Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

My wife and I are in the market for a new pontoon boat. We are trying to decide between a Bennington 20SL and a Sweetwater 2086. The sweetwater comes with 27" pontoons and the Bennington has 25" pontoons. Both come with a 70 HP Yamaha 4 stroke. Are we going to be beaten up out on the open bay with a 20 foot boat? Last, will we be able to pull someone on a tube?
We are new members to the Forum. Thanks for whatever help you can give us.
Four R's

Welcome ! Where are you from ? What bay ?

I bought Bennington for the quality. If you're going to be on "big water", boats slightly longer than 20' are more seaworthy. And, they're just marginally more costly.

If you're into water sports, go toward the larger end of the specified max motor horsepower. Nobody on this forum is ever dissatisfied when they go toward the highest allowable horsepower, and the cheapest time to buy the bigger motors is when it's new.

My vote for pulling a tube is the sweetwater with a 115 HP. You will like the extra room it offers, along with the power. My vote for quality is the Bennington with the max 90 HP. A 70 may be ok in the beginning but you are going to want a larger motor not to long after you get it. This may, or may not help you..lol

My only experience with pontoons is renting a 20ft with a 90hp 4 stroke yamaha. We had the boat for 2 full days and pulled a tube behind it most of the time. 90hp is the least I would get for pulling a tube etc....

We just bought an 18' Sun Tracker with a 75hp 4 stroke (largest allowable). You can pull a tube, but it won't be the most exciting ride in the world. Pontoons make great fishing, swimming, and party platforms. If you want to ski, wakeboard, or have a thrilling tube ride it will cost you some bucks. Tri-toons with 200hp will give you that capacity. Good Luck and happy barging!

My boy tubed behind the 22' tri-toon with 115 HP ONCE. Too slow after being previously towed by an IO Larson. He was 15, maybe younger kids would get a bigger thrill.

We towed the grandkids and their friends (girls 13 - boys 14/15) behind our 22' Sun Tracker w/90hp. Was able to drag them around 25-28 MPH, with some weaving and whipping them, they all had a blast.

The Bennington is the standard of the industry--simply put. I seldom see them on the used boat market, and resale values are pretty incredible.

You're into tubing and it's on an open bay--big water. I would suggest a 22' boat with a minimum 115 hp and lifting strakes. The $1.8K Express Tube (with strakes and under deck shielding) would be a good addition to give substantially improved seaworthiness at a modest cost.

Pontoon/tritoon boats have a very long lifespan, and you should purchase a boat and a motor that suit your needs. 70 hp, 20' and 2 toons just don't cut it on open waters pulling tubers.

Ditto on what Bamaman says. The tritoon version (Bennington has the ESP with an elliptical 32" center toon) with strakes, underskinning and at least a 115 should give you what you need. If you can afford it, go to 150 hp because you can always dial back on the power, but if you need more.....
Depends on where you'll be boating as well.

I can't offer any experience with a Sweetwater but I can tell you that I am thrilled with my recently purchased Bennington. I went from a Sea Ray 240 Sundeck to the Bennington 2575 tri-toon and am very pleased. I was surprised how much better the ride is in the Bennington (in all water conditions) as compared to the V-hull Sea Ray and it is a very quiet ride. As others have said, if you will be in big water, you might want to consider something a little bigger than a 20 footer and with more power. My boat also has the "rough water" package and that is also something you might want to consider.
Good luck!
Jack

Dang, this looks like a Bennington party. Everybody is at least consistent in their advice.

Pontoon/tritoon advice is kind of generic--like our boats are somewhat generic. Some just have a little nicer seats than others. Any of the popular brands will do the job.

Hey, I'll put in a good word for Avalon/Tahoe. My wife was the one that insisted on the third toon, and I sure don't regret it. Only wish I had known to ask for lifting strakes and underskinning. I'm doing the underskinning myself, when i get the time. Super glad that my wife also insisted on upgrading to the 115. I think I'll keep her!

Really understand the conditions you will be boating in, and make your decision based on that. I do not think the manufacturer is as important as the choice between two or three pontoons and the size of the motor. Most of the better known brands are all built well.

However if you will be in rough conditions, a tritoon is the way to go. Night and day between comfort of ride, getting water in the boat etc.

You can find a good used tritoon (2006 - 2008) 22ft with a 115hp for under 22g's. I believe their was or maybe still is a tritoon for sale on this forum asking 18G's.

We have a Sunchaser 8520 20 foort with a Suzuki 100 4 stroke. It will run at 26 mph with 4 on board. Tubers can't stay on at that speed.
Good luck in your search