Princecraft Ventura 222: Video Boat Review
Here's a boat that combines the space of a pontoon boat and the handling of a traditional hull.
Let's say you've been thinking about buying a pontoon boat, but you're a little apprehensive about performance and handling. Well, a deck boat might just be the ticket. A deck boat offers the space and comfort of a pontoon boat with the performance and handling of a traditional powerboat hull. One particular deck boat, the Princecraft Ventura 222, would be a great place to start your search—so we spent a day on one, putting the boat through its paces.
A particularly unique aspect of the Ventura 222 is that it is built out of tough, lightweight aluminum, which also helps keep the cost relatively low when compared to a molded fiberglass boat. There's also tons of space on deck, and this model is bent toward fishing.
Boat Test Notes
Concept:
Deliver an aluminum deck boat with the handling and performance of a v-bottom boat, but the seating and room of a pontoon boat.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Length | 22'2" |
| Beam | 8'1" |
| Draft (hull) | 2'7" |
| Deadrise | 13 degrees |
| Displacement | 2,108 lbs |
| Fuel capacity | 50 gal. |
Construction:
-Hullsides constructed of 0.1” thick 5052 H-36 aluminum; hull bottom is 0.110” thick.
-Pressure-treated wood deck, covered with marine grade carpet.
-Plastic latches should be upgraded to stainless-steel.
-High-gloss urethane paint job looks slick.
Performance:
-Speed broke 41 MPH with a 175-horsepower Mercury Verado outboard.
-Best cruise (at about 20 MPH) provides a whopping 5.0 MPG.
| Performance Data | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Test conditions: 10-knot breeze, slight chop, two people onboard. | |||
| RPM | MPH | GPH | MPG |
| 1000 | 4.7 | 0.7 | 6.7 |
| 2000 | 7.8 | 1.9 | 4.1 |
| 3000 | 19.1 | 3.8 | 5.0 |
| 4000 | 22.4 | 6.1 | 3.7 |
| 5000 | 27.4 | 11.8 | 2.3 |
| 6000 | 41.0 | 17.7 | 2.3 |
| Power | Single Mercury 175 Verado outboard swinging a three-blade 19” pitch aluminum propeller. | ||
Handling:
-Almost zero bowrise; this boat runs extremely flat.
-13-degree transom deadrise is plenty of vee for a slight lake chop.
Unique features:
-The pop-up enclosure, which hides a slide-out head, is one of a kind on a v-hull boat of this nature.
-Gobs of seat pedestals (six in all) allow you to re-arrange the seating to meet your needs.
-Pedestal table also fits into seat bases. Fishermen will probably find it just gets in the way, but family boaters may like it for picnicking.
