AVALON WINDJAMMER ELITE

Maximizing space, this pontoon melds great looks, fresh design and classic appeal.

Sleek might be the first word to come to mind while looking at Avalon’s WindJammer Elite. Its two-tone, embossed side panels are secured outside the perimeter fencing. No exposed fencing means no gunk will accumulate in the nooks and crannies. That sleek appearance carries over to the interior. Vinyl is one primary color, with a two-tone stripe subtly weaved throughout. Look below the cushions, and you won’t find plastic bins. Instead, Avalon welds aluminum seat frames, an approach said to eliminate water collection, aid in ventilation, and take advantage of every inch of space.

The WindJammer allocates cockpit space in a traditional fashion. Two bow lounges are complemented by an L-shaped lounge opposite the fiberglass helm console. Aft, a large sun pad is split into two parts. Below the forward half resides a deep, pop-up changing room; the latter half offers access to the battery and fuel system. This area, as well as the aft deck, is covered with a teak-look vinyl. An extended aluminum platform incorporates the starboard-side boarding ladder.

Below deck, Avalon’s WaveGlider performance system ($6,852) produces nimble handling. A Mercury Verado 250 pushed our test boat up almost instantly, powered it past 30 mph in 5.9 seconds, and topped it out at 45.2 mph.