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Good deal or not?
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 5:16 pm
by Mood95
Looking at buying a 2014 Harris Flotebote Cruiser 200 Tritoon with a 115hp Mercury OB. The boat comes with a Magic Tilt trailer. Options include: Center walk thru layout with dual rear facing loungers. Docking lights/underwater LED. 5 step ladder, courtesy lights. Full vinyl flooring, digital depthsounder. Performance package including partial center speedo and lifting strakes. Rough water package, salt water package. Price before tax including the trailer is $31K. Good deal or no deal?
This will be our first major boat purchase. My other boat was a learner, 1995 Sea Ray 175 Sport, fun boat but the wife wants a more stable boat. We tube with the kids and are looking at wake boarding in the bay and some in the gulf, the tritoon looks like the best option, just hope the cost will be.
Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Moody
Re: Good deal or not?
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 5:37 pm
by dodger
It sounds like a very good price. Call a Harris dealer and give them the options and I'm sure you will find it is below retail.
They are good boats, but, have been bought out by Brunswick a few years ago, and thinks have been changing within the company. A former dealer thought the quality was slipping but, maybe he was sour grapes on the deal.
Re: Good deal or not?
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 5:44 pm
by cwag911
I think you should go for a bigger motor if you're going in the Gulf.
Re: Good deal or not?
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 6:26 pm
by Bamaman
I'm with Carl on the 150 hp. There's a substantial difference in power and speed vs. a 115 hp.
I'd also suggest going a 22' hull, as they're not that much more than a 20'er, and they're much more seaworthy. How a boat handles waves is an issue in the gulf and in those big bays up and down the cost.
Re: Good deal or not?
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 6:31 pm
by RcgTexas
Just a guess but if he goes with a 150 and a 22 ft 'r his price will go up 5 g's
Re: Good deal or not?
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 1:52 am
by ROLAND
RcgTexas wrote:Just a guess but if he goes with a 150 and a 22 ft 'r his price will go up 5 g's
You're right, the price will certainly go up.. but like others said, if he's going to go out on "big" water, he really would be better off with a larger horsepower motor as well as boat..... I've got a 20 footer and only a 75 on my boat, but I only boat on inland lakes... big lake true, but no serious rough water.
Re: Good deal or not?
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 2:01 am
by Mood95
Well now that you mention it, I was looking at a G3 Suncatcher V322C kind of basic but a 22 footer with a 150hp Yamaha. I have paid 1000 as deposit to have the Harris moved from Jacksonville to Panama City dealership for a check ride, total refundable if I choose not to purchase.
Thanks for the replies,
Moody
Re: Good deal or not?
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 2:10 am
by Mood95
Forgot to mention, they want 31500 for the G3 with the trailer.
Thanks,
Moody
Re: Good deal or not?
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 6:13 am
by jayw
Just saw on boattrader a new Hampton 22' with a 150 Merc, $29K. No trailer though. I think in the $30K price range with some post-season haggling skills and if you don't need tons of frills you would have some choices with a 150 - Merc at least. I don't think you'd be unhappy with the Yamaha 150, though the G3 I think I've heard some complaints about them, mostly about welds. Probably they are much improved.
Re: Good deal or not?
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 6:32 pm
by Mood95
Completed a test ride this past weekend on a 2014 Harris Flotebote Cruiser 200 and it seemed pretty good. The boat had the 115hp Mercury and with 6 adults on board, 3 of which were over 200lbs, we got to 35mph. 35 feels fast on a tritoon, plus it could turn as tight as my bowrider. We did the deal and I'm supposed to pick the boat up Friday and get on the water real soon. Was thinking about getting a pontoon protecting agent like Sharkhide but they wanted $700 to put that on, kind of steep. I'll probably do the Sharkhide next season and apply it myself. I only plan on having the boat at wet slip for a week now and then, not all the time.
Any how now we're tooners.
Thanks for all the info!
Re: Good deal or not?
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 6:51 pm
by RcgTexas
Good for You!

I hope you and family enjoy it a bunch. Now get us some pics soon!
Re: Good deal or not?
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 12:26 am
by smltooner
Welcome to the club...good luck w/ your new 'toon.
Re: Good deal or not?
Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 10:32 am
by Soonertoon
Congrats on the new sled...I have the G3 you looked at and love it a lot. You will enjoy the Harris .
Re: Good deal or not?
Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 7:02 pm
by zoom650
Congrats on the new ride. Yor boat sounds better equipped than most of the rentals floating around there. You'll have a great time with your new toon around PCB. Great opportunities to beach behind Shell Isl or in the basin behind the east jetty. Dolphins galore just outside of the pass.
A note about Harris and their horn, since I just experienced it. The horn is mounted under the boat (duh). It gets wet. Quits working. They'll replace it once, then if it fails again, Harris will mount another inside the helm station.
Who is your Harris dealer in PCB? Treasure Island/MarineMax?