SunChaser Geneva 24 LR DH Review

The all-new SunChaser Geneva 24 LR DH is a versatile pontoon that offers comfortable amenities and unbeatable value.

There are a lot of companies building pontoon boats today, but when it comes to delivering value for the dollar few builders can match the reputation of New Paris, Indiana-based SunChaser Boats. The company has built a loyal following of customers across North America by building well-made, no-nonsense boats that are known for their versatility and build quality.

New for the 2018 season, SunChaser has introduced an all-new line of pontoons from 20 to 24 feet called the Geneva series. Built with premium upholstery and more upscale features, the Geneva models fill a void in the lineup between the top-of-the-line Eclipse models and SunChaser’s popular Oasis pontoons. Perhaps the most appealing models in the new lineup is the 24-foot SunChaser Geneva 24 LR DH, which seats up to 14 people in a familiar, inviting layout with matching bow and stern twin lounge seats and dual helm buckets.

The Geneva’s interior layout features twin loungers in the bow and stern, with dual Captain’s chairs amidships.

Step aboard through one of three wide entrance gates, located at the bow, stern, or amidships on the port side, and there’s no need to climb over anything or negotiate any stairs. Both the bow and stern each have wide swim platforms that allow easy dockside boarding should the boat be moored starboard-side in. The standard flooring is plush 22-ounce marine carpet with fast-drying vinyl on the rear platform, which makes a sensible arrangement – the carpeting feels great under bare feet, while the vinyl in the stern gives swimmers a fast-drying place to towel off after a dip. Additional flooring options, such as Sea Weave or faux teak, are also available as fast-drying alternatives to the standard carpet.

The upscale furniture features nice upholstery work, with stereo speakers and cup holders integrated right into the seats.

The bow and stern lounge seats are essentially identical, with new upholstery for 2018 which provides a nice balance of plush comfort with firm support. You’ll find beverage holders recessed into the seats here and there keeping cold drinks always within reach, and stereo speakers in the seat bases both front and aft. Look closely at the seats and you’ll spot the extra door on the aft face of the portside bow seat, which opens to reveal a pop-up privacy enclosure for changing out of wet swimwear. Each of the loungers allow equally comfortable seating whether passengers are facing forward, facing aft, or facing inward, which is something you don’t find on many other boats. Each of the seat cushions lifts to allow access to storage compartments in the seat bases. A removable fiberglass table with integral cup holders can be positioned between the aft seats to create an attractive lunch spot that’s fully shaded by the SunChaser Geneva 24 LR DH’s standard Bimini top, providing a welcome escape from the mid-day sun.

Captain’s chairs with fold-down arm rests for the driver and navigator are extremely comfortable. The passenger seat gets a small console with a beverage holder and a cargo net for securing small items like books or iPads.

The driver and co-pilot ride on comfortable, reclining bucket seats with fold-down arm rests. Both seats swivel, allowing them to be turned so the occupant can be part of the conversation, while the driver’s seat also slides automotive-style, allowing it to be adjusted for drivers of different heights. Both seats have an adjacent side console with a beverage holder to keep cold drinks close at hand.

The helm of the SunChaser Geneva 24 LR DH itself is a nicely styled fiberglass console with a small but efficient windshield. Standard Faria gauges – a speedometer, tach, fuel gauge and volt meter – use a classic black-on-white design for clarity, and are cosmetically enhanced by light chrome bezels. There’s also a standard Jensen MS3A stereo, which can be upgraded to a Kicker KMC 10 unit if desired. A side door on the console provides access to yet another storage closet, giving this boat an impressive amount of stowage capacity.

The attractive helm console is topped by a small but surprisingly effective windshield.

The extended rear swim platform deserves special mention, first for its sturdy, retractable boarding ladder, and second for being deep enough that adults can comfortably sit here and enjoy the sun.

The large aft swim platform includes a robust, retractable boarding ladder.

Available add-ons include a number of performance tube options, including a Tri-toon with lifting strakes and a performance shield. The performance package  greatly enhances this boat’s get-up-and-go, while raising its maximum horsepower rating from 175 to 300 ponies. But even in its base version, the SunChaser Geneva 24 LR DH offers plenty of smiles per mile, even when equipped with a fuel-sipping 150. Our review boat was rigged with a Mercury 150 Four-Stroke, a lightweight, inline four-cylinder that’s known for its solid performance and exceptional fuel efficiency. With a half tank of fuel and two people aboard, the big SunChaser went from a dead stop to 30 mph is a little over seven seconds, and rapidly came to a top speed of about 40 mph at wide-open throttle. That’s respectable performance for a small runabout, much less a fully equipped pontoon that seats 14 people!

With a 150-horsepower outboard the big Geneva still hit a respectable 40 mph at wide-open throttle. An optional Tri-toon package supports engines of up to 300 horsepower for performance buffs.

SunChaser enjoys a strong reputation for its comfortable, enjoyable pontoon boats. But the all-new Geneva 24 LR DH raises the bar, representing not only an all-new level of comfort, but an even greater level of value.