Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Starcraft SLS5 with 350 Verado or Manitou Encore 25 with 300 Yamaha(f300xca)?

Which would you choose?
I can get the Starcraft (with similar options for about 8k cheaper)

They are both really nice toons, but if you can get pretty much get the same boat with bigger motor for 8K less, well i would do the starcraft.

You may be able to get the Starcraft MX series with a 200hp for the same price, Much nicer interior, will hit 40mph. I do like the SLS but the Manitou will handle much better. but for 8K I'd go starcraft for sure. Plus, If you're financing, 8k could turn into 20K.

I hate to tell you, but Starcraft is a second tier manufacturer of pontoons. (I have one.) I've not looked at them in the last year or two (at the boat show), but there was a visible difference in welding and workmanship last time I looked at them.

Manitou is a first rate pontoon company and probably #1 in high performance toons--along with Harris, Bennington and Premier. Yes, they may cost a little more, but the quality is there. And they're the brands that hold their value so well.

Going with such horsepower, you're making a very serious investment. And that much horsepower really deserves the highest quality of a tritoon underneath it. For that reason, go with the Manitou.

Thank you for the input. Still trying to decide.

Hey man, do what I did. Gave my acceptable choices to the wife and let her pull the trigger.

She got to choose between Premier, Bennington, Crest, and Harris. No Manitou dealers were close to us, but they could have been serious contenders.

Its all her fault now.

When we were replacing our Starcraft pontoon, I too gave the wife the authority to make the decision.

The Benningtons, Manitous and Premiers were far above other brands at the Nashville Boat Show. We did hold off until July to buy it, however.

My Bennie was less expensive than the comparable SunTracker.