Regency Pontoons 220 LE3 Sport (2017-)

Brief Summary

The REGENCY 220 LE3 rides on three 26” powder-coated aluminum pontoons -- something we rarely see on even the most expensive toons. Natural aluminum oxidizes and is hard to keep looking new -- but not so with the powder-coating. Powered with a 200-hp Mercury Verado, she topped out at 36.2 mph, plenty fast enough for most tow sports. A full-width swim platform with simulated teak decking provides a good spot to gear up with skis and also provides easy access to the outboard, a problem on many pontoon designs.

Key Features

10+LIFE Warranty

Rail-Lock mooring cover with bow extension

3 powder-coated performance pontoon logs with lifting strakes and wave deflectors

11' color-keyed Bimini top with power-up and power-down feature, LED lights and storage pockets

Deluxe raised helm station with illuminated switches and gauges, tilt hydraulic steering and captain’s chair

Port bucket seat and plush lounge seating with lockable storage below and aft-facing lounges with lighted storage, including changing curtain in port bow lounge arm

In-console stereo with Bluetooth, USB input and dash-mounted remotes

Refreshment center with sink, pull-out sprayer and 13.5-gal. freshwater tank

Full-width swim platform with simulated teak flooring, ski tow pylon and fold-down reboarding ladder

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	25' 4'' / 7.72 m
Beam	8' 6'' 2.59 m
Dry Weight	3,440 lbs. 1,560 kg
Tested Weight	4,634 lbs. 2,102 kg
Draft	N/A
Deadrise/Transom	N/A
Max Headroom	open
Bridge Clearance	N/A
Weight Capacity	2,185 lbs. 991 kg
Person Capacity	10
Fuel Capacity	52 gal. 197 L
Total Weight	4,634 lbs. 2,102 kg

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane	N/A
0 to 30	8.1 sec.
Ratio	1.85:1
Props	1 Enertia 16" x 11" 3-bl. Ss
Load	2 persons, 4/5 fuel, no water, 50 lbs. of gear
Climate	77 deg., 23 humid.; wind: 5-17 mph; seas: choppy

Engine Options

Tested Engine	1 x 200-hp Mercury Verado 200 Pro
Std. Power	1 x 200-hp Mercury Verado Pro 4-stroke
Opt. Power	1 x 250-hp Mercury Verado Pro 4-stroke

Captain's Report Learn More
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Contents of Report

• Mission Statement
• Distinguishing Features
• Features Inspection
• Performance
• Handling
• Construction
• Price
• Warranty
• Observations

Mission Statement

The Regency 220 LE3 Sport is targeted at a family looking for an upscale pontoon boat that offers the performance of a runabout in a well-equipped complete package.

She can accommodate up to 10 passengers and features reclining aft-facing lounges, two captain’s chairs, and a power Bimini top. Power up to 250-hp is available.

Distinguishing Features

• Powder-Coating. The pontoons, fence rails, Bimini top frame, and ladder are all powder-coated. This makes the boat more attractive and improves resistance to corrosion.

• Three Color Choices. Storm Blue fencing with White rails and pontoons, Pearl White fencing with Bronze rails and pontoons, and Charcoal fencing with Black rails and pontoons.

• Aft Facing lounges. Twin lounges in the stern let passengers stretch out.

• Dual Captain’s Chairs. A second captain’s chair is new for 2017.

• Power Bimini Top. Push a button, and the 11’ (3.4m) -long top provides instant shade.

• Rear facing camera. The rear-facing camera mounted on the back of the Bimini top frame comes standard.

• Rail-Lock mooring cover. Regency has the exclusive rights to this design until 2019. A track in the underside of the bow rails secures the mooring cover without the need for snaps.

Features Inspection

The Stern. Because the aft facing lounges are new on the 220 LE3 Sport, we’re going to step aboard the boat at the stern, which has a full width swim platform that measures 8’ (2.4m) across and 1’3” (.38m) fore to aft. To starboard, there’s a four-step ladder built from the same substantial rails as the Bimini top. Fold-up cleats in each aft corner tuck out of the way when not needed, and there’s a socket ahead of the outboard for the heavy-duty aluminum ski tow pylon.

Best Seats On Board. A 1’7” (.48m) -wide stainless steel gate opens inboard, so passengers can step into the 220 LE3 Sport’s aft cockpit. On each side, there are aft-facing chaise-style lounges that are thickly padded and recline at a comfortable angle. We measured space between the lounges at 1’11” (.58m). There is a lighted speaker and cup holder plus a 12-volt power plug on each side. A portable table can be inserted into a socket in the aft deck. To keep passengers secure, stainless-steel rails that extend 8” (20.3cm) above the cushions wraparound to the aforementioned gate.

Rear Storage. The bottom cushions on each side open on scissor-style hinges that hold up the pad. The batteries are under the bottom cushion to port while the starboard side is open. The hinged middle and upper cushions also open to provide storage access, but need to be held up.

The Bimini Top. Raising an 11’ (3.4m) - long Bimini top by hand isn’t easy, so Regency made sure passengers don’t have to. Pushing a button at the dash raises the 220 LE3 Sport’s Bimini top quickly and efficiently. If required to get under a low bridge, it lowers just as easily. An aft-facing camera is installed on aft side of the rear rail in the frame, and the images can be seen on the Lowrance HDS7 screen at the helm.

Two Is Better Than One. Moving forward from the aft lounges, there are two captains’ chairs amidships. Each one has folding armrests, and they swivel, adjust fore and aft, and recline. Outboard of the port seat, the boarding gate opens inward and secures with a magnetic latch. Forward of the port captain’s chair, a changing curtain folds out from the aft side of the bow lounge.

The Helm. The 220 LE3 Sport’s entire helm is raised off the deck to ensure that the captain has an unobstructed view when driving the boat. For added comfort, there is angled footrest covered in synthetic teak. The dash has multi-function SmartCraft gauges on each side of the Lowrance HDS7 fishfinder/chartplotter. The helm has two cup holders, a cell phone holder with a 12-volt plug nearby, a remote control for the stereo, and push button-style accessory switches. The digital controls are positioned so that the driver can use the armrest on the captain’s chair. Forward in the base, there is a locking glove box.

Cockpit Storage. Moving forward into the 220 LE3 Sport’s bow, a hatch in the base of the helm console opens a large locker where we also found the stereo. Just below, a plastic hatch opens on a gas strut to reveal a locker in the center pontoon that has more than enough space for boards and skis.

The Bow. Forward, each bow lounge measures 4’8” (1.4m) long and 1’10 ½” (.57m) deep with comfortably reclined backrests. Down low at the forward end, there are speakers and cup holders with LED lights on each side. The bottom cushions on each side are hinged and open to reveal lockers in the seat base. When closed, they lock in place. The 1’9” (.58m) -wide bow gate opens to a small platform that is 8’ (2.4) wide and 1’3” (.38m) deep and has foldup cleats on each corner. Custom fixtures on each side of the bow fence house LED navigation, docking, and accent lights.

Performance

The Pontoons. The 220 LE3 Sport’s pontoons are 26” (66cm) in diameter, and they all have lifting strakes and keels welded in place to improve performance and handling. The middle pontoon doesn’t extend as far forward as the outboard sponsons, which have heavy-duty wave deflectors. Additionally, on the aft end of the middle pontoon, the center pod contains the fuel system and positions the motor farther aft.

The Numbers. We tested the 220 LE3 Sport with a 200-hp Mercury Verado Pro 4-stroke outboard. With two people on board, a full tank of fuel and test equipment, our boat weighed an estimated 4,634 pounds (2,102 kg). The engine had a 1.85:1 gear ratio and turned an Enertia 16” x 11” (40.6cm x 27.9cm) three-blade stainless-steel propeller.

Our test boat ran a top speed of 36.2 mph (31.5 knots) at 6200 rpm, and we found best cruise at 3000 rpm. The 220 LE3 Sport ran 13.1 mph (11.4 knots) and burned 4.1 gph (15.5 lph), which translates to 3.2 mpg (1.36kpl). This gives her a range of 150 statute miles (130 nm) with 10 percent of the boat’s 52-gallon (196.8-liter) fuel capacity in reserve. In acceleration tests, we hit 20 mph (17.4 knots) in 4.8 seconds and to 30 mph (26.1 knots) in 8.1 seconds.

Handling

In turns, the 220 LE3 Sport felt, well, sporty. She leaned into the turns and came around in a tight radius in each direction. When we crossed the wakes of our photo boat, she responded to changes in course quickly, and her sharp bows cut through the waves with ease.

Construction

The 220 LE3 Sport is built with multiple chambers in pontoons that are formed out of 0.100” thick 5052 marine alloy. The deck is formed out of 7-ply pressure-treated wood that has a lifetime warranty, and it attaches to the pontoons with full-width heavy-duty Z-bar supports that bolt to extruded M-brackets. The side fences are installed with vibration-deadening insulation, and all furniture is built with rotomolded plastic that won’t rot. The box-beam transom is all aluminum for strength and durability. To protect the boat from run-ins with the dock, the heavy-duty rubrail is powder-coated and has heavy-duty corner castings.

Price

$56,995 with a Mercury 200 L Verado Pro 4-Stroke outboard.

Warranty

10+ Life warranty.

Observations

The Regency 220 LE3 Sport is a do-everything pontoon that should appeal to a family that enjoys a variety of activities on the water. With the 200-hp Verado outboard, she has the power and performance to handle watersports towing duties and at 25’4” long, she’s big enough to handle less-than-ideal conditions when unexpected winds pick up.

The powder-coated pontoons, side rails, and Bimini top frame most certainly give the boat the upscale feel that the manufacturer is looking to portray, as do the plush multi-textured upholstery.

The comfortable aft-facing cushions will no doubt become the most sought-after seats aboard and the forward open concept enhances the boat’s versatility.