Boat & Sail

Builder · Mid · Owosso, Michigan

Crest

Michigan heritage pontoon builder, 1957-founded. Mid-tier tritoons across the Caribbean, Continental, and Classic lines.

Crest pontoon on inland lake
Founded
1957
Headquarters
Owosso, Michigan
Ownership
Maravia Corporation
Tier
Mid
Website
crestpontoonboats.com

Crest is the heritage mid-tier pontoon builder from Owosso, Michigan, founded in 1957. The brand has long ownership history and currently sits under the Maravia Corporation. Production stays at the Owosso facility.

The brand argument is heritage build discipline at mid-tier pricing. Crest tritoons run 10 to 18 percent below Bennington at equivalent LOA. The lineup runs from Classic entry through the Caribbean luxury flagship.

Lineup

Current platforms.

Model breakdown

Each platform, what it does and where it falls short.

Crest Classic / Continental

Classic is the volume mid-tier line; Continental is the upper mid-tier. Tritoon platform standard, 150 to 300 horsepower rigging.

Things we like

  • · Heritage build discipline at mid-tier pricing
  • · Pricing 10 to 18 percent below Bennington at equivalent LOA

Things we don't

  • · Smaller dealer footprint than Polaris brands
  • · Resale runs at the mid-tier average

Crest Caribbean flagship

Caribbean is the flagship line. Premium fit-and-finish, tritoon platform with luxury options.

Things we like

  • · Caribbean layout gives boatshow-friendly entertaining space at upper-mid pricing
  • · Heritage build discipline shows in resale

Things we don't

  • · Pricing pushes into Bennington L-series territory
  • · Smaller used market than Polaris brands

Buyer's guide

The Crest story and what to know on the used market.

Origin and ownership

Crest was founded in 1957 in Michigan. The brand has had multiple owners across its long history and currently sits under Maravia Corporation. Production has stayed in Owosso through the ownership transitions.

Design philosophy

Crest tritoons use standard center-log architecture. The brand differentiates on heritage layout language and option packages.

Yamaha and Mercury are both factory rigging options.

Used-market notes and known issues

Yamaha F300 V6 and Mercury Verado corrosion patterns apply.

Cushion vinyl on 2017 to 2019 hulls shows delamination.

Pre-2015 electric trim systems on Caribbean hulls had documented failures.

Dealer network smaller than Polaris brands, concentrated in the Midwest.

Resale

Crest holds resale at the mid-tier average. Three-year depreciation runs 22 to 28 percent. Five-year depreciation runs 32 to 40 percent.

Where Crest fits

Buyers cross-shop Crest against Avalon, Premier, and the entry trim of Bennington. The argument is heritage build discipline at mid-tier pricing.

FAQ

Frequently asked.

How does Crest compare to Avalon?
Pricing and tier are similar. Both are heritage mid-tier Michigan pontoon builders. Cross-shop on dealer proximity and specific layout preference.
What's the maintenance cost on a Classic 220?
Annual service on Mercury Verado V6 runs $1,400 to $2,000. Bottom paint $300 to $700. Storage $1,200 to $3,500. Insurance for a $50,000 hull runs $500 to $1,200.
Where are Crests built?
Owosso, Michigan. Maravia Corporation facility.

Compare

Categories Crest fits.

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