Crest Continental NX 270 SLS Reviewed

Cresting the Wave

From the appearance of some pontoon boats — particularly early models — you could be forgiven for thinking they are simply displacement river barges with an open deck and some plush seating. This may have been the case once upon a time, but no more. 

You can still buy slow, house-boat-like pontoon craft, but these are in the minority. The modern alloy pontoon tube boat is a fast, sophisticated, spacious, high performance, family fun boat. Incredibly popular in the Great Lakes and pretty much everywhere else in the United States, pontoon deck boats are a genuine alternative to a vee hull bowrider sports boat, but with a heap more open entertaining/living space onboard.

Purchased from the Maurell family owned company in 2010 by an investment company, and then snapped up by leading towsports boat manufacturer, Mastercraft in 2018, Crest Pontoon Boats has now expanded its product range and established dealers all around the world. 

In Australia, Crest is represented by Gold Coast based Queensland Marine Centre. A select range of models are regularly imported, but the full range of craft are available to order — and there are plenty of different models. 

A quick count on the Crest Pontoon Boats website reveals there are more than ten different model lines, each available with several deck layouts and a choice of double and triple pontoon tube hulls. All told, there are more than 70 craft to choose from. 

For this review Queensland Marine Centre presented one of the flagship high performance luxury models, the Continental NX 270 SLS Twin powered by a pair of Mercury’s superb V8 300hp four-stroke outboards.

TWO OR THREE PONTOONS?

Crest makes pontoon boats with both two and three pontoon tubes. The deluxe Continental models come standard with the CP3 NX performance triple pontoon hull. In addition to providing more safety and better handling, the triple pontoon hull can carry heavier loads and accept bigger, more power outboard motors.

The CP3 NX triple pontoon hull is included as standard on all Crest pontoon boats when they are powered by single or twin outboard engines exceeding a combined outboard of 300hp. 

Each of the three pontoon hulls has a knife-sharp entry at the bow for slicing through the chop, whilst the central hull extends all the way aft to provide maximum stern buoyancy and lift to ease the craft onto the place with little discernible bow lift. 

Each pontoon tube has a diameter of 660mm and is made from 2mm thick marine grade aluminium. Four sealed, pressurised chambers in each tube provide strength and safety; the inherent buoyancy provided by the sealed tubes makes these craft virtually unsinkable. 

Like other pontoon craft, the hulls are connected and strengthened using aluminium cross members beneath a plywood top deck. Aluminium fencing rails flank the deck overhead, while fibreglass consoles, trim pieces and seat mouldings are used to dress the interior.

CHOICE OF LAYOUTS

The Continental NX 270 is available with single and twin engines, and with a choice of three deck layouts. These floor-plans are essentially the same, but for the rear seating configurations. 

The SLC models are designed with chaise lounges on each side of the aft cockpit, behind two big, comfortable helm chairs. Each lounge curves around the inner transom to allow you to recline while facing forward, as well as aft. 

The SLRC version is similar, but it has a pair of aft facing fibreglass moulded bucket chairs right behind the helm chairs. These full support back-rest chairs can be reconfigured into aft facing chaise lounges with the addition of aft storage boxes/seats, which stretch right to the transom. 

The very latest SLCR models also have revised/newly designed side seats up at the bow.

Our test boat has the most popular layout with an L-shaped lounge in the rear cockpit with the entry gate situated on the starboard side. The back-rest on the centre part of this lounge seat folds forward so that you can sit and face aft for swimming off the stern of the boat whilst anchored up. This back-rest also folds flat to form a sun lounge.

There are other difference between the layouts with regard to storage areas, gate locations, etc., but the major differences are in the stern of the boat as described. 

Irrespective of which floor plan you choose, you’ll find the quality of the fixtures, fittings, and upholstery to be second to none, the seats and lounging areas to be remarkably comfortable, and the storages areas suitably positioned for maximum practicality.

BOW AND STERN LIVING

The Continental NX 270 SLS has such a large internal deck that the bow and stern seating areas can be regarded as entirely separate living areas partitioned by the bowrider style windscreen and helm station that is itself remarkably spacious.

As noted, the stern of the boat is graced with an L-shaped lounge seat, but there is also a starboard side bench seat behind the helm chair. 

Other features include a drinks/cocktail table, fold out cup holder arm-rests, and cavernous storage areas beneath the seat cushions.

At the stern of the boat, swimmers will appreciate the full width boarding platform, the port side transom storage bin, and the telescopic boarding ladder situated centrally between the outboard engines. Our test boat was also optioned with a heavy duty ski-pole/bracket which doubles as a hand-hold for climbing in and out of the boat from the water.

The ship’s triple batteries are easy to access, enclosed in a locker on the aft deck, ahead of the boarding ladder.

Gates to enter the interior of the boat are located at the transom on the starboard side, amidships ahead of the helm console, and up at the forepeak, between the two front side lounge seats which double up as forward facing chaise lounges. 

Forward of the bow entry gate there are two moulded fibreglass storage boxes, either of which can be used as an anchor well. Storage lockers are situated beneath each of the front lounge seats, one of which is insulated for use as an ice box. There’s also a removable cooler bin/ice box situated in a compartment in front of the port side console beneath one of the speakers for the Bluetooth audio system. 

From a similar compartment on the starboard console, you can extract a pop-up canvas change-room with a vertical zip to enter and exit. This will be very handy for swimmers getting changed out of their togs after a dip. 

AT THE HELM

Sliding behind the wheel in the Crest Continental you could be forgiven for thinking you had stepped into a late model sports car. All the instruments, switching and controls are laid out neatly before you and the seats are very wide, comfortable, and supportive.

Each chair swivels, slides fore and aft, and is equipped with a front bolster and folding arm-rests. This allows you to position the helm chair just so. 

Unsurprisingly, the Crest Continental is very comfortable to drive as you are nestled, and sheltered beneath the three-pane, centre-opening tempered glass windshield. 

The console, dash and fascia in our test boat featured a reasonably low glare gloss graphite/black metallic gelcoat finish with brushed aluminium billet fascia panels and accents. Both consoles were finished off with an attractive leather-look vinyl brow and side trims to match the seating throughout.

I found the tan/beige and black colours blended well with the optional non-slip Seagrass flooring used to cover the entire deck. 

The sports steering wheel is tilt-adjustable for maximum comfort, whilst the side-mounted, dual-engine Mercury binnacle throttle box sits on a platform close by. The fascia panel has space for all the required engine instruments, along with the included Garmin multi-function display, Klipsch Bluetooth audio system, and cup holders.

Other features hereabouts include driver and passenger foot-rests, a port side console glove box, sub-floor ski locker, 12V power socket, and even what is dubbed the ‘Captain’s Cooled Cup Holder’ which is a refrigerated cup holder to keep your drink cold on a warm day. 

STUNNING PERFORMANCE

The Crest Continental NX 270 SLS and similar models can be powered with single and twin four-stroke outboard engines. A 300hp V8 Mercury is recommended for single-engined craft, whilst twin rigs can accept power ranging from dual Mercury 200hp V6 engines through to a pair of giant 400hp Mercury four-strokes.

Our test boat was armed with two V8 Mercury 300hp extra-longshaft outboards to deliver absolutely remarkable performance. As noted earlier, modern pontoon craft like the Crest Continental are nothing like the sluggish barge-like boats of yesteryear.

Flying across the Gold Coast Broadwater, the twin 300hp Mercury motors thrust the big Crest Pontoon boat to a top speed of 50 knots — yes, 50 knots or nearly 93 km/h in car-speak. More remarkable however, is that the 9m length and 2.59m wide beam of this craft makes this speed feel like half that until you stick your head above the windscreen to a face-full of eye-watering wind.

With the two Mercury V8s on the transom the Crest Continental has performance everywhere. It is super-quick to plane, wonderfully responsive through the mid-range, extremely rapid at the top end - and easy to drive. The Mercury power steering is sublime, and the dual digitally operated throttles are smooth and direct.

Do you need 600hp on the transom? No, but it does make this pontoon boat very exciting to drive —although you will then need to accept a properly high fuel bill.

A pair of 200hp Mercury V6 outboards could be the best option for this boat. I reckon you’d still achieve 40 knot performance with decent mid-range poke - but would also save on purchase and fuel consumptions costs.

SMOOTH AND STABLE

With its triple pontoon (or tri-toon) hull bottom, the Crest Continental NX 270 SLS is wharf-like stable at rest and underway as well as being smooth and comfortable at speed.

In choppy bay waters there is no real need to slow down in this craft as the sharp entry shape at the tip of each of the pontoon tubes simply cuts through the waves. You do feel a patter beneath your feet as the hull rides over the chop, but it almost seems to glide across the waves at high speed, breasting the wave crests to deliver a comfortable, well balanced, sure-footed ride. 

Pontoon boats like this are not capable of carving sharp high speed turns like a deep vee ski boat, but this should be no boundary to general tow-sport activities like social wake boarding, water skiing and towing the kids about on tubes, etc.

THE WRAP

When you set out to buy a family fun boat/day cruiser, a pontoon boat is not a type of craft that immediately springs to mind with most Aussies. The Americans, however, have embraced these craft with open arms and I totally get it.

The Crest Continental NX 270 is a big, brash, bold, beast of boat, combining impressive safety and sea keeping capabilities with remarkable straight-line performance.

The Continental is also blessed with a beautifully appointed interior with soft-touch vinyl upholstered seats and interior trim topped-off with luxury touches and finishes throughout. 

Or course, all of this pontoon boat goodness adds up — luxury, dual-engined craft like this are not cheap, particularly when paired with big power outboards. Packaged with a single V8 300hp outboard, the Continental NX 270 has a starting price of $280k although it does come with a lot of standard equipment. 

With two of those Mercury V8 outboards on the transom, our test boat is priced at $345k. This figure includes several options - such as the powder-coated deck trim and rails, Seagrass flooring, Crest Saltwater Package, fender docking kit, and more. 

Facts & Figures

PRICE AS TESTED

$345,000

OPTIONS INCLUDED
Crest Saltwater package, Under-deck RGB lighting, Powder-coated deck trim, Two moveable cup holders, Crest fender docking kit, Seagrass flooring throughout, In-floor storage, Three-drawer storage unit, Upgraded ski-pole, Stainless steel rub rail insert

PRICED FROM

$280,000 (with single Mercury 300hp)

GENERAL

TYPE Pontoon boat 

MATERIAL Aluminium

LENGTH OVERALL 8.9m (29ft 2in)

BEAM 2.59m (8ft 6in)

PONTOON DIAMETER 660mm

PONTOON THICKNESS 2mm

HULL WEIGHT 2242kg

WEIGHT WITH ENGINES (DRY) 3000kg

CAPACITIES

PEOPLE 8

REC. HP 300–600hp

FUEL 456L

WATER FRESH N/A

ENGINE

MAKE/MODEL Dual Mercury
300hp Verado 

TYPE 4-Stroke 32 valve DOHC V8

WEIGHT 272kg

DISPLACEMENT 4.6L

GEAR RATIO 1.75:1

MANUFACTURED BY 

Crest Pontoon Boats

SUPPLIED BY 

Queensland Marine Centre

71 Shipper Drive, Coomera QLD 4209

P 07 5519 9035

E sales@qmc.com.au

W qmc.com.au