Im thinking about buying a pontoon, need some help...

[Matt 020906]

Hey Everyone!

I have wanted a pontoon for the longest time! The bad thing about the lake I live near by is they have strict rules:
No boat bigger then 16 FT
No engine larger than 9.9.

The engine part I am not that worried about because I dont plan on driving fast like a moron on a pontoon, so even if its a 25 they wont know the difference as long as there is no sticker on the motor. However, it is almost impossible to find a used 16ft pontoon in somewhat decent condition.

I am deciding on maybe just buying a new one, and finance it.

If you guys could give me some help with these questions I would REALLLLY appreciate it!

What are some cheap but reliable brands you think I should look at that have 16 ft models?

I keep seeing "electric" models. What does that mean? Electric motor? Are the electric ones good or should I stick to gas?

Has anyone ever heard of G3 pontoons? are they good?
here is a link to the gas one
http://www.g3boats.com/SunCatcher/168FC/
here is a link to the electric one
http://www.g3boats.com/SunCatcher/168FC_Electric/

I live in NJ and I am really trying to keep the total uinder 14500 with a trailer.

ANY HELP WILL BE MUCH APPRECIATED!
Thanks,
Matt

 

[DJ]

Re: Im thinking about buying a pontoon, need some help...

G3's are OK.

Electrics are just that-electric. They use one or more high performance electric trolling motors for power. They are EXPENSIVE and very heavy.

If you can, stick with gas.

You should be able to get in your price range with a four sroke 9.9 (gas).

 

[mike243]

Re: Im thinking about buying a pontoon, need some help...

i think i would stick with a gas motor & new if i could afford it,batterys will run down & take several hrs to recharge,if you run out of gas refill the tank & keep on truckin,hard to pull up at a boatdock & say recharge me please .as far as a brand the list might be a lot shorter on the bad,i have a 18' tracker & like it.aluiminum floor in it means never the $ to replywood it.mike243

 

[Matt 020906]

Re: Im thinking about buying a pontoon, need some help...

Thanks alot DJ and Mike!

I will stick to focusing on Gas.
The G3 has pressure treated plywood i believe as the the floor, thats no good?

Do you guys think I should wait until next year to buy? Since I probably wont be on the water until end of July.

 

[DJ]

Re: Im thinking about buying a pontoon, need some help...

Plywood is fine. It takes YEARS with very bad care to get them to rot.

Enjoy August and September!

 

[cjleigh]

Re: Im thinking about buying a pontoon, need some help...

I live in ND, near Minot, and there is a dumpy old marine place here that has something along the lines of what you are looking for. Here's a link.

http://www.minotmotormarine.com/

The boat is located under the new boats tab. It's a 14 Foot Pontoon made by a company called Misty Harbor.

http://www.mistyharborboats.com/view/32

Good luck in your search.

 

[Matt 020906]

Re: Im thinking about buying a pontoon, need some help...

I have heard about Misty Harbor boats, are they better than G3?

I am in NJ so that boat wont work for me, thanks though!

matt

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Im thinking about buying a pontoon, need some help...

Something to consider... Is 16 ft the length of the tubes or the length of the deck. 16 ft tubes could make for a VERY small pontoon with very limited load capacity. 16 ft deck is quite reasonable. If this lake is important (and it sounds like it is) you should get a definative answer (preferably in writing) from someone who is in a legal position to enforce this.

As far as the aluminum deck... Aluminum decks are nice, but if the deck is stored in a dry environment, new marine plywood from the factory will last a LONG time.

TerryMSU

 

[cjleigh]

Re: Im thinking about buying a pontoon, need some help...

I'm sorry I don't have more information about the Misty pontoons. The only ones I have ever been on are all Trackers, which seem like nice boats, but I don't know how well they stand up over time.

How many people are you planning on taking on the pontoon? Have you considered another type of boat. If your primary goal is fishing with a friend a friend of mine had a Bass Hunter that he picked up from Cabellas. It was very stable and comfortable and he powered it with an electric motor. Just a thought.

 

[mogfisher]

Re: Im thinking about buying a pontoon, need some help...

I have a 16' Avalon Pontoon and it's been a great boat. Very well made. I paid about 15-16k new in 06 with the galvanized trailer. I also have a 50 Merc 4 stroke EFI bigfoot on it which brought the price up a bit. I was looking to sell my boat last week, but this week I rented a slip for it so I'm keeping it now.

 

[Matt 020906]

Re: Im thinking about buying a pontoon, need some help...

im guessing 16' tubes? isnt that what they usually go by?

I will have no more than 7 people on it at a time.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Im thinking about buying a pontoon, need some help...

im guessing 16' tubes? isnt that what they usually go by?

I will have no more than 7 people on it at a time.

Not necessarily. My old toon had a deck of 20'1" and had 22' tubes and was listed as a 22. My new one has a 20' deck and 18'6" tubes and is listed as a 20.

 

[can-amsledder]

Re: Im thinking about buying a pontoon, need some help...

We have a Misty Harbor. Seems like a good boat for small lakes. The one thing that would make it better would be bigger pontoons to get it to sit a little higher out of the water.

 

[Matt 020906]

Re: Im thinking about buying a pontoon, need some help...

how much do you guys think a 2010 Tahoe Pontoon with a 15hp Mercury, and trailer, ALL brand new should cost?
Tahoe is better than G3?
picture attached.