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Manitou 25 Legacy SHP (2014-)
1 x 300-hp Evinrude E-TEC
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Brief Summary
Clearly the days of a pontoon boat being considered as a simple platform laid across hollow tubes is long gone. And this 25 Legacy from Manitou exemplifies the type of luxury that can be had, and the bragging rights that go along with it. And while she’s among the most comfortable that Manitou builds, performance was not left off the drawing board. She’s got the company’s exclusive SHP performance package that allows for a rating of up to 300-hp.
Key Features
- Central Easy Open Sundeck Latch
- Fishfinder with GPS
- Anodized walls
- Aluminum motor mount with splash shields
- Privacy station curtain kit
- Ski tow bar
- Stern toy box
- Chaise with head and arm rests
- Large 42'' sun pad
Test Results
RPM | MPH | Knots | GPH | MPG | NMPG | STAT. MILE | NM | dBa |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
500 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 13.45 | 11.7 | 533 | 463 | 59 |
1000 | 5.3 | 4.6 | 0.79 | 6.75 | 5.87 | 267 | 232 | 67 |
1500 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 1.5 | 4.97 | 4.32 | 197 | 171 | 71 |
2000 | 9.1 | 7.9 | 2.82 | 3.23 | 2.81 | 128 | 111 | 77 |
2500 | 14.6 | 12.7 | 5.21 | 2.8 | 2.43 | 111 | 96 | 80 |
3000 | 19.3 | 16.7 | 6.95 | 2.77 | 2.41 | 110 | 95 | 79 |
3500 | 24.9 | 21.7 | 8.95 | 2.78 | 2.42 | 110 | 96 | 81 |
4000 | 30.6 | 26.6 | 12 | 2.55 | 2.22 | 101 | 88 | 86 |
4500 | 35.7 | 31 | 15.85 | 2.25 | 1.96 | 89 | 77 | 86 |
5000 | 40.4 | 35.1 | 20.2 | 2 | 1.74 | 79 | 69 | 89 |
5500 | 44.8 | 39 | 25.4 | 1.76 | 1.53 | 70 | 61 | 89 |
5700 | 46.4 | 40.3 | 25.85 | 1.79 | 1.56 | 71 | 62 | 91 |
Specifications
Length Overall | 26' 4'' / 8.03 m |
---|---|
Beam |
8' 6'' 2.6 m |
Dry Weight |
3,280 lbs. 1,487 kg |
Tested Weight |
3,850 lbs. 1,746 kg |
Draft | N/A |
Deadrise/Transom | N/A |
Max Headroom | N/A |
Bridge Clearance | N/A |
Fuel Capacity |
44 gal. 166 L |
Water Capacity | N/A |
Total Weight |
3,850 lbs. 1,746 kg |
Acceleration Times & Conditions
Time to Plane | 2.9 sec. |
---|---|
0 to 30 | 6.1 sec. |
Ratio | N/A |
Props | 17 Rebel |
Load | 2 persons, 1/2 fuel, no water, 50 lbs of gear |
Climate | 85 deg., 76 humid.; wind: 0-5 mph; seas: calm |
Engine Options
Tested Engine |
1 x 300-hp Evinrude E-TEC |
---|---|
Std. Power |
Not Available |
Opt. Power |
1 x 300-hp Evinrude E-TEC |
Warranty
Deck Warranty Extended | Limited lifetime |
---|
Mission Statement
With the Manitou 25 Legacy, it’s all about luxury. The Legacy Series offers the best of what Manitou has to offer in the way of comfort and spoiling her guests. Like all pontoon boats she is made for entertaining, but the 25 Legacy doesn’t stop there. Her innovative stern seating layout makes her ideal for sunbathing or cozy gatherings. Because of her bottom design, when powered by a 300-hp outboard she has the performance of a sportboat for towing.
Major Features
- SHP performance package
- Bimini top with sway brace
- Limited lifetime deck warranty
- Depth gauge with air and water temperature
- LED docking lights
- Comfort touch marine vinyl upholstery
- Reclining home seat with self-leveling arms
- Blue interior track lighting
- Color-matched mooring cover
- “M” style riser brackets
- Ski tow bar
- Gussi 930 steering wheel
- SeaStar hydraulic steering
Important Bottom Design
Manitou developed a tube design that provides sporty handling characteristics. It’s called SHP for Super High Performance, and it consists of three tubes, with the center one being oversized. The outer tubes measure in at 23” (58.4 cm) each while the center tube is 27” (68.6 cm). The center tube is also 5” (12.7 cm) lower than the outer tubes and this creates a pivot point for the boat to lean into the turns on.
Toon Construction.
Build quality is also a major factor. The nose cones are thicker than the rest of the tubes so they can take the impact of waves (to say nothing of docks or rocks) that much better. Additionally, they are reinforced with pressed-in stiffeners that add strength much like a bend in a sheet of paper keeps the paper from bending in the middle. Large splash guards are added to the top of the toons, and full length chines, 9” (22.9 cm) wide run down the full length of both sides of all tubes.
Performance
The Manitou 25 Legacy has a LOA of 26’4” (8.03 m) and a beam of 8’6” (2.59 m). With an empty weight of 3,280 lbs. (1,488 kg), 25 gallons (94.6 L) of fuel onboard and two people we had an estimated test weight of 3,850 lbs. (1,746 kg). With an Evinrude E-TEC 300 turning a 17 Rebel propeller, we reached a top speed of 46.4 mph at 5700 rpm. At that speed, we were burning 25.85 gph giving us a range of 71 miles.
Best cruise was determined to be at 3500 rpm and 24.9 mph. That speed reduced the fuel burn to just 8.95 gph, which translates to a range of 110 miles and an endurance of 4 hours and 24 minutes while still maintaining a 10% reserve.
TTP.
We had a time to plane of 2.9 seconds, reached 20 mph in 3.8 seconds, 30 came and went in 6.1 seconds, and we continued accelerating through 40 mph in 9.6 seconds.
Handling.
With all of her luxury, it was surprising to see that the 25 Legacy had such sporty handling. This attribute is one of the most important details that sets the Manitou 25 Legacy apart from other toons on the market.
SHP Design.
Her superb handling is the result of the SHP performance package which includes triple tubes, with the oversized center tube being 5.5” (14 cm) lower than the outer tubes. This provides a pivot point for the Legacy to lean on as she rolls into the turns.
Smoother Ride.
The two outer tubes are 23” (58.4 cm) and the center is 27” (68.6 cm). The larger center tube is key because it has the greatest buoyancy. It acts much like the keel on a conventional monohull which also has its greatest buoyancy on the centerline. This design not only helps the vessel make smooth, inward-leaning turns, but it also gives the boat a more comfortable ride in a stiff chop.
Features Inspection
Luxury is the key word with the Legacy. The seats literally ensconce the occupants in well-padded ultra-soft comfort touch marine-grade vinyl upholstery. All seats have substructures constructed from RTM plastic meaning no rot for the life of the boat. The usual accommodations for storage are underneath.
Various decking choices are offered by Manitou and full carpeting is standard. Optional choices are all low maintenance. Choose from vinyl for the entire deck, simulated teak for the rear deck or go all the way with teak for the full deck.
Comfort and Convenience
Of course, comfort and convenience are also paramount to the layout. Our test boat was fitted with an interesting array of courtesy lights, making an inviting atmosphere long after the sun goes down. Since there’s a strong likelihood that people will be swimming, they’ll also need to change. A pop-up changing room is nestled into one of the seatbacks.
New Floorplan
Manitou went with a new approach with the floorplan for the 25 Legacy and it’s a refreshing one. Previous floorplans called for a large sun pad with a changing room underneath. It was pretty limiting and made for a lot of unused space.
Now, with what it calls its SRS floorplan there’s booth style seating that converts to a chaise lounge. A small storage compartment is under the armrest, convenient for cell phones and wallets. A side-mount pedestal table converts the scene into a convenient dining area, and the entire theme is repeated to the opposite side.
Observations
Clearly the design team at Manitou met its mark when it set out to design a luxury entertainment platform with the 25 Legacy. The fact that she still manages to maintain sportboat handling is icing on the cake.