Please help a newb purchase the right pontoon

[allenspiva]

First time Pontoon Buyer here. My wife and I have been considering buying a new pontoon boat. We have a few things we agree on that are must haves. We want a 20'-22' tritoon with enough power to pull a skier that we can fish from (has seats for fishing). Here is where the question comes in: We do not agree on the boat we should buy but we have narrowed it down to two choices, they are: 2017 Manitou 20' VP Aurora Angler LE w/ 90hp mercury or a 2018 Sun Tracker 22' fishing barge DLX w/ 150 mercury.

They are both around the same price. I know the Manitou is higher quality but the Sun Tracker has more bang for the buck. I need previous Pontoon owners hopefully that have experience with these brands one or both to tell me your opinions between the two choices. Do we go with quality with a 5 year warranty less boat less engine less less less or do we go with more bang with a with more storage more engine more space more more more but less quality and a 10 year warranty?

You might help us make very good decision on a long term purchase so please help

Now here is where you drop your honest opinion, oh and I did not mention which of the two choices I prefer I will wait to do that after I get some help from a few boat owners.
Thanks in advance
Allen

 

[ahicks]

First, I wouldn't buy another boat unless it were powered by a 4 stroke engine. After having been spoiled by one, that's just a given, no variables involved.

Pretty much the same opinion regarding vinyl flooring.

I am NOT a fan of dark colored boats or upholstery, I don't care how great it looks. Dark colors = super hot surfaces when in the sun. Lighter colors (like white!) WAY better when meeting bare skin!

Built in swim ladder on the right rear corner of the boat, especially one used for skiing, would be a given as well. One with steps that are wide enough where they don't hurt your bare wet feet.

I would not buy a pontoon for skiing, especially a tri-toon, without lifting strakes. These assure the boats ability to get up out of the water for increased performance. I didn't see these mentioned or in any of the pictures for either of these boats.

One add mentions their boats include a "factory matched" propeller. I would look for something in writing that guarantees "factory matched" = a prop that will let the engine turn max rated rpm. This will save you a lot of expensive trial and error getting a prop on there that actually DOES match the performance capabilities of YOUR boat. This prop would likely be a 4 blade for increased "water sports" performance (best hole shot & decreased rpm at cruise).

After meeting those criteria, I'd let mom have her way.

 

[Cat nip]

Great advice given by ahicks. I would only add once you own it and use it, it seems smaller and slower than you thought so I would go for longer and more power

 

[allenspiva]

First, I wouldn't buy another boat unless it were powered by a 4 stroke engine.
Pretty much the same opinion regarding vinyl flooring.

I am NOT a fan of dark colored boats or upholstery, I don't care how great it looks. Dark colors = super hot surfaces when in the sun. Lighter colors (like white!) WAY better when meeting bare skin!

Built in swim ladder on the right rear corner of the boat, especially one used for skiing, would be a given as well. One with steps that are wide enough where they don't hurt your bare wet feet.

I would not buy a pontoon for skiing, especially a tri-toon, without lifting strakes. These assure the boats ability to get up out of the water for increased performance.

One add mentions their boats include a "factory matched" propeller. I would look for something in writing that guarantees "factory matched" = a prop that will let the engine turn max rated rpm. This will save you a lot of expensive trial and error getting a prop on there that actually DOES match the performance capabilities of YOUR boat. This prop would likely be a 4 blade for increased "water sports" performance (best hole shot & decreased rpm at cruise).

After meeting those criteria, I'd let mom have her way.

Thanks for the help with your experiences with owning a pontoon. Here is what I purchased:

2019 Manitou Oasis Fish 22 FF SP with SHP Tritoon V W/ Mercury 150 HP 4 Stroke Engine outboard of course.

So your from your check list I think I managed to checked each one off nicely as I was specific to make sure I did not stray from your wisdom. Of course I did buy a black pontoon but the seats are light grey the vinyl floor is light grey but the Bimini top is black
Thanks again for you help and a photo is attached.

Allen

 

[ahicks]

Has the dealer agreed to guarantee the prop, relative to allowing the engine to turn max rpm? That's frustrated a LOT of new owners! The dealer will say something alluding to the fact the prop has been "tested" for best performance, but will NOT say who tested it, or if "best performance" = max operating rpm with a lightly loaded boat. Unfortunately, it's not an exact science, and experimenting at 150-400 dollars a pop is expensive!

Congrats on the new boat!