Industry's First Center-Mounted Twin Engine Pontoon Boat

When it comes to performance, innovation, and style, Barletta knows how to stay ahead of the curve. Today, we’re diving into something that’s making serious waves: the industry’s first-ever center-mounted twin-engine pontoon, a revolutionary design that amps up performance, safety, and functionality. Here’s the story of how it all happened:

It Started with a Little Experimentation

Back in 2021, we set out to add a twin-engine model to our lineup. Our first prototype followed the standard playbook—two engines mounted on the outsides, like all the manufacturers do. And honestly? It looked good, and after testing, performed… well, good.

But good? That’s not our style. At Barletta, we aim for #BarlettaGreat. And something about those outside-mounted engines wasn’t cutting it. The problem? With the engines so far apart, the prop wash slowed us down and those wide turns didn’t feel nearly as smooth as we wanted.

So, we scrapped it and went back to the drawing board. How could we make this twin-engine concept better than anyone else’s?

Aha Moment: Center-Mounted is the Way to Go

That’s when our engineers had a lightbulb moment: Yachts and charter boats—the big players—often mount their engines side by side. If it works for them, why not us?

We got to work on building the first-ever center-mounted twin-engine pontoon. And spoiler alert: it was like no other.

When we took this revised boat out for testing, the difference was night and day. With the engines together, the boat sliced through turns effortlessly—no more prop wash dragging us down and the spray was tremendously improved. It wasn’t just better—it was next-level.

Safety and Functionality Upgrades

But the perks didn’t stop there. This new layout also brought a major safety upgrade. On other twin-engine pontoons, you’ve got to board right between two big motors—just one accident away from a no-good-very-bad day.

With our design, two boarding ladders sit on either side of the engines, keeping you far from danger. Plus, having two ladders is just practical. We’ve all been there—waiting for that one friend clinging to the ladder, taking WAY too long. Now, with two ladders, everyone wins.

Something else to note is that because the motors are on the inside, if you have a bad dock day, they won’t be damaged because they don’t egress outside the boat at any time. With a conventional twin engine pontoon, you need to watch this when docking or trailering.

And let’s talk deck space. With the engines snug in the middle, you get more room to spread out, jump off, and hang out. Plus, the stern entertainment area on the twin models makes the setup even better.

A Winning Debut

We unveiled the center-mounted twin engine at the Minneapolis Boat Show in January of 2024, where it won the Innovation Award. And since then? It’s been all positive feedback.

Owners are loving the improved performance and safety features. And we couldn’t be more proud of Katelyn from Marty’s Marine, who raced a twin-engine Barletta at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout in September—and won, hitting an insane top speed of 74 MPH!

The twin-engine option is currently available on the Lusso series, specifically with the Ultra Lounge and Meridian floorplans.

Lusso 25 MCAT

Lusso 25 UCAT

For more info on the industry’s first center-mounted twin-engine pontoon, head over to our website and see what all the buzz is about.