Manitou LX 25 RFX Review

The Manitou LX 25 RFX combined with Mercury Racing’s ferocious 450R makes for a very happy combination.

Manitou Boats has long enjoyed a reputation for building high-end, high-performing pontoon boats that combine opulent luxury with blistering speed. That legendary status for sporty performance took a major step forward in the summer of 2020 when the company began offering Mercury outboards as a standard power option. And, it takes another leap forward for 2022 with Manitou now offering Mercury’s ferocious 450R outboard on the LX pontoon lineup.

Make no mistake about it – Mercury’s 450R is a monster of an outboard, delivering 40% more power than the 400R model while weighing in at 300 pounds less than its closest competitor for an unbeatable power-to-weight ratio. The 4.6-litre V8 further benefits from a massive 2.4-litre supercharger that delivers pressurized ambient air to the intake tract with no lag for instant throttle response. Strapped to the back of Manitou’s V-Toon hull, the result is rocket-like acceleration right through the power band, giving what’s already a sporty boat an added, steroid-like punch.

New for 2022 is the option of powering the LX 25 RFX with Mercury Racing’s ferocious 450R outboard.

The Manitou LX 25 RFX could be considered a mid-range model in the brand’s LX pontoon lineup, which comes in 23, 25 and 27-foot lengths and a choice of eight different seating arrangements. Stretching 25 feet in overall length, the RFX – or Rear Facing Extreme – seating plan follows a traditional four-lounge layout for maximum versatility and ease of movement through the boat. The wide central aisle provides easy access to corner lounge seats, allowing passengers to come and go without disturbing anyone else.

The big, plush upholstered seats each conceal cavernous storage compartments in the seat bases, providing all sorts of space to stow extra gear. Full-height back rests allow comfortable seating facing any direction, effectively allowing the front and back of the boat to each serve as private spaces for conversation or relaxing.

Big, plush loungers in each corner provide maximum comfort and versatility – especially with the optional bow filler cushion shown here. Note the access panel between the consoles for in-floor storage of bulky gear like skis or wake boards.

Our review boat included the optional bow filler cushion, which converts the front seating to a full wrap-around configuration for optimal versatility. Adding the removable cockpit table to this space makes the ideal spot for lunch or drinks with a view.

The Extreme part of the name designation refers to the boat’s added features over the basic rear-facing layouts, including blue interior lighting, a stern ski tow bar, a Bimini top and boot, and a deluxe JL Audio MM50 sound system, complete with Bluetooth streaming capability and illuminated JL M3 speakers for concert hall-quality sound on the water.

For 2022 the LX comes with a nice clean helm design that any boater can appreciate, with its flush-mount Garmin display, sport steering wheel, and optional Mercury VesselView control panel.

The midships section of the Manitou LX 25 RFX comes with twin Captain’s chairs for the driver and companion, each with fold-down arm rests. A compact but efficient windshield provides a welcome break from the jetstream as you zip across the lake, while the driver enjoys a spectacular helm design with the Garmin 743xs flush-mount multi-function display mounted right of the brushed aluminum-on-black sport steering wheel, leaving plenty of space for a large locking glove box on the inboard side. An integrated footrest for both the driver and co-pilot lies at the base of each console.

To the right of the console is the throttle control for our review boat’s massive Mercury 450 Racing engine.

The quad-lounge seating arrangement effectively splits the boat into zones, allowing quiet spaces to escape for quiet conversation or to just unwind with a good book.

For even greater control and peace of mind, Manitou LX 25 RFX buyers can add Mercury’s optional VesselView display, which allows them to monitor engine data and access select SmartCraft engine controls on a single, intuitive digital interface. It’s a nice option, and leaves the main display free for navigation functions.

For the 2022 model year Manitou hasn’t just added new engine options, it’s also completely refreshed its color schemes on all LX models.

New finishes for 2022 enhance the LX’s styling, especially when complemented with the available power arch.

With its long list of standard features, the Manitou LX 25 RFX comes nicely configured right from the factory floor. But the company knows that personalization is a big part of the fun in buying a new boat, and there are all sorts of tasty options to tempt LX buyers, including a sport tower, stereo upgrades, electronics upgrades, multiple flooring choices, a variety of appearance packages, stereo speakers for the wake tower, aft-facing cameras and a power tower lift that allows it to be raised or lowered at the touch of a button.

Put the hammer down on that Mercury Racing 450R and the 25 LX becomes a legitimate 60 mph boat, with great handling thanks to Manitou’s V-Toon hull.

But what about performance?

Opt for that supercharged Mercury Racing 450R and the 25-foot Manitou LX 25 RFX takes on an entirely new level of performance, both in terms of hole shot (forget your hat, you better hold on to your hair!) and top-end speed that’s genuinely in the 60 mph range. With Manitou’s V-Toon hull, it’s not just straight-line fun either, but power you can enjoy while slaloming the boat back and forth to feel it carve the lake like a skate blade.

An available ski tow, or the power watersports arch, make the LX 25 RFX a comfortable and effective wake platform or ski boat.

Such joy doesn’t come cheap, of course. The Manitou LX 25 RFX starts out with an MSRP in the $94,000 range – a figure that can easily double when you begin loading it up with options. But for those who want it all, Manitou delivers.

Looking for a fast, comfortable and great looking pontoon that’s sure to please even the toughest customers out there? The Manitou LX 25 RFX has to be part of the conversation, and especially with the rocket-like performance of Mercury’s supercharged 450R – a terrific addition that makes a wonderful pontoon boat just that much better.