Question to the community. I'm buying a Tri-toon soon, and comparing two boats by two manufacturers. Bennington tri-toon comes with sealed strakes (front and back) on the center tube, and the Manitou boat is sealed in front, but open in the back. Boat will be used in salt water on the Gulf of Mexico. The Bennington dealer is making a big deal about barnacles getting inside the strake on the Manitou, which (in his opinion) can grow and break the strake away from the pontoon. I'm thinking he's being heavy handed in his presentation, but looking for comments on whether there's a problem with lifting strakes that are open at the back to drain water, and just how much concern I should have about marine growth INSIDE the strake. I'm having the bottom of the tubes painted to retard marine growth, and the boat will be in the water about 7 months a year, and stored the other 5 out of the water. Thoughts?
