The beauty of hanging out by the pool or at the sandbar is having plenty of room to lounge in the sun. Usually, you have to give up that space when on a boat, even if it’s a pontoon filled with comfy seating.

Until now.

Manitou has created a way to have the best of both worlds—spacious seating inside the boat and a mammoth-sized swim deck—with the Cruise 22 MAX. While most pontoon swim decks are a foot or two zigzagged around a transom and a traditional outboard engine, this Manitou offers unobstructed views across the water and extreme space to soak up the sun.

“Consumers love how much space the MAX Deck provides at the stern of the boat (up to 6 feet of additional space) that was previously cluttered or taken up by the engine,” said Jason Rick, senior product analyst at Manitou. “They love using the MAX Deck as a swim platform, a picnic space, or whatever else they need. It has allowed them to feel more connected with the water and those in the water.”

PDB magazine recently had the chance to get behind the wheel of the new 2025 model. The spacious 10-passenger Manitou Cruise 22 MAX Switchback Twin Tube gave off a great first impression and the staff was also impressed with the vast swim deck and modern design.

Party In the Back

No other pontoon on the market offers this large of a swim deck—that doubles as the platform above the Rotax S outboard, which is seamlessly tucked under the MAX deck. This unlocks 4 feet of usable swim deck space and opens the views across the water.

“The best feature of the Cruise 22 MAX is the MAX Deck at the stern of the boat,” added Jason. Combined with the rear Switchback Loungers with back rests that can be adjusted to be rear facing, there is no better seat on the boat than looking out over the water from the MAX Deck.”

The Cruise 22 Max is set up for a swimming party at the stern. With a four-step boarding ladder, ski pylon, and even a clip-in cooler, it’s the ideal place to hang out. A LinQ attachment point has been integrated on the MAX deck for the ability to attach LinQ accessories including coolers, freeing up space inside the boat while still keeping drinks close at hand.

Customers are quickly seeing the added value the MAX deck brings to the pontoon world. Salesman Jeremy Hubbell at Marineland Boating Center in Waco, Texas, said, “The MAX Deck extends out so much space for entertaining. It has a rather modern look to it with a full composite deck instead of wood. The extended deck is THE big selling point.”

Revolutionary Rotax

While most swim decks are indented with a spot for the outboard, the colossal swim deck on the Cruise 22 Max covers the integrated Rotax engine. This hidden, quiet, and efficient engine unlocks complete integration between the boat and power, taking usable space at the stern to a new level with the MAX deck.

The Cruise 22 Max is available with Rotax S150 or S115 engines, both of which come standard with digital shift and throttle, digital power steering, and iTrim functionality. Compared to other leading outboard engine brands, Rotax engines provide a 12 percent reduction in reportable emissions and 98 percent reduction in CO at idle.

“We have received so much positive feedback from customers who purchased a model with the Rotax S outboard,” said Jason. “They love that the engine is tucked beneath the MAX Deck, providing unobstructed views and access to the water. They rave about the impressive fuel economy of the Rotax S outboard. And they really enjoy how easy it is to operate with digital shift and throttle, DPS steering, and iTrim, which is a standard feature that automatically trims the engine to the most efficient position.”

The completely rethought and re-imagined way to power a pontoon delivers the same advantages as a traditional outboard engine — such as price, performance, handling, ease of maintenance, and full trim — with additional benefits: it’s hidden, it’s quiet and it’s efficient. Because the engine is partially submerged, the engine is smooth and quiet at any speed.

A Sleek & Modern Look

Sporting a streamlined and unencumbered profile on the water, the Cruise MAX twin tube version brings a unique aesthetic to the twin tube segment, highlighted by the formed aluminum walls. The automotive-inspired styling includes formed aluminum panels to stand out on the water. Our test model stood out with Shark Gray walls and black accents. Designed to elevate, Manitou breaks away from the sea of sameness with a completely different look than most pontoons on the market.

Switchback Seating

We enjoyed the contemporary look of the streamlined seating. The two-tone gray vinyl furniture on our test model had stitched in logos, leg bolsters, and lumbar support. Made from high-quality Simtex seat vinyl, which comes standard on all Cruise models, the soft-to-the-touch seating is easy to clean and stays cool in the sun.

Two chaise lounges in the bow and three in the stern will give every passenger the opportunity to recline. Offering the ultimate versatility in seating options, the Cruise 22 Max has switchback seating on three chaises in the rear: the two lounges in the stern can be either forward or rear-facing, and the co-captain’s chair can switch as well. Our team enjoyed the nice seating configuration at the back of the boat. It felt like the perfect party place with the extended swim platform.

Helm Control

Your captain will be comfortable with a helm chair that slides, swivels, and reclines. The composite helm has everything you need at the ready. Designed into four unique sections for key functions, you’ll find vessel monitoring, radio control, phone charging, and vessel switching all straightforward. On our test model, we loved that the 7-inch Garmin fishfinder was recessed into the dash, and that the driver had a USB, 12-volt outlet, cupholder, and a place to set a phone.

“The captain’s helm on all Cruise models has been designed to be accessible and intuitive,” Jason said. “Featuring a Fusion RA-60 stereo with four speakers, cell phone cubby, an easy-to-read 7-inch Garmin MFD, and analog rocker switches, everything you need is easy to use and within reach.”

Best of all, on our test model was the colossal glove box on the co-captain’s side. We always appreciate a locking box for keys, wallet, and other valuables stowed on board, but Manitou went above and beyond with this one. There’s even room for a beach towel and an oversized purse.

A Place For Everything

With so many built-in features, the Manitou Cruise 22 Max has ideal storage interspersed throughout the pontoon. Newly designed cupholders and speakers have been integrated into the walls for a pleasant on board experience without sacrificing space. Under-seat storage will keep extra gear from underfoot, and easily opens with piano hinges. The bow gate is a safe height at 25.5 inches tall, and there’s a safety rail at the stern before stepping up to the stern deck. The heavy-duty Bimini top offers 10 feet of coverage and is rated up to 20 mph when deployed.

Performance

With lifting strakes and a full splash skin, the twin-tube model that we tested performed well, accelerating from 0 to 20 mph in just under 7 seconds. The boat handled smoothly and was easy to drive, while providing plenty of control and power.

There was so much for us to love about this boat, even beyond the large deck. We appreciated the expansive seating, thoughtful storage cubbies, plentiful cupholders, and the oversized glove box. This well-built, family-friendly boat would be a great choice for families who love to play in the water and lounge in the sun.