Camping overnight is the best way to extend your day on the water and most manufacturers or local dealers offer optional full enclosures to convert your pontoon into a floating tent. Starcraft Marine takes it a step further with its EX 24 Weekender that includes a full camper enclosure top, starboard galley with sink, a stainless steel grill, convertible rear bed and a four-person picnic area that is all part of the long list of standard features. The Indiana-based manufacturer ensures its Weekender model offers all the amenities needed for a day and night out on the water.

“The Weekender model has been a huge success as it brings outdoor recreation together in one with both boating and camping,” says Starcraft Marketing Coordinator Tiffany Troyer. “The layout was engineered and designed for a convertible picnic area to be transformed into a comfortable sleeping area and that is a really popular feature to the Weekender as well as the standard full camper enclosure. The consumer sentiment has been nothing but positive and demand for the Weekender continues to grow.”

Starcraft’s EX 24 Weekender pontoon satisfies almost every need of family boating enjoyment including cruising, exploring, watersports activities, fishing, entertaining, and especially overnighting. Besides the 24-foot layout, the EX Weekender is also available in a 22-foot version with the only difference being the two-foot longer foredeck ahead of the bow rail fence on the EX24, to which a pair of fishing (or relaxing) chairs are conveniently added as standard equipment.

The new EX series with 13 floorplans in four lengths from 20 to 24 feet is part of nine series of pontoon boats from Starcraft totaling 95 floorplans from 16 to 25 feet. Starcraft also offers a huge selection of utility and fishing boats as well as deck boats.

Down To The Details

As you enter through the centered bow gate on the EX 24 Weekender you’ll discover a pair of beautifully upholstered and padded lounge seats. As with all the seating on board, they have Rotocast bases with integrated drainage and storage beneath the seat cushions. The driver’s molded helm console is located on the starboard side while the portside entry gate is aft of the lounge.

An L-shaped lounge on the portside can be converted into a much larger lounge by flipping the seat back of the aft four-seater to create a dinette. This dinette may be converted into full fore- or aft-facing seating or into a full double bed sun lounge simply by adjusting the seat backs accordingly.

At The Helm

The helm console is complete with a large protected storage compartment and features a standard Gussi Italia Torcello steering wheel. Power Assist, Xtreme, or SeaStar hydraulic steering are also available as options.

A tinted Plexiglas windscreen is provided on this console with a two-tiered dash. The upper portion of the dash includes a large diameter tachometer to the left and a speedometer to the right, leaving plenty of room for the optional Humminbird Helix 5 GPS/fishfinder between them. A Bluetooth compatible Jensen MS3A stereo is also standard. Behind the captain’s chair is a molded storage cabinet with a food prep surface, complete with a sink.

In the rear on the starboard side is a stern entry gate that provides access to a large stern swim platform with a standard 4-step, stainless steel boarding ladder. Standard flooring throughout is marine grade UV stable carpeting.

Below Deck

The base of the pontoon is a pair of 25-inch diameter tubes that come standard and are rated for up to 150 horsepower. You can add a performance shield, extruded strakes, as well as a protective coating if you choose. Or you may want to go with the PTS Performance Package which gives you those features plus a center tube that ups the horsepower rating to 300. Another popular upgrade is to add a convenient in-floor storage compartment to the center tube. For those truly looking for it all, you may want the ultimate HMX Performance package which gives you all of the above plus a larger gas tank, ski/tow bar, as well as hydraulic steering.

A Touch Of Color

Docking lights and courtesy lighting are standard but concealed mood lighting, lighted cup holders, underwater and/or Babbito underdeck lighting can also be added. A color-coordinated Bimini top with storage boot is standard, but if weekending and overnighting is in your plans then adding the full camper canvas enclosure is a must. You may also choose a half camper with bow cover or a double top, or simply a larger single Bimini, a power canopy, and a playpen cover. Available canvas colors are black, blue, gray, burgundy, and champagne. Upholstery colors are either tan or gray and nine standard panel colors are available.

Customizing Your `Toon

Starcraft offers several additional options to personalize your EX 24 Weekender for more pleasurable extended trips with family and friends. For entertaining and meals, choose the stern deck pole-mounted stainless steel propane barbecue, the extra table, a cooler table, the ottoman cooler, and a Porta-Potti for your changing room.

The dual-battery system will come in handy and if you love music, go for the upgraded JL Audio MM50 Bluetooth compatible stereo and the rear-facing speakers. You may want to upgrade the ski/tow and the boarding ladder and perhaps choose the high-back helm chair. You may also upgrade the flooring with seven choices of vinyl, Sea Weave, or Teak Weave and add black anodized rails, deck trim, top frame and even black painted tubes.

However you equip it, this Starcraft EX 24 Weekender pontoon boat is destined to provide boatloads of fun and great times for your family and friends.