First Pontoon Questions

[rancherlee]

34 sounds about right. I use the pilot tube built into my DF140 to run the speedo and it's dead on accurate from 15-30 compared to my GPS. It starts reading fast past 30mph though, 38mph GPS @ WOT is 41 on the speedo. Even though the DF140 is a high strung 115 class motor it still manages to Push 8 adults past 30mph on my 21' tritoon but it shouldn't be compared to 150 class engines, or a relabeled 150 sold as a 135HO Etec as it's not in the same low end torque class. Kinda of an oddball motor that is really alone in its class, the discontinued Etec 130 was about the only other "high strung 115" motor. I'd also opt for the full length center tube of you have the funds, usually it includes a larger fuel tank.

[justfishing]

When looking at pontoons the model you are looking will have 2 and 3 logs options. A 3 log will weigh more and and will be able to carry more. The 3 log toon will also take bigger motors.

If you are buying a new toon you need to look ahead to when your kids are older and wanting to be on tube, wakeboard or water ski. Also how many people will you have on board and what type of lakes you will go out on. We go to Lake of the Ozarks. A lake with some very big boats that can be rough. That type of lake needs at least a 24 foot boat with 3 logs.

You should also learn about lifting strakes which are on beneficial on boats with at least 115 hp. If you look at Mantiou and some other boats they have lifting strakes and a larger center toon. This makes the boat handle more like a vhull allowing you to turn around quicker to get to a down skier or tuber.

There are a great many used boats that have very low hours. I would look at used boats with a 4 stroke. Fall is a good time as a lot of people dont want to deal the the storage issues.

[Bamaman]

New questions...

1.Should i get the part tritoon called pts or full length tritoon called hmx? Go with the full toon if you can afford it. The 3/4 length center toon will run just as fast, but won't have the bigger fuel tank and center in floor storage. But it's substantially cheaper and a great compromise.
2. Will there be huge handling differences? Not really.
3. Will there be huge speed diffs? About the same.
Anyone with experiance with these new short tritoon package? I could save some money or use that money to get a bigger motor? You can spend all you want on a motor, but 150 hp is where you get the best bang for your buck. To go from a F150 Yamaha to a F200 Yamaha is about $2800 difference. But then you've got to spend another $3,000 for SeaStar power steering assist--total almost $6K difference.

Also... I talked to another dealer BRP is the way i want to go.. Im a skidoo guy so etec 135ho is an amazing motor. 148hp for cheaper then a 150. Just heard that the g2 150 will be out for 2017 thats amazing but im sure its too much $ for me. Trying to get a trailer tax in deal for little or 50k. On paper, the Evinrude motors really look good. And I know they perform well. But I've been to too many Bassmaster tournaments where professional fishermen had their ETEC's leave them stranded in the tournament. The new G2's are really, really nice, but I don't know if their kind of torque would make them really great on a tritoon. I may be old fashioned, but my Yamaha F150 just does a great job, and it didn't cost a fortune like any G2 Evinrude is going to cost. After the economic debacle of 2008, there really aren't that many Evinrude marine dealers out there.

[4wheeldeal]

New questions...

1.Should i get the part tritoon called pts or full length tritoon called hmx? Go with the full toon if you can afford it. The 3/4 length center toon will run just as fast, but won't have the bigger fuel tank and center in floor storage. But it's substantially cheaper and a great compromise.
2. Will there be huge handling differences? Not really.
3. Will there be huge speed diffs? About the same.
Anyone with experiance with these new short tritoon package? I could save some money or use that money to get a bigger motor? You can spend all you want on a motor, but 150 hp is where you get the best bang for your buck. To go from a F150 Yamaha to a F200 Yamaha is about $2800 difference. But then you've got to spend another $3,000 for SeaStar power steering assist--total almost $6K difference.

Also... I talked to another dealer BRP is the way i want to go.. Im a skidoo guy so etec 135ho is an amazing motor. 148hp for cheaper then a 150. Just heard that the g2 150 will be out for 2017 thats amazing but im sure its too much $ for me. Trying to get a trailer tax in deal for little or 50k. On paper, the Evinrude motors really look good. And I know they perform well. But I've been to too many Bassmaster tournaments where professional fishermen had their ETEC's leave them stranded in the tournament. The new G2's are really, really nice, but I don't know if their kind of torque would make them really great on a tritoon. I may be old fashioned, but my Yamaha F150 just does a great job, and it didn't cost a fortune like any G2 Evinrude is going to cost. After the economic debacle of 2008, there really aren't that many Evinrude marine dealers out there.

Wow great info. I think the full tube for future motor upgrades and ski locker sold me.

Im in ontario and there are more brp dealers than merc i bet.

I have a yamaha dealer down thhe street from me. So thats a plus, i guess it will come down to money. Hey maybe they will be clearing out old 150ho's that would be amazing. That new G2 150ho looks amazing! 2.7L i believe. 20% more torque. But i bet its 2k more up here. We will see, im going to message the dealer this week and find out 2017 if he has it.