Cypress Cay provides a great family-friendly pontoon boat in the new Seabreeze 233. With a very quiet but gutsy Mercury FourStroke 150 outboard on the transom, we ripped off zero to 30 mph in times of 6.9 seconds, planed in 3.5 seconds, and topped out at just over 37 mph with the engine revving at 5,500 rpm. The decibel meter barely broke 80 db even at full speed, and that is quiet. This package is thrifty too. Our most economical cruising speed occurred at 15.8 mph, where we burned 3.5 gallons per hour (4.5 mpg). For a spunky Mercury 150 installed on a 23-foot boat, this combination really puts up respectable numbers for speed and efficiency while underway.
Those numbers don’t detail the driving and handling of the Seabreeze, however. With triple 25-inch-diameter tubes, an under-deck skin kit, and lifting strakes for quicker planing and better turning, the Seabreeze 233 produced a confident performance from idle speed all the way up to full bore, even in tightened-radius turns and over the wind-whipped lake chop that we encountered on test day.
Abovedecks, the Seabreeze sported Cypress Cay’s single lounger picnic (SLP) floor plan. This starts with two long and plush inward-facing loungers in the bow section, with the captain’s helm and seating just aft. The helm itself is basic but well-equipped, with a smart-looking smoked-acrylic windscreen, analog gauges, Kicker sound system and Lowrance graph. Just behind it is a unique double-bench convertible lounger that works well as fore- and aft-facing benches. Or with the addition of center filler benches, the lounger converts into a wide relaxation station great for sunbathing, napping or both. The seat back on the forward couch swings fore and aft, so the couches can face each other, or both can face forward. Two can fit comfortably on each one.
This is all surrounded by perimeter fencing with Black Edition powder-coated railings and a black anodized rub rail. The lighting package on our test boat included red-blue-green fluid rope lighting under the seat bases and in cup holders. Astern, a large extended deck is fitted with a polished stainless-steel boarding ladder and a matching watersports tow bar.
High Points
- Big conversation pits both fore and aft make for a party-friendly rig.
- Pillow-top upholstery gives a deep, luxurious feel.
- Great acceleration and towing ability for watersports and heavy loads.
Price: $66,155
How We Tested
Engine: Mercury FourStroke 150
Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Enertia 15.3″ x 14″ 3-blade stainless steel
Gear Ratio: 1.92:1
Fuel Load: 12 gal.
Crew Weight: 400 lb.
Cypress Cay – Fort Wayne, Indiana; 260-432-4555; cypresscaypontoons.com
