t’s common for a manufacturer to redesign its boats each year to keep up with trends and refresh the brand. Some yearly redesigns are more significant than others, but for the 2021 model year Misty Harbor went all in. Last year was monumental for the pontoon builder as it discontinued its popular models such as SKYE, Biscayne Bay, Adventure, etc., and opted to move in a new direction. When finalized, the redesign was so extensive a new name was needed to represent the beautiful line, and thus the Viaggio brand was born.
The Italian word for journey is ‘Viaggio’ and immediately the V-shape styling with its hard-angled lines used across the board makes a direct connection to the name. Using your best Italian accent, it’s hard not to say the Viaggio name out loud without making some type of an Italian hand gesture, but it’s even better to explore when you step on board. We recently had a chance to test the Lago 22S and all of its unique features and were equally impressed by the added value and what you get in return for a standard boat that retails for under $40K, with a standard 60hp engine.
First Impression
As tested you’re looking at less than $70K with a 150hp Mercury outboard and that includes some great options that we’ll get to shortly. The 22S is the second most popular model in the Lago series and for good reason. For starters we’re not used to seeing a versatile three-position swingback lounge seat on a mid-line priced pontoon and even the soft-touch vinyl on the furniture has been upgraded to the same material being used on Viaggio’s high-end line for the new model year. It’s part of the LCI Premium Furniture package that comes standard. The Spradling woven vinyl flooring is also standard and helps tie in the interior look that is beautiful and flows well with the overall design. In fact, one of the few interior options is the LED Interior package that provides a high-end vibe that is well worth the upgrade.
Exterior Sparkle
The long list of standard features includes the exclusive matte metallic fencing with a dual-color panel option. When the sun hits on the bright red panels just right, we were able to see a little sparkle to the exterior that gave it a nice vibrant pop of excitement. We love the dual-color panels that can be customized in a variety of combinations to give your boat a personalized look. With the black anodized rails, really any color combo is going to look amazing on this boat. Plus having a stainless steel rail in the stern is also a nice added touch that ties in well with the four-step boarding ladder and makes the already large extended swim deck feel even bigger.
Interior Gems
At the full fiberglass helm you feel at home once you grab the Gussi Molinara 13.75-inch black with brushed aluminum steering wheel; it just feels comfortable in your hands. If desired, the dash console at the helm allows you to upgrade to a touchscreen or additional gauges, but included in the standard package you’re covered with a speedometer, tachometer, voltage meter and a fuel gauge.
Don’t be afraid to crank up the tunes either: the Rockford Fosgate PMX-1 stereo with its four-speaker setup is amazing and the controls are easily within reach for the captain.
Speaking of the captain, not only is the helm chair one of the most comfortable with its swivel, sliding and reclining functions, there is an identical one directly across for the first mate too.
Below Deck
The enhanced full C-channel cross members are standard and help beef up the undercarriage of the pontoon. The few options include the Tripletoon upgrade and SeaStar hydraulic steering that provide a solid foundation that’s easy to maneuver. There are lifting strakes on the insides of the center pontoon as well as strakes on the inside of the outer tubes with a full-length aluminum shield to improve the performance.
Taking Flight
We like the pairing of the Mercury 150hp on this hull that helps keep the overall price down while still providing a comfortable ride capable of reaching speeds in the mid 30 mph mark at full throttle. We recorded a 0-to-20 mph time of less than 5 seconds and were impressed by how safe and in control we felt during our test drive.
Final Thoughts
Misty Harbor was founded in 1989 and continues to build on its reputation of offering value-driven models and its new Viaggio line fits in perfectly. Priced well, there is a lot to get excited about on the Lago 22S and not just for first-time boat buyers either. This pontoon as tested has a lot to offer and is worth a closer look when you’re searching for your next boat.