Avalon Pontoon Boats Factory Tour (Avalon)
Exciting new model with many standard features. Captain's Report
Tested By Capt. Bob SmithNorthern Michigan proved to be a perfect spot to test Playbuoy’s latest offerings this year. The Windjammer is a great example of how they are bringing modern amenities to you at a price that should fit your budget.Our test model had nice docking lights built into the radiused corner pods that made approaching the trailer in low light a lot more comfortable. The wide entry bow gate makes it easy to get on board from the front. Each corner unit on my boat had two cup holders for cold beverages or coffee in the morning. These corner units also had rod holders for when you’re ready to wet the line and tease the fish. Storage inside these corner pods is adequate for keeping some of you favorite lures handy. Comfortable SeatingThe two chair arrangement up front left plenty of room to move around or to chase the fish. Along each side was a bench seat for more friends, or to simply stretch out. The starboard bench has a cup holder in the corner and a lounger back for enjoying the view forward. The aluminum frame seats have a lot of storage below. With the rails being set just above the deck and the rubber mat to set your gear on, you should have less problems with moisture under the benches. There is another bench on the port side with a livewell under it as well as another gate for entry from a finger pier. At the ConsoleThe helm has a pop out beverage holder, low profile windshield and a sporty padded wheel with tilt adjustment. To the left of the wheel is the stereo so the captain can easily control the channels. Our boat had the gauges and switches set in burlwood accents as well as a Pathfinder fishing system installed. The switches have red night lights so it’s easy to identify what is still on at night. On the right side of the wheel is a 12vdc socket for charging portable gear or bringing along your favorite GPS unit. Playbuoy installed the fire extinguisher right at the helm next to your right knee, where it should be. A carry-on cooler fits under the helm and out of the way. The high backed helm seat has a headrest, flip down armrests and slide/swivel adjustments for comfort. Transom FeaturesThe handy snack table stores under the benches and can be set up in the front or rear seating area. Storage for tall items like the fenders is in the lounger backs of the benches. The sun pad across the back has a bolster along the back edge and is large enough to enjoy the sun without fear of falling overboard. Lifting part of the pad gets you to the fuel tank and to the battery box in the center section.SpecsOur test model was outfitted with a Mercury 90-hp EFI four-stroke outboard and she can have up to a 100-hp outboard strapped to her stern. She measures in at 22 feet deck length with 22 feet by 25” diameter pontoons. The deck width is 8 feet and she weighs 1,730 pounds with furniture installed, and can carry up to 12 people.PerformanceI tested the Windjammer 22 RC on an inland lake in northern Michigan. As with most pontoon boats, the planning time is negligible. Her time to twenty miles per hour was approximately six seconds. I found her best cruise speed to be about 2500rpms or 6.9 miles per hour burning approximately 1.3 gallons per hour. This gives you about 118 miles on a full tank of 24 gallons of fuel. The four-stroke Mercury 90 proved quiet delivering sound levels at the helm starting at 60 dBa and up to wide-open-throttle of 22.1mph producing levels of 74 dBa.If having it all and most of it standard, is important to you, then be sure and get to your local Playbuoy dealer and see the Windjammer 22 for yourself.Test Result Highlights
- Top speed for the Avalon Windjammer 22 RC is 22.1 mph (35.6 kph), burning 8.6 gallons per hour (gph) or 32.55 liters per hour (lph).
- Best cruise for the Avalon Windjammer 22 RC is 14.1 mph (22.7 kph), and the boat gets 5.27 miles per gallon (mpg) or 2.24 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 114 miles (183.47 kilometers).
- Tested power is 1 x 90-hp Mercury four-stroke.
Standard and Optional Features
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