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Harris - new pontoons on order

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2014 6:56 pm
by jshumphries
Got the dreaded call two weeks ago. Marina called all contact numbers to say Pontoon was listing to the left, taking on water. Crap, scramble the wife, get the marina to pull it. Of course 30 minutes before closing time. Come to find out this is a known issue. According to my dealer, a "manufacturing issue" causing the pontoon welds to crack and let water in. Needless to say, highly incensed and out of a boat for the next 3 weeks while a welder drains and temporarily fixes things until the new pontoons arrive in 6 - 8 weeks. Anyone else with a 2012 or close Harris tritoon with leaky toons?

Thanks,

Jeff

Re: Harris - new pontoons on order

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2014 9:14 pm
by RcgTexas
I don't have that problem, but That sucks!! :censored Sorry to hear about that. Whats to say new ones will be better? :donno

Re: Harris - new pontoons on order

Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 3:19 pm
by bpsNC
I also have a 2012 CX220 with 150 Merc. Just got back from the marina where mine is listing on the starboard side. I have it in a wet slip at my dealer's marina. They pulled it but shop will not be able to look at it until next week. I assume I'll be in the same position as you. Didn't know about "manufacturing issues", but one of the dock guys indicated that is the case.

Bernard

Re: Harris - new pontoons on order

Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 4:30 pm
by Bamaman
I've heard of the problem with Harris', but it's something that could happen to any brand of pontoon/triton.

Having someone at the marina watching every boat left in the water is very important.

I'm the victim of a marina owner not watching his boats, and my inboard outboard slowly sunk. We slipped a big tarp under the hull and pumped the water out. After a rebuild of the alternator and starter, we blew out the water and changed the oil. Then we drained the fuel tank and got it running. The problem was a leaking bellows on the Mercruiser outdrive. No wonder I don't like I/O's any longer.

Re: Harris - new pontoons on order

Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 6:49 pm
by Mosnowman
Scary stuff! I haven't had problems but now am on alert!!

Re: Harris - new pontoons on order

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2015 4:56 pm
by Waterbug13
I am looking at a new 20ft harris maybe but dont want to get one if i have to worry about it sinking.

Re: Harris - new pontoons on order

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2015 5:05 pm
by Ddancers
Other Mfg's have had issues too. Here's a Sweetwater Post.

Anyone else having trouble with the welds on the pontoons cracking? Let me explain a little first, I work at a rental site for the military and all boats are trailered by the customers, we have 2 2013 models and 2 2012 models,(both 2086) along with some 2008 model years. The 2012/2013 models are cracking on the rear welds causing the pontoons to take on water. We also had the front of the pontoons start leaking at the front where the bottom of the first section meets up with the "V" ridge on the bottom of the pontoons. We thought this might be caused by customers beaching the pontoons or hitting the dock/ramps to hard but none of our other pontoons or boats show any signs of this. Any ideas or suggestions?

Re: Harris - new pontoons on order

Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 9:24 am
by crookedlaker
Don't worry about a Harris Quality, I have a 20' cruiser and i love it
very good quality, every mfg has a problem once in a while.
i don't think there is a bad pontoon boat mfg in business now.
The main thing is to buy form a dealer that will service your boat
I bought from a local dealer with good service reputation. I could have saved money if
i wanted to drive but local service is important, If i have a problem in the first year he
will come to my boat or pick it up.

Mike

Re: Harris - new pontoons on order

Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 4:30 pm
by Waterbug13
Thanks Mike for the info, I haven't made up my mind completely yet but we are leaning to the 20 ft harris. I bought a nice used 24 ft sylvan sun chaser last yr figuring I would get the kids on the boat. They maybe went out 3 times, most of the time it's just her and I. Only thing I don't like on mine now is it u as a 50 hp 2 stroke. It runs fine just not a 2 stroke fan, the guy traded it in for a new boat with a 50 hp 2 stroke.. may try to sell mine then get serious
Kevin

Re: Harris - new pontoons on order

Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2015 9:00 am
by Pleease.
crookedlaker wrote:Don't worry about a Harris Quality, I have a 20' cruiser and i love it
very good quality, every mfg has a problem once in a while.
i don't think there is a bad pontoon boat mfg in business now.
The main thing is to buy form a dealer that will service your boat
I bought from a local dealer with good service reputation. I could have saved money if
i wanted to drive but local service is important, If i have a problem in the first year he
will come to my boat or pick it up.

Mike
Good to hear that you love your 20' Harris cruiser - just ordered one Thursday! Also getting a 90hp Mercury, figuring it should be strong enough to cruise at a decent speed or pull an occasional tuber without straining too much. Getting ours from a small dealer who seems excellent - even gives his cell phone # in case you need his advice on a weekend or holiday.

First boat we've owned, so any other feedback/advice is welcome.

Thanks
Neil

Re: Harris - new pontoons on order

Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2015 5:13 pm
by crookedlaker
get the 115 motor, you will not be sorry
the 90 is good enough to ski but kinda small for tubing
mike

Re: Harris - new pontoons on order

Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2015 3:31 am
by Bamaman
There's only a $700 price difference between the 90 and 115 motors. The performance difference well worth the extra.

Re: Harris - new pontoons on order

Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2015 10:08 am
by Ddancers
I tend to agree - I walked out after signing my purchase order with the 90 hp.
Before I got to the car said to the wife you know I think we should go with the 115 a 90 might be a little lacking and the cost difference is small (less than $700).
So walk back to dealer and said let's go with the 115 hp, he replied good choice.
The marina where I keep my toon has 7 pontoon rentals, and they very much promote tubing rental equipment to use on them.
From what I can remember they were all 115 Yamaha's.
I couldn't justify going with a 150 hp, extra cost from a 115 was $2,750, plus extra gas consumption and recommended hydraulic steering.
However the 115 hp was a nice settlement.

Re: Harris - new pontoons on order

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 12:17 pm
by Bamaman
You'll often hear of someone saying they bought the smaller motor because there's just 3 or 4 mph difference on top end.

Well, it goes a little deeper than that. With the higher horsepower motors, you can start off at full throttle--and then back off to maybe 1/2 throttle for a mid speed cruising speed.

You try the same thing with a 50 hp or 60 hp, and its full throttle all the time just to keep up with other boats with larger engines. You've got to wring them out all the time. The higher horsepower powered boats will cruise so effortlessly, quietly and efficiently. They're just more pleasurable to own.

After all, how often have you heard someone say they wish they'd got a smaller engine on their pontoon boat?

Re: Harris - new pontoons on order

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 12:35 pm
by dronetoon
I also up-graded the motor a week after I ordered my Starcraft SLS3. I did it after discovering this board and reading through the archives. I went from a 115 to 150.
It was an additional $3600 because I then needed the hydraulic steering also.

My boat should be delivered the first week in April. Hopefully the ice is all gone by then.

Enjoy your new boat!