Re: Anyone know where to get higher end pontoon helms or furniture???
I thought I might give my experience and my findings as of yet. I thought it might help the next fella out who is rebuilding and looking for higher end accessories or furniture. I have looked at the pontoon specialist and didn't find anything that was any different from every other pontoon sales site. They carry the same old WISE type furniture everyone else sales. Wise and Deckmate might be good stuff but for me it doesn't have the look or elegance that I desire on my pontoon. It is just well,....... tacky colors and tacky seem design. For the guys who have it, I hope I have not offended. This is my own personal opinion. I just desire the more luxury MODERN look.
As for the gentleman who gave me the PREMIER pontoon web site, I did call them and they only sale DIRECTLY to owners of a premier pontoon. You have to have a serial number which I don't possess. I did think they had some nice looking helms from what I could see from the ads they had up advertising their replacement parts and dash panels. The problem is getting a serial number in which to mislead them?? hmmmmmmm... Why would a company be so strict on selling a part. If you got money who cares?? Sale them anything!! As far as I have ever experienced, I could call any oem and empty my wallet in micro seconds for ANY couple of their items without question. LOL
Great lake skipper... They do have some nice stuff including helms at great great prices but it is older items off boats like Harris and Kayot. Anyone would be hard pressed to finder a better price excluding private individual sellers on solid fiberglass helms. They are not bubbly and designed like a bennington but they are nice. Plus you had better be ready to fabricate some panels or search out the panels that go to them. Here is the catch!! You have to let it be delivered to a commercial business and have it unloaded via forklift. Not very convenient for the individual guy. For what I was told by Greatlakeskipper they will NOT do it any other way.
As far as seats and helms go VEADA and AMERICAN SOFT TRIM both do custom seats with a predefined seat pattern with limited colors. Here is the drop on those two. I talked to both Veada and American soft trim and they both use the same vinyl products with exclusion of a couple colors. Here is the difference. A.S.T uses plywood frames in seat construction and a 15% up-charge for molded plastic. A.S.T's price for seating is very close if not higher than Veada. You will also oblige a hefty freight fee for delivery on your seats. Soft trim had very nice customer service reps and or sales reps. Lead time to acquire the seats was estimated at about three weeks at longest. It was pleasant to talk to them.
Veada has both VERY nice designed seats ( Regatta...AGAIN MY OPINION ) and very decent helms that are fiberglass. The only thought on the helm is for about $900 can I get a nicer OEM helm for close to that amount?? The shipping is free and if you spend $1000 you get a 3% off discount and a 5% for 3 grand or more. ( I don't think this helps if you look at the pricing on most items) Here is the kicker with this company. Veada's sales reps don't seem to care one way or the other if they get your business. If you have multiple questions they seem to loose interest and get annoyed. Maybe this is because their sales are made for the season?? Who knows!! Veada at the present is backed up to over EIGHT weeks! If you ask for a estimated date you will NOT get one. From what I can gather they take your money and then..... well you wait!! For the helms they do not stock them. They order from a fabricator. The fabricator sends the helm to veada and then to you. This is over a three week process. YEP I did talk straight to veada management. From what I could conclude from my observation, if you had problems with veada and their attitudes are like what I have described now that they are under slight production pressure. What will the attitude be once you have already purchased the items and warranty issue comes up? Or better yet warranty issue comes up while they are in peak production season like right now????
I hope I have tossed out some helpful tidbits that I have found and thoughts that has crossed my mind. I hope more suggestions come in that will help me and others like me in my search for nicer pontoon items. I have not settled on a company for a helm or seats. It would seem right now Veada is my only choice with a dose of salt and vinegar. If I get stuck going with veada, I will poke the wound and wait till the end of season or closer to winter and see if the prices go down. Even if I order now it will be about then when I get my items anyway.
Thanks again to all you guys,
Tester!!