Princecraft has a modest line of pontoon boats but their Vectra line are some of the best available in terms of versatility and features. The 21 RL, which stands for rear lounger, offers a lot of functionality for fishing, family outings, and more. 

What Is it

What you might call an entry-level pontoon for those who want to have a fairly simple boat that is still fun and features a solid performance and nice amenities, the Vectra 21 RL is a good family boat and a solid fishing boat as well. At 21 feet there’s room for up to 10 people on deck, and with the speed or sport packages available, you can really make the most of your time on the water with things like skiing and tubing and more. 

The two-position lounger in the rear lets you watch the kids having fun swimming or being towed behind, or switch it forward again as you’re cruising or socializing with others. With a wide variety of options to upgrade as you see fit, and a reasonable starting price, especially compared to comparable boats on the market, as long as you’re not looking for a boat that remakes the wheel, so to speak, this could be a good option.

Key Features

There are a wide variety of standard features on the Princecraft Vectra 21 RL as well as some options you can invest in as well. Here are some of the highlights. 

  • Walk-thru bow gate and walk-thru rear gate with lift and lock hinges
  • Swim platform
  • Molded dash panel
  • Telescopic stainless steel boarding ladder
  • Stern molded corners
  • Bluetooth Jensen stereo with 4 speakers
  • Quick release smoked windscreen
  • 12V outlet
  • Heavyweight, plush upholstery
  • Swivel captain chair and passenger captain chair
  • Rear padded sundeck with 2-position adjustable backrest
  • Large snack table
  • Storage under all seats
  • Black Bimini top with latches and struts
  • Cup holders throughout
  • Navigation lights

The optional features that are available include:

  • Four color options including black, steel gray, ruby red and classic blue
  • Lifting strakes, under-deck spray shield and reinforced tube noses as part of a speed configuration option and the sport configuration
  • Ski tow bar
  • Dark grey vinyl floor
  • Snap fasteners
  • Classic edition logo
  • Premium upgraded steering wheel
  • Upgraded chrome docking lights fittings, housing, horn and cup holders
  • LED lighting under the driver console and lighted switches
  • A “Mood Upgrade” that includes  bow snack table, in-dash cubby and door on the side of the console
  • Flip flop seat with cooler as part of a Dinette Package
  • SeaStar hydraulic steering system with tilt wheel and slider for captain’s chair (included with 150 HP engine and up)
  • Head Package including holding tank with a pump out system plus a pop up privacy enclosure.
  • Deluxe seating upgrades for driver and passenger
  • A variety of sonar fish finder options
  • Full canvas camper enclosures
  • Half camper enclosure
  • Double Bimini top
  • 5 Mercury engine options for the classic configuration 
    • Mercury 40 ELPT CT
    • Mercury 60 ELPT CT
    • Mercury 90 EXLPT CT
    • Mercury 115 EXLPT CT
    • Mercury 115 EXLPT PRO XS CT
  • 3 Mercury engine options for Speed Configuration
    • Mercury 90 EXLPT CT
    • Mercury 115 EXLPT CT
    • Mercury 115 EXLPT PRO XS CT
  • 4 engine options for Sport Configuration
    • Mercury 90 EXLPT CT
    • Mercury 115 EXLPT CT
    • Mercury 115 EXLPT PRO XS CT
    • Mercury 150 XL
  • Optional trailers with various packages

Specs 

  • Overall length of 21’6”
  • 8’5” beam
  • 1,747 lb overall weight
  • 20’4” aluminum full length pontoon with top mounted air plug
  • Various Mercury outboard options depending on configuration
  • 10 person maximum capacity or 11 for sport configuration
  • 1,346 lb person weight or 1,500 lb with sport configuration
  • 1,969 lb maximum weight capacity or 2,162 lb with sport configuration
  • 29 gallon fuel tank

Pros

  • Base model is extremely affordable compared to others in its class, offering good value for the money.
  • Wide variety of customizable options and add ons can really let you fine tune the boat from a basic, generic model to something that will definitely be better suited to your needs and the needs of your family.
  • Spacious sun deck and a good quality ladder are standouts for family fun
  • Lots of storage space 
  • Many of the upgrades are unique, especially things like the head package with privacy screen. If you’ve ever been on the boat and had a child who needed to head into the bathroom within 15 minutes of being on the water, you’ll see this as a great option.
  • The Rotocast furniture is really easy to clean and maintain, and looks pretty sharp, too. 
  • The walk-through gates with the lift and lock hinges port, bow and stern are some of the best in the game. 

Cons

  • Ten years ago you may have been able to get away with the lack of USB charge ports but today? There’s no excuse for it, unless you’re super committed to everyone, including the adults, unplugging for a while.
  • Some other features that really should be standard are options you’ll have to pay extra for – things like the rear safety railing and the ski tow bar don’t come with the standard package.
  • Though it tries to be an everything for everyone model, it does fall short a bit with some of the lower powered engines. If you don’t opt for the speed or sport package, you likely won’t have the hp to do much in the line of watersports and other fun things.

What You Need to Know 

The base model of the Vectra 21 RL is going to set you back just shy of $36,000 for the latest model year. Compared to some other boats that offer a similar set of features, that’s definitely at the value end of the price scale. Of course, with so many extra options available you can add on upgrades and get that price way, way up there too, so keep that in mind.

Handling is pretty smooth and the layout of the helm makes everything easy to see and manage when you’re in control. Depending on your engine package you can get up a reasonable head of steam in the Vectra, certainly enough to have some fun on the water even if you aren’t going to be breaking speed records. If you’re looking for intensity, it can’t offer that.

The overall ride is pretty smooth, about what you’d expect from a pontoon boat, with no surprises or dramatic shaking even when you open it up and hit top speed. The layout on deck is great and feels really open, even when you have a few people hanging out. The seating is also a high point here as the Captain’s chair is pretty comfortable, even compared to some you’ll find on higher priced models from competitors. 

What People Are Saying

Seasoned pontoon boaters may not be impressed with the Vectra 21 RL but when you’re new in the game this is the kind of boat that really checks a lot of boxes. It has enough features that you can narrow down what you hope to get out of your time in the water and do so at a justifiable price. For families, especially those with younger kids, this is a great option and most boaters we spoke to who have one fit into that mold. It’s a good family boat for casual, fun days out on the lake. But if you’re a keen angler you won’t be disappointed with the room and features you have at your disposal if you want to spend a day fishing, either. 

There’s some criticism of the lack of standard features, in particular that ski tow bar which really seems like it should be included based on how this is marketed as a kind of family fun vessel. That aside, it’s not a performance beast either and while your kids will have fun tubing or skiing, if you have older teens, especially ones who have experience with water sports, this may leave them feeling a little underwhelmed. 

Don’t let that trick you into thinking people are not impressed by this boat, however. Pound for pound and dollar for dollar, this is one of the nicest pontoons you’re going to find at this price point and most owners are more than happy with their purchase.

Do We Recommend It? 

If you’re new to pontoon boating and looking for a way to break in so that you and your family can have some fun on weekends or vacations to the lake, you should absolutely give the Princecraft Vectra 21 RL some serious thought. It’s a good size, offers good power and good features,and the price is really a huge point in its favor.

If you’re a more seasoned boater or something looking for a serious beast to tear up the water for tubing and skiing and the like, maybe put this one on the back burner as it’s probably not going to give you the experience you want.

Overall, the Vectra 21 RL is a solid, well-performing boat with nice features and price that’s hard to beat so for that reason, it definitely gets a recommendation.