New member looking for boat suggestion

Hello,
I am a dad to a two year old boy, and want to start planning to get a boat for when he's a couple years older.
Our family have a couple cabins, so we get out the to lake quite a bit.
My dilemma is I'd really like to have a boat for wakeboarding and stuff like that, but I would also like to get a boat that's big enought to have a fair amount of people on to enjoy and relax. So I'm also kinda interested in a pontoon boat.
Now I'm not in a huge rush, and am definitely not financially ready to spend the money right now, but I want to start learning, and figure out a plan.

One thing I came across were the Suntracker Party Barge 250, which holds up to 15 people, and they say they have the power for wakeboarding too. Of course it's expensive, $40,000 for a new one. But is there anything like this that would work? And would gas for this be very expensive? My concern would be it just doesn't have the power to wakeboard if my kid decides to realy get into it. Though I know absolutely nothing about it. I guess an older one would go for $25,-$30k as well.

Another option would be to have one of each, 5-8 years old models, end cost could be around $25-$30k.
Or just buy a big wakeboard type boat that can fit 10 people, and forget the pontoon.

Anyways, being really new, I just wanted to get some advice, and get my feet wet in the subject.

Re: New member looking for boat suggestion

For some reason it won't let me save my edit to the above, here it is:

**After some reading I've learned a tritoon might be more what I want if that's the route I go. But how would I tritoon compare with a wake/ski boat?

Re: New member looking for boat suggestion

Have you looked at any deckboats? They have a hull similar to a bowrider/runabout., but the deck has a lot more room. A 20' deckboat is often rated for 10 or more people. They seem like a good compromise between a runabout and pontoon.

I have looked at several; Crownline, Glastron, Tahoe, Fourwinns. Most are sterndrive setups and vary in price depending on the brand.

Re: New member looking for boat suggestion

Welcome to iboats.

I agree you should consider a deck boat. Even the biggest and baddest tritoon will not perform like a deck boat. Many barges advertise they do but they do not. A wakeboard is best behind a boat with a big wake .......... a barge throws a very different wake then a true wakeboard boat. A deckboat is closer.

You can tube behind anything

You should also consider how often you will have those crowds. Loaded up boats are not as much fun for water sports. You will not be happy with a deck boat or a party barge if you do not take allot of people all the time.

It is a fine line to walk. The bigger the boat .......... the bigger the fuel bill. Even a nice 22+ ft bowrider will hold allot of people and they are cheaper too.

In about 60 days the season will be on the downhill side. The prices will also drop Depending on where you are the season can be short........... here in VT the majority of the boating ends in September.

Do your research and shopping NOW to establish how the various boats handle. The only downside of buying during the off season is the lack of water testing (based on where you live).

I have a small 16' boat for fishing and skiing but this past summer my wife and I were invited out with friends. Our friends have beautiful boats Ski Boats, Wakeboard boats and Pontoons that raft up. Now the wife thinks a pontoon would be nice however I have been working on a deck boat in the plans............ The bottom line is we will not be changing soon We will stick with the reliable 16 footer and next summer just join up in the rafting.

BTW are you intending on keeping the boat in the water or dragging it along on a trailer? The bigger the boat......the bigger the tow vehicle

Good Luck.