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Look at the image above. It looks like a new generation of sportboat, flexing its muscles for the first time. But it’s actually a Bennington QX Sport—a pontoon boat. Five years ago, Robb Report would never have considered a review on boating’s most utilitarian boats.But times have changed, and the once-humble float-boat—the provenance of small Midwestern lakes—has come of age. Some prices are approaching a half-million dollars. And speeds up to 78 mph, joystick docking, ocean coastal running, towsports packages, smart-phone controls and full galleys have made the pontoon one of boating’s hottest sellers.Besides instant access to the water, the pontoon’s wide, stable decks have given designers fresh ways to configure these boats, using more creative seating, luxe features and amenities like fridges and portable heads.

In a sea of cool-kid contenders, Bennington’s 25 QX Sport stands out like a futuristic rendering ripped from some designer’s sketch pad. It’s the epitome of cutting-edge, with aggressive exterior contours, a designer color palette and interior that rivals the finest luxury automobile. A deeply tinted, raked windshield spans the consoles, adding to the visual appeal.Overhead, an almost robotic Roswell tower blends seamlessly with the design while adding a true, functional tow point for water-sports fans. Details abound. The bow gate is billet aluminum, a larger-than-average sink is hidden within the port console, and a built-in commercial-grade refrigerator is revealed below portside bench seating. Power options max out at 425 hp. $392,271 with Yamaha 425 outboards.

Sixteen years after Volvo Penta introduced its first joystick boat control, the yachting world is planning its next step toward autonomous piloting with assisted-docking systems. But don’t let go of the wheel just yet: The ability to have your boat automatically pull into a slip while you and your guests sip cocktails on the foredeck could still be 5 or even 10 years away.“It’s coming,” Anders Thorin, Volvo Penta’s product manager for marine electronics, insisted to me back in 2018 during a stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race in Gothenburg, Sweden. He was at the helm of a fully self-docking Volvo-powered Azimut as it effortlessly eased itself between a pair of priceless race boats. That system, despite its flawless demonstration, wasn’t quite ready for prime time, but last year a pared-back version of Assisted Docking made its debut as an option on Volvo’s Inboard Performance System (IPS) engines, using a combination of IPS and GPS-based Dynamic Positioning System data along with information from steering, transmission, bow-thruster and engine controls.The system neutralizes wind, tide and current, making docking in tight, gusty quarters less of a potential catastrophe (and giving newbie captains the type of confidence that’s usually developed only after years of embarrassing mishaps). Essentially, the joystick control keeps the boat moving, in a straight line or laterally, without it getting pushed around. When your hand comes off the joystick, the boat stops immediately rather than gliding into trouble; a Side Push button keeps it pinned against the dock without having to tie up.

source:superyachtnews.com