ‘toon. So when Suzuki was ready to get the word out that it was releasing its new 200 four-stroke, it wasn’t a hard choice to figure out which type of boat would be best to debut it on.
Suzuki could have mounted the new 200hp outboard on any high-end pontoon and been just fine, but instead decided to take it up a notch by teaming up with Caravelle Boats. Now, for those trying to figure out what a fiberglass company based in Georgia—best known for its off shore boats—has to do with the pontoon industry, listen up. Last fall a completely new line of boats called the Razor E-Toon line was released from Caravelle Boats and they’re making a positive wake of their own.
“With I/O’s suffering and the outboard pontoon segment going strong, we wanted to participate in a market where people were buying product,” says Caravelle President Chad Roberson. “We call it an ‘E-Toon’ because it’s not a pontoon and it’s not a deck boat, but rather an evolution with its fiberglass Multi-Hull Cat-V with five lifting points so it glides across the water and banks in a turn like a performance boat should.”
The first Razor E-Toons were released in July last year at Caravelle’s annual dealer meeting and so far the manufacturer has had a great response—so good in fact, that Caravelle just released its special edition Black Widow Razor to show what a perfect match this fiberglass pontoon is with the new Suzuki.
Put To The Test
PDB magazine had a chance in Key Largo in the Florida Keys to not only test out the new Suzuki 200, but to also see firsthand what the Black Widow could do in some rough water. While the majority of our tests are held on lakes, it was nice to see how well this new pontoon could do when the conditions weren’t exactly sunny and 75 degrees. The latest Razor E-Toon proved to be solid from bow to stern, as despite a pounding out in the Atlantic on a day not typically ideal for a lot of pontoon boats, we never heard as much as a rattle.
Attention Stealer
For all the positive attention it earned out on the water as we passed larger boats on their way out to sea, the response back at the dock was even more overwhelming. At the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, there’s not a shortage of money or high-end boats to say the least. Yet, the Black Widow attracted a lot of extra attention from members as well as visitors to the luxury resort. Those walking the marina couldn’t help but do a double take as they tried to not only figure out who the manufacturer was, but just what type of boat specifically it was.
The mostly black boat with just the right amount of green accent color clearly has a look that is like nothing else out there. Speaking of new looks, the new Suzuki was also showing off a new look with its black matte finish that instantly gives the entire boat package a sporty and stylish feel to it.
While the Razor E-Toon pontoon line is just starting to show up on bodies of water around the country, this particular model jumped out even more since it was the company’s Black Widow special edition version that was being shown to the public for the first time.
“We wanted to get into the pontoon business, but didn’t want to go the aluminum route like everyone else,” recalls Roberson. “Fiberglass is durable, has salt water advantages and is cost effective.”
Suzuki Power
With the new Suzuki 200hp outboard on the back, we easily reached speeds over 40 miles per hour at full throttle, even in the choppy water. The Black Widow is rated for up to a 200hp engine and when paired with the 8-foot, 3-inch beam, it really turns sharp, while still staying in complete control.
“Our pontoon line is built to perform in high 30 mph speeds, bank tight in the corners and handles very well,” says Roberson. “It jumps up on plane in seconds with the combination of our unique hull and the Suzuki 200. I love the new Suzuki because it’s a great fit for our boat and I love that all Suzuki’s outboards are quiet and powerful.”
Make It Your Own
The particular model we tested in Florida included a Coleman grill, full entertainment center and a pop-up fiberglass changing room that is well hidden and a great example of well-used space. As the company continues to grow, there will be even more options and standard features available so the consumer can customize the pontoon to fit all his specific needs.
Specs
LOA: 25’ 3”
Beam: 8’ 3”
Dry Weight: 3,220 lbs.
Max HP: 200
Fuel: 43 Gallons
Transom: 19”
Hull Rise: 17 degrees
Max Passenger: 14
www.caravelleboats.net
