The Grand Mariner 250 is ideal for all manner of inshore water sports, combining excellent performance with a smooth, stable ride from its triple pontoon (tritoon) aluminium hull.
Cruise, ski, explore and entertain friends and family aboard the luxuriously appointed Harris Grand Mariner 250 pontoon boat.
For this review, we’ve snaffled a Grand Mariner 250 with the SLEC interior layout, and paired with a Mercury 300hp V8 four-stroke outboard.
Overview
Harris Boats is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of luxury pontoon boats.
In the modern Harris pontoon boat range, there are 20 or so boats to choose from – with varying fit-out levels and degrees of luxury.
For the ultimate in both luxury and performance, Harris Boats has the range-topping Crowne 250SL triple hull pontoon boat with its distinctive fibreglass exterior deck fencing.
For this review though, we have scored the Harris Grand Mariner 250 – one of three Grand Mariner models.
The Grand Mariners are on par with the Harris Crowne with regard to features and fit-out, but have aluminium side fencing with sculptured fibreglass panels at the bow.
Price and equipment
The Harris Grand Mariners are well appointed – features include an overhead bimini; deluxe, soft-touch upholstered seating and lounging areas throughout the boat; a cool, capsule-like moulded fibreglass helm station with a Simrad multi-function display; sea-grass vinyl flooring; three entry gates, along with ample storage and deck space.
Gold Coast dealer, Queensland Marine Centre, has Grand Mariner 250 package prices starting from $235,000 when ordered with the standard SL interior package.
An engine is not included in the price, as this model is available with a dozen or so Mercury four-stroke outboards – from 90hp right through to 500hp.
Our test boat was rigged with a number of options and is available to buy for a once-only rebated price of $370k. Subsequent models will cost $397k.
Test boat upgrades include a 300hp V8 Mercury outboard; electric (key-fob) operated targa-arch with double bimini top and accent lighting; exterior fence powder-coated black-out package; deluxe SLEC interior layout package; rear ladder; ski bar and the tech package 2 – which adds a second Simrad NSX9 display, C-Zone switching system, JL Platinum sound system, and a coloured interior/exterior lighting package.
Design
The Grand Mariner 250 is 2.59m wide and well over 8.0m long – so there is ample play, party and walkabout deck space.
The deck is also covered over with a sea-grass patterned vinyl flooring to provide excellent grip underfoot in the wet and dry.
Aluminium side fencing with a height of 700mm surrounds the top deck to keep youngsters (and grown-ups) safely inside the boat.
Boarding gates at the bow and the stern – as well as amidships on the port side, provide entry into the boat from the dock.
At the stern, there is a telescopic boarding ladder for swimmers and off-the-beach applications.
Choose your layout
The Grand Mariner 250 is available with several different interior layouts – ranging from the standard SL model and then stepping to the SLDH, CWDH and through to the deluxe SLEC internal configuration as tested.
The major feature of the SLEC model is the addition of a port side entertainment centre that’s equipped with a fridge, Corian countertop, storage bins, and cup holders.
Further forward, past the port side entry gate there is comfortable lounge seating all the way to the bow – on both sides of the boat.
The Grand Mariner does not have a defined anchorwell – but there is space for an anchor and rode in one of the six forward roto-moulded plastic storage bins.
As you might expect, the forward seating is sumptuously comfortable and luxurious.
There’s a forward-facing chase lounge on each side, complete with a fold-out armrest and wonderfully soft and comfortable backrest padding.
Up at the bow, the lounge seating curls or wraps around the front fibreglass fencing before butting up against the stainless steel front entry gate.
A sub-floor storage compartment provides extra space for fenders, ropes, etc.
Helm and hardtop/tower
Several bimini options are available with the Harris Grand Mariner.
Our test boat was optioned with an electric folding targa/tower and double bimini above the helm console and aft seating area.
The helm station itself is sophisticated – and properly luxurious.
The skipper is seated in a wide, comfortable, double-diamond stitched pedestal bucket Captain’s chair with armrests that is pedestal mounted on a moulded fibreglass platform.
The helm chair swivels 360 degrees, but also slides forward so you can tuck your legs under the dash – car like – so that the steering wheel and throttle fall perfectly to hand.
From this forward position, it is easy to view the dual Simrad multi-function displays that are nestled within the black/charcoal-coloured fascia panel with soft-touch surrounding vinyl trim.
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Cockpit seating and sunpad
In the rear cockpit there is an L-shaped lounge seat on the port side which wraps back across the transom. Behind that, there is a massive sunpad which you could use as a double-bed to sleep out under the stars on a balmy night.
The sunpad can also be reconfigured into a three-person chaise lounge that faces forward – or faces aft so you can watch swimmers frolicking behind the boat at anchor.
Large storage bins are located beneath the aft seats and sunpad.
Other features include multiple cup/drink holders and charging ports, transom cooler, more JL stereo speakers – and swathes of that beautiful soft-touch chestnut brown vinyl upholstery and deck trim.
On the water
Big pontoon boats like the Harris Grand Mariner 250 are very easy to drive and pretty much bulletproof in inshore waters – lakes, bays, harbours and impoundments.
Point it in the direction you want to go and the Harris will hold its course without any real need for throttle or helm adjustments.
Our test boat was equipped with the standard Harris RPM 325 tritoon hull which includes a central 686mm (27-inch) tube flanked by two 635mm (25-inch) pontoon tubes, each with reinforced nose cones as well as inner and outer lifting strakes for fast planing.
Through the chop, the aluminium tritoon hull is very soft riding, even when running at 30 knot plus speeds.
The hull is also well balanced and wharf-like stable.
Through the corners, the Harris has a slightly inward lean which is reassuring for most boaters accustomed to a regular monohull – many pontoon boats actually lean outward.
Paired with the Mercury V8 300hp outboard, the Grand Mariner is quick too – accelerating to a top speed of 41 knots (75.8 km/h).