Premier 250 S-Series

When a runabout became a pontoon.

by Mike Menne

By now we have all experienced the pontoon craze.

Over the past few years, pontoon manufacturers have upped their game in quality, comfort and innovation. Performance pontoons have quickly become the top choice for boats on bodies of water both big and small. Features such as triple-tube packages, 10-foot-wide decks and twin engines have allowed pontoons to adapt for use on a variety of waterways. Innovations in the pontoon industry have also allowed boaters to consolidate their boating essentials into a single boat. If you are looking for a pontoon that can do it all, look no further than Premier’s 250 S-Series.

The S-Series is not a new model; Premier has been refining the layout for almost 10 years now. It combines the best features that consumers enjoy in pontoons with the performance and windscreen protection of a fiberglass runabout. The concept is simple: Combine the full wrap of a sportboat windshield on the chassis of a pontoon. It sounds easy, but engineers at Premier needed two years of R&D before making this concept a reality in 2008. New custom helms and fiberglass molds were integral in the design. To achieve this concept, Premier’s engineers had to create unique fiberglass molds for the new helms and design a custom glass windshield. The result is a dual helm layout that is now popular on large bodies of water and in cool climates.

Leader in innovation

Premier is always one step ahead. This luxury pontoon manufacturer always introduces new, innovative features to the market, sometimes ahead of their time. The S-Series is no exception. Other manufacturers have recently introduced similar models, proving that a combo pontoon runabout has demand within the industry.

“We saw a need to design a boat that protected our customers from the wind and elements,” says Premier’s long-time engineer John Deurr. “The dual windshield concept came from my experience designing Larson sport boats; I knew it would be a success in the pontoon industry.”

The S-Series — also available in the 270 configuration — comes standard as an 8-foot, 6-inch beam. Premier’s design also allows customers to opt for the popular 10-foot-wide deck, giving boaters more space on-board to entertain and cruise in comfort. The windshield was designed to keep passengers behind the helm, protected from the wind and other on-water elements. The windshield is ideal for cool evenings or for boaters who want to cruise at higher speeds. For those of us in northern climates, the windshield helps extend the boating season on both ends.

Premier performance

The S-Series is standard with Premier’s popular PTX triple tube package; it gives the boat more flotation and is the perfect platform to support the dual helms and its full wrap windshield. Speeds in excess of 50 mph are possible when properly equipped, although we found the boat very pleasant to run in the 30 mph range while cruising long distances. The PTX triple tube provides a quiet ride that is stable and absorbs the impact of rough water and other boat chop. The ride is superior to that of most small runabouts. Watersports enthusiasts will also enjoy the performance for any on-water activity, including skiing, tubing and wakeboarding.

Features for 2017 include an option for Premier’s new Opulent Deluxe furniture, featuring the softest Heritage marine fabric in the industry; this material makes this pontoon more yacht-like than your traditional pontoon. The dual Liberty helms have also been redesigned for 2017 with Premier’s Beacon 2 in-dash, touch-screen display. This 17-inch-wide color touch-screen gives the captain quick access to all of the gauges and controls, including audio and video. One of my favorite features on our test boat was the optional built-in rearview camera. It gives you on-screen access to what is happening behind the boat and is perfect for watching waterskiers as a spotters’ camera. We also found it useful while anchored to watch the kids swim off the back. The 250 layout with PTX package accommodates 18 passengers, making the model a favorite for boaters who want to entertain the whole family plus friends.

It’s the little things…

The look of the S-Series goes far beyond the windshield. Premier incorporated its new for 2016 Duro rails and custom SS graphics. The new shape gives the S-Series a standout look.

A single 250 Mercury Verado powered our test boat. The new auto trim feature worked well and is a must for boaters who want ease of operation. Other popular power options include Premier twin and triple engine applications for the highest performance. The triple engine feature was new for Premier in 2016 and another one of the company’s industry-first innovations on a production pontoon boat.

Standard features that we found throughout were high-end components like a new tow bar, full Seagrass flooring and even a refrigerated cup holder at the helm for the driver. It’s the little things that make boating a simple pleasure. Premier has refined the S-Series to be one of the most comfortable boats on the water. The 250 S-Series is a great performance boat and handles the water of bigger lakes and rivers well.

“Any boater enjoys a comfortable boating experience on the water and the S-Series is just that,” says Premier’s president, Lori Melbostad. “This model gives boaters the features of a boat, a pontoon and a runabout in a single package.”

As you enter into spring and have time to see new 2017 products at boat shows, take a look at the 2017 Premier S-Series. It has become a hybrid that is popular in the industry. Premier’s products continue to innovate and push the level of what boaters thought was possible with traditional pontoon boats. If you’re a boater looking to combine the benefits of multiple boats into a single package, this could be your next boat. If you’re looking for a boat that allows you some of the comforts that are only found in a traditional runabout, the new S-Series is for you. If you’re looking for something else, chances are Premier builds it as one of their unique 2017 models.