Buying first pontoon, need advise/suggestion

[Silver Eagle]

Re: Buying first pontoon, need advise/suggestion

Where are you located?

 

[Tejhummer]

Re: Buying first pontoon, need advise/suggestion

Going to make a trip to the dealer tomorrow, they don't have our size toon in stock, but they have the same layout and model we are looking at but in the shorter model. So it will give us a good feel of the features. We might end up going with the PTX package for the only reason is that after adding the 3 toons, the PTX package gives you all the options in the performance package with for 2k $ more. So it will really have everything the Sunsation can have for performance. Sounds like it only 2-3 mph more going with PTX but there video kinda sold me and 2k more...in the end why not?!?! So Premiere 220 RE with bench seatnig in front, 150HP and PTX package...assuming its the 30" not the 36" I would think those are on 24ft and up models???

I rally hate to intervine with all this good information that these guys have given you, but you might want to at least ask your dealer. If you are serious about putting 11 to 15 people on your boat and pulling a skier, or multiple skiers, or a tuber, or multiple tubers, ALL at once, then you are going to need more horsepower. I know a guy who runs a 115 Yamaha on the back of his 22 ft Bennington, and it hauls. It probobally hit 40, at least that's what the jet ski's speedometer told me when I was keeping up with him. The problem was that he had ony 3 children and himself on there at that time. If your manufacture has the option to, you might want to consider and inboard/out drive. NOW WAIT BEFORE YOU SCROLL DOWN TO THE NEXT POST, JUST HEAR ME OUT. People might not think they are the most popular thing, but you don't have to worry about the performance of your boat if you know you have a big enough engine to do what you want. I have a 25ft Crest III with a 5.7 litre Chevy V-8 I/O. In my book, and at the launch ramp I go to, I don't see a lot of 25 ft pontoons, and I have never seen another I/O on a pontoon, so it is a larger boat. The people I talk to at the ramp who eat, breath, and sleep pontoon boats say I should be able to get 60 mph out of it. I have not tried this theory because quite frankly I don't think it is the best for the engine to run full out across the lake, not to say that I haven't done it. the thing that I was told, and still believe is that when you buy a pontoon, don't get the power you need for today, tommorow, and next week, get the power that will last you until your kids, or grand kids grow older and want to take their buddies out on it and get you to pull all of them around. It was not a cheap box to check on the "add on options" coming in at around $9,000, but I would not regret doing it again and HIGHLY reccomend it.

 

[SEMPERFI8387]

Re: Buying first pontoon, need advise/suggestion

The people I talk to at the ramp who eat, breath, and sleep pontoon boats say I should be able to get 60 mph out of it. I have not tried this theory because quite frankly I don't think it is the best for the engine to run full out across the lake, not to say that I haven't done it. the thing that I was told, and still believe is that when you buy a pontoon, don't get the power you need for today, tommorow, and next week, get the power that will last you until your kids, or grand kids grow older and want to take their buddies out on it and get you to pull all of them around. It was not a cheap box to check on the "add on options" coming in at around $9,000, but I would not regret doing it again and HIGHLY reccomend it.

It's a boat motor, it SHOULD be designed for full throttle runs, within the max rpm range, as these are not car engines ...... For $9000 option I'd be hammer'n it !!!

 

[Tejhummer]

Re: Buying first pontoon, need advise/suggestion

Going to make a trip to the dealer tomorrow, they don't have our size toon in stock, but they have the same layout and model we are looking at but in the shorter model. So it will give us a good feel of the features. We might end up going with the PTX package for the only reason is that after adding the 3 toons, the PTX package gives you all the options in the performance package with for 2k $ more. So it will really have everything the Sunsation can have for performance. Sounds like it only 2-3 mph more going with PTX but there video kinda sold me and 2k more...in the end why not?!?! So Premiere 220 RE with bench seatnig in front, 150HP and PTX package...assuming its the 30" not the 36" I would think those are on 24ft and up models???

I hate to Intervene now after all of this good advice that all these guys have given you, but I have a couple things that might help. Fist of all, if you are actually going to put 11 to 15 people on your boat at one AND want to pull at the same time, you are going to need some serious horsepower. I know a guy who has a 22 ft Bennington tri-toon with a 115 Yamaha and it was hauling the day I saw him on it. I was on a jet ski and ran up beside him and he hit 40 mph, but he only had himself and 3 children with him. I don't know if this lines up with what the other guys here have seen or heard, but I thought I would throw that out there. If you are going to pull and have the 11-15 people you probally would be okay with a 115 to a 150 h.p. If I'm not mistaken you said the kids you were going to be towing were younger and you probably wouldn't want to tow them very fast. The thing is, and what I was once told, don't buy what h.p. engine you are going to need now or next year, get one that you can still continue to tow with when those kids grow up and want to bring along their friends, and you can still have all the people you want on the boat at the same time. I have a 25ft Crest III with a 5.7 litre Chevy V-8 I/O that puts out around 260 h.p. I have been told by the people at the launch ramp that eat, sleep and breath pontoon boats that it can hit 50 to 60 mph. It wasn't too bad compared to some of the outboards today, but it was another 9k on top of everything else. If your manufacture has the option on their boats, I would strongly recommend it. Personally, I would do it again, no questions asked.

Secondly about batteries. I run 2 batteries with a perko ( I think) battery selector. The boat has a pretty hefty sound system on it on top of the engine. It is more weight and more space, but a backup is always nice.
I hope this helped and in no way did I mean to hijack the thread, just trying to help

 

[Tejhummer]

Re: Buying first pontoon, need advise/suggestion

Did not mean to post twice sorry guys.

 

[imported_John o]

Re: Buying first pontoon, need advise/suggestion

I agree with almost everythintg you've been told so far.

One point to remember is that pontoons last almost forever. You could have this boat until you retire and then later turn it over to your kids. So as tejhummer said, power for the long haul.

That said, I would also go with the performance package (PTX, ESP, SHP ?) for whatever brand you end up getting. Better a boat that will do more than what you ask of it rather than one that won't serve your needs in 3-5 years. Get the biggest motor you can afford. Minimum 150 with a performance toon.

I have a 175 Yamaha on my 24' Manitou. I get 39.63MPH which is fast enough to pull anything that the teens want pulled. The Yamaha has been a very goo dmotor for me (175 VMAX HPDI)

The point I disagree with is the dealer. There is very little that can go wrong on a pontoon boat itself, and almost all of those things can be fixed locally by almost any marina/boat service place (In fact, I can't think of anything that can't be fixed locally). Most problems you would have would be motor related and there are mercury/evinrude/yamaha/etc motor shops almost everywhere there's water. If you have a good motor shop nearby (for me it was a yamaha certifed service center) then you will be OK no matter hwat dealer you buy the boat from.

When I bought my boat I went to the local guy. He priced me at 44K. I was expectimng closer to 33K. During negotiations he came down to 43K and would go no lower. I figured he just didn't want my business. So I sent requests for quotes to every Manitou dealer within 500 miles of me.

The lowesst came back from Casey's Cove marina on Crooked Lake in Angola IN. About 3 1/2 hours from me. They came in at about 37K. I took this number to the local guy and he was not interested in matching it, his loss.


You can buy an awful lot of gas toys and drinks etc for $6,000. So I went up there and we sat down and worked out the boat. I ended up adding a bunch of stuff that brought me up to 40K but I was still way ahead of the local guy.

I had the boat back to Casey's ONCE in the 6 years I've owned it and that was two weeks after I picked it up (Some of my add ons came in late). All other work has been done locally.

I still don't think I've spent $3,000 in gas.

 

[winty03]

Re: Buying first pontoon, need advise/suggestion

Well back to the drawing board After meeting with the dealer and practically placing an order for a Premiere Sunsation 220RE, we are just a bit too uncomfortable with the final price. Im thinking we need to look at the mid range manufactures, to be able to still keep some of the performance. I know we can get a basic standard Sunsation, but not with the HP we would like. Im currently reading through all the post so see where to go from here. I was looking at the Sun Tracker Party Barge 24 DLX XP3, they have 3 toons with 150hp merc. We really want to be 33k walking out the door.....boat, trailer, tax and get as much hp and performance as possible. I just don't think 115hp 2 toon will do what we want...so back to research. Really fell in love with the Sunsation..but after upgrading toons and engine, it was in the 40s.

UPDATE: Thoughts on a Sun Tracker Signature Party Barge 24 DLX XP3....we found 1 left in 2012 and get some good rebates along with pricing being its "left over" stock. Thoughts on that vs. big 4 brands? It has 3 toons, strakes, 150hp merc......

 

[SouthbaySL]

Re: Buying first pontoon, need advise/suggestion

These guys have said it all and I am new to the pontoon and new to this site, but I can't go with out letting you know we baught a southbay sl 525 and we love it! The only thing we may add mater is a larger motor and a second Bimini top.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Buying first pontoon, need advise/suggestion

Not sure if you have checked out Hallberg marine in Wyoming, mn, but they are owned by Premier and the factory is right there. From my experience, they are great to deal with. See to be very customer oriented. You might be able to take advantage of the fact they are factory direct for leftover stock or what not.

Since you have never been on a pontoon, maybe you should rent one just to get a feel for whether they would meet your needs.

 

[The Rooster]

Re: Buying first pontoon, need advise/suggestion

Too bad "Winty". You'll find the right deal. Suntrackers are good, and prior to the SouthBay, we had a 2007 243 Bentley that was really nice. Someone else mentioned Bentley/Encore. You should be able to snag a 22'-24' w/150 hp for your price range. Good luck !!!

 

[winty03]

Re: Buying first pontoon, need advise/suggestion

Rooster, the same Premiere dealer sells South Bay...never got pricing on them....wow, you got a 250 on yours...thats huge!! Whats your suggestion for that mid 30's price with performance.....Bentley? I didn't seem to find a website for them rather just dealers?

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: Buying first pontoon, need advise/suggestion

It's too bad you don't live closer to me. I have a 24ft. 3 inch Starcraft pontoon boat. for sale.It's an 07, has a bimini top. with a pop up changing room. two round tables, 90 hp Mercury ob motor.two stroke.06 5 starr tandem wheel trailer. For less then half of that $30,000 you mentioned.I'm getting older and need a smaller boat.Mine hold 14 people and has a weight 1950 lbs.