In a sea of pontoon boats that share much in common with luxury sedans, Barletta’s Corsa 25U stands out like a sleek Italian sports car. An attractive rail design and contrasting color scheme set the stage on this new ’toon’s exterior. Within the fencing, furniture continues the visual contrast and features a minimalist vibe, with flatter surfaces and more angular corners. Speaker grilles could be works of art. And then there’s the modern helm, with its sleek lines, molded fiberglass facets and clean dash layout. The Corsa 25U might be built in the Midwest, but the vibe feels more like Milan.
That’s not to say this Barletta isn’t still comfortably plush. Forward, a pair of 6-foot lounges are ready for a large crew to gather or a pair to stretch out in the sun. The high-back helm seat offers plenty of back support. And then there’s the seating potential of the portside flip seat and Barletta’s Ultra Lounge. The passenger seat morphs from a forward-facing chair to an aft-facing lounge to a flat lounge with just a simple reposition of the seatback. The adjacent Ultra Lounge transitions into five total positions, ranging from back-to-back couches to forward and aft-facing recliners to a sun bed larger than 6-by-5 feet.
Numerous practical features are found throughout the Barletta Corsa 25U. Cutaway seat bases provide plenty of foot room and enhance the feeling of space, while cushions pivot forward and out of the way on articulating hinges, revealing compartments that feature drainage and ventilation within. The helm has some of the best legroom that we have seen in this size range, and it maintains a clean appearance by tucking circuit breakers within a handy side glove box.
And then there’s Barletta’s exceptionally quiet ride. Neoprene rubber pads sandwiched between structural members eliminate much of the rattle and vibration inherent to many ’toons. On the water’s surface, a trio of 26-inch-diameter pontoons with performance-minded lifting strakes give the boat agile, confident handling. Performance? Outfitted with a Mercury 300 Verado, our test boat peaked at 46 mph. Option engines as high as 450 hp to reach close to 60 mph.
High Points
- Raised helm with wireless phone charger, Hertz marine stereo and optional Simrad touchscreen.
- Wide ski locker allows stowing water toys.
- Pets and captains can see the dock and water better thanks to the see-through Doggie Dock.
How We Tested
- Engine: Mercury 300 Verado
- Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Enertia Eco 16″ x 17″ 3-blade stainless steel
- Gear Ratio: 1.85:1 Fuel Load: 36 gal. Crew Weight: 335 lb.
Pricing and Specs
| Price: | $129,055 (with Mercury 300 Verado) |
|---|---|
| LOA: | 27’0″ |
| Beam: | 8’6″ |
| Draft: | 1’9″ (max) |
| Dry Weight: | 4,045 lb. |
| Seat/Weight Capacity: | 13/2,372 lb. |
| Fuel Capacity: | 24 gal. |
Barletta Boat Company – Bristol, Indiana; 574-825-8900; barlettapontoonboats.com
