Expensive 'Toons!

[hibbert6]

While at my doctor's office last week I saw in a boat mag a test of four 24' pontoon boats. They ranged in price from a low of $26k, I think, all the way to $69k!!! None of these were stripped-down models.

Now, I know that this happens with all other sorts of boats, based on hull design, quality of materials and construction, etc. (not to mention the engine). I might be naive or ignorant, but aren't all pontoon boats pretty much the same? Sure, nicer furniture might add $4k, and going from 50hp to 225hp would add $12k, but $43,000 is a huge difference! What could justify that kind of increase?

Dave

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Expensive 'Toons!

you said it quality, materials, bling, amenities. why is a bayliner $30,000, searay 50,000. they are owned by the same company.

 

[haulinbass]

Re: Expensive 'Toons!

The two biggest factors in price for a pontoon boat are number of toons (2 or 3) and motor size. We have them as cheap as $15K (2 toons w/50 HP) or as expensive as $36K (3 toons w/150 Merc Verado). It all depends on your needs. A 3 toon will go lots faster, handle better and hold more weight capacity.

 

[hibbert6]

Re: Expensive 'Toons!

The two biggest factors in price for a pontoon boat are number of toons (2 or 3) and motor size. We have them as cheap as $15K (2 toons w/50 HP) or as expensive as $36K (3 toons w/150 Merc Verado). It all depends on your needs. A 3 toon will go lots faster, handle better and hold more weight capacity.

Haulinbass: OK, $36k for your top of the line, but can you think of anything you could (legitimately) do to add another $30k to that boat?

Dave

 

[haulinbass]

Re: Expensive 'Toons!

$10K more maybe but not $30K. You can put 225 HP on some of them and a sundeck. It would take a whole lot of bumpers to get to $30K

 

[tommays]

Re: Expensive 'Toons!

You have to first consider that the lower cost boat is allways built to a price point more than a quality point


Cobalt has no problems selling top of the line stuff

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Expensive 'Toons!

Ahhhh -- try all leather!! Yes -- it's available. Entry level pontoons with a trailer, 40 or 50 HP two-stroke, and barely big enough trailer will run about 18K. Go from an 18 footer to a 28 or 30 foot tri-toon, big four stroke or I/O (yes they are available), add porta-potties, killer stereos, cabin enclosures, leather, and stainless fittings instead of chromed pot metal and you can easily hit 60K. The bigger the boat and bigger the engine, the bigger the trailer needs to be.

 

[BeerMonkey]

Re: Expensive 'Toons!

stuff like this might make it expensive

or this with just under 1000hp

pics from post on poontoonstuff forum

 

[rrhodes]

Re: Expensive 'Toons!

While I was shopping for my new Toon last weekend I found one for $61k. Of course it had a wake tower I/O and $10k of stereo on board.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Expensive 'Toons!

I can actually see that, at Bennington or least expensive Sedona brand has rotocast furniture bases and helms where our top of the line QXI has 3 tubes, special vinyl, fiberglass helms and even real granite counter tops.

Tubes are tubes, they all cost the same, it is what goes on the boat that makes it expensive, stainless ski tows, top decks, Rockford Fosgate stereo, carpet and the furniture is the most expensive part of the boat next to the motor.

We range from 10-12 K for a Sedona to 62+K for a super optioned QXI.

In this current economy almost all the boats we sell are top line boats and very few of the lesser priced boats, it is getting VERY ugly, I just laid off 6 more epaople from the weld shop before i went on vacation and I have heard a competitor is down to 5 boats a day 4 days a week( they genarally are running @25 a day) and others are laying off people with 20 years seniority.

 

[1976SRV190]

Re: Expensive 'Toons!

you said it quality, materials, bling, amenities. why is a bayliner $30,000, searay 50,000. they are owned by the same company.

One word, appointments.
I can answer your question about the diff between Sea Rays and Bayliners because I have had both. I currently have a Sea Ray SRV 190. I had the Bayliner Lapline. The differences are amazing, the Sea Ray: WAY more fiberglass in the hull and top, way better build quality in the overall construction you can actually feel in the performance, and in working on it and walking around in and on it. The Sae Ray has about 200lbs of genuine TEAK on it as in the rails, bow grab rails, swim platform, steps, dash and so on. The thing also has about twice the fiberglass laid in the thickness of the hull and top. It has 10 gauges, that all still work after 32 years of faithful service, and are all still accurate. The top still looks only a few years old and is also 32 years old.

The BAyliner: All plastic and thinner vinyl, 4 gauges total not counting the tilt trim gauge, Speedo never worked right even after replacing it and the pitot tube twice, tach was intermittent and even after diagnosos and finding nothing wrong, never worked right. The hull and top were down right flimsey comparatively, and the interior vinyl was way thinner and went to hell in the first 15 years. The boat had NO wood at all, and was more like the quality of a rental. It DID have a Mercruiser I/O which both were great, but neither ran as strong as the Sea Ray 888 combo. The boat generally walking around on it felt like it was more of a middle of the road boat as compared to the Cadillac feel of the Sea Ray. I had many people ride on both and all said the Sea Ray was by far a betrer nicer boat.

That's about as good an explination I can give about the difference between boats which also pertains to pontoons.
It's Like this, the Sea Ray was built and appointed like a Bently or Mercedes, and Bayliner was like a nicer Ford or Chevy.....

 

[1976SRV190]

Re: Expensive 'Toons!

I can actually see that, at Bennington or least expensive Sedona brand has rotocast furniture bases and helms where our top of the line QXI has 3 tubes, special vinyl, fiberglass helms and even real granite counter tops.

Tubes are tubes, they all cost the same, it is what goes on the boat that makes it expensive, stainless ski tows, top decks, Rockford Fosgate stereo, carpet and the furniture is the most expensive part of the boat next to the motor.

We range from 10-12 K for a Sedona to 62+K for a super optioned QXI.

In this current economy almost all the boats we sell are top line boats and very few of the lesser priced boats, it is getting VERY ugly, I just laid off 6 more epaople from the weld shop before i went on vacation and I have heard a competitor is down to 5 boats a day 4 days a week( they genarally are running @25 a day) and others are laying off people with 20 years seniority.

Man! That is downright SAD! I hope the best for you anbd your company. I have seen that is very true on this end too, as ALL the RV and boat delaers here in Albuquerque NM are starving! They use to have their parkinglots FULL of buyers from about February, through the end of summer, now when I drive by they never even have one car or client in the parking lot looking at Rvs or boats. The only place I saw one guy was at the RV dealer who sells Airstream, and that I suppose is because people with a lot of money, who are the only ones to buy Airstreams, ALWAYS have money, even in bad econemy times, those of us who don;t have a lot of money have even less durring these times.

 

[1976SRV190]

Re: Expensive 'Toons!

stuff like this might make it expensive

or this with just under 1000hp

pics from post on poontoonstuff forum

Well, until I saw those photos, I would have never used the word Badass and Pontoon in the same breath, but now I will!

 

[labelking]

Re: Expensive 'Toons!

I bought a 24' tahoe from tandmmarine.com up in northern minnesota with a 75 hp 4 stroke, fully loaded but not "plush". It's got everything, but not as cushy as the bennington's. However if it were a bennington or similar, brand new it would run around 30k, I paid under 17k. We use it about 5 - 6 nights a week and couldn't be happier

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: Expensive 'Toons!

I bought a 24' tahoe from tandmmarine.com up in northern minnesota with a 75 hp 4 stroke, fully loaded but not "plush". It's got everything, but not as cushy as the bennington's. However if it were a bennington or similar, brand new it would run around 30k, I paid under 17k. We use it about 5 - 6 nights a week and couldn't be happier

You can't beat there prices on pontoons, they are a Factory and Dealer all in one. I live about 45 minutes from them and I had a 21' priced out with them setup as a Fish n' cruise with swivel seats on all 4 corners, a nice long lounge on one side, and a livewell for 6500$ , about 2000-4000$ cheaper than ANYONE else.

 

[smclear]

Re: Expensive 'Toons!

I can actually see that, at Bennington or least expensive Sedona brand has rotocast furniture bases and helms where our top of the line QXI has 3 tubes, special vinyl, fiberglass helms and even real granite counter tops.

Tubes are tubes, they all cost the same, it is what goes on the boat that makes it expensive, stainless ski tows, top decks, Rockford Fosgate stereo, carpet and the furniture is the most expensive part of the boat next to the motor.

We range from 10-12 K for a Sedona to 62+K for a super optioned QXI.

In this current economy almost all the boats we sell are top line boats and very few of the lesser priced boats, it is getting VERY ugly, I just laid off 6 more epaople from the weld shop before i went on vacation and I have heard a competitor is down to 5 boats a day 4 days a week( they genarally are running @25 a day) and others are laying off people with 20 years seniority.

Tubes are Tubes!!! Youv'e got to be kidding. Have you investigated the tube aspect. Tube shape, wall thickness, etc play a huge part in the cost of manufacturing.

 

[rrhodes]

Re: Expensive 'Toons!

Tubes are Tubes!!! Youv'e got to be kidding. Have you investigated the tube aspect. Tube shape, wall thickness, etc play a huge part in the cost of manufacturing.

I think what he was saying is that the cost difference is minor when it comes to the tubes. A tube may cost $2500 and the thicker is $3000. (Not real prices) but the Furniture, electronics, stereo and engines can make $10k to $30k differences in price.

 

[smclear]

Re: Expensive 'Toons!

I think what he was saying is that the cost difference is minor when it comes to the tubes. A tube may cost $2500 and the thicker is $3000. (Not real prices) but the Furniture, electronics, stereo and engines can make $10k to $30k differences in price.

Right you are. I re-read the post and it does seem to indicate he was referring to cost. Doh!!!

I hope I didn't offend anyone.

 

[haulinbass]

Re: Expensive 'Toons!

Cypress Cay toons are all acid washed. This can also make a difference in price.

 

[BMOLCHANY]

Re: Expensive 'Toons!

Well I guess that the 4500 that I paid for mine will not top the list of most expensive.