INDEPENDENT BOAT TEST RESULTS

Sanpan 2500LE

Reprinted from "Go Boating" April 2000 by Go Boating Test Team

Sanpan 2500LE Party on the Patio

The Sanpan 2500LE has all the comforts of an open-air living room. Spacious, carpeted, well-upholstered and built for fun in the sun, the Sanpan 2500LE is made for families who love the water but enjoy all the comforts of home. In its 25 foot length, this new pontoon boat built by Godfrey Marine offers a surprising array of amenities. And with three lounge worthy seats with chaise recliners built in the 2500LE is a very comfortable machine to go cruising aboard. Godfrey Marine has a wealth of experience building high-quality pontoon toon boats, having produced the Sanpan line since 1958. The 2500LE Sanpan's top of the line model for 2000  is the culmination of all that boat building know-how. Whatever you're looking for in a family pontoon  boat, the 2500LE probably has it - and you can choose from four available seating layouts that accommodate modate up to 18 people aboard. In the Driver's Seat We tested the Sanpan 2500LE on the St. Joseph's River in South Bend, Indiana. While pontoon boats are designed for maximum comfort, not maximum speed, our 2500LE turned in a remarkably peppy performance. With a 210 hp MerCruiser 4.3 liter EFI stem drive, our top speed was 36 mph, and we cruised at around 21 mph. Other power options are also available, up to a 155 hp outboard and a 210 hp stem drive. We could have gone water-skiing behind the 2500LE if we had wanted to and there's an optional stem mounted tow bar available for people who want to do just that. Most owners, however, will enjoy slower-paced cruising while they soak up the sunshine of the wide open deck or unfurl the standard convertible canvas top to have their cruise made in the shade. From the Sanpan 2500LE's exclusive new seven-way adjustable captain's seat, the skipper gets a great view and an incredible feeling of comfort. With its high tech, incontrol styling, this designer crafted chair would look at home in an executive board room or even on the Starship Enterprise. The helm seat is upholstered in soft, leather like vinyl and offers a swivel, a slider, a tilt and adjustable arms, to help you maintain the most comfortable position at the helm. Plus, it has full lumbar support, a vented back and a built-in, adjustable headrest. The helm console is equally well equipped, with a full complement of instrumentation built by VDO - the same company that makes the instruments for Mercedes Benz automobiles. The main instrument pod is positioned for maximum readability, right above the stainless steel-trimmed, tilting captain's wheel. Gauges monitor every crucial function displaying speed, rpm levels, trim, battery and fuel levels, time, water depth, trip length, engine hours and even water temperature. Conveniently placed rocker switches, a 12v power outlet, an easily accessible electrical panel, single-lever controls and a master power switch round out the helm - and attractive options indude a weather protected Sony CD stereo system, a compass and an LCD graphing fish finder. On the other side of the helm station's quick release windshield, there's a built-in fiberglass sink with an optional hand pumped 2.5 gallon water supply adjacent to the bow seating area. A waste receptacle is also provided, for easy onboard cleanups. Lounging Around It's easy to get comfortable aboard the 2500LE. Forward of the helm, on each side of the boat, you'll find gate type doors for easy boarding. They open inward, making them safer for use when boating with children. Up front, as many as six people can be seated or two can lie back and relax - on a pair of cushiony bow chaise lounges. Instead of heing built with two straight-up-and-down sides (or no sides, as on some boats) these settees offer the perfect amount of support with just the right angle of redine on one side, for sunbathing. If you prefer, one of these lounges can be replaced with an optional pair of swiveling bucket seats with a snack table in between. At the front of the boat, a centered opening gate leads to a bow deck with room for anglers to cast their lines, and for easy boarding after a swim or a ski run. A pair of fiberglass modules containing docking and navigation lights is built in on each side, making it easier to find your way home after dark. Adjacent to the helm console, there's an expansive, upholstered L-shaped seating area with removable combination arm rest/drink holder modules. A chaise lounge is built into the forward end, and the comer is adjacent to an Alpha Stone snack table (topped by a material similar to Corian). There's a wide, padded shelf just behind the lounge. Built to Last The Sanpan 2500LE's beauty is not just skin deep. Look under the deck, under the pontoons and along its metal surfaces, and this boat's quality construction is easy to see. F-shaped metal channels support the deck over its entire width and pontoon decks are securely fastened with one inch stainless steel elevator bolts, for the ultimate in construction integrity. Rails are crafted of 1.25 inch diameter heavy duty aluminum and are built into a noise free rail system, insulated with rail skin tape. This assures a quiet ride without squeaks or rattles. All the 2500LE's upholstery is made by Godfrey, in its own plant. The company uses heavy 30 ounce vinyl (instead of the average 24 ounce material used on most boats) and utilizes automatic cutting technology for precise fit and finish. The material is designed to expand when someone sits or steps on it, to guard against scuffing and puddling. Pema Life seat bases are standard equipment, for easy cleaning and maintenance. A built-in water management system keeps storage areas dry. Godfrey covers its pontoons, rails and gates with a full 20 year warranty against weld failures; and every Godfrey boat carries a five-year structural warranty. The vinyl and marinegrade carpeting carry a three-year warranty; and the deck has a lifetime warranty against rot or decay. If you need a boat that can handle a crowd and cruising comfort is important to you Godfrey Marine's Sanpan 2500LE will make you very happy. With this giant size lake lounge, you'll always be tanned, rested and ready for another great weekend on the water.

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