Looking to buy our 1st. toon

[Strake]

Having had multiple boats over the years with both I/O and outboards I would never go back to an I/O again. Maybe I'm too old but the maintenance and winterization issues are hands down easier on an outboard. Drop a wrench, socket or small part when you're working on your I/O and watch it disappear into the deepest darkest corner forever and you'll wish you had an outboard right then and there. Now, add in maintenance on bellows and gimbals and such and you'll soon be a believer. I love the sound of a healthy V-8 firing up but I soon got over it now that I can barely hear my engine running and can actually carry on a conversation while underway.

THIS I completely agree. I don't miss our 496 Mercruiser / Bravo 3 at all....... The previous Sea Ray 250 SLX was a great boat, but Gimme that Outboard everyday of the week.... They are bullet proof, reliable, no winterizing anymore, running a blower prior to starting, super smooth, quiet, etc.

[playcat]

Having had multiple boats over the years with both I/O and outboards I would never go back to an I/O again. Maybe I'm too old but the maintenance and winterization issues are hands down easier on an outboard. Drop a wrench, socket or small part when you're working on your I/O and watch it disappear into the deepest darkest corner forever and you'll wish you had an outboard right then and there. Now, add in maintenance on bellows and gimbals and such and you'll soon be a believer. I love the sound of a healthy V-8 firing up but I soon got over it now that I can barely hear my engine running and can actually carry on a conversation while underway.

Could not agree more. Next toon is outboard powered, no question.

[RobZ71LM7]

Just a note, the Sunstation is one of Premiers "value" lines of pontoons and is built with 24" on center cross members. That is kind of an Odd combo having both the PTX and 4.3L I/O options on the value based chassis. I've seen may Sunstation and Explorer (value) premiers with triple tubes and strakes but never seen one with PTX or an I/O but then again I/O comes with the PTX tube as the PTX tube was the purpose build center tube for I/Os before the decided to put outboards on that tube.

I have a 2010 225 Sunsation LTD, PTX It is 16 on center, not 24, all the Sunsation models we looked at were 16. The 2008 225 Sunsation LTD we had before the 2010 was also 16 on center. They may have lowered the Sunsation model to their value line, but in the 2010 vintage it wasn't, and I am quite sure with the PTX package it automatically upgrades to 16 on center even if it is todays value line.
Here is a link to the brochures for Premier all years from 1993-2014
http://www.pontoons.com/resources.php

ditto. There are tons of PTX Sunsations, I own one, and they are not on a 24" center.

[mbhenry1955]

Well, we went to look at the Premier.
What a piece of SH--!
Found out it was a rental boat.
The dock rash was horrible with a large patch and weld job on the right tube!
It was advertised as a Bravo 3 and it turned out to be a Alpha 1.
The out drive was covered with corrosion and the keg was damaged!
I wouldn't give $10,000 for the and they were asking $29,995!

Now they also had a 2009 Bennington 2257 triple with a Yamaha 150 4 stoke which was very nice.
We scheduled a test ride for next Friday .

Mike

[jafo9]

sorry to hear about your bad experience. my $0.02, if they weren't forthcoming about the condition of the premier, why would they be different with the bennington. both great brands and both have lots of used boats out there. with an OB powered toon, there isn't too much to go wrong if its taken care of so i'd be less wary of craigslist type boat than i would be with a typical runabout i/o.

also, fwiw, i've had both an i/o and ob powered toon. i/o's are nice and i love the clean look, but pontoons just don't receive an i/o well as the floor is high and the motor sits low. the only access you typically get is a rectangle above the motor with sharp edges so all your work is done with your arms extended and getting sliced to bits.

as mentioned above winterization is a breeze with an ob. here's my routine. tilt trim all the way down, kill the master power switch, plug in the charger/maintainer, lift the boat, walk away. i've gotten so go i can even do it with a beer in one hand.

as to the PTX, i've had mine for 5 years. absolutely great hull. eats chop all day and turns and handles great for a 25' boat.

good luck. you'll find lots of folks on here willing to help and share their knowledge and experience.