SunChaser Vista 18 Fish Review

The new SunChaser Vista 18 Fish is a versatile and affordable pontoon sure to appeal to families who want it all.

While it can be exciting to walk the docks at a boat show and marvel at the huge luxury yachts with their seven-digit price tags, and the big offshore speed boats with multiple huge outboards bolted to their transom, that’s just not reality for the vast majority of us. While it’s nice to think about having an exotic ride like that, the reality is that most boats today are bought by families that don’t have unlimited budgets, or who may go boating on smaller waters where a huge engine would be completely out of place. Increasingly, today’s families look for boats that are versatile, easy to maintain and more economical to operate. That’s a big reason why pontoon boats continue to grow in popularity, and in particular pontoons with fishing features.

SunChaser was one of the first boat builders to recognize this, and the company has made a huge splash in recent years with its comfortable, affordable and amazingly versatile pontoon designs. One of the most intriguing models for 2020 is the new SunChaser Vista 18 Fish.

Wide entry gates make for easy boarding from the dock – or jumping off points for a refreshing swim.

Measuring 19 feet in overall length with a generous 96-inch beam, the SunChaser Vista 18 Fish is an ideal boat for use on the smaller water bodies where most freshwater boating takes place. Large enough to seat eight passengers in sumptuous comfort, it’s still compact enough to get into the shallow water where the biggest bass live. At just 1,425 pounds, it’s also trim enough to be easily towed by a normal passenger vehicle, so there’s no need to also spring for a big diesel pickup just to get it to and from the water.

Inviting lounge seating makes the perfect spot to stretch out and work on that tan. Note the neatly integrated drink holders.

The design of the SunChaser Vista 18 Fish is straightforward, giving families everything they need for a great day on the water. Entry is via one of two wide walk-through gates located on the stern and the port side, respectively. The port aft corner is dominated by a large wrap-around lounge seat with storage space in its base and a nice, full-height back rest, providing comfortable forward-facing, side-facing or stern-facing seating as desired. A smaller companion seat in the aft starboard corner, along with the swiveling helm seat, work with the big lounge to create a comfy and private area for conversations or enjoying a snack and a nice cold drink. Overhead, a color-coordinated Bimini top provides effective protection from the mid-day sun while under foot, the Vista comes with attractive and durable SeaWeave flooring that provides excellent non-slip properties while keeping cool in the sun. That’s a nice bonus, since SeaWeave is usually an optional upgrade.

The driver gets a comfy Captain’s chair, with fold-down arm rests.

As with all SunChaser boats, the Vista 18 Fish features new, upgraded upholstery that’s buttery soft on bare skin, yet both stain- and UV-resistant for long life and easy clean-ups. The stitch work is clean and crisp, while the seat cushions offer just the right balance between sumptuous comfort and firm support. SunChaser has always been known for its exemplary upholstery work, and the Vista 18 Fish puts this right in the spotlight.

The dash panel provides an ideal spot for installing an aftermarket fish finder or GPS, giving a flush-mount, factory appearance.

The driver enjoys a rotomolded custom console with dual multi-function gauges with nice chrome bezels presenting all the critical information at a comfortable glance. Between the gauges is a large flat panel where most buyers will install an optional fish finder, GPS or combination touch-screen display. The standard Torcello Lite steering wheel is attractive and comfortable, while a large storage compartment in the console base accommodates still more gear. Molded-in cup holders and a courtesy light are nice touches.

There’s plenty of storage space in the seat bases for gear, along with a large compartment in the base of the helm console.

Ahead of the console is a wide and comfortable seat with a plumbed live well in its base. A pair of pedestal-mount swiveling fishing seats dominate the bow, giving the anglers in the family plenty of space to fish in comfort. Each seat has a convenient side console along the fencing with a cup holder, ensuring a cold drink is always within easy reach.

After catching a few fish, those happy anglers might want to cool off with a swim, in which case they will appreciate the SunChaser Vista 18 Fish’s bow and stern swim platforms – the aft one complete with a five-step retractable boarding ladder.

Additional console drink holders and a courtesy light for safety are thoughtful standard features.

The SunChaser Vista 18 Fish comes well equipped from the factory, with a long standard feature list. But since everyone like to personalize things to some degree, there’s also an appealing option list with goodies like fish finders, retractable change rooms, a ski tow bar and a cockpit table available as upgrades. Many buyers will opt for SunChaser’s Convenience Package, which includes useful features like tilt steering, mood lighting, docking lights and a Jensen stereo system bundled into an attractive option group.

Designed to offer pleasing performance with smaller engines, the Vista 18 Fish worked well with the 40 hp Yamaha on our review boat.

Riding on twin 23-inch tubes, the SunChaser Vista 18 Fish is designed to offer pleasing performance with smaller, more fuel-efficient outboards. Although rated to handle engines of up to 60 horsepower, our review boat came with a Yamaha F40 mounted in the transom, and this made for a very attractive combination.

Affordable, versatile, easy to maintain and built for family fun, SunChaser’s Vista 18 Fish is a nicely made pontoon that represents tremendous value. There’s a lot to like about this lovely boat, which is guaranteed to please even the toughest customers.