Montego Bay 8518 Cruiser

Trailerable Family Fun.

Boat Test #1494

Gillett, Wisconsin’s Northport Marine, which also owns MirroCraft boats, began manufacturing Montego Bay Pontoons in 2012 in their shared production facility. While relatively new to the industry, Montego Bay is quickly earning a name for itself as a real contender in the competitive pontoon boat marketplace.
Montego Bay offers three lines: a fishing line, a cruising line, and a tri-toon line.  The 8518 Cruiser is one of four models in their standard cruise line ranging from 17 feet to over 23 feet.  
The 8518 is built on a pair of 23” aluminum tubes, with an aluminium transom and a full lifetime warranty. There are a lot of standard floor plan designs available on the company website, and the cruiser line comes with an impressive list of standard features on all models including 24 oz. carpeting, helm chair with armrests and sliders, a 12v power point, deluxe steering wheel, rotocast furniture bases, 1-1/4” deck railing, 7’ overhead bimini top, and a rear re-boarding ladder. 
The options list on the cruise line ranges from your choice of floor covering from teak to vinyl to sea weave; ski tow bars; adjustable seating and floor plan options; as well as colours and covers. You can also choose your power options from Mercury or Evinrude.  A 17 gallon fuel tank is one option on the 8518, but I would suggest opting for the 18 gallon above deck tank. It means you can remove and refuel the tank without having to take the boat itself through the gas pumps every time. 
At 19 feet and just 1,360 pounds, the Montego Bay 8518 Cruiser is a very trailerable pontoon that nearly any vehicle can handle towing – plus it fits in most suburban driveways!  So it’s never far away when you and your family get the urge to head out on the water.
By Brad Roberts