used pontoon boat/party boat

[lncoop]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

Wait!! Incoop is paying for the gas? AWESOME! We will be there for sure. We are only coming from Louisville, KY.. No big deal!!

Just a dadgum minute. You gotta read the fine print. I'm only buying the Floridiots' gas, and as long as suzieb is taking to find a barge I'll have to borrow against my commission to do it.

 

[suzieB]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

How about this one?

http://nh.craigslist.org/boa/2976292217.html

I emailed to see if it's still for sale. Now- I'll go check MA and RI for boats.

 

[suzieB]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

Just found a new site- what do you think? Should I contact the seller and tell them what we're looking for?

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2008-Sweetwater-Sw-2180-Re3-101674068

 

[lncoop]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

Forget the Suncruiser. It's too small and underpowered for your needs. I like the Sweetwater, but a 21 footer is the absolute smallest you'll want in my opinion. I really like the San Pan at the same dealer. Yes, I definitely think you should visit with someone there.

 

[sasto]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

I'm only buying the Floridiots' gas.

Hey there Mr Coop......I resemble that remark!

Good luck in finding the toon you want. I'm in the process in finding a friend one. He sold his 56'er and swore on never buying a boat again. We recenty went out for a picnic in a toon. He fell in love with boating all over again. We are leaning toward a deck boat, Hurricane.

 

[suzieB]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

I wrote the dealer to ask about the Sanpan but then realized that it was too long- 25 ft. Don't think it will fit on the dock. I'll check with the siblings.

 

[suzieB]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

I am praying you haven't given up on me yet. This is the latest situation. My younger sister has said she cannot stand the pressure from the two older siblings. So- she told me to find a new boat and motor. She said she will sell stock to come up with 10K. She also insists that she wants a 20 foot boat but I told her we needed it to be bigger. So- today's questions are:

1. How many passengers (adult) will fit on a 20, 22, and 24 foot boat?
2. What are the most reliable brands in boats and motors?
3. She wants to buy it from Rockingham Boats (Salem, NH) because they're the ones who put in, take out and store the boat.
4. She thinks we should be able to get something for a trade-in on our boat that is sitting in their boatyard.
5. In looking at a new boat, are there any new features that we should look for that weren't around when our previous boat was made? Same question for a motor.
6. Is the minimum HP needed for water-skiing 90 or 115?

If you have any other advice, please feel free to offer it. I am indebted to you all. Suz

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

1. How many passengers (adult) will fit on a 20, 22, and 24 foot boat?
2. What are the most reliable brands in boats and motors?
3. She wants to buy it from Rockingham Boats (Salem, NH) because they're the ones who put in, take out and store the boat.
4. She thinks we should be able to get something for a trade-in on our boat that is sitting in their boatyard.
5. In looking at a new boat, are there any new features that we should look for that weren't around when our previous boat was made? Same question for a motor.
6. Is the minimum HP needed for water-skiing 90 or 115?

I like to have FOUR people on my 24. Just saying. I think it's rated for 14 or so.
On a 24, you probably want that 115...at LEAST.
Sheesh, there are probably 50 pontoon manufacturers in the US today.
Price alone is definitely not what you should be looking at.

Motor and boat manufacturers preferences are something of a religious discussion.

Some people swear by Yamahas, some by Mercury. All the major brands are good.
Same thing with Boat brands.

If you insist on going with that dealer, they're going to push a brand THEY carry, and a motor THEY have in stock. Motors are very scarce right now.

I'd INSIST on a trade-in value!

Want a really smooth ride? Get a tritoon (three pontoons).
Want good performance? Get lifting strakes, and a wave shield.
These are not things you can typically add-on after you take posession.

Top-of-the line units are easily as luxurious as any deluxe motor-home you have ever seen.

 

[lncoop]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

There's one question you still haven't answered (I don't think), and it's a biggie. How many will typically be aboard?

 

[The Rooster]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

Welcome back "SuzieB". +1&2 for the above comments. 5-6 adults on a 20' leaves enough room so everybody's not on top of each other. For your planned watersports, the bigger the motor the better. Probably $1500 difference between 90 & 115 hp, but not sure about that. Need to find out which brands that dealer carries, and let us know. Good luck !!!

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

3. She wants to buy it from Rockingham Boats (Salem, NH) because they're the ones who put in, take out and store the boat.

Looks like they carry Godfrey pontoons (Sanpan, Aqua Patio and Sweetwater). They're a reputable manufacturer, I believe.

 

[lncoop]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

Looks like they carry Godfrey pontoons (Sanpan, Aqua Patio and Sweetwater). They're a reputable manufacturer, I believe.

Agreed. They make very good boats. Sanpan is the best appointed of the three lines I think.

 

[suzieB]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

My brother just called with our options at Rockingham:

22 ft. (specs say 20' 3") Fundeck 150 HP Yamaha, model 216 new at 32K seats 10

or

18 foot Godfrey pontoon with 60 HP Yamaha model 2086 seats 10 new at 19K

My brother and his wife are definitely leaning toward the Fundeck. Of course the dealer said we could get the Fundeck delivered next week if we purchase by Tuesday otherwise they can't get one for us until Labor Day.

Anything that you know about these boats would be useful. THANK YOU!!!

 

[The Rooster]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

Apples to oranges comparison between those two Suzie. The Fundeck is a deckboat, and will easily meet all your watersports and cruising needs with great power, but thats why the price difference. Hey, a little down payment and 10 yr financing, I say go boating next weekend. Good luck !!!

 

[lncoop]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

I don't understand. Are you saying those are the only two options? If so, Fundeck hands down. That eighteen foot barge will be too small for you guys, and the Fundeck will remind you a lot of what you had before. Still don't understand why you have to choose between only those two boats, but I don't guess I need to LOL.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

Susie, I have a 20' with 26" pontoons. It is rated for 10 people but the one time I had that many on board it was very unstable. No waves and slow speed only. I consider my max at 6 people. For the extra bodies you will have aboard and the larger motor (suggest 150hp), I think a 24 ft would be your best bet. Although a triple toon may stretch your budget, a 22' would be worth considering and would give you more control and higher load capacity.

 

[suzieB]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

Yet another question. My sister said that we shouldn't buy a deckboat because there is a hull. She said that the problem with our last boat was that it repeatedly sank. She said that it was because rainwater used to enter the hull through the storage areas underneath the deck. Since there were some weeks when the boat didn't get used, the bilge pump didn't empty the water out and thus, the sinking. She also mentioned there was a leak. This doesn't make sense to me.
I can't imagine them making a boat that would fill up with water from the storage compartments. Also- I thought the whole point of the pump was that it would come on as needed. If it didn't, perhaps it was a battery problem with the pump. The fact that there was a leak seems to have been the main cause of sinking. I have to wonder why we didn't just get the leak and the pump fixed.

So- my questions is this. Is a deckboat going to work for us if there will be times when it is not used for one or two weeks at a time?

One more question. I suggested to my siblings that we didn't need a 150HP and perhaps money could be saved if we got a less powerful one. I also passed along Incoop's question as to why are we only considering the two boats.
The response was that that was the only motor they had that would allow waterskiing. As to Incoop's question- Rockingham said that any other boat would have to be ordered and it would take 8 weeks. This sounds like BS (excuse my language) to me but could it be legit?

 

[lncoop]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

Typically boats with holds and bilges that are left alone for extended periods of time are equipped with automatic bilge pumps (they use float switches). The pumps of course will only work if they have power, so the batteries they depend on must be connected to some sort of maintainer. Some use on board chargers that plug into a standard 110 outlet, and some use solar maintainers. If any component of this system was not properly maintained (or not ever installed to begin with) the Hurricane's demise could have easily been caused by the scenario sis presented. And, if a fiberglass boat's innards (wood and foam) get wet and stay wet for long enough it has to be completely gutted and structurally rebuilt on the inside. As you might imagine this is a lengthy and expensive process. Unfortunately this is probably the case with the Hurricane, which is why her prognosis is so bleak and replacement is the recommended option.

So, with that in mind I can see why your sister is hesitant to buy another glass boat, but if that's what you guys really want and that's the only thing holding you back you now know the solution. Whether she and the others are willing to trust it is up to them. We each have to decide how much risk we're willing to take, but in my mind her concerns about leaving the boat alone for extended periods of time further support the wisdom of buying a gently used boat. You'd save thousands of dollars, and if you bought from a dealer you could work out something in terms of warranty support. Also, don't think that new boats are immune to problems after the sale. There are all sorts of horror stories on here that puncture that misconception.

Now, with regard to the eight week wait on other models, that's entirely possible. It's the high season, and manufacturing capacities were likely really scaled back during the depths of the recession. FWIW I just read in another thread that Mercury is backed up two months. That's anecdotal of course, but it supports the dealer's assertion. Yet another reason to pick out a nice used rig.

Have you guys all had a visit or conference call to hammer out exactly what you want in a boat? If not, the situation will just continue to deteriorate until everyone either gives up or someone makes a unilateral decision that could potentially end up being a thirty of forty thousand dollar mistake. I know personally I wouldn't even think of pulling the trigger on anything given the circumstances.

 

[The Rooster]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

One other note Suzie, a good tight fitting, water repellant cover will go a long way to easing your sinking fears.

 

[Treker57]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

There's one question you still haven't answered (I don't think), and it's a biggie. How many will typically be aboard?

Has there ever been an anwser to this question, I am sure that the first day the boat is delivered everyone will be swarming all over it, but the "new toy" effect wears off really fast. What needs to be anwsered is on a typical weekend, week, that people are at the lake house how many will want to be on the boat at the same time. When we rent a house on Smith Mountain Lake during the summer, and there are 10 people there, the schedule usually is that I am up early 5am and head out to fish or sunrise cruise(with coffee) sometimes someone will accompany me or 2(but often I am by myself). Then it's back to the house, breakfast- mess around, by then the youngest are ready to tube, swim just mess around. Lunch may have all 10 aboard to cruise to lunch, then some may decided to stay at the plaza and hang out(we leave one of our cars there)or head out somewhere for, dare I say, Shopping(no offense but it is usually the females, I already bought my beer). I may take some to the swimming area at the state park, as stated it is very rare to have all onboard at anyone time