Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I have $10k cash now (from sale of my Sea Doo Challenger boat and some savings).... and by Jan-Feb 2013 I should have apx $15,0000 saved cash.

Financing is out of question thanks to my x-wife, my credit is currently ruined.

So my question is .... what would you buy? I really like the tritoons but I'm afraid even the used is out of the question. Also.. what would you avoid?

Thanks
-Kalop

PS) Thanks to everyone on my welcome thread.. I appreciated the comments and suggestions and will follow those recommendations.

You could check out any local marinas that get rid of their rental fleet every year, they usually have some pretty nice toons for a decent discount, and still give full as new warranty, and they are more likely to have extra "wiggle" room in the price especially if you have cash

When do these typically start selling their rentals .... like which months ?

Thanks

Kalop wrote:I have $10k cash now.... and by Jan-Feb 2013 I should have apx $15,0000 saved cash. Financing is out of question thanks to my x-wife, my credit is currently ruined. So my question is .... what would you buy?

I understand that you can get a hit man for about that much.

Kalop wrote:When do these typically start selling their rentals .... like which months ?

Thanks

not sure about your neck of the woods, but around here it is in right after Labor day

Don't discount getting a new one. I found a 2011 leftover Harris 20 foot cruiser with 2K worth of options and a 50HP Big Foot for $ 16,300 plus tax. The Bennington S and some of the other entry level ones can be found at that range late in the season. Keep checking the dealers. With the 2013 boats out now they need to get rid of the old models.

If you want more power check out used on boat trader or craigslist. One site (allofcriags) has all of the listings for the entire US listed on one site.

Good luck on your search

If you aren't going new all the way, I would get a used boat and buy a new motor. At the end of the day the only thing that is really important is that the boat floats and the motor starts every time. The rest is just cosmetic.

I would buy the best 5-10yr old tritoon with the biggest motor I could find. FWIW: my setup is worth about $15K (not that I am selling) and except for a few small dents looks pretty good. I've never had a problem with my Honda and I run fast enough for most folks. My point is that new motors depreciate like new cars and if you buy a good solid boat, you can always replace the easy stuff (fence, furniture, etc.)

I'd sell you mine for $8,500 and you would have plenty of gas and beer money.

@PlaynDoc Haha.. ya, but at least its all over... now I can move on w/my life.

@RayJr - Thanks, I'll check around then here as well after Labor Day.

@Homey - I think the new ones will be out of my price range, but I'll keep eye out for anything I can get.

@GregF - The motors by themselves can be DARN expensive though, especially the larger 4 strokes !!

@The_Hellbilly - Yea, I would absolutely LOVE getting a TriToon, that would be my top choice, I think I may be priced out of those though. I've been looking around craigslist and can't seem to find hardly any for sale, and when they are found, they're usually $25k and UP. Coming from a jet boat that went 50+mph, I'd love to get a large motor on tritoon... but I only got a beer budget.


When searching craigslist for "Tritoon" ... are there any other search terms that may bring them up ? "Pontoon" gets them all usually... but how do you narrow to just the tritoon's ?

Thanks

pontchartraintoon wrote:I'd sell you mine for $8,500 and you would have plenty of gas and beer money.

Whatcha got ?? lol Can't ever have too much money for beer and gas

What do you guys think about deck boats? The good the bad ??

Keep finding bunch of these in my price range and they're good about having larger engines.

Example:
http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/boa/3177188393.html

Kalop wrote:What do you guys think about deck boats? The good the bad ??

Keep finding bunch of these in my price range and they're good about having larger engines.

Example:
http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/boa/3177188393.html

the hurricane is the closest to a toon far as layout I have seen. Most of the deckboat or what people call deckboat seem to be not much more than large bowriders. Nothing you can really get up and stretch your legs in. My neighbor keeps asking me to go for a ride with them when they take their deckboat out. I look down from the dock with everyone all crammed together an say ya'll go ahead and have a good time.........see ya when you get back. If you got near 15k cash bet you could make a new one happen, maybe not an optimum interest rate, but worth checking into.

Used Hurricanes are a glut on the market here. People are buying pontoons. Sun and fiberglass just do not get along.

I've been shopping a lot lately myself, and I'd say in that price range, check out the Bentley pontoons. I see some nice looking new Bentley's advertised (at least here in GA) just a little above $15K.