Considering new pontoon boats... opinions...

[Scoobieman]

We are looking at getting a new pontoon boat, mainly for fishing and piddlin' around... nothing fast. We have just began to look around and found a couple of boats thus far that peaked our interest. We definitely like the vinyl flooring vs. carpet.

The first is a 2010 Bennington 22SFi (22' fish) with a 90HP Yamaha and trailer at $22500 or $21400 with a 60HP Yamaha. We like the changing area, dash mounted color fish finder, dual live wells and vinyl floor, but we were not crazy about only 3 chairs... the one in the back seems almost out of place. They just did not seem to make the best use of the deck. It is really only like a 20' deck to me with the wasted space.

The second one is a 2009 Premier 201 Explorer (20' fish) with a 115HP Yamaha (2-stroke) for $22,900. We liked the vinyl floor, colored fish finder, and the build quality looked a touch above the others we have looked at. The seats seemed more plush... plus the front seats were more like captain chairs. The side deck trim and corner bumpers were stout. The rod holder cover was flimsy (minor complaint) and there is no changing area and only one live well. This may have been the nicest boat we looked at... between it and the Bennington... at least this one had 4 seats. We are not crazy about the 2 stroke, but the dealer will change this out to a 60 Yamaha 4 stroke... will have price on this tomorrow.

The third one is a 2010 G3 SunCatcher 228 FC (22' fish and cruise) with a 115HP Yamaha and trailer at $24700. We like the four chairs up front and the vinyl floor, but it has no changing room and no fish finder (add another $500) and only one live well. This is probably overkill on the motor for us, but that was how it came stocked. He did tell me they could drop it to a 90, but the price only dropped $700.

The fourth one is a 2010 G3 SunCatcher 208 F (20' fish) with a 60HP Yamaha and trailer for $19,500. It has 4 chairs, but split front and back... and has the vinyl floor, two live wells, but no changing area and no fish finder. This seems to be more comparable size wise to the Bennington and a lot less expensive, even if we wanted to add the changing area and fish finder. It also has the U-shape pontoons partially filled with flotation material. Of course we really like the price on this one. I forgot to find out if this was a tandem axle trailer... I think it may be a single axle.

We live in south Alabama and will travel up to a couple hundred miles for the right setup.

If anyone has any suggestions of what to consider other than these, please chime in.

Thanks!

 

[sfy]

Re: Considering new pontoon boats... opinions...

tough choices you have there, all good brands.
2 things though:
1. motor- bigger is better. just because you have a big motor does not mean you have to have it at WOT all the time. and if a bad storm or other emergency comes up, the extra power can definitely make a difference between getting to shore in time or having a rough wild ride.

and 2.-axles...more is better. nothing wrong with single axle trailers. many many people use them and have no real problem with them.
but stability wise a dual axle trailer is superior.

good luck with your decision, many buy one boat then silently wish they would have bought the other one they were looking at. find the one that is the most comfortable for you, that has the features you deem necessary.
if i could make one small suggestion, ask if any have a sink available.
nothing worse than making a sandwich with fishy hands.

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Considering new pontoon boats... opinions...

If you fish with mixed company, the changeing room with porta-potti is a must. A changeing room can be added but will never look as good as the OEM.

Personally, I would not consider the three without a changeing room. So, I would keep the Bennington on the list and keep looking. And the Bennington is a great boat and seems to be pretty well equipped for your use.

Good luck and report back on your decision.

 

[Scoobieman]

Re: Considering new pontoon boats... opinions...

I was thinking that same thing about the add-on changing area. It would be up towards the front of the boat as well, whereas the built in ones are normally in the rear.

FWIW: The dealer came down to $21,595 with the changing area add-on and a 60HP Yamaha on the G3 228 FC ... and $18,960 on the 208 F, but it does have the single axle trailer, which I am not fond of.

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: Considering new pontoon boats... opinions...

As lifestyles change it's a good possability that you will not be happy with the 60hp. I would go with the larger hp. The 4stroke eng. is the only way to go, they are very quiet & use much less gas than the 2 stroke.
You will absolutely want the changing room, we put a Thetford electric porta-potti in ours and it comes in very handy.
When we lived in Mich. I used a drummers stool for my fishing chair, it's adjustable, sturdy and swivels, less than $50.00

good luck

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Considering new pontoon boats... opinions...

I agree with lakegeorge. I wouldn't go with anything less than a 90 4-stroke and a dual axel trailer.

 

[Scoobieman]

Re: Considering new pontoon boats... opinions...

Thanks guys... we are still looking and have found several more optinos. We will narrow them down to a couple and then may ask for more opinions.

 

[imported_John o]

Re: Considering new pontoon boats... opinions...

1. 2 strokes vs 4 strokes. This is one of those "religion" type questions. The newer 2 strokes are very quiet (I've got an 2006 Yamaha 175 Vmax HPDI and I cannot hear it under way. The wind noise is louder. At the dock I sometimes need to look at it to see if it is running) They are low maintenance and tend to pack more power per pound than the 4 strokes. On average the 4 strokes are quieter BUT how much quieter vs how much easier is something you'll need to decide. Drive both and see what you think.

2. Changing room/porta-potty. Depending on the lakes you boat on this could be an essential or a waste of space. I kept the changing room simply because my daughter likes to change clothes on the boat. I pitched the porta-potty as I am at most 15 minutes from a flush toilet on my lake, unless I'm way out in the backwaters. (10,000 acres and I'm pretty quick). No porta-potty means no mess that I have to deal with. Again. figure out what you will want/need.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Considering new pontoon boats... opinions...

My dad has been looking at a SunTracker Fishin Barge recently. Nice boat for around $16K brand new.

http://www.suntrackerboats.com/boat/?boat=3232

 

[Mr Crabbs]

Re: Considering new pontoon boats... opinions...

I agree with lakegeorge. I wouldn't go with anything less than a 90 4-stroke and a dual axel trailer.

I agree with Imported John, motors can be a religious issue at times.

Our new Party Barge has a 90HP 4 stroke. After watching the ramps and 'toons on the lake last weekend I'm wondering if a 60 would have been good enough for me (although I'm a believer in buying all the HP you can afford). If you are going to be just fishing and piddling around, then the stock motor might be enough for you. You could put the money into a nicer trolling motor!

My travel trailer has a dual axle, but I also had a pup on a single axle that weighs more than my 'toon on the trailer. Stability was not an issue on this much lower profile trailer behind my Tundra. You may not need a dual axle trailer if you don't plan on trailering long distances. I have a single axle trailer with brakes and may tow as far as NE Oklahoma to Grand Lake of the Cherokees from SW Ohio. We'll see how it behaves around here first.

That Bennington is priced very nicely, but the seating might be an issue for you. It would be for us anyway. I plan on fishing from mine but don't need dedicated live wells or trolling motor battery storage like the fishing models have.

 

[lamac]

Re: Considering new pontoon boats... opinions...

I agree go with the biggest 4 stroke engine you can afford. They are very quiet and you would think they make gas they are so good on mileage. The changing room in the rear is a must. Think about it you might not want to be down wind of the toilet at times. Hince the pirate ships had poop decks in the rear. Dual axle trailers are much more stable on the road and I would not have a trailer without at least one set of brakes on it. I looked at the same models they are all good, at the end the layout on the Tracker fishing barge won me over.
Good Luck

 

[mt_bulldawg]

Re: Considering new pontoon boats... opinions...

I bought a Lowes Suncruiser w/60 hp Bigfoot new ('08) because I did like the fishing setup. Livewell, four "fighting" chairs, a connection for a trolling motor up front, etc. Came with tandem axle trailer. I do have a few minor issues with the boat's quality - I think Lowe's could've done a better job at no additional cost, but for fishing I like it. Most of my fishing is done on a big lake in western MT (Flathead), but I've also done smaller lakes and reservoirs where I'm in close to shore and manueverability is important. The suncruiser does well in both environments.

With the 60 hp four-stroke, I can troll with that motor perfectly for lake trout and such. I have a 24 gallon tank - I can use the boat every weekend and only need to fill up once a month. I'm hitting 20 mph at WOT - I can leave quick enough due to weather.

So overall I'm happy with it - sometimes I wish I had a bigger motor, but then I probably would have to get a trolling motor. Downriggers are going to be added this weekend further expanding it's capabilities, and some type of enclosure may be next for foul weather fishing.

So I'm not plugging lowe boats other than sharing my experience with one of their boats. But I think for fishing and puttering around, it works well - it's what I do here in the northwest.

I forgot to add that it has a changing room - we added a porta-potty as my wife loves the water and loves to go fishing with me. The whole package including trailer set us back $17K.

 

[Scoobieman]

Re: Considering new pontoon boats... opinions...

We have about looked out... traveling some 1,200 miles in three directions looking at nearly every pontoon available. There is just nothing out there that will compare to the Bennington for the price we have negotiated, which is $19000 OTD for the 2010 22SFi with a 60 Yamaha 4-stroke. Looking at it a couple of times sold us after seeing all the others. Yeah... the Avalons was awesome, the Crests were awesome, but so were the prices... ouch!

Now... one last opinion from you guys. I know you preach getting the biggest motor you can get. Here is our thinking... we fish a small lake and the river... always drive very slow, which would only be about 4-5 MPH faster anyway. I also wonder at an extra 120lbs would the 90 not cause the boat to sit lower in the back, which I do not like. I would rather the boat be as level as possible (this will aggravate me to no end). HOWEVER, considering we can get the 90 4-stroke for only $1,200 more than the 60 and it helps resell value, maybe we should get it, but I am having a hard time convincing myself we need it and that it is not going to cause the boat to be off balance.

 

[lamac]

Re: Considering new pontoon boats... opinions...

Well the 90 4-stroke does make my 21' suntracker fishing barge sit a little low in the stern but that was with 42 gallons of fuel. I have only had the boat out 2 days now its still brand new. I doubt I will ever fill the tank up again. The four stroke gets such good gas mileage a 25 gallon tank would have been plenty for me. The weight difference of the 60 hp big foot and the 90 is only a hundred pounds or so. Its what you want that counts. I bought the 90 because I wanted the 90 I always want to have more power or speed if needed. I want to be able to pull tubes no problem with a full boat load and not max out the motor. The 90 gets me up to 28 mph with 6 adults onboard and a full 42 gallon tank.
Get what you want and be happy.

 

[lmuss53]

Re: Considering new pontoon boats... opinions...

Get all the motor you can afford right now today, or you will be second guessing yourself on this as soon as you get the boat.

Believe me that you will run it up to speed with the 60, look around and think to yourself, "I wonder how much faster the 90 would have been?"

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: Considering new pontoon boats... opinions...

We have to 60 on ours and I wish that we had the 90. If you absolutely know for sure that you will never want to tube or anything else than get the 60, otherwise go with the 90.
Bennington is a great boat and the extra weight won't even be noticable.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Considering new pontoon boats... opinions...

Think I read the Bennington's a 22 footer? If so, 90 90 90 90 90 90 90! You'll thank yourself every time you're out, and as you said, when you get ready to sell it. Well worth the extra $1200. Go for it! Show us pics of your maiden voyage. We're excited for you.

 

[Mr Crabbs]

Re: Considering new pontoon boats... opinions...

Now... one last opinion from you guys. I know you preach getting the biggest motor you can get. Here is our thinking... we fish a small lake and the river... always drive very slow, which would only be about 4-5 MPH faster anyway. I also wonder at an extra 120lbs would the 90 not cause the boat to sit lower in the back, which I do not like. I would rather the boat be as level as possible (this will aggravate me to no end). HOWEVER, considering we can get the 90 4-stroke for only $1,200 more than the 60 and it helps resell value, maybe we should get it, but I am having a hard time convincing myself we need it and that it is not going to cause the boat to be off balance.

Based on what I saw last weekend and the conversations I had with pontoon owners, I suspect you'll be happy with the 60HP motor. Buy the motor for yourself, not someone who may eventually buy your toon in the future. You could put that money into a tandem axle trailer or a better fishing setup for your pontoon.

I generally subscribe to the more HP thing, but I don't think you need it.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Considering new pontoon boats... opinions...

I purposely stayed out of this since I work for Bennington, glad you picked our boat and I am sure you will be very happy with it, sounds like you had quite a decision to make, there are some very nice boats out there.

Yes the 90 will make it sit lower in the back but I don't think it would be enough for you to notice a difference and you will enjoy the extra power, it is like a person walking to the back of the boat, it really isn't enough weight to make a difference.

That is about the perfect set up, a 90 on a 22, as Imuss said ,if you don't you will always wish you had and a repower is way more than $1200.

 

[cuzzx]

Re: Considering new pontoon boats... opinions...

have you thought about a used pontoon?

i hear you guys saying that bigger is better, is it?

what kind of gas milage is expected from a 70 to 90 horse 4stroke?