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Never knew what I was missing.

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2018 10:59 am
by billsfan60
After decades of sailing sloop rig boats from Lake Ontario, to the Gulf (with one totally forgettable season on the Alabama River), and finally here on Weiss Lake in north east Alabama, my wife Bonnie convinced me to give pontoon boats a try. We acquired a newly redone 88 Harris 24 ft and it's been a pleasant surprise right from the start. I realize now that I never truly relaxed on a sailboat (anybody that says different is lying).


We're having fun learning about the Harris and I'm sure as time goes on there will be things we will need guidance with. For now we're just glad ya'll are here for moral support if I do something stupid.

Re: Never knew what I was missing.

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2018 11:10 pm
by ROLAND
glad your enjoying your pontoon experience. Never owned a boat in my life til 9 years ago.. bought a pontoon and have said since day 1 " wish I had done this ten years ago"...

Re: Never knew what I was missing.

Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 11:23 am
by zoom650
I sailed (and club raced) a fractionally rigged sloop and it was never as relaxed as it looked. Much, much different with a slow cruise on a toon!

Re: Never knew what I was missing.

Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 6:22 pm
by smltooner
Welcome to the club.
We know you will enjoy the 'tooning lifestyle.

Re: Never knew what I was missing.

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2018 2:52 am
by steve1313
Last weekend, I took one of my closest friends and his teenage son out on my Pontoon for the first time. They have been boating with me a few times before on my Sea Ray bowrider, but seemed to turn down more invitations to go to the lake than they accepted.

It was a typical weekend afternoon, with tons of other boats including wake boats, bow riders, pontoons, and squadrons of Waverunners buzzing around like bees. We spent the day cruising, floating, tubing and just hanging out.

As we pulled back into my slip, my buddy said to me "we love your new boat. It's really a game changer. We did everything we used to do on your old boat. It's got a ton more room, it rides a lot better, especially when the lake is so rough. It even seemed quieter." HIs son commented that the tubing was great and it he thought my pontoon boat turns sharper than my bow rider.

Their comments made me realize just how much more I was enjoying my pontoon, especially when the lake is busy. I was reluctant to buy a toon because I didn't want to be that old man chugging across the lake. But with three pontoons, enough HP to run about 40MPH, the potential to throw people out of their seats (or out of their tube) with a sharp turn, the tons of room, the great stereo, and just the overall comfort factor, I know I made a great decision.

Welcome to the club!

Re: Never knew what I was missing.

Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2018 5:15 am
by TWB
Totally have to agree with steve1313. We had a SeaDoo 150 Speedster jet boat, but it's made for 2 things: to go really fast, and to go faster. It's a lot of fun, but the chop in the Santa Rosa Sound can be pretty stout and a small-hull boat will roll around a good bit when trying to have a sandwich. I always knew I wanted a toon, but didn't know just how luxurious even my 2003 Landau could feel.

Man! Can't get enough. Enjoy!

:biggrin2

Re: Never knew what I was missing.

Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2018 5:28 am
by Coldbrew
Every time I take someone new out on my boat I hear the same line: "Oh My God....this is so great!" :nana

Re: Never knew what I was missing.

Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2018 8:07 am
by wwind3
What everyone is saying! I did the bass tournament stuff with the go fast boats but I really enjoy the pontoon. I have the fishing model with the 4 seats and I really like it. Enjoy!