This is the first time Bentley has appeared at our tests. The company has
been in business for three years, but already it's become the talk of the
industry. We wanted to find out firsthand, with other manufacturers on site, the
reason for all the hubbub.
The 240 Cruise is a prime example of what sets Bentley apart. It's a 24-foot
boat, rigged with a 90-horse motor and offering features for entertaining We're
talking about a party pontoon, capable of taking 20 people out on the water —
and it's priced thousands of dollars less than some comparable platforms.
Bentley owner Steve Deese was one of the nation's top pontoon dealers before
starting this company. From constant contact with consumers he learned what
Bentley pontoons should be: spacious, solid and appointed well enough to make
owners proud but not so well that it eats into affordability.
We didn't expect to find so many standard features on our test boat. On the
console is a fiberglass entertainment center with sink, stainless-steel cup
holders (not cheap) and a drainable storage compartment. At the starboard entry
gate is a mount for a removable boarding ladder, which some boaters might find
safer than having a ladder near the motor.
What surprised us most is the appearance. All rails on the 240 Cruise are
powder-coated, baked on at 400 degrees and given a salt-spray test rated for
1,000 hours. Skins outside the rails made our test boat a solid cream color from
every angle. All hardware is stainless steel. Upholstery has corded seams, and
the Bentley logo is embroidered into strategic spots throughout.
The performance tests topped it all off, as this was one of the quieter boats of
our tests with the 90-horse Mercury. Generous 25-inch tubes and full keel rails
helped the 240 corner better than the average two-tube pontoon. That was the
capstone to a boat worth talking about. From Boattest.com
| 240 Cruise or Fish Motor Pkg | INFO | Boat Locker & Boat Mart Pricing |
| W/ 50 HP MERCURY ELPTO | INCL . DELUXE TANDEM TRAILER W/BRAKES AND COVER | $19,900.00 |
Notable Features
• Docking lights are set in blue covers for extra style and visibility
• Gauges are trimmed in gold bezels within a wood-grain panel
• Entry gates are extra wide — forward, port and starboard
• Helm is stationed aft for a better view of the party
• Dock rail is an inch wide to protect the boat when approaching from any
direction
• Doublewide helm seat has tailbone support
• CD unit is within easy reach of the wheel
Test Drive
Test Engine: Mercury 90 ELPTO
Test Prop: Mercury 14 x 13, aluminum
Test Load: People (380 lb.); Fuel (18 gal.)
Top Speed: 26.4 MPH @ 5,350 RPM
Time to 20 MPH: 4.8 sec.
Stats
Length Overall: 24'
Beam: 8'6"
Dry Weight: 1,940 lb.
Seating/Weight Capacity: 20/3,320 lb.
Fuel Capacity: 24 gal.
Max HP: 135
For more info e:mail
Galen Freeman
or call (615) 791-1780 e:
theboatlocker@comcast.net
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