New Member

Check in here and say hi!

Moderators: Redneck_Randy, badmoonrising, lakerunner

Message
Author
DavidN
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:37 pm

New Member

#1 Post by DavidN » Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:48 pm

Hello

New to the forum and first post. I currently have a small cruiser at Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. I am going to be selling the cruiser and purchase a new toon. It is just more important to me to have a boat that I can comfortably carry more people then to have a place to sleep. We live only 20 minutes from our slip.

I have narrowed my search down to a Sun Tracker Party Barge 21 Signature Series. It is 21' 11" and length and the max size engine is a 90 horse (which I would get with a 4 stroke). The other boat is the Sweetwater 24 with a 115 four stroke.

Question 1

Opinions of Sweetwater versus the Sun Tracker

Question 2

Would the 2 ft in length and the 25 horse power difference between the Sun Tracker and the Sweetwater make that much difference in power and the number of folks I can seat.

I guess I am saying I really like the Sun Tracker but I do not want to regret the purchase.

Thank you in advance everyone. I have been lurking for a while and thought I would jump in here and ask.

Seems like a great group here.

Thanks
david

dockholiday
Posts: 2916
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2008 7:32 pm
Location: Lake Oconee, Ga.

Re: New Member

#2 Post by dockholiday » Tue Jan 19, 2010 8:18 pm

Welcome David
Think either would be a good boat for you. I had a San Pan 25' with a 90hp an it pushed it along pretty well. Think Godfrey sell the San Pan, Sweetwater and Aqua patio, I believe. They make a good boat an my San Pan was built like a tank, a really solid boat. The capacity should be on the sticker on each boat stating load cap. and number of passengers. The speed between the two shouldn't be that noticable. 25hp doesn't really help that much when you are plowing through the water. Might get a slightly better ride with the bigger boat. Bottom line just get the one you like the best. Probably get something in the range of 24 to 28mph, just a guess. Good Luck on your choice.
doc

User avatar
mike
Site Owner
Posts: 1727
Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2006 5:04 pm
Location: Boise Idaho

Re: New Member

#3 Post by mike » Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:55 am

Welcome to the club!

Probably similar speeds would be seen, get the one thats in better shape or you like better!
1999 Voyager 21' Express Fish triple toon 115hp Mercury (SOLD)
2004 Ford F150 SuperCrew
Boise Idaho

User avatar
badmoonrising
Site Admin
Posts: 10066
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2007 7:04 pm
Location: Chesapeake City, Maryland

Re: New Member

#4 Post by badmoonrising » Wed Jan 20, 2010 11:46 am

Love our Sun Tracker and highly recommend the brand.
Ed, Cheryl, Ethan and Aspen.
2013 Sun Tracker Party Barge 22 w/90 HP Mercury, "Hellrhighwater 2"
2014 E-350 Extended XLT.
Chesapeake City ,MD

User avatar
smltooner
Posts: 2814
Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2008 12:53 pm
Location: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

Re: New Member

#5 Post by smltooner » Wed Jan 20, 2010 2:23 pm

Hi David.........welcome to the club.
I live on Smith Mtn Lake and have a Suntracker Party Barge 22 Regency edition w/ 60 hp Bigfoot.
I wouldn't trade that boat for anything. Maybe, a bigger motor but wouldn't change the boat.
Are you dealing with Conrad Brothers? They are great people to work with. They have taken real good care of us.
Again, welcome to the club.
Glad to have another SML'er aboard.
SMLTOONER
Ted & Emily
2019 Bennington 21SL Tri-toon
2019 Yamaha 150 HP
Smith Mtn. Lake, Virginia

DavidN
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:37 pm

Re: New Member

#6 Post by DavidN » Wed Jan 20, 2010 2:38 pm

Great. Thank you everyone and good to meet you Ted. Maybe we will run into one another one of these days. I have talked to Conrad Brothers. I am looking at both the Regency and the Signature with either a 90 or a 115 Merc. Question on the 22. How many adults can you comfortably seat?

I also looked at the Berkshire today. Nice looking boat. Too many choices out there!

David

User avatar
smltooner
Posts: 2814
Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2008 12:53 pm
Location: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

Re: New Member

#7 Post by smltooner » Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:10 pm

I think my toon is rated for 12 people, but 8 is comfortable.
SMLTOONER
Ted & Emily
2019 Bennington 21SL Tri-toon
2019 Yamaha 150 HP
Smith Mtn. Lake, Virginia

User avatar
wed
Posts: 144
Joined: Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:22 pm
Location: Lafayette Louisiana

Re: New Member

#8 Post by wed » Sun Jan 24, 2010 3:25 pm

Glad to have you on board!

I have a '09 finshing barge 21 which is the same boat just with different arrangement and furniture. I really like it and have no regrets.

If you are looking at a used Tracker and by chance it has the NV (high performance) logs you can expect higher speeds and better handling than a boat with standard logs. NV logs and a 60 4 stroke will do 28 mph GPS with driver and full tank of gas, about 15 mph with six adults on board (approx. 1,000 lbs). With a 4 stroke 90 you can expect around 39 mph GPS with driver and a full tank of gas. With 6 adults on board it will run about 28 mph and gets on top and handles like a boat. I purchased my boat with a 60 four stroke despite recommendation of the salesman....went back and got the 90.

Tracker discontinued the NV logs on their Signature line of boats for 2010 and increased the fuel capacity. Evidently it was an economic decision based on lack of sales for the NV option.
2009 Tracker Fishing Barge 21 /NV logs/90 Merc 4 stroke
2007 GMC Sierra
Toledo Bend Reservoir Louisiana (mostly)

DavidN
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:37 pm

Re: New Member

#9 Post by DavidN » Sun Jan 24, 2010 3:43 pm

Thank you everyone. I looked at the boats in person yesterday. Now more confused then when I started. The Sweetwater had a 115 4 stroke yamaha and lifting strakes. Very nice boat...

Now my decision making process begins. I am slow to make a decision for a purchase like this.....Thank you again and stay tuned....

User avatar
ROLAND
Posts: 4248
Joined: Sat Oct 03, 2009 4:29 am

Re: New Member

#10 Post by ROLAND » Wed Jan 27, 2010 4:13 am

Hi David... don't know how much you know about boats. My experience is very very limited having just bought my first pontoon boat this past winter, but I can tell you boats are like cars. Some come with alot of bells and whistles that aren't really necessary, but are nice to have. Personally my son has a 22 foot bennington. We liked his boat so much when we decided to buy we went with bennington as well, but we went for the slightly smaller 20 footer, minus the bells and whistles, but we did go with a 75 hp 4 stroke, the largest hp rated for this particular boat. One thing I have learned from the fine people on this forum, if you can, put the strongest motor on the back that the boat is rated for. as one person said here some time back, ( paraphrasing here ) " I've heard alot of people say they wish they had gone with a larger motor, but I've never heard anyone say that they had too much motor for the boat". This is a great forum with alot of nice and knowledgable people, so if you have any questions, just jump in... These guys ( and gals ) will help you out in a new york second. :thumbsup

Roland
Roland & Jo
2010 Bennington 20 Sfi
Yamaha 75 4 Stroke
Shreveport, Louisiana

DavidN
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:37 pm

Re: New Member

#11 Post by DavidN » Sat Feb 27, 2010 2:00 pm

Hi Everyone

Been a while since I posted. I have been reading daily and have been researching boats all along. Today, I made the plunge and purchased the Sweetwater 2386DC . It has 25" logs and lifting strakes. With a 115HP 4Stroke Yamaha.

http://www.godfreypontoons.com/sweetwat ... l=sw2386dc

Now, I am looking for some warmer weather!

Thank you to everyone for your advice. Tough decision.

dockholiday
Posts: 2916
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2008 7:32 pm
Location: Lake Oconee, Ga.

Re: New Member

#12 Post by dockholiday » Sat Feb 27, 2010 3:30 pm

Godfrey make a good solid boat, my previous boat was a San Pan. Is that a 2 log boat? just wondering with the strakes. I know suntracker was putting strakes on their 2 log. Congrats should be a great boat for you enjoy.
doc

DavidN
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:37 pm

Re: New Member

#13 Post by DavidN » Sat Feb 27, 2010 4:18 pm

It has two toons. I really debated on the tri-toon. But I really liked this boat.

dockholiday
Posts: 2916
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2008 7:32 pm
Location: Lake Oconee, Ga.

Re: New Member

#14 Post by dockholiday » Sat Feb 27, 2010 5:04 pm

DavidN wrote:It has two toons. I really debated on the tri-toon. But I really liked this boat.
That is what counts. Had a 2 log with a 90 for over 10 years and it served me well........enjoy
doc

User avatar
ylojelo
Posts: 33
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:29 am
Location: +37° 3' 26", -79° 35' 31"

Re: New Member

#15 Post by ylojelo » Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:17 pm

welcome! and congrats. We have at place at SML too. We exhausted the boat show this weekend, we liked the simplicity of the sweetwater and the suntracker but found the suntracker furniture to be uncomfortable. Now we need to decide new or used. if you hear of any used sweetwater boats for sale, let me know!

Post Reply