I am one of those lurkers that reads what you post and tries to digest all of it. I have done a lot of reading here and at other pontoon sites trying to decide which way to go to get a pontoon for the family. Cost is always a factor in such a purchase. I loved the idea of rebuilding a project boat, but the time to work on one is scarce sometime. The thought of a new boat is of course always exciting, and the reliability and warranty are things to consider also. We did it! My wife and I ordered a 2014 Lowe 232 Tritoon with a 150hp four stroke Mercury engine this weekend. We feel this works out best for us at the moment. Now if we can control our excitement for the next 6 weeks we'll have a boat just the way we want it. I just wanted to thank you all for the input you gave even though you didn't know you were involved in something.