Crest Conquest 220 SE Cruise

• Four exterior colors including black, silver, admiral, or cabernet
• Two tube chassis w/25” tubes
• 26” helm chair
• Soft touch upholstery
• Bluetooth stereo w/four 6/5” speakers
• Powder coated rails and Bimini supports
• Aft stainless telescoping ladder 
• Fiberglass helm
• L-shape interior seating w/rear facing bench
• Amidships Bimini
• Gray Sea Grass flooring in blended or tan blended tweed
• Mechanical steering

• Mooring cover w/snaps
• Premium tube and ski tow bar
• Rub rail deck trim
• Privacy curtain and frame
• Removable cup holders
• Removable oval table
• Three tubes
• Mercury, Suzuki, or Yamaha outboard power up to 115-hp
• Electric power assist XPA steering
• Lowrance Eagle 5” screen

The Crest Conquest 220SE offers seating opportunities to fit any day out on the water. Whether it be leisurely day cruising, dock and dining, engaging in water sports such as tubing or water skiing, or spending family time at the sand bar, her platform will easily accommodate all those needs.

A Look at Construction

The importance of sturdy construction is paramount with any boat and aboard the Crest Conquest 22SE, this aspect of its ability to provide a safe and reliable platform is central to the company’s almost 70 year history and is built into every boat that leaves the factory. Attention to detail, welding techniques for strength, and a durable, long lasting structure enables this pontoon to last.

As we found out during our test day, a day out aboard a Crest Conquest 22SE is a fun event no matter what kind of on-water experience you are seeking. With her maximum optimum power provided by an optional single 115-hp, excitement underway comes standard.

Our test day saw the wind between 5-10 knots, with an air temperature of 62° and relative humidity at 55%. We had two passengers aboard with 90% of the boat’s 28 gallon fuel capacity in the tank. Our Crest Conquest 22SE was powered by an optional 115-hp Suzuki outboard equipped with a 15 ¼ x 19 stainless Watergrip prop.

We found our top speed registered at 39.0 mph turning 6000 rpm. Our test boat was also equipped with optional XPA electric power assist steering which gave us sparkling control and quick response to the helm. Docking was also made easy with this feature. 

Backed by a company with nearly 70 years of boat building quality, the Crest Conquest 22SE possesses all the right stuff for enjoying a day out on the water whether for leisurely cruising, having fun with various water sports such as tubing or water skiing, or visiting the sand bar for lunch and swimming. She provides superior, hand built construction techniques, a stable platform with plenty of comfortable seating and storage space, is easy to drive, and with a long list of standard and optional equipment, is everything you may be looking for in a pontoon boat. 

REMEMBER, LIFE IS BETTER ON A BOAT!

Experts and Boat Owners

What has set BoatTEST apart from the many video-makers currently on the Internet and Social Media is the fact that for 26 years, only USCG-Licensed captains and experienced boat owners have tested and written our reports and made our videos. We believe that to provide boat owners the information they deserve, only other boat owners – who know the challenges of ownership -- can accurately report on it.  It is that level of expertise and ownership experience that goes into every video and Captain’s Report that we publish.  Because we know what it is like owning and operating a boat, we can pass-on the information that prospective boat buyers need to know.

Capt. Trip Smith

Capt. Trip Smith holds a USCG 100-Ton license and has 22 years of experience navigating various types of boats, such as center consoles, runabouts, wake boats, and cruisers. He now owns a 22’ C-Dory. At 36 years old, he is living the dream of escaping the typical 9 to 5 job and has become a popular boat adventure video creator with over 75,000 YouTube subscribers. Capt. Trip Smith's expertise is evident in his 434 videos, where he shares his experiences spearfishing, collecting scallops, cooking fresh grouper on his boat’s grill, and planning his next adventure. Capt. Trip has an impressive background as a firefighter, outboard engine mechanic, boat rigger, fiberglass repair and restoration expert, and kayak safety teacher. 

Capt. Ken Kreisler

Capt. Ken Kreisler is a well-known figure in the marine industry, with extensive experience testing boats for major boating magazines. He has held USCG 100-Ton License for 40 years and has served as a delivery and charter fishboat captain, project manager for two small passenger ferry catamarans, making sure every details met USCG build standards. Capt. Ken is an accomplished writer, having received several BWI awards and the John Burroughs Association certificate of commendation for his children's book, "NATURE SPY," published by Macmillan. He resides with his family on the Shrewsbury River in Monmouth Beach, NJ, where he enjoys boating on his 24-foot Grady White Explorer.

Overview

The reviewer frames the market context: there are hundreds of pontoon models available from over 40 brands, ranging from poorly built and cheap to over $100,000. His assessment of the Crest Conquest 22 SE: "What we have discovered is what we think is one of the best-built tritoons on the water for a remarkably good price."

This is Crest's first tritoon in their SE line. The builder offers a lifetime warranty on the structure and a 10-year limited warranty on components. Crest's stated design goal was a quality pontoon boat at an affordable price without sacrificing performance, drawing on nearly 70 years of in-house production experience.

Hull / Pontoon Construction

Lifting strakes: Full-length along the pontoons. Reviewer's assessment: "These full-length strakes are what gets the boat on plane and gives it such good performance, and the longer, the better."

Pontoon placement: Reviewer states this is the product of computer modeling and extensive testing by Crest to optimize performance and ride.

Nose cone features: Spray fins, plus an "M bracket" extending the full length of the nose cone. Reviewer's assessment: "This is a very important structural element that I don't always see."

WEBB chassis: Crest's term for "Welded Extruded Box Beam" — box beams located underneath the deck, described as providing structural rigidity and torsional strength. The reviewer noted these beams extend to the edge of the deck trim, which he stated is important for impact resistance: "Let's say you're coming into the dock a little too fast and you nudge one of the pylons or something. You really want a lot of strength out here."

Aluminum skin: Fitted underneath the deck, running the full length of the boat.

Rigging: Protected behind aluminum sheathing at the transom, described by the reviewer as done "very cleanly."

Specifications (Test Boat)

• Length overall: 23 feet, 5 inches
• Beam: 8 feet, 6 inches
• Test weight: 3,220 pounds, with 90% of the 28-gallon fuel capacity aboard and two passengers
• Engine: single 150 horsepower Suzuki outboard
• Propeller: 15.5 x 19-inch WaterGrip
• Gear ratio: 2.5:1 — noted by the reviewer as greater than most 150 hp outboards, delivering more torque to the prop for improved performance under load

Performance Numbers

• Top speed: 39 mph at 6,000 RPM

Reviewer's assessment: "I think that's plenty of power for this boat. We're moving along at quite a clip, really faster than I need to go on a pontoon boat in a typical situation, especially with guests on board. And the boat's actually a little sporty."

Steering System

Dometic XPA electric steering. Reviewer's assessment: "It makes this wheel really easy to spin, easier than a hydraulic steering system. And so with that on here, as you're cutting and ripping and playing a little bit, you can do it quickly, and you really feel the sportiness of the boat." He also noted a docking benefit: "You can quickly spin the wheel around and get the boat right where you need it."

Deck

Constructed of three-quarter-inch marine plywood with a glued-on woven flooring. Reviewer's assessment: "It's a good quality product that's going to be easy to clean. That's very important."

Fencing / Railing Construction

The railing frame is a single piece — notched and bent rather than joined with a butt joint, cap, or other fastening method. Reviewer's assessment: "So this is one solid piece. So as you round over the corners, it's really elegant and classy."

Door Hinges

Nearly full-length piano hinges used on all doors.

Panel Gasketing

Panels inset into the railing use a gasket/butyl material between them. Reviewer's stated purpose: "So they're not rattling when you're underway, or if someone bangs against something, everything is sound."

Bimini Top

Uses square tubing with a proprietary in-house powder coat finish. Reviewer noted Crest does nearly all fabrication in-house, including a proprietary powder-coating formula intended to improve resilience. Locking stainless steel fasteners secure the bimini to the railing.

Seating Construction (Under-Seat Inspection)

• Frame: Aluminum, adding strength and increasing available under-seat storage room
• Speaker wiring: Routed underneath the deck, concealed beneath the aluminum skin noted earlier
• Fastener finish: No visible staples or fasteners underneath — all concealed by piping
• Seat foam: Two different thicknesses used, with additional padding under the leg area; covered in soft-touch vinyl
• Storage: Present under all seats, continuing forward on both port and starboard sides
• Split-seat design: Allows access to under-seat storage while guests remain seated
• Additional storage: Behind the layback backrest of one of three layback loungers

Reviewer's framing of the lounger design: "We are on a pontoon boat after all, and this is what you're going to want to do when you're on a pontoon boat is lounge. Note that the backrests are at a comfortable height, and there's plenty of foam padding, so you're snug and safe while you're on board underway."

Upholstery: Two-tone with textured lower panels; embroidered Crest logo included.

Port-Side Storage (Near Midship Boarding Gate)

A gas-strut-supported storage lid, suited to a soft cooler or towel bag. Reviewer explained the reason for gas-strut mounting: this location can be optioned with a privacy curtain, creating a private changing area.

Console

Constructed as a single solid piece of fiberglass.

Electronics/equipment (test boat, as optioned):

• Optional Lowrance Eagle 5 chartplotter, noted by the reviewer as useful on larger waterways
• GPS-based speedometer
• Trim and fuel gauges
• RPM gauge with engine hours readout
• Bluetooth Fusion audio head unit, with a small storage cubby underneath
• Steering wheel with embossed Crest logo, push-button controls
• USB-A and USB-C charging ports
• Suzuki binnacle, matching the 150 hp Suzuki outboard
• Storage under the armrest
• 12-volt cigarette lighter plug behind the armrest

Helm Seat

Fitted with armrests on each side, adjustable fore and aft. Reviewer noted an additional function: "If I lean it forward just a little bit, I can spin it and then recline it. And now I'm engaged in the conversation zone with all of my guests that are on board."

Aft Deck

Sized to accommodate water sports activity, with an optional tow bar. A "pretty beefy" swim ladder is fitted. An aft-facing seat with underneath storage is positioned for sunset viewing or watching activity at a sandbar.

Ride Quality / Structural Rigidity (Return to Dock)

Reviewer's assessment upon returning to the dock: "We just noticed that there's no rattles. Everything feels secure. The boat's not flexing or doing anything crazy. This is just a sign of a well-built boat, and that's what you want on a pontoon boat that you want to be comfortable to cruise on for long extended periods and when you have your family on board."