Need some Help!!!!

[chedges]

I am a first time Pontoon guy and am looking at three boats.
1- 2005 Odyssey with 60hp engine(04) has 3/4 enclousure and changing room.
2- 2007 Odyssey with 115 Evinrude Etec Oil Injected Motor. No Changing room so more space.
3- 2007 Aqua Pool 75 hp new.

I am trying to make a educated decision. I did some research on the Evinrude Etec and it seems to be a great enging for pontoon. I drove the 05 yesterday with the 60, nice but just nice. I am hoping to take out the Evinrude tommorow to help make up my mind. I the 07 Aqua is very nice but 3000 k more then the 07 Odyssey. My bride of 20 plus likes the idea of the enclosure, as do i. But maybe just a half Cabana Encl for the cool NE. evenings in Oct/Nov. Any input??????

 

[5150abf]

Re: Need some Help!!!!

DO NOT get an Odyssey, they are literally the worst pontoon on the market.

I have seen the JD Power survey and they are either last or next to last in EVERY catagory, horrible boats, the are building them under the name Southbay now, the joke inside the industry is that everybody figured out that Odysseys were junk so they changed the name.

Never heard of the other one so no input on that one but stay away from Odysey.

 

[KCook]

Re: Need some Help!!!!

5150abf - I will go out on a limb here and suggest that the OP confused "Aqua Pool" for "Aqua Patio"?

Kelly

 

[5150abf]

Re: Need some Help!!!!

Aqua Patio, made by Godfrey Marine, is a little better but the company was bought by 2 lawyers out of chicago about 4-5 years ago and the first thing they did was run out all the people that knew anything about building boats.

They are either out of buisness or will be very soon.

If it is more than 3-4 years old it should be fine but newer than that and I would pass on that too, although it would be a much better boat than the Odyssey.

 

[chedges]

Re: Need some Help!!!!

Correct Aqua Patio is the other boat, it is demo 2006 model with 75 HP Johnson Eng.

Why do you say no way on the Odyssey, I see a lot of them? I plan on doing 90% of my boating on freshwater river. What other pontoons 22-24 ft long within the 15-20k price do you suggest?

 

[chedges]

Re: Need some Help!!!!

PS.. Where can I find information on the stats on different boats. Rating them best to worst?

 

[5150abf]

Re: Need some Help!!!!

Try jd powers.

I work at Bennington so I am inside and hear all the low down on other companies and I get to see the actual JD Power report which breaks the boats down completely and as I said they are in the bottom 2 of every catagory.

Look at what they call brackets on the pontoon, the last one I saw(2008 model) had what we use for bolt on deck trim as there brackets, one inside , one outside, so you have 2 uprights holding the tube on the boat with no center support and they are held on with a total of 12 2'' welds per tube so 48'' of weld per tube to hold the tubes on the boat, a single 27'' bracket on our boats(most tubes have at least 4) has 39'' of weld and we use "M" brackets so you have 4 points of contact on the tube, not 2.

If the tubes fall off the boat it doesn't matter how nice the furniture is.

Alot of other companies use the M brackets too, it makes for a much safer sturdier boat.

As far as other boats of coarse Benningtons are the best( fact, not my opinion) Crest, Bentley, AquaPatio/San-Pan(Godfrey pre 2005)Sylvan/Smokercraft, Manitou, Starcraft,Premier are a few of the are really good boats.

Before companies started going under there were something like 53 companies that made pontoons and most of those under several names so it is really hard to know them all.

There are alot of really good toons out, you just happen to be looking at one of the worst.

 

[chedges]

Re: Need some Help!!!!

Ok, I appreacite the input, I love the Benningtons but they are very pricey. Do you think I can find one 2005-2007 in the 20,000 range. Also what size motor or recommendation of one, seems that the evinrude E tec is highly rated? I am in the NE and am looking now. Any tips.

 

[KCook]

Re: Need some Help!!!!

That JD Power survey has its fans .... and severe critics as well.

Which is not meant to rebuff 5150abf, I'm in agreement with most of what he is saying. From my (outsider, not insider) point of view Aqua Patio, Bennington, Crestliner, G3, Harris Flotebote, JC TriToon, Manitou, Premier, Princecraft, Sedona, Sundancer, & Veranda all have some attractive aspects. Sorting out the exact pecking order is nearly impossible, as each of those has lines with different prices within the same brand. Plus a few use newer tube designs whose merits are always debated. The link below will show you a couple of those new designs -

http://boatreviews.needsabeach.com/PHX-08/

Kelly

 

[chedges]

Re: Need some Help!!!!

Thanks KCook and 5150abf, as you may start to sense i am starting to get into the overload mode. Here is my problem, new at this, as it may seem clear. 50 years old, looking to have fun with my family and get the best boat that I can, I don't mind paying a bit more, for quality and assurance. I not sure where to find the best place to look, have been beating my damn head against the keyboards on ebay. Found a few, One Bently Triple 243 (pros and cons of triple????) 2007 E-tec on ebay #120300008367; 2003 Bennington #140263068747 with Trailer; and on Boat trader a 2008 Bently Presitige LC220 for 17,999.

I am in New England and am in the market, but seems that Ody is big up here.

I am looking to stay in the 18-22,000 range and not have a 50hp eng. As I mentioned we will be using this mostly for Ct river and if I ever get a trailer some of the lakes located in NY and NE. Any advice is welcome or at least point me in a direction that I am not pulling my hair out with, not much left as it is. Thanks

 

[KCook]

Re: Need some Help!!!!

Well, you can see that Bennington is on the lists provided by both 5150abf and myself. For whatever that is worth. Other boaters will definitely have different lists, there are so many brands across the country.

Used boat shopping can be a real trial. The new boat shopper gets to pick just the brand, model, motor, and options that he wants. A used boat shopper get very little choice in comparison. That, or the used boat shopper waits months (not an exaggeration) for just the right boat to come on the market. Some folks have the patience for used boat shopping, some just belly up for new boat payments.

To add to you agony I would pay as much attention to the motor as the 'toon. Personally I would much rather have a 4-stroke OB than a 2-stroke or I/O. Different strokes for different folks.

Kelly

 

[chedges]

Re: Need some Help!!!!

Like your thought process. Went out today and looked at Aqua Patio, nice and Bennington, very nice. I think that I am leaning towards Bennington maybe just freaking new or end of season model with 90 or 115. 24 ft. 5150abf, since you work for them, any suggestions on what I should pay, or any idea of any used 2006-2007 24ft.

As for eng, any recommendations, I seem to think that the New E-tec is a good one.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Need some Help!!!!

I work for them but I am a supervisor in the weld shop so I don't have a clue what retail is so I would say as little as possible.

Dealers right now are really hurting so I don't know what kind of deal you can get, on the one hand they need to move the old boats but they also need to keep the lights on so they can't give them away either.

As to engine, all the company boats are wearing Yamahas but the E-tecs are good too, 115 would be minimum on a boat that big I would think.

We don't have a 24' boat though, either 22' or 25' unless you get a Sedona, they are still a Bennington boat but they use bare roto cast seat bases ect, to save some money.

For the record I wasn't trying to sell you a Benny, you said you were looking used.

Take your time and make sure you get what you want and you don't get stuck with payments you will regret in January, I know I looked at a hundred boats before I got mine but I ended up with one that fit my budget and turned out to be just what I wanted.

Get a list going, pros/cons of all the boats you look at, should make it a little easier to sort them out.

You mentioned a Bently tri, good mid price boat and Aqua Patios are good too,pre 2005.

You will get it.

 

[chedges]

Re: Need some Help!!!!

I did not take it that way at all, I do apprecaiate the input. I have always like them and spent a big chuck of yesterday afternoon talking to a dude who has a 22ft. Love it. I agree, the dealers may be in situation where you could get one at cost or close. I found one in Augusta a 2003 with Trailer, but I am in NE. Might be worth the drive. Keep the info coming. Thanks