Harris Solstice 250DC: Pontoon Boat Review

OVERVIEW
- The rise and rise of high performance pontoon boats
Once upon a time, pontoon boats were considered to be little more than big stable barges and/or a variation of a slow moving houseboat. They were traditionally powered by small outboards and restricted to smooth waters and displacement speeds.

Things have changed, however. Dramatically. In the US, where most pontoon boats are made, you can now buy pontoon boats with dual and triple aluminium tube hulls and capable of speeds to 70 knots plus with triple 300hp outboard engines hanging off the transom. Slow coaches they are not.

While pontoon craft with this high-end level of performance may be rare (and expensive), pontoon boats capable of breaking the 40-knot barrier are relatively commonplace.

Many of these craft are also luxuriously appointed with comfortable bow-to-stern seating areas for a dozen people or more – and equipped with BBQs, built in galleys and wet bars, wakeboard towers, slippery slides, astro turf, the works. Pontoon boats have certainly come of age!

In the US, one of the leading pontoon boat brands is Harris Boats,owned by the Brunswick Corporation – which also owns Mercury Marine and a dozen or more other world-renowned boat brands.

Based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Harris Boats has around two dozen different models. They range from the 5.5m Cruiser 180 through to the flagship 8.0m luxury V270.

Our test boat package from the Harris Boats’ stable is the nicely finished Solstice 250DC supplied with a Mercury 200hp Verado Pro four-stroke outboard by Queensland dealer, Brisbane Marine.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Base and premium models available with Mercury four-stroke power
The Harris Solstice 250DC (Dual Console) is a very large boat, measuring over 8.28m overall, and with a pontoon waterline length of 7.62m. Remarkably though, it is still trailerable — although you may need over-width flags to tow it on the open road as the boat has a maximum beam of 2.59m.

The BMT package also weighs around 2750kg so you will require a large, three-tonne-rated towing vehicle.

The Solstice 250DC is certainly big, bold and feature packed, yet the BMT package price is not as scary as you might first imagine... at least not for the size of the boat.

Packaged with the Mercury 200hp Verado four-stroke outboard and a custom Aussie spec dual axle trailer (with electric hydraulic break-away brakes), the big Harris has a drive-away price as tested of $129,999.

Included with this price is the premium Performance 3 hull option which has the centre (of three) pontoon tubes extended all the way aft and lowered an inch below the two outer tubes for improved performance and manoeuvrability.

With the Performance 3 package the 630mm diameter tubes are fitted with four planing or lifting strakes; two on the main centre hull and one each on the outside of the outer tubes.

There is also an alloy “skin” fitted under the deck structure to cover exposed cross members for a cleaner appearance and reduced drag underway.

Also included is a low-profile, centre-opening, tinted-glass windscreen (instead of standard individual console windscreens), a lighting package, and dual sports bimini tops.

You can also order the 250DC as a base package, sans trailer, and with a 150hp Mercury EFI four-stroke outboard, dual bimini covers, and a tri-tube hull with the Performance 2 package, which has a different transom/outboard well set-up. This rig packages to around $98k, or $107,400 with the trailer.

INTERIOR LAYOUT
- Seating for 12 people and heaps of storage space
The 250DC is available with a range of internal seating layouts to accommodate up to 12 people. The standard layout has mirror image wrap-around seating areas at the bow and stern with forward and aft facing chaise lounges. The helm and co-pilot consoles and bucket helm chairs are situated in between.

Our test boat layout differed from standard, but only slightly. Where the standard boat has a starboard-side entry gate to match the one on the port side, our test boat had the starboard gate omitted and the starboard-side bow seating stretched further aft to the helm console.

The seats themselves are well padded, comfortable, and made from good quality vinyl fabrics. The backrests are set at the perfect height and the armrests fold out easily as required.

Beneath all of the lounge seats you will find deep storage bins with roto-moulded black plastic inner liners. The engine starting battery is located in one such compartment under the seat in the port side transom corner.

At the other end of the boat, one of the bins under the bow seating area needs to be used as an anchor locker as there is no separate anchor well fitted.

As you might expect, there are drink/cup holders scattered the length of the boat, but we were surprised by the absence of a standard icebox to keep your drinks cold. Mind you there is sufficient space to stow a portable icebox, or you can choose a different seating layout and option the boat with a full wet bar.

Instead of carpet the flooring in the Harris Solstice is made from a hardwearing vinyl material. It is surprisingly comfortable and cool underfoot, and available in a range of colours. Our test boat was fitted with the standard Seagrass pattern in an inconspicuous beige colour to blend in nicely with the seat cushions.

Other features include easily operated, 745mm high entry gates at the bow, stern and amidships on the port side, aluminium fence panels (with a variety of external colour options), a large rear boarding platform with an excellent stainless steel boarding ladder, and a transom ski-pole/tow bar which doubles as a hand rail when boarding.

Our test boat was also fitted with a pop-up change-room which folds out from behind the port side bow seating area. Unfolding and assembling the change room (behind which you can fit a Porta-Potti) for the first time is a little tricky, but should thereafter be quick and easy.

DUAL CONSOLES
- Sporty consoles with a choice of low- and high-profile windscreens
The dual consoles in the Solstice 250DC are sporty looking units made from fibreglass with dash inserts upholstered in colour matching vinyl with black panel accents. There is also a vinyl-trimmed brow over both the instrument panel on the starboard side and lockable glove box to port with audio and USB ports.

Also on the port side is a general storage trench beneath the glove box, a handy grab rail for the co-pilot, and a Polk-brand stereo head unit.

The helm console has provision for the analogue engine gauges fitted to the test boat, along with the various required switches. However, it will prove a struggle to find somewhere to fit a flush or bracket mounted fish finder or GPS display.

Beneath or within the two consoles you will find additional storage areas with access doors fronting the central companionway.

The Solstice comes standard with individual console windscreens, but our test boat was optioned with a black framed low-profile windscreen with a tinted, smoked-glass finish and centre-opening pane to allow you to walk between the bow and stern seating areas.

The Solstice can also be ordered with a higher profile windscreen (with tinted or clear glass) which provides more wind and weather protection, though we felt the low-profile version did a reasonable job of shielding the skipper.

The Solstice is intended to be driven while seated and the helm is set-up accordingly with a swiveling, height adjustable and sliding bucket chair. The moulded driver and passenger footrests are well placed and on the skipper’s side, the tilt-adjust steering wheel and side-mounted throttle are ideally positioned.

The helm really is a comfortable place to be as everything falls nicely to hand, and the helm chairs are big, wide, and very comfortable.

ON THE WATER
- Enormously stable with a comfortable ride and 32-knots WOT
The Solstice 250DC is available with a range of Mercury and Honda outboard engine options from 115hp through to 400hp. Our test boat was fitted with a 200hp Mercury Verado Pro four-stroke model in the longshaft (20in) configuration.

With regard to power, the 200 Pro falls neatly between the minimum and maximum power motors for this boat and it feels like it on the water. With the bow and stern bimini covers up (which probably robbed us of a knot or two) the test rig accelerated strongly from displacement speeds through to a top speed at wide-open throttle (WOT) of 32.4 knots... though we did feel it wanted to go quicker!

We found ourselves running the boat and the engine close to flat-out most of the time as the big pontoon boat pushes easily through choppy bay waters — to the extent that 32 knots actually felt quite slow.

In light of this we would recommend upgrading to an outboard with at least 250hp. This would give you a higher top speed and better fuel economy, as you would be able to achieve 28-30 knot cruise speeds at a lower rpm.

On the water, the Solstice 250DC feels big, comfortable, soft and manoeuvrable. With the Performance 3 hull option the boat performs slalom turns adeptly, and sits flat and stable throughout for maximum passenger comfort.

The boat is easy and fun to drive with lightweight power steering and a comfortable seated helm position.

With pontoons measuring over 7.5m and an overall length of 8.28m, the Solstice 250DC is a big boat and the substantial water-line length allows the hull to ride remarkably comfortably through even moderate swell and bay chop.

As a warm weather day cruiser for social outings with family and friends we can’t thing of better, more comfortable style of boat.

VERDICT
- A terrific party pontoon for bay cruising, social tow-sports, and just lounging about
Pontoon tube craft like the Harris Solstice 250DC are known as party pontoons and for good reason. With these boats you don’t have to go anywhere particular to have fun. You need only load the boat with family and friends, food and drink, then anchor up before a secluded cove or beach front — and you’re all set to lounge about, sunning and swimming to your heart’s content.

While pontoon tube boats are only beginning to gain traction in Australia, this is set to change with quality craft like the Harris Solstice 250DC now available. As a bay cruiser and family fun boat it has plenty to offer. You will be surprised and impressed with the huge amount of interior space, seating and storage.

"On the pontoon. Makin' waves and catchin' rays up on the roof. Jumpin' out the back, don't act like you don't want to. Party in slow motion. I'm out here in the open. Mmmmmmm... motorboatin' - Pontoon by Little Big Town.

LIKES
>> Comfortable, stable ride
>> Solid mid-range performance
>> Vast seating and storage areas
>> Large, open decks
>> Sporty, comfortable helm position
>> Quality fixtures and fabrics
>> Pop-up change-room

NOT SO MUCH
>> No anchor well
>> No standard icebox
>> No provision for a fish finder/GPS

RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.72/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.7/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.7/5.0
On the water Performance: 4.7/5.0
Value for money: 4.6/5.0
X-factor: 4.9/5.0

PERFORMANCE
4.0kts (7.4km/h) @ 1000rpm
5.7kts (10.5km/h) @ 1500rpm
6.8kts (12.6km/h) @ 2000rpm
9.1kts (16.8km/h) @ 2500rpm
14.8kts (27.3km/h) @ 3000rpm
17.3kts (32.0km/h) @ 3500rpm
23.9kts (44.2km/h) @ 4000rpm
26.0kts (48.1km/h) @ 4500rpm
30.0kts (55.5km/h) @ 5000rpm
31.4kts (58.1km/h) @ 5500rpm
32.4kts (60.0km/h) @ 6000rpm (WOT)

Specifications: Harris Solstice 250DC
Price: $129,999 including Mercury 200hp Verado Pro supercharged longshaft (20in) four-stroke outboard with digital throttle and shift, power assisted steering, Performance Package 3 hull, custom Aussie specification tandem axle trailer with break-away brakes, smoked glass low profile, centre opening windscreen, lighting package, dual sports bimini covers, and a pop-up change room.  
Priced from: $98,000 including a single Mercury 150hp EFI four-stroke outboard with digital throttle and shift, hydraulic steering, Aussie specification tandem axle trailer with break-away brakes and dual standard bimini covers. Add $9400 for the Australian specification tandem axle trailer with electric hydraulic breakaway brakes.
Length overall: 8.28m
Pontoon length: 7.62m
Pontoon diameter: 630mm
Beam: 2.59m
Draft: 534mm
Hull weight: 1623kg
Towing weight: Approx 2750kg
Deadrise: N/A
Maximum power: 400hp
Engine as tested: Mercury Verado Pro 200hp four-stroke outboard
Fuel: 182lt
Maximum persons: 12

Supplied by:
Brisbane Marine
Phone: (07) 3889 3033
Email: sales@brismarine.com.au
Website: Brisbane Marine.