Confused!!

[bob1340]

We have been looking at boats for a couple months now. We are hopeing to buy this winter or early spring. The idea of a Pontoon is vert appealing to us. Something in the 20' range with 90 hp or so to make it fun.

Here's my question:

Is there an independant website with reveiws and prices for these?? I can't find too much info on what this is gonna cost me. I do know my local dealer is at least 20% too high on everything. How can I do some conparitive shopping for these without driving 2,000 miles??

Thank you.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Confused!!

My gosh the web is your friend when shopping for boats. Check the BOATS FOR SALE on this site (in the blue band at the top of this page). You generally don't see NEW boat prices but price one from last year to get an idea. Google "Marine Dealers" and you will have enough reading to make your eyes bleed.

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: Confused!!

type in "pontoon boat tests" on the net and you will get a boating magazine that has dozens of pontoon boat tests. hope this helps.

 

[bob1340]

Re: Confused!!

My gosh the web is your friend when shopping for boats. Check the BOATS FOR SALE on this site (in the blue band at the top of this page). You generally don't see NEW boat prices but price one from last year to get an idea. Google "Marine Dealers" and you will have enough reading to make your eyes bleed.

Yeah I have done that. I can look at used boats all day and I have. I probably will buy used as well. But what I was getting at is sorta this; on auto sites you can get a pretty good idea of what a car is gonna cost you from the factory website. Most auto websites have a build your own feature and detailed description of what options cost and such. You don't see this for boats. Most new listings say, "Call for price". WTH? And I have no interest in what a dealer online or in person has a boat listed for. I have looked at the same boat out here at 3 different dealers and the price difference was between $15,600.00 and almost $22,000.00 for the exact same boat. One of the three had a different color stripe on the side but I doubt there is much price difference there. The factory price is lower than what I found by a bunch, but no way to find out as the only online factory price I found was for the boat with a smaller motor and that was about $12,700.00 or so. I can look up a Dodge truck and tell you within $1,000.00 what the sticker price is at the local lot.

type in "pontoon boat tests" on the net and you will get a boating magazine that has dozens of pontoon boat tests. hope this helps.

Thanks, I will do that. I love the independent tests and they usually give a reliable ballpark figure on what price you will pay.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Confused!!

If you are reading reviews form a baot magazine take them witha grain of salt, I have never read anyhting bad about a boat from one of them.

There primary advertiser is the boat companies so they don't want to mif them so the reviews aren't very candid.

 

[bob1340]

Re: Confused!!

If you are reading reviews form a baot magazine take them witha grain of salt, I have never read anyhting bad about a boat from one of them.

There primary advertiser is the boat companies so they don't want to mif them so the reviews aren't very candid.

Probably very true. I know you can get good reviews with autos in magazines. But I guess the boat world is just pretty small in comparison.

 

[EricJRW]

Re: Confused!!

This might be another data source:

http://www.boattrader.com/

As well as region newspapers from the local library.

My gut feeling is this: Pontoons seem to be relatively simple craft. Not much you can mess up if you stick with well-known names. If you buy used, there are just a few key things to check (I'm no expert, but condition of the pontoons, deck, furniture and wiring seem the most obvious). The place I would do the most research on is the motor. This is the thing that's going to get you there and back. Nothing ruins a day of boating more than a conked-out motor.

Me personally, I got a great deal on used boat (that was hanging on the dock) when we bought a lakehouse... So it is what it is. The boat is fine, the motor is constant work. But I'm learning a lot from the experience, so if there is a next time, I have a lot of personal data points.

Good luck... I'm sure you'll do OK.

 

[rutcutter]

Re: Confused!!

Craigs List is a good place to go as well as trader.com. Good luck.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Confused!!

Well sir -- most of those web sites have e-mail addresses or "contact us" buttons. Indicate the pontoon model, options, engine requirements, trailer requirements, and as for a quote. Simple as that. When I bought my last pontoon I shopped separately for a specially built pontoon trailer from a company in northern Minnesota, pontoon boats only (minus engine) in Wisconsin, an engine from a local dealer, as well as package deals from three different states. Be creative. Most dealers will put any engine on any boat. They may not stock more than one or two trailer manufacturers but the info is there if you ask for it. Just be specific in your request. And when you do make a decision, be a sport and tell those you did NOT buy from that you appreciated their response. They will remember you should you make a request in the future. I've also gone to boat shows with a "bid sheet" listing a specific boat type, engine HP, options, trailer, and goodies. Passed out the sheet at the dealers handling the boats I was interested in with the statement I WILL be back in one hour to get your bid and I WILL sign an order tonight today if all of the requirements are met. It works. Some didn't bother to bid and were amazed that I came back. It's your money, you have the ultimate say so. Do the leg work and by all means don't "shotgun" this process -- meaning narrow your focus to a short list. Many folks are lured in by all sorts of sales tactics that only cost them money or include options they don't need, don't want, or get them into a boat they will hate down the line.

 

[Mr Crabbs]

Re: Confused!!

I spent a l o o o o n g time looking at new and used boats, we finally decided to buy a new pontoon. At 50, I'm not into any new projects and I wanted to spend my time playing on the water instead of fixing things in the driveway. I'm not afraid of that stuff, a pontoon is pretty simple and open and I'm good with all sorts of tools. I didn't want to inherit somebody elses problems.

We knew that the economy had beaten the cost of new boats down (we bought a travel trailer last year for the same reason).

We lucked out and got a 5 year warranty on the Mercury 90 4-stroke. This is our first boat, we're already thinking about what our retirement boat might be like.

 

[bob1340]

Re: Confused!!

Well sir -- most of those web sites have e-mail addresses or "contact us" buttons. Indicate the pontoon model, options, engine requirements, trailer requirements, and as for a quote.

Yeah, I did that with 3 different companies (which I can name if it's proper on here). I emailed them with what I was wanting about 2 weeks ago and have yet to get a price or availability on anything. I have been getting calls on my cell phone from multiple dealers they contacted telling me to come on down and make a deal! No price though. Other than the local guy they won't even tell me what they have to sell! It would sure seem to me if I wanted to know the FOB price of a 20' "Brand X" boat I should be able to get it someplace. My local dealer is a great guy, very personable and 30% overpriced from what I am finding out. But that is a guesstimation on my part as I have yet to find the actual "sticker price" of what I am looking at. The local guy has no intention of showing me the invoice on anything either. I find that scary. I've never bought a car without looking at the invoice. I understand boats are mostly toys or luxury items, but they are big ticket items and I'd like to know the price I should be paying for it.

I will say before I was looking at Pontoons I was looking at a Lowe FM 165 fishing boat with the 60HP Merc. The price ranged from $15,600.00 to $21,999.00 at 3 different dealers on the exact same boat. One of them had a different color side stripe. These prices did not include tags and tax. Same equipment, same trailer, same outboard, same year model and $6,400.00 difference in price. And who knows, the $15,600.00 boat may be overpriced! I have no way of finding out! LOL