Nobody has a better handle on building high-performance pontoons complete with racecourse-ready style and durable construction than PlayCraft. Every model year, the company improves and refines its X-Treme series pontoons with outstanding luxury, speed and superior handling. The new PowerToon X-Treme 3010 emerges from that DNA.
Gary Bogdon
Our recent test of the X-Treme 3010 on Lake of the Ozarks shattered old notions of pontoon boating before we even fired up the outboards. Designing a boat for speed mandates considering aerodynamics as well as hydrodynamics. A nod to aerodynamics appears in the wedge-shaped bow and the sleek Bimini top. Pontoon tubes are flat on top, foam-filled, sealed and pressurized, then bolted straight to the crossbeams of the 30-foot-by-8-foot-6-inch one-piece plywood deck for an unassailable, solid ride.
To further boost performance, the tubes widen aft, compressing air and spray, increasing lift, and giving more speed per horsepower. A wider, deeper center tube coupled with strategically placed lifting strakes give the boat comfortable turning and tons of passenger-carrying capacity. Dual Mercury Racing 450R outboards with tunable exhaust can give a chest-thumping, muscle-car rumble or a Lexus-like purr.
Gary Bogdon
In the comfort department, furnishings on board from the deck to the shoulder cushions are upholstered in UV-protected vinyl. Color combinations are virtually unlimited, and owners can even match them to their favorite football team. Exterior colors are offered in a broad spectrum too. The 3010 has color-matched, powder-coated tubes and rails for durable good looks. The fiberglass-molded helm station is raised, giving a clear view above the crew. The captain’s chair swivels and reclines, and the armrests automatically adjust to the correct, comfortable angle.
Gary Bogdon
Three boarding options include the wide bow deck, a wheel-chair-width port side gate and the stern platform. An extra-long boarding ladder integrated into the pontoon is patented and exclusive to PlayCraft. In its fourth generation of family boatbuilding, PlayCraft expertly blends the extremes of luxury and high-speed performance better than any other brand afloat.
Gary Bogdon
High Points
- Patented boarding steps in the center tube reach deep for easy boarding.
- Pontoons are epoxy-painted for good-looking durability.
- Movable cushion-topped cooler and cup holders.
How We Tested
- Engines: Twin Mercury Racing 450 hp V-8 supercharged
- Drive/Props: Outboard/Bravo FS 24″ 4-blade stainless steel
- Gear Ratio: 1.60:1 Fuel Load: 25 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.
Pricing and Specs
| LOA: | 31’6″ |
| Beam: | 8’6″ |
| Draft (max): | 1’2″ |
| Dry Weight: | 3,500 lb. |
| Seat/Weight Capacity: | 15/3,000 lb. |
| Fuel Capacity: | 100 gal. |
PlayCraft Boats – Richland, Missouri; 573-765-3265; playcraftboats.com
