Looking for suggestions

[OnMorse]

I'm new to boating and just bought a house on a reservoir. The house comes with a dock but no lift. I understand that a pontoon is a good choice because it does not require a lift. I like the pontoon idea but I would like to have something that I could pull tubes and maybe a small skier. I thought about a deck boat which I understand would accomplish the task but I'm guessing it would really need a lift. Am I correct on this and what do others suggest? Initially I want to get going fairly cheap as well. Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[michael-lagrange]

Re: Looking for suggestions

think about maintanence and safty first, fun later.<br />if you plan to leave your boat in the water year around i would go with a outbourd engine because you can tilt it up completly out of the water and put a cover on it. I/Os need much more care if left in the water like that.<br /> A pontoon boat can give you the pleasure that you are looking for just make sure you get the power you need to acheive that goal.<br /> welcome to iboats forums OnMorse ther is alot of knowlege about boating here, get opinions from many. What ever you do /do it right the first time.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Looking for suggestions

Just a thought, talk to all of your neighbors who have boats on this lake, They have likely gone through the same things you are thinking about.

 

[KCook]

Re: Looking for suggestions

I am greatly puzzled about 'toons not needing a lift??? <br /><br />Here is another thread on 'toons - Keeping Pontoons Clean <br /><br />Kelly Cook

 

[OnMorse]

Re: Looking for suggestions

Thanks for the link! I wondered that myself. I thought maybe the aluminum somehow resisted the algae or something but it's apparently not true. Maybe the algae prefers something more sporty?!

 

[KCook]

Re: Looking for suggestions

Sad to say, some folks look on 'toons as trash boats. Simply don't care if they get cruddy. In my view a nice boat deserves good care, whether it's aluminum or fiberglass.<br /><br />BTW, the 'toons with 3 tubes will ski about as well as a deckboat.<br /><br />Kelly

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Looking for suggestions

i agree with KCook. and get a trailer, you have it when the boat need service, you can pull the boat monthly and pressure wash the hull, can also winterize it. you don't state where you live, if winterizing is an issue. go to ebay and look at poontoon that have not been maintained. most of them look like get drunk, puke, and tie it to the dock, till next time.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Looking for suggestions

If you have any doubt on the ill effects of leaving a toon in the water for extended periods, go to a Marina that rents them and take a look at the ones that have been sitting in the water....Not pretty....

 

[OnMorse]

Re: Looking for suggestions

Thanks for all the great feedback. Does anyone have an opinion on a deck boat vs a pontoon? There are a couple older Harris-Kayot deck boats for sale in the area that are reasonable.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Looking for suggestions

A deck boat is a boat, a toon a toon; the deck planes out, the toon just plows thru the water...totally different critters.<br /><br />A deck boat will take a large outboard and toons do well with smaller ones.<br /><br />I have seen people ski behind toons although no acrobatics.....too slow. A deck boat can do whatever the skiier wants done.....like I liked to ski at around 35mph (but I did it behind a conventional hull). Try getting a toon to 35. On second thought, bad idea.<br /><br />My 2c.<br /><br />Mark

 

[KCook]

Re: Looking for suggestions

Generally deckboats are more of a sport boat while 'toons are more camping/party boats. However 'toons come in a greater range of designs than deckboats. A powerful tri-toon is pretty much a match for a deckboat. Kayot is one of the nicer deckboat brands. But when it comes to used boats I wouldn't limit myself to just one brand. Here are some more threads -<br /><br /> Buying a toon <br /><br /> BoatingABC.com » ... » Deck Boats <br /><br />Kelly

 

[bamadave]

Re: Looking for suggestions

Welcome to IBOATS. I live on a lake in Alabama and also work at a local marina that only sells Crest pontoons powered by Hondas. we have 24'toons with a 225 that will do 50 the gps. My Chaparral 232 Sunesta deckboat with a 5.0 Merc will only do 45. My advice is to try to get to know the neighbors around you. Explain that you aren't sure what to buy. Maybe they will be kind enough to take you out and you can experience the difference. I would not buy something without checking out all the possibilities. Boating is not a cheap hobby. If you buy used, don't buy until a certified mechanic fully checks it out. I would gladly payalittle now to keep from having to pay more later. As for a lift, I recommend a lift for every boat. It keeps its clean, keeps it from accidently sinking, Just keeps it nicer. The are floating lifts and there are winches. See the can of worms you opened buying a lake house. But, I wouldn't live anywhere else!

 

[OnMorse]

Re: Looking for suggestions

Even without a boat I wouldn't give up living on the lake! The neighbors are great and have a variety of boats so I'll pursue some rides and see what I like. Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll report back about what we end up getting!

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Looking for suggestions

Hey Bama,<br /><br />Must have missed something. I went to their site to see if they had a new mousetrap and the largest OB listed was 150 hp in both their Cruiser and Fishing models thru 26'. Are you guys legal?<br /><br />Can't imagine doing 50 in a toon.<br /><br />Mark

 

[KCook]

Re: Looking for suggestions

http://www.crestpontoonboats.com/tripleToon.html <br /><br />On that page click on the MORE INFORMATION button at the bottom and it will jump to the page for the high power packages (which do include the 225).

 

[bamadave]

Re: Looking for suggestions

LOL, yeah, I thought someone would question that. We can only do it in the triple toon. What a hoot. They fly. Also, amazingly smooth. It outruns my Chaparral 232 Sunesta with a 5.0 litre.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Looking for suggestions

Ohhhhhhh. A triple toon. Now that makes more sense. Still 50 is really a humpin.<br /><br />Mark

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Looking for suggestions

Are you going to be doing much 'lake partying' on the boat (anchoring the boat out on the lake and playing/ partying on the anchored boat)?. I've heard that pontoons are much more stable & comfortable for that, whereas dechboats will toss you around just like a regular boat will if the water isn't calm.

 

[OnMorse]

Re: Looking for suggestions

Yeah, we do plenty of that. We have several friends on the lake that we go out with. Most of them have waverunners and ski boats. We thought having a deck boat or toon we'd be the launch pad for the others. But I did want to be able to take my kids tubing when we wanted so that's why I want something with some guts. I was not around boats when I was younger and we've never had one so I want to start out with something less expensive and I'll build from there. There are some good "no wake" zones around here so you can anchor and swim without too much disturbance. We're on Morse Reservoir in Noblesville, Indiana.

 

[OnMorse]

Re: Looking for suggestions

Here's a couple I was considering looking at:<br /><br /> http://url123.com/46765 <br /> http://url123.com/46qup <br /><br />Yes, much less expensive than some were talking about but I still have a house to sell and I want to get out on the water quickly!