Manitou Pontoon Boats came up with a new SES model that truely has the pontoon boat DNA — reliable, utilitarian and highly functional — embodied in every inch of this stellar family pontoon boat. Designing a retro pontoon boat tends to be all about picking the best from the past, and leaving the rest in the dustbin of boating history.
But some brands don’t need to go back to their roots because they never abandoned them. Manitou's SES is a great example. There’s something comfortingly familiar about its profile — a traditional Manitou logo, the squarish snout of the bow pulpit and equally squared-off transom. Except for the 21st-century upsweep of the cowling on the Mercury 225-hp Verado, the test Boat looks like it could have been launched in 1995 — or ’85, for that matter.
Keeping its designs within a firm tradition isn't due to tight budgets or lazy designers; Manitou has launched 16 new models since 1996. It has more to do with keeping to Manitou core values, the no-frills unsinkable boat that made them one of the best-sellers in the last few years.
Boating World spends four hours testing it on a fishing trip for redfish on the Indian River, just outside of New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The Atlantic is throwing up 6- to 8-footers, and the idea of getting slammed around with little prospect of catching fish makes a calm trip down the ICW inviting. Unfortunately, the redfish seem to go on vacation, too, though this tester has the opportunity to fish from all sectors of the boat. The overall first impression is favorable and fairly traditional.
The test boat comes with an optional cockpit foldout seat at the stern that’s a great example of the boat’s quality. This 160-pound tester sets it up and inadvertently doesn't fold down the front legs. There isn't the slightest bit of play as the boat’s running. On a subsequent visit to see the SES again in a dealer showroom, the tester’s 225-pound friend does the same thing, with the same result. Quality is one of those over-used words that’s often hard to quantify, but one feels it in the solidity of this boat.
The SES is a pinnacle of a family fishing boat. The bow area is great for casting, with a 22-inch-high rail, 54 inches across the bow with a 4-inch recessed space in front of the pulpit, and a seat. (The bow pulpit has a stainless-steel liner — another touch of quality.) The aft cockpit has a livewell, under-gunwale rod storage, and four rod holders on the transom and gunwales. Another five optional rocket launchers and radial outrigger sockets are mounted on the optional hardtop. There are seven 8-inch cleats. In order to keep the transom gunwales snag-free for fishing, the two aft cleats are positioned under hawse pipes.
You may want to have the electro-hydraulic steering included, and the SES is a pleasure to drive on any relatively flat river. Turns with the wheel are effortless, done with a pinky, and the pontoon boat literally glides up and down the power band. The only trouble might come in rough conditions when the driver needs a little tougher play in the wheel to keep from overturning in panic situations. But, all in all, the Smartcraft/Verado combination takes handling a pontoon boat like a sportfishing boat - a real pleasure to drive.
The interior, as one would expect, is spartan fiberglass — except for the cushions — but clean and well-laid-out. Again, you get a sense of utilitarian design that makes it larger than what one expects from a 23-foot hull. Headroom is about 60 inches. The 17-inch by 17-inch overhead hatch is screened for ventilation, as are the two portholes on either side. The bow area converts into a V-berth, though as noted, cushions are optional!
Like any new pontoon boat, the SES needs a few tweaks. The two seats behind the helm and companion seats are small (15 inches by 20 inches), and seem more like covers for the 14-inch-deep integrated coolers (with drains) below them. You might knock heads sitting in front and behind, and most parents probably wouldn't want to have small children sitting on them in rough seas. The coolers also don’t open well with the seats snapped in.
The helm and companion seats (15 inches by 30 inches) get mixed results for big (too restrictive) and small (OK), and the companion-side footrest (5.5 inches wide) could be another 6 inches wider to keep your feet securely on them. Minor details, maybe, but they could add up to hours of running comfort.
With an LOA of 23 feet, there’s a lot to this pontoon boat, with no gimmicks or frills. It’s solid, reliable and highly functional — just as you’d expect from a brand that has stayed true to its roots.
But some brands don’t need to go back to their roots because they never abandoned them. Manitou's SES is a great example. There’s something comfortingly familiar about its profile — a traditional Manitou logo, the squarish snout of the bow pulpit and equally squared-off transom. Except for the 21st-century upsweep of the cowling on the Mercury 225-hp Verado, the test Boat looks like it could have been launched in 1995 — or ’85, for that matter.
Keeping its designs within a firm tradition isn't due to tight budgets or lazy designers; Manitou has launched 16 new models since 1996. It has more to do with keeping to Manitou core values, the no-frills unsinkable boat that made them one of the best-sellers in the last few years.
Boating World spends four hours testing it on a fishing trip for redfish on the Indian River, just outside of New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The Atlantic is throwing up 6- to 8-footers, and the idea of getting slammed around with little prospect of catching fish makes a calm trip down the ICW inviting. Unfortunately, the redfish seem to go on vacation, too, though this tester has the opportunity to fish from all sectors of the boat. The overall first impression is favorable and fairly traditional.
The test boat comes with an optional cockpit foldout seat at the stern that’s a great example of the boat’s quality. This 160-pound tester sets it up and inadvertently doesn't fold down the front legs. There isn't the slightest bit of play as the boat’s running. On a subsequent visit to see the SES again in a dealer showroom, the tester’s 225-pound friend does the same thing, with the same result. Quality is one of those over-used words that’s often hard to quantify, but one feels it in the solidity of this boat.
The SES is a pinnacle of a family fishing boat. The bow area is great for casting, with a 22-inch-high rail, 54 inches across the bow with a 4-inch recessed space in front of the pulpit, and a seat. (The bow pulpit has a stainless-steel liner — another touch of quality.) The aft cockpit has a livewell, under-gunwale rod storage, and four rod holders on the transom and gunwales. Another five optional rocket launchers and radial outrigger sockets are mounted on the optional hardtop. There are seven 8-inch cleats. In order to keep the transom gunwales snag-free for fishing, the two aft cleats are positioned under hawse pipes.
You may want to have the electro-hydraulic steering included, and the SES is a pleasure to drive on any relatively flat river. Turns with the wheel are effortless, done with a pinky, and the pontoon boat literally glides up and down the power band. The only trouble might come in rough conditions when the driver needs a little tougher play in the wheel to keep from overturning in panic situations. But, all in all, the Smartcraft/Verado combination takes handling a pontoon boat like a sportfishing boat - a real pleasure to drive.
The interior, as one would expect, is spartan fiberglass — except for the cushions — but clean and well-laid-out. Again, you get a sense of utilitarian design that makes it larger than what one expects from a 23-foot hull. Headroom is about 60 inches. The 17-inch by 17-inch overhead hatch is screened for ventilation, as are the two portholes on either side. The bow area converts into a V-berth, though as noted, cushions are optional!
Like any new pontoon boat, the SES needs a few tweaks. The two seats behind the helm and companion seats are small (15 inches by 20 inches), and seem more like covers for the 14-inch-deep integrated coolers (with drains) below them. You might knock heads sitting in front and behind, and most parents probably wouldn't want to have small children sitting on them in rough seas. The coolers also don’t open well with the seats snapped in.
The helm and companion seats (15 inches by 30 inches) get mixed results for big (too restrictive) and small (OK), and the companion-side footrest (5.5 inches wide) could be another 6 inches wider to keep your feet securely on them. Minor details, maybe, but they could add up to hours of running comfort.
With an LOA of 23 feet, there’s a lot to this pontoon boat, with no gimmicks or frills. It’s solid, reliable and highly functional — just as you’d expect from a brand that has stayed true to its roots.
In Conclusion
Manitou Pontoon Boats stays true to its heritage with the SES. It’s a sturdy, reliable fishing pontoon boat that can handle family activities. The companion seats could use some adjusting, but it’s a minor nitpick on an overall favorable package.Related articles
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