Boat Test: 2024 Viaggio Lago V 16U
Bill Doster
Overview
Measuring 18 feet, 4 inches, Viaggio’s Lago V 16U is one tiny ’toon. Why embrace shrinkage when supersizing seems the norm? Smaller boats cost less, and they stow and tow easier.
Though small, the Lago V 16U definitely lives large on the water. Its deck extends the entire length of the pontoons, and it measures 8 feet, 6 inches in width. That means more usable space than many similarly sized models. Viaggio also maximizes the floor plan. Your crew will enjoy seating that wraps nearly the entire perimeter, including a 12-foot-long portside lounge.
Bill Doster
Interior and Accessories
True to Viaggio’s roots, the Lago V 16U retains a decidedly upscale vibe. The exterior follows the brand’s familiar palette of trendy, matte-metallic finishes and sleek bilevel fence panels. Oversize rails, trim and skirting are all anodized in black and seem more like aesthetic accents than stodgy structure. Within, a sculpted fiberglass helm features a tinted windscreen, a vinyl-wrapped eyebrow, chrome-bezel gauges, backlit push-button controls and an illuminated Viaggio logo. Roto-molded seat bases, covered in vinyl, offer a contrasting color to the buttery-soft pillow-top seating above. Standard amenities include a Clarion sound system, a 10-foot-long Bimini top with anodized frame, LED interior lighting, a polished stainless-steel boarding ladder, and a mooring cover.
Bill Doster
Viaggio’s construction details stand out as well. Twin tubes are 25 inches in diameter. C-channel crossmembers are spaced 16 inches on center and topped with ¾-inch marine-grade plywood and durable, woven-vinyl flooring. All welds are backed by a limited lifetime warranty. The aluminum for the tubes is 0.10-inch thick. I’d contend that the only real trade-off in this pint-size pontoon is the choice of available power. While certainly fuel-efficient and fine for casual cruising, the 60 hp Suzuki outboard, even with the motor’s High Energy Rotation lower unit, had its work cut out for it when it came to performance on our test boat. Top speed failed to surpass 18 mph with our two-passenger load. The overall feeling, however, is of a boat-and-motor combo that definitely punches above its weight class.
Read Next: Viaggio Diamante 26U
Bill Doster
How We Tested
- Engine: Suzuki DF60AV
- Drive/Prop: Outboard/Suzuki 11 5/8″ x 12″ 3-blade aluminum
- Gear Ratio: 2.42:1 Fuel Load: 14 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.
High Points
- Pillow-top furniture swathed in buttery-soft vinyl.
- Standards include 10-foot Bimini with -anodized frame, mooring cover, woven vinyl flooring.
- Sculpted fiberglass helm.
- Wide beam compared with similar-length pontoon boats.
- Worthwhile options include digital depth finder/transducer, integrated docking lights with flip-up stainless-steel cleats, helm seat slider.
- Standard Clarion sound system
Low Point
- Stylish and upscale—but many of today’s buyers might find its maximum 60 hp rating underwhelming.
Toughest Competitors
- SunTracker’s Party Barge 18 DLX ($27,760 with a Mercury 60 FourStroke) is competitively priced but lacks the Viaggio’s upscale feel.
- Another intriguing option is Sea-Doo’s Switch 19 ($36,199 with a 170 hp jet drive). It features a configurable floor plan and seating for up to 10 people.
Pricing and Specs
| Price: | $40,974 (with Suzuki DF60AV) |
| LOA: | 18’4″ |
| Beam: | 8’6″ |
| Draft (max): | 3’0″ |
| Dry Weight: | 1,896 lb. |
| Transom Deadrise: | NA |
| Bridge Clearance: | 5’0″ |
| Fuel Capacity: | 28 gal. |
| Max Horsepower: | 60 |
| Available Power: | Honda, Mercury, Suzuki or Yamaha outboards to 60 hp |
Speed, Efficiency, Operation
Boating Magazine
Viaggio Pontoon Boats – Bristol, Indiana; viaggiopontoonboats.com
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