Manitou Explore 24 Review – First Drive

Pontoon boats have been among the hottest sellers across North America for years, and it’s easy to understand why with their flat floors, wide entry gates, comfortable seating and plush amenities. But in recent years the pontoon boat market has sometimes been described as a ‘sea of sameness” where it’s tough to tell one boat from the next. Manitou is aiming to change that with its innovative Manitou Explore 24 – a revolutionary design that really does bring something different to the party starting with a whole new propulsion system.

Boatguide recently had the chance to drive the prototype and yes indeed, there is a lot to talk about here.

With its huge open swim platform Manitou’s Explorer 24 offers a distinctive look and unmatched utility.

The first time you see the Manitou Explore 24 at the dock, your first thought is ‘where’s the engine?’ Because rather than the big outboard mounted at the center of the transom, all you see on this boat is acres and acres of big, open, full-width swim platform.

The engine is there alright, but tucked out of sight underneath the platform.

The Rotax engine sits below the swim platform in a unique arrangement.

As part of its 2023 redesign, the Manitou Explore 24 utilizes BRP’s all-new Rotax outboard engine. When it was in development BRP called this the Ghost engine, and that’s an apt name since the idea was you wouldn’t see it or hear it. The engine power head is horizontally mounted low to the water, instead of sticking straight up far above it, an arrangement that allows BRP to tuck the engine completely under the swim platform. It also opens up all new opportunities for interior design, and the Explore 24 takes full advantage.

Hiding the engine under the swim platform provides an unobstructed view aft and a bit of added noise suppression as well.

Let’s start by taking a closer look at that enormous stern swim platform, which Manitou refers to as its MAX Deck. A pair of receptacles formed into the surface on the port side of the boat are LinQ quick-release locking terminals, which allow owners to install all sorts of accessories without having to secure them with bungee cords or ropes. A LinQ cooler, for example, can snap down onto the deck and lock into position here, freeing up space inside the boat. Position the cooler facing inward when you’re in the boat, then spin it around 180 degrees when you’re hanging out on the sandbar so you can grab a cold drink straight from the water.

Integrated LinQ terminals allow the easy installation of removable accessories.

The starboard side of the boat features a retractable boarding ladder that’s angled to keep stray feet even farther from the propeller, while a storage compartment to port conceals the oil fill for the Rotax engine.

Upholstery in the Explorer 24 remains cool to the touch even after sitting out in the sun for hours.

Step inside the beefy stern entry gate of the Manitou Explore 24 and the fresh, modern styling is immediately apparent. Furniture uses a high quality vinyl that’s soft to the touch, easy to clean and stays cool in the sun. Flip-flop seat backs, which Manitou calls Switchback seating, allow forward-facing or aft-facing versatility. You’ll find these right at the transom, and on the port side amidships on most floorplans.

Seats include integrated drink holders and USB charge ports, with huge storage spaces beneath.

The aft corner tri-fold seat to starboard has a nice trick up its sleeve, starting out as a full lounger with a center seat cushion that flips up flush into the transom to create two facing single seats. Further, the underside of the seat cushion can then be flipped out to provide a useful table.

The Tri-fold seat has a center cushion that lifts to create two single seats, and an underside that lifts to provide a useful table.

Our review boat was a prototype, so as expected the fit and finish were not up to the standards of a production boat. But even so, the seats were extremely comfortable thanks to variable-density foam cushions that provide a very nice balance between soft comfort and firm support. If the prototype is anything to go by, the production Explorer will be a real gem.

Neatly concealed in the corners are JL Audio speakers that fully integrate into the seats. Integrated drink holders are another thoughtful touch, along with multiple USB ports throughout the boat so everyone on board can keep their phones and other devices fully charged.

Speakers are neatly concealed in the boat corners. The audio system on the Explorer 24 sounds great!

The helm of the Manitou Explore 24 is very stylish, incorporating an integrated Garmin multi-function display and digital switching to put all controls on a neat, single interface that sits conveniently just to the right of the sport steering wheel. The display on our review review boat was a 9-inch Echomap model, with both ultra-HD scanning and traditional CHIRP sonar. There’s plenty of integrated storage space for personal items, and a compact windscreen that does a surprisingly good job of deflecting the worst of the Jetstream when you’re underway.

The standard stereo is a Fusion RA-210 unit, which mounts inboard of the steering wheel so anyone can reach it. There’s also a neatly integrated angled foot rest for comfort. The helm bucket seat both swivels and slides to adjust for drivers of all heights.

The stylish helm and passenger consoles are designed for ease of use.

Most floorplans provide a matching passenger helm console with a huge glove box and a similar windscreen.

The low profile windscreens don’t look like much, but they do a surprisingly good job of deflecting the slipstream when the boat is underway.

Overhead, the Manitou Explore 24 comes with a sport arch that includes an integrated Bimini top. This top provides a full 12 feet of coverage, and can withstand winds of up to 55 mph, so you don’t have to take it down when you motor from one spot to the next. A double Bimini that shades the entire boat is available as an optional upgrade.

The arch itself lowers on gas assists, allowing easier passage under low ridges or for towing.

LinQ receptacles are everywhere on the Explorer 24 allowing accessories like these wine glass holders to be mounted almost anywhere.

Throughout the interior of the boat you can’t help but spot additional LinQ receptacles, allowing owners to easily mount or reposition a huge range of accessories anywhere they’re needed. That includes some spiffy drink holders specifically designed for stemware, as well as standard drink holders, fender holders, rod holders, storage bags and so forth.

Fresh, modern styling gives the Explorer 24 a distinctive look on the water.

The Manitou Explore 24 is a pretty slick boat from the outside too, incorporating a new exterior styling that’s designed to give it a distinctive look. That includes replacing the traditional pontoon fencing with pressed aluminum walls that provide an automotive look, rather than the traditional pontoon appearance. LED docking lights are both functional and stylish, and the overall package – especially combined with that MAX deck and the lack of a visible engine – does indeed stand out on the water.

Boaters looking for a pontoon with a difference will find much to like about Manitou’s all-new Explorer 24.

People looking for a fresh take on the classic pontoon boat will find much to like about the all-new Manitou Explore 24. Designed for versatility and low maintenance, it’s going to attract a lot of attention from growing families at the winter boat shows this year.