TRICKED- OUT 'TOONS

NINE COOL FEATURES TO CHECK OUT ON PONTOON BOATS

- JEFF HEMMEL

SOMETIME BETWEEN THE ERA OF YOUR GRANDPARENTS' nightly putt-putt around the lake and the more recent trend of 20-somethings partying at the sandbar, pontoon boats became cool. Cool because whether you're young or old, hip or square, a novice boater or an old salt, you're likely to dig what's new on pontoons. Cool as in while they can still cruise and fish with the best, modern pontoons can also run with a go-fast, handle like a sportboat, haul you and your friends on your favorite towable and, yes, when the situation calls for it, party like a rock star.

One big reason for this is that pontoon-boat manufacturers have introduced more than their fair share of cool innovations. Some are big-ticket items, dramatic enhancements to handling or ultra-plush interior amenities. Others are of the "Why didn't I think of that?" variety, smaller touches that make life aboard more enjoyable or fun. We've seen more than we can count in recent years. Here are nine of the coolest.

TRANSFORMER BAR

Manufacturers have introduced multiple variations on the aft lounge design in recent years, but most have centered around morphing the combination bench/sun pad into various stages of recline. Sibling brands Starcraft and Sylvan opted to follow the transformer theme and make the aft lounge transform into something else entirely-a bar. The one aboard the Sylvan L5 DLZ Bar really caught our eye. Pivot each half of the 5-footsquare sun pad upward, as if closing a giant book, to reveal adjoining halves of the bar complete with a faux-granite top, six recessed cup holders and LED accent lighting. A collection of bar stools awaits along the starboard rail. Remove and install them into floor mounts on both sides of the bar and you're ready to belly on up. And should you party too hearty, that bar just as easily transforms back into a sun pad. Raise your drinks! This design deserves a toast. sylvanmarine.com