SUN TRACKER Boats

11/17/05
9:09 PM
Page 151
SUN
TRACKER
Party Barge 20
Springfield, Missouri
888-487-2253
The aft entry
platform leads to a
boarding ladder with
wide steps for easy access
to and from the water.
TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR
BOATINGLIFE.COM/SUNTRACKERPARTYBARGE20
An AM/FM CD player and a
huge shading Bimini top
are standard equipment.
Thick vinyl upholstery is stainresistant and looks rich.
The half-gate on the bow
closes over a trolling motor,
adding convenience when
fishing or cruising.
The wide deck’s stability and the
wheelchair accessibility of the
gates make it a great fisher for a
diverse crew.
A side benefit to the Mercury fourstroke power is the long, long range this
rig has between fill-ups. And with a motor
this quiet, nobody — not anglers, fish or
nappers — is likely to be disturbed when
it’s running. — R.V.
PERSONALITYPROFILE
Cruising
High-Performance
Hanging Out
COURTESY SUN TRACKER
S
CIRCLE #189 ON P. 187 FOR BUYING INFO
un Tracker’s first baby pontoon
was called the Bass Buggy, but its
chairs can be stowed when swimming
new model has been upsized: The
instead of fishing is on the day’s agenda.
20-foot Party Barge is the station wagon
When the chairs are in place two anglers
of family fun and fishing.
get prime casting positions for working
We liked it because most of its 20-foot
docks, shorelines or deadfalls. A side benoverall length is committed to
efit to the wide, nimble footAT A GLANCE
deck space. It has a wide
print is the shallow draft of
beam and, stepping aboard,
this boat. Sneaking into skinThe Party Barge 20 offers
we found that the boat gives
ny waters, up creek channels
comfort, solid fishing
all the stability we’d expect
or even fishing the flats on
features and plenty of
from a pontoon in spite of its
intracoastal waterways is
deck space for the family.
smaller size and lighter
within reach of this pontoon.
weight. It also has the features most famWe like the way the motor pod is
ilies will need to hang out on the lake and
welded solidly to the chassis of the boat.
maybe catch enough fish to stink up the
A 30-gallon fuel tank is integrated into the
skillet.
pod and is easily accessible, making longTwo removable bow-mounted fishing
term maintenance convenient.
JANUARY 2006
boatinglife.com
151
Multi-Purpose
Economy-Size
Value
TESTDRIVE
Test Engine: Mercury 50 EFI 4-stroke
Test Prop: 10” pitch aluminum
Test Load: People (360 lb.); Fuel (30 gal.)
TOP SPEED: 18.6 MPH @ 5,800 RPM
Time to 20 MPH: n/a
VITALSTATS
Length Overall: 21’8.5”
Beam: 8’1”
Dry Weight: 2,098 lb.
Seating/Weight Capacity: 12/1,800 lb.
Fuel Capacity: 30 gal.
Maximum HP: 115
NMMA Certified: Yes
MSRP (test boat): $13,995
Super-Size
Premium
PONTOONS
BLIFE-BBG06-082SUNTRCKPBRGEPT-151