First pontoon recommendations

[DiverDadBrad]

Hi all, looking for some advice. I've found a 2013 Encore Bentley 243fc se w/ a 200hp Honda for $34,688, looks like a pretty good deal, but I've never bought a boat before so I don't know. How about this brand, I saw they had some issues a few years back and don't know how they stack up against premier or sun tracker and the like. Any opinions would be appreciated, thanks!!

 

[ahicks]

Re: First pontoon recommendations

Just me, but if I were picking out a "first boat" I doubt I'd be spending that kind of money? My plan would include letting somebody else take that big depreciation hit by buying a 'like new' 2-3 year old boat? Maybe check into transferable multi year warranties if that's a concern? Pretty sure that's the case with Honda.

Anyway, second thought is, I lost all interest in other boat types when getting my pontoon....but....there are people that don't like dealing with some of the compromises necessary when going with a pontoon boat? With that kind of a budget you have all kinds of options! Have you used or rented a (similar?) pontoon yet?

My concern is, this beeing your first boat, regarding the hit you may need to consider if you get this thing out on the water, and find you don't like it, things change and you don't have time to use it, etc...

Regarding the Bentlly, I was recently on the (used) pontoon market, and from what I saw during that experience, it's hard to make a mistake buying a brand name you recognize? It's about floor plan, colors, and 'options'. Otherwise, when the wife finds one she likes, buy it!

You're going with a 200hp because you plan on towing tubes/skis? Big water? Is this a 'tri-toon'?

Best of luck, whatever way you go! -Al

 

[The Rooster]

Re: First pontoon recommendations

Welcome to Iboats, Brad. I'll assume you've done some homework and already decided a pontoon boat will suit your needs. A 24' triple tube barge w/ 200 hp for under $ 35 K is a good deal. Don't like to rate different barges into different segments, but suffice it to say Bentley would be considered midpack, not a premium brand, but built well. We had an 07 243 Bentley w/ 200 Merc and loved it. If taken care of properly it will last for decades. Good luck !!!

 

[The Rooster]

Re: First pontoon recommendations

Unable to edit post Brad, but wanted to add that we ran approx. 44 mph w/ that setup lightly loaded. Bentleys are usually a few hundred pounds lighter than "Premium" brands and the 200 hp Honda may be a bit of overkill. You could scale back to a 150 hp, possibly another brand outboard and save close to $4 k. Might help defer the cost of a dual axle trailer w/ brakes and / or TT&L for the rig. Good luck !!!

 

[DiverDadBrad]

Re: First pontoon recommendations

Just me, but if I were picking out a "first boat" I doubt I'd be spending that kind of money? My plan would include letting somebody else take that big depreciation hit by buying a 'like new' 2-3 year old boat? Maybe check into transferable multi year warranties if that's a concern? Pretty sure that's the case with Honda.

Anyway, second thought is, I lost all interest in other boat types when getting my pontoon....but....there are people that don't like dealing with some of the compromises necessary when going with a pontoon boat? With that kind of a budget you have all kinds of options! Have you used or rented a (similar?) pontoon yet?

My concern is, this beeing your first boat, regarding the hit you may need to consider if you get this thing out on the water, and find you don't like it, things change and you don't have time to use it, etc...

Regarding the Bentlly, I was recently on the (used) pontoon market, and from what I saw during that experience, it's hard to make a mistake buying a brand name you recognize? It's about floor plan, colors, and 'options'. Otherwise, when the wife finds one she likes, buy it!

You're going with a 200hp because you plan on towing tubes/skis? Big water? Is this a 'tri-toon'?

Best of luck, whatever way you go! -Al

I appreciate the fast response. Trust me, my first thought was definitely not to spend that kind of money on a boat, but I'm having a hard time finding any used pontoons in my area, and I cant find any with a high horsepower motor and tri toons in the entire state (Montana) for less than this new boat! My biggest problem right now is that I'm trying to find something enjoyable for the entire family to do, and with 5 kids I cant afford a big enough V-hull boat to fit all 7 of us. I know that this wont handle like a v-hull, but what other compromises would I be looking at? Most of my info at this point has come from the dealerships, and to hear them talk, other than cornering the pontoon is the most bang for the buck.

 

[DiverDadBrad]

Re: First pontoon recommendations

Unable to edit post Brad, but wanted to add that we ran approx. 44 mph w/ that setup lightly loaded. Bentleys are usually a few hundred pounds lighter than "Premium" brands and the 200 hp Honda may be a bit of overkill. You could scale back to a 150 hp, possibly another brand outboard and save close to $4 k. Might help defer the cost of a dual axle trailer w/ brakes and / or TT&L for the rig. Good luck !!!

Part of what I thought made it such a good deal is it includes a tandem axle trailer w/brakes! So will these dealerships normally swap out the motors, or is it what's on it on the floor is what you get? I want to pull ski's with it and my kids are beginners, and I'm 230lbs, so I need something a little on the quick side. You think I could get buy w/ a 150? Oh, and I used to work out of Port Fourchon kind of by Golden Meadow. Man I miss the food in south Louisiana!

 

[The Rooster]

Re: First pontoon recommendations

Under $35 k w/ the trailer --- Jump on it !!! It might be worth asking the dealer if he would swap for a 150 hp, but sounds like a package deal. Yes, they're not sport boats but it's basically the only 24' boat that will handle 10-12 people and still have room to move around. Maybe the dealer will throw in a BBQ grill.

Hard to beat the fishing out of Port Fourchon as well. Good luck !!!

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: First pontoon recommendations

Keep the motor, you will be glad you did.

 

[MaPaHa]

Re: First pontoon recommendations

I can't speak as to whether it's a good deal or not because I haven’t shopped that level of boat or that brand but you will probably be in that price range.

What I can say without a doubt and 5 years in the making is that it takes a minimum of 150 hp on a tri-toon with lifting strakes to do what it looks like you want to do. I've been working on a 22 footer (23 ?’ tubes) and I started with an 85 on it with a twin-toon and I built it into a tri-toon with lifting strakes on all three toons and now a 150 hp and it will finely do what I want. I can get a solid 35 mph and up to 38-40 lightly loaded. It allows us to ski and tube without running it wide open. I’m at what I would consider “a minimum” in my book. If I could put a 175 - 200 hp on it I probably would but I’m maxed out with the 150. I had an older 140 hp (about 125 real hp today) on it for a few years and was not satisfied at all at about 30 mph max and 26-27 skiing. Personally I wouldn’t back off the motor size to save a thousand or two dollars with that many folks onboard. You don’t have to run it wide open if you don’t want to. I would make sure it has lifting strakes on it which makes a big difference in lift, speed and handling. If you tube and ski, you’ll want to have a good ski bar that pulls from a high point because tying on the back of the boat is a pain and the rope drags in the water if you are pulling a tube.

Your family will like the pontoon boat I’m sure. I was a bass boat - fish and ski person that liked to go fast (and still do) but I love the pontoon boats as long as they can get out of the water. I like to go fast…She wanted a pontoon…Compromised on a go-fast pontoon. I’m not so much on plowing around all day long; Kind of irritating really. I’m 50+ and plan on skiing into my 60’s. We also like camping on it. And…I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a bit fun to pass a ski boat with an inboard/outboard in it.

I was at the lake with my son last year (he’s just out of college and still invites the old man to go to the lake) and one of the guys in the group had a new pontoon with a 300 hp on it. Looked kind of interesting but out of my range. They would pull several people on tubes/skis and had 6-8 people in the boat. I think it was 26 - 30 feet long.

Like you say, there’s just not that many used tri-toons with strakes out there with 150 – 200 hp motors. There’s plenty of twin-toons with 90’s – 125’s on them but I don’t think that’s what you’re looking for from what I read in your post.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: First pontoon recommendations

Its a good brand...that model with that motor and trailer seems like an awsome deal. Its a mid-pack brand yes....but they don't waste they time on too many frills and crazy options. Pretty straight-up boats with all the things most people want. Re-sale won;t be as good as some models, but if you were buying a Benny it would be a goodf 10k more for the same......easy.

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: First pontoon recommendations

Before I would buy something that expensive I'd Check around to see who had the next boat show near you. Boat show's always have very good deals the last two day's of the show. Don't buy a boat now wait until the new models come out, Then price last years over stock models . Some of the motor dealers with give extended warranty's. Up to five years on some models. Get a trailer with Disc brakes. Less maintenance. Wait until January that $34,600 boat may come down to $29,000. or less.

 

[calamus]

Re: First pontoon recommendations

We just got a 2014 Bennington with a 150 yamaha same thing here we needed the room for kids and the hp for pulling them. We looked all over for a used one the fit our need and a 5 year old boat was only saving us $4-5G and then you compromise on what you want and you dont know how the boat was treated either So we decided to go ahead and get the new boat. You will be happy with the 200. Get a good trailer if you are towing, full size tires, I would say to stay away form the surge brakes if possible I hate them I have to leave the lights plugged in or have someone put the back up key in I may like it later but hate it now. Good luck Im sure your family will enjoy the boat. Ps the in floor storage is the best for skis and life jackets.