Sunchaser

Eclipse 25 SBX Bar

First Impression

The award-winning lounger/bar table combo is a new layout being offered by SunChaser – a welcomed addition to the Smoker Craft family! The popular floor plan has won over many consumers on models offered by SunChaser’s parent company and we’re confident the success will continue with this Eclipse.

Highlights

Jumping into the details, the best place to begin is with the dual-purpose SBX Bar. It easily converts from a wide, rear-facing stern lounger to a bar table with two bar stools on each side. When in the lounger position, the stools have a dedicated storage area on the side and the entire process to convert it back to the bar setup takes only seconds.

We like how the lounger is enclosed within the stern rail with just enough room on the swimdeck to towel off before coming through either gate. Built into the exterior rail is an integrated ski/tow bar that will see plenty of good use with the beefy Yamaha outboard. Plus getting back on the boat from the water is simple with the easy-to-use optional REVO ladder from LilliPad Marine.

Moving forward, directly across from the L-shaped lounge with stereo remote is a small entertainment center behind the tall back captain’s chair that includes a pop-out trash can. At the elevated helm console the dash is centered on an optional 7-inch Simrad touchscreen with multi-function analog gauges on the right and the Wet Sounds stereo controls to the left. Just below is a nice display of rocker switches that are well-labeled, and there is even a cell phone holder and a 12-volt included. Having a locking glove box is a must and this Eclipse checks the box with a pullout one down below.

Other key features include in-floor storage, two chaise lounges in the bow, a pop-up changing room enclosure that stands 5 feet tall when fully open, power Bimini, and Seaweave flooring.

Why we love this boat…The Eclipse has so much more to offer beyond the multi-function bar/lounger layout, yet the SBX Bar floor plan is still one of our favorites.

Inspection

Having black painted pontoons is a nice added touch we weren’t expecting to find on this mid-level offering. The 25-inch diameter pontoons are part of the X-treme PR25 performance package and have extruded sealed performance lifting strakes and a full aluminum shield.

Up top there are 25 feet, 8 inches from the inside of the bow gate to the extended swim deck with the rail height varying from 27 inches tall overall to 18 inches in the stern.

Performance

When you pair the proven X-treme PR25 hull with a Yamaha 250hp V MAX SHO outboard, you’re sure to put smiles on the faces of everyone on board (this especially includes the captain). We easily reach a top speed in the lower 40s after a zero-to-20 mph time of just under 4 seconds! She’s very responsive, handles great, and is a lot of fun to drive.

Just being picky…When set up to use as a bar table the access to the stern gate is a little tight, but otherwise this is a solid floor plan with a lot packed into this 26-footer.

Final Thoughts

As tested with a long list of standard features – which includes the SBX Bar and X-treme PR25 performance package – combined with an impressive list of optional upgrades confirmed that we love the complete package. You could take less horsepower or fewer options to drop the price if needed, but we see a lot of value as is with this model and feel others will, too.