Please Advise on Pontoons

[dai phan]

Hello all,

I live near Lake Murray SC and am considering a pontoon boat. I am glad I find this site and I hope you will help me in my purchasing decision. I am looking for a quality pontoon that can hold between 6-9 people and my purpose is to ride around the lake, fishing and relaxing with friends (no speed demons here ). I would like to stay under 25K and I plan to keep at the marina. I have heard Cypress Cay and Sun Tracker to be quality boats. I have seen the 23' Berkshire and I am impressed by it. However is at 35K and is more than what I would like to spend. I looked at the Bentley 24' cruise at 25K but I am not too impressed with the quality. I appreciate any advise you can give me. Thanks! DP

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Please Advise on Pontoons

For 6-9 people, I wouldn't look at anything under 24'. I have a 20' and it is rated for 10 but the reality is 6 for comfort and stability. Nothing less than a 60 hp but in reality you should be looking at a 90 hp or more. Bigger pontoons translate into more buoyancy. I have a Sun Tracker and it is middle of the road. I was less impressed with the new models. Mine is an '08. Bennington,and Avalon are top of the line and command top dollar. I've been looking at South Bay lately and it looks good to me. Find a brand in your area that has good local dealer support. You may want to look at slightly used or last year's models that are unsold. Let us know what you find and we will certainly give you our opinion, solicited or not. Good luck in your search.

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: Please Advise on Pontoons

For 6-9 people, I wouldn't look at anything under 24'. I have a 20' and it is rated for 10 but the reality is 6 for comfort and stability. Nothing less than a 60 hp but in reality you should be looking at a 90 hp or more. Bigger pontoons translate into more buoyancy. I have a Sun Tracker and it is middle of the road. I was less impressed with the new models. Mine is an '08. Bennington,and Avalon are top of the line and command top dollar. I've been looking at South Bay lately and it looks good to me. Find a brand in your area that has good local dealer support. You may want to look at slightly used or last year's models that are unsold. Let us know what you find and we will certainly give you our opinion, solicited or not. Good luck in your search.

My pontoon boat is a StarCraft 24 ft .limited.90 hp Merc.two stroke Holds 14 people.26 inch wide toons. I bought it used very low hours on the motor. It was two years old when I bought it. It was selling for around $26,000 new .I got it from a dealer for half of that. I had to by a trailer from the dealer, Seems most pontoon boats don't come with a trailer. So I got a tandem wheel bunk trailer for $1600.00 . My point is look around before you just into something big and Fancy. Mine pontoon is big and fancy only two years older.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Please Advise on Pontoons

Pontoon boats appear to be somewhat generic, but there is a difference in quality of welds and construction. The cost differences are often the quality of seating and the fencing.

The top manufacturers will often have 3-4 different models with the same quality hulls--but seating is the difference. And their boats are in all price ranges.

Try to buy local if at all possible, and expect to exceed your price budget. Don't be hesitant to buy a boat that's up to 4 years old. Boattrader.com and Craigslist is where so many boats are listed--thru dealers and as individual sellers.

With your need to carry relatively heavy loads, buy one with 25" diameter toons and no less than 90 hp--preferably 115 hp. Owners with larger motors are much happier with their boats and they don't trade as often.

I have a Bennington 24SSLX tritoon with lifting strakes on the toons and a 150 hp Yamaha fourstroke motor. It'll do anything I ask of it, including running 40 mph. This seems to be about the entry level for many boaters now, but you're talking more money than $25K. You can get a boat for the money you're talking about.

 

[dai phan]

Re: Please Advise on Pontoons

Hi all,

Thank you for your replies. In the past few days, I have observed the following. Many boats are priced similiarly and unless you want really slow or fast motor, it comes down to about a grand per foot. Boat insurance is low of about 350-400a year. Slip rental runs about 150-175 a month. Winter put up and put down runs about 1K per year. Financing wise, it is longer than car up to 10 years making the boat affordable for most people. I have looked at the Sun Tracker (party craft) 20 footer with 60 HP and out the door price is 20K. The quality is much better than Bentley. May be I should look at used one because I don't want to buy a brand new one and not use it very often? That would not a wise investment. Dai

 

[dai phan]

Re: Please Advise on Pontoons

Hi all,

I looked at some more on boat trader and my local dealer has some 2013 Tahoe models (22') at 19K asking. Is that a good brand? It comes with 60 Hp engine. DP

 

[ahicks]

Re: Please Advise on Pontoons

Well, if it were me, and I wasn't sure how much or even if I was going to use it, I surely would not be looking at new boats? Worst case, the boat ends up sitting there for weeks at a time unused, for whatever reason. You're soon going to want to bail out of it - without loosing any more money than necessary. With a new boat, depreciation would KILL you!

There are some pretty nice 4-7 year old boats available, with lots of life left in them, for half of what you're talking? That's what I'd be looking at, but that's me. A 24 footer with a fuel injected engine. I'd go 4 stroke after having owned one now, but an E-tec might be an option.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Please Advise on Pontoons

This.^^^^^ I agree that you should be looking at 24 footers with an outboard in the 90 to 115 horsepower range. Should be able to find one a few years old in good condition that meets your criteria.

 

[Water logged]

Re: Please Advise on Pontoons

Welcome aboard dai phan, hope you find your perfect boat.

When you do we need pictures.

Glenn