Pontoon & Deck Boat

the director of business at Seminole Marine Group, puts it, "The boat is packed with standard features that are expensive options on other brands—from the electric-powered Bimini to hydraulic steering on all units." Stepping back, you can see as much with a sweep of the eyes. The aft cockpit sink includes a 6-gallon pull-out shower and ties beautifully into the color scheme onboard with its creamy Corian countertop. Across from the sink lies the full- length bolstered Sunpad and the long L-shaped lounge, styl- ishly designed with unique stitch work, and yes—it also puts you nicely in the shade of the high-end electric Bimini. Getting Comfy Nearby, the reclining captain's chair with self-leveling flip- up armrests offers a comfortable seat for making conversation or heading at a fun pace for your crew's favorite beach. While sitting behind the deluxe fiberglass helm console, you'll re- ally be able to appreciate the easy handling of the hydraulic steering with a tilt wheel. The digital gauge system keeps the dash balanced, and as an option you can include a depth finder in that package as well. The stereo, 12-volt receptacle, and USB jack are all in comfortable reach and there's even a hollow area with a restraining band designated to safely hold your phone or other device while it's plugged in—one of those sometimes-overlooked practicalities that we just love seeing onboard. Room For All The in-floor storage lies towards the bow and is made of finished fiberglass; while you're down there, take note of the self-bailing fiberglass deck with Diamond non-skid surface, perfect for climbing onboard with wet feet. Two more loungers pad the bow area with plenty of comfortable seating, and did we mention all of the furniture onboard is 100 percent wood-free Premium Pillow Top with Chilewitch wrapped bases? Not only that, but the marine- grade vinyl is protected with Nano-Block Technology (NBT), a next-generation protective coating that forms a barrier between even the toughest stains for added peace of mind against spills on that beautiful cream vinyl. Twice The Access In the bow, you'll find SouthWind's telescoping boarding ladder tucked away beneath a foldable panel in the floor, so you can enjoy extra space in the forward swim deck until the ladder is needed. There's also a ladder located in the stern for easy access on both ends of the V23L. Added Touches Can you believe all of these features are standards? South- Wind really has thought of everything. To round the amenities out, the white and cream scheme onboard really complement the darker cocoa accents at the helm and at the custom re- movable cockpit table, and stainless steel touches such as all the cup holders show that SouthWind didn't cut any corners with the V23L. But the careful attention quality goes even deeper than this. The V23L also boasts a completely fiberglass hull, deck, and stringer system with absolutely no wood involved in the construction. The hull is also Kevlar-reinforced and designed to offer a clean, stable ride and those high performance ca- pabilities that compete with the high-end pontoons and deck boats out there. Top It Off If you want to ramp up the luxury even more, consider opting for the underwater blue lighting and two portable cup holders for appeasing that thirsty crowd. The optional ski/tow bar, portable marine toilet, and chaise lounge privacy hoop and curtain will all have you staying out on the water even lon- ger in comfort while you hit the waves. If you enjoy dabbling in a bit of fishing on the weekends, you can also choose the optional bench seat livewell. A compass, Power Assist Steer- ing (standard on the Mercury 250hp and up), and playpen cover nicely round out the rest of the options. "The V-series Cross Decks are the most well-appointed metal-sided, fiberglass hull deck boats on the market," Libin adds. With so many premium amenities and well-crafted design points, it's easy to nod to that. So what's the best way to start your summer off? Head- ing off into the sunset with the V23L Cross Deck sounds about right. www.pdbmagazine.com 43 PDB Pontoon & Deck Boat June 2016 SouthWind V23L Cross Deck LOA: 22' 9" Beam: 8' 6" Wet Weight: 4,900 lbs. Max HP: 250 hp Fuel Capacity: 49 gal. People Capacity: 12 Weight Capacity: 1,550 lbs. 229-377-2125 www.southwindboats.com

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