Need a little advice?

[barjack1]

Just bought a place on a lake in N.C. and need to get a boat. Curious to know your thoughts about which pontoon boat is the best. I would like to use it for cruising, tubing, and fishing. It doesn't have to be the best best - but a pontoon boat that is one step below the best. Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[vergil]

Re: Need a little advice?

Depends on what your budget is, But to do it all over again, I really enjoyed bringing an old one back to life,

 

[The Rooster]

Re: Need a little advice?

Well "Barjack", welcome to the forum. A little more information would be helpful. Will you be looking for new, or consider used pontoons? What size do you think you want, 18-26'+. If you're on smaller or larger bodies of water. Twin tube or triple tube barges? I really don't believe there are any really poor modern party barges being built these days. If considering used, I'd think twice about 15-20+ year old rigs w/ the smaller 19" to 21" tube diameters, as well as those tubes filled w/ foam. Condition, sea trial, and a mechanical survey if looking at used. Not too much you can't detect when looking one over closely. Good luck !!!

 

[vergil]

Re: Need a little advice?

Well "Barjack", welcome to the forum. A little more information would be helpful. Will you be looking for new, or consider used pontoons? What size do you think you want, 18-26'+. If you're on smaller or larger bodies of water. Twin tube or triple tube barges? I really don't believe there are any really poor modern party barges being built these days. If considering used, I'd think twice about 15-20+ year old rigs w/ the smaller 19" to 21" tube diameters, as well as those tubes filled w/ foam. Condition, sea trial, and a mechanical survey if looking at used. Not too much you can't detect when looking one over closely. Good luck !!!

Well said rooster

 

[barjack1]

Re: Need a little advice?

Well "Barjack", welcome to the forum. A little more information would be helpful. Will you be looking for new, or consider used pontoons? What size do you think you want, 18-26'+. If you're on smaller or larger bodies of water. Twin tube or triple tube barges? I really don't believe there are any really poor modern party barges being built these days. If considering used, I'd think twice about 15-20+ year old rigs w/ the smaller 19" to 21" tube diameters, as well as those tubes filled w/ foam. Condition, sea trial, and a mechanical survey if looking at used. Not too much you can't detect when looking one over closely. Good luck !!!

Thank you for taking the time

1. New boat - but would buy used if I knew what I was talking about.
2. Its a medium sized lake.
3. Twin tube (Unless triple tubes are far superior)

 

[5150abf]

Re: Need a little advice?

Welcome to iboats.

Your best bet is to get out to the dealers in your area and see what is out there, pontoons aren't pontoons anymore, they have come a long way in the last 15 years and go from 12K to over 100K so what ever you want is out there.

I would not have any problem getting a 2-5 year old boat, not much to go wrong with a toon but as with anything else there are some brands that are much better than others, I work for a pontoon company so I will stay out of the brand game but there are major differences.

With a triple tube boat you get more flotation, it rides higher and planes easier, I have never heard anyone complain about buying one, they are obviously a bit more expensive but worht it if you can find one in your price range.

You want one with the deck and rails thru bolted not screwed and something with M style brackets, those 2 things will give you a much better boat right out of the gate and there are several companies that do it this way.

It is boat show season after the first of the year so get out there and see what they have, your new boat will find you if you look.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Need a little advice?

It is boat show season after the first of the year so get out there and see what they have, your new boat will find you if you look.

That is capital advice ... climbing around on new and used boats (lookin' is half the fun, right?) is a great way to figure out what you want. My only note to add: We've had two pontoons in my family over the years. Current one is my brothers - few years old, big sofas, tables, pedestal seats, etc. ... very plush boat. The other one was a early 70's Crest ... rails, floor, steering console (you could land a helicopter in the open deck space). I liked the old 70's barge just as much as the new plush job. Why? Folding chairs and an open deck made for a zillion different seating arrangements based on what you were doing that day.

My only point is don't rule out the old ones ... you might like them just as much.

 

[a1nowell]

Re: Need a little advice?

barjack1

I have had 2 pontoon boats my first was a 1988, 24' Starcraft powered by 115hp Mercury o/b. My current boat is a 1984, 24' JC Tritoon powered by Mercruiser 47, i/o that I rebuilt in'08. ( https://picasaweb.google.com/104782652037773575377/TritoonRebuild2008?authkey=Gv1sRgCNnK4ru4trug0gE#) I certainly like my Tritoon better because of having 3 toons and the i/o power. But I had no complaints about the Starcraft.

Now for my 2 cents worth.

If I were you I would buy a good used boat because you do not know what you want in a boat and won't find out until you own one. The next 4 months is the best time of the year to buy a used boats. As far as used pontoons, if the boat is in good physical condition and everything is in working order then you are probably buying a good boat. The engine will be 2/3d's of the cost. Get the engine checked out by a pro that has worked on the particular brand of engine. Also, think about the size, I have never heard a toon owner wish they had a smaller boat.

Welcome tto the forum!

 

[barjack1]

Re: Need a little advice?

Thank you all very much - Great Forum you got here!!

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Need a little advice?

Welcome to the forum Barjack. Unless you spend a LOT of time finding what you want, you will end up saying, " I wish I had gotten..............on the pontoon. I would suggest buying a good used one for now OR look at lots of new ones. I would say that 90 hp and 20 feet would be your minimum. Outboard would be a better starter rather than i/o. Consider how many people you intend on having aboard to determine length. Layout is next. My pontoon is more for cruising and doesn't lend itself well for fishing. So getting a layout that is good for both will be paramount. If you are buying new, get a tow bar installed for tubing. We'll talk about which trailer later. Get back to us when you've seen a few and get our collective 2 cents worth.

 

[Blank-N-Ship]

Re: Need a little advice?

Just bought a place on a lake in N.C. and need to get a boat. Curious to know your thoughts about which pontoon boat is the best. I would like to use it for cruising, tubing, and fishing. It doesn't have to be the best best - but a pontoon boat that is one step below the best. Any advice would be much appreciated.

I'd say make sure that you invest the right amount into your engine. Tubing is going to require enough power to move you and your family around.