Verado 175 on new Tahoe

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Liquid Asset
Posts: 486
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2012 12:21 pm
Location: ortonville,mi

Verado 175 on new Tahoe

#1 Post by Liquid Asset » Fri Nov 23, 2018 7:28 pm

Ok so after enjoying our custom rebuilt boat for 8 summers it's apparent we like boating. My kids are now 6 and 9 . They enjoy tubing and having friends come to the lake. Needles to say our 20' tritoon with 90 hp isn't enough anymore lol .

After driving several brands Bennington, Tahoe, Harris I'm really digging on a Tahoe. It's a 22'ltz elite windshield. My wife and I both love the windshield pontoons but most are close to $100k if not more.

Long story short we have a deposit on a boat. It's a 22' elite windshield that our local dealer has. I planned to order just what I wanted exactly, but this is close and a crazy deal. My issue is the verado. I know that they have been around for a long time but now discontinued. Is it a mistake to get one ? I plan to have this boat for a long time. This boat has bells and whistles I would never order but I like. Only Major thing I would order is the additional 2' of rear deck ( cheap option only like $700 and great for the kids swimming etc). I don't get to choose the color but my wife loves the combo.

This boat is one of the photo boats used in the Tahoe/Avalon brochure, website, and videos. Like I mentioned my main concern is the motor. Anything to worry about there? I can live with the shorter rear deck for $10k savings. The salesman priced out the exact same thing with the new 175 power assist steering and it's $10k more than this one. The boat will be getting sea legs as that is a requirement for my wife. She hated bobbing around at the Sandbar lol!
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2018 Tahoe ltz elite windshield powered by a 175 Mercury verado with sea legs
Rebuilt custom 20' 1983 riviera cruiser tritoon SOLD

2017 crew cab F-350 gets me to the lake !

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Liquid Asset
Posts: 486
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2012 12:21 pm
Location: ortonville,mi

Re: Verado 175 on new Tahoe

#2 Post by Liquid Asset » Fri Nov 23, 2018 7:29 pm

Not sure why the pictures are upside down?
2018 Tahoe ltz elite windshield powered by a 175 Mercury verado with sea legs
Rebuilt custom 20' 1983 riviera cruiser tritoon SOLD

2017 crew cab F-350 gets me to the lake !

bradm
Posts: 114
Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2013 6:09 pm
Location: Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake

Re: Verado 175 on new Tahoe

#3 Post by bradm » Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:07 am

Very nice boat. It would not bother me to buy a Verado. They are proven and Mercury should have parts available for years if you ever need them.

We too are going to a windshield boat next year. I really liked the Avalon and Tahoe lines and our local Avalon dealer was very helpful but could not get seating arrangement arch and windshield in size that would work in our slip. We ended up ordering a Manitou.
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Brad M.
2019 Manitou Legacy with 350 Suzuki
2016 South Bay 523 Arch. 250 Suzuki SS (sold)

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Liquid Asset
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Location: ortonville,mi

Re: Verado 175 on new Tahoe

#4 Post by Liquid Asset » Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:50 am

I understand what you mean about the length. We were looking at some deals on a regency and everything being shown to us was 27' I trailer my boat so my issue is storage. Once I add the motor and trailer tongue it's 33' ! My garage limits me to 31' unless I start moving shelves.

The dealership has a grand tahoe with the arch on it. I agree it's a sweet looking boat ,but its big for sure!
2018 Tahoe ltz elite windshield powered by a 175 Mercury verado with sea legs
Rebuilt custom 20' 1983 riviera cruiser tritoon SOLD

2017 crew cab F-350 gets me to the lake !

bradm
Posts: 114
Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2013 6:09 pm
Location: Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake

Re: Verado 175 on new Tahoe

#5 Post by bradm » Sat Nov 24, 2018 7:36 pm

We looked at an Avalon Excaliber with windshield and arch. It was gorgeous but was too long for our slip. We have a community dock in our development with 25 foot slips. The Excalibur would have stuck out about 4 1/2 feet plus motor. Would have been too much overhang and tough for neighbors getting in slip not to mention so much boat unprotected. The Manitou is just under 27 deck length will still stick out but mot as bad.

Let us know what you pick. We won't have ours til Spring.
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Brad M.
2019 Manitou Legacy with 350 Suzuki
2016 South Bay 523 Arch. 250 Suzuki SS (sold)

riplipper
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Re: Verado 175 on new Tahoe

#6 Post by riplipper » Sun Nov 25, 2018 5:44 am

I just got a new Harris 22 with a 200 Verado. Same engine as yours. Already have 80 hours on it in four months. No complaints at all on the engine.
If you do a search on the Hull truth you will not find too many issues with the Verados.

Funny, but I had the same concern as you do but talked to a mechanic friend of mine and he said the 150-200s are almost bullet proof. He said he routinely services off shore engines with 2-3k hours on them.
I am the guy at the boat ramp that gives you dirty looks when you are a complete idiot and too stupid to know it.

willy13
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Re: Verado 175 on new Tahoe

#7 Post by willy13 » Fri Nov 30, 2018 8:40 pm

As much as I like the specs on the new 4stroke, the supercharged verado is proven to be reliable. There will certainly be parts as many were sold and Mercury will always be in business.

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Liquid Asset
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Re: Verado 175 on new Tahoe

#8 Post by Liquid Asset » Sat Dec 01, 2018 6:05 am

Thanks for the help in me making my decision. We signed the papers yesterday! I don't have any more pics of the boat because it's at a different location. Never thought we would buy a boat in November but why not lol.
The trailer is on order and the sea legs as well but the sales man mentioned they wait for several sets to get done at once. A private party actually does the installation of the sea legs. No rush really we have plenty of time, but I can't wait for next summer!
Until then the boat gets to stay in the location where I took the pictures. Heated storage so no complaints! They dealer bought a old Sam's club location and is working on moving the whole operation into there. It looks like a boat show right now. When it's done they'll have a 70 boat show room.
2018 Tahoe ltz elite windshield powered by a 175 Mercury verado with sea legs
Rebuilt custom 20' 1983 riviera cruiser tritoon SOLD

2017 crew cab F-350 gets me to the lake !

bradm
Posts: 114
Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2013 6:09 pm
Location: Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake

Re: Verado 175 on new Tahoe

#9 Post by bradm » Sat Dec 01, 2018 6:27 am

Congrats on the purchase! Now the wait till next season. Hang in there!
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Brad M.
2019 Manitou Legacy with 350 Suzuki
2016 South Bay 523 Arch. 250 Suzuki SS (sold)

cbl1
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Re: Verado 175 on new Tahoe

#10 Post by cbl1 » Sat Dec 08, 2018 7:31 am

Congratulations on a great boat.

I purchased an Avalon Catalina 25' version (no windshield) last year and have been more than pleased with everything about it.

Avalon/Tahoe are making some good boats.

Up until this past summer the Verado was about the best you could buy with Mercury. Yes they came out with the new 4 stroke models - but hey I ordered one of them back in the spring with my boat and I'm still looking January on first delivery. Mercury Verado's are proven engine and the 175/200/225 family of engines is the sweet spot on pontoons (value vs. power/fuel economy).

Your going to be very pleased - nice layout on the boat too!
Last edited by cbl1 on Mon Dec 17, 2018 6:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Liquid Asset
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Re: Verado 175 on new Tahoe

#11 Post by Liquid Asset » Sat Dec 08, 2018 8:52 am

Thanks , I'm super excited about the boat. This is going to be a long winter lol . One week of waiting down , 19 to go ! It would be better if the boat was on order rather than sitting in a warm warehouse. I'm ready to grab some drinks and go dry boating lol. I've looked around a bit and am glad we were able to get the verado. Like you guys have said it has great reviews. I did talk to the sea legs guy this week. I've read conflicting things about the under skin needing to be removed. Was happy to hear it does not get removed. He said that they way they are mounted now and tuck up into their mount is very stream line and doesn't have much effect on performance. I'll gladly give up a couple mph to have a happy wife!
2018 Tahoe ltz elite windshield powered by a 175 Mercury verado with sea legs
Rebuilt custom 20' 1983 riviera cruiser tritoon SOLD

2017 crew cab F-350 gets me to the lake !

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bansil
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Re: Verado 175 on new Tahoe

#12 Post by bansil » Tue Dec 11, 2018 1:41 pm

Did they really show you a boat with all the corrosion/gunk on the toons :-|

I assume they will clean it, is it salt water corrosion that has eaten the anodized aluminum? or just algae?
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Re: Verado 175 on new Tahoe

#13 Post by Liquid Asset » Tue Dec 11, 2018 4:14 pm

bansil wrote:
Tue Dec 11, 2018 1:41 pm
Did they really show you a boat with all the corrosion/gunk on the toons :-|

I assume they will clean it, is it salt water corrosion that has eaten the anodized aluminum? or just algae?
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Yes they did really show me that boat, I took the pictures lol. It's a freshwater boat that was in the water for part of the summer. Pontoon logs do not come anodized only a few offer powdered coating. I'm in Michigan not too far from where these are built, that's how the dealer got their "photo boat " to sell as a demo. They had just pulled it inside (November in Michigan) so I could look at it as they knew I was interested in the windshield model. The boat will be fully detailed and logs cleaned before I get it. It's not really that bad in person. Im kind of a clean freak so trust me dirty logs were a big deal, but when he said we can sell it for $41k I got over it lol. I'm painting the logs anyways so not an issue. I would probably have had a tougher time deciding to paint brand new spotless pontoons. The strakes, side keels ,and leading edge of the splash guards will get polished. The rest gets painted. I did the same thing on my current boat. It gets lots of compliments and cleaning is so easy. A quick wipe down with vinegar water and they look amazing!
2018 Tahoe ltz elite windshield powered by a 175 Mercury verado with sea legs
Rebuilt custom 20' 1983 riviera cruiser tritoon SOLD

2017 crew cab F-350 gets me to the lake !

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bansil
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Re: Verado 175 on new Tahoe

#14 Post by bansil » Tue Dec 11, 2018 4:19 pm

:thumbsup
I feel better now, and that should look great!
Got a pic?
Check out "Dudes" site www.whereisdude.com

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Liquid Asset
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Re: Verado 175 on new Tahoe

#15 Post by Liquid Asset » Tue Dec 11, 2018 4:36 pm

I'm not sure when exactly it will get painted. They offered to let me do it in their building , but I can't do that with a bunch of new boats and customers coming in. That paint stinks lol. I have a heated garage but I can't tie it up with the boat during winter. I have to park my salt truck indoors before weather events. If my old boat wasn't still here I'd bring it home sooner. I'll probably just let them store it until spring.
2018 Tahoe ltz elite windshield powered by a 175 Mercury verado with sea legs
Rebuilt custom 20' 1983 riviera cruiser tritoon SOLD

2017 crew cab F-350 gets me to the lake !

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