Looking for purchasing advice...

[russelljackson]

Hey Folks,

I've been lurking for quite some time, enjoying the great information here, and I'm looking for advice. We're buying our first boat sometime this year, and we're super excited. You know when you drive down to the marina and watch boats come in in the evening.... when you don't have one... that kind of excitement. Wife thinks I've totally lost it.

Everytime I decide "exactly" what I want, I get confused and change my mind again... Definitely going to be a pontoon, probably new, unless I can find a good newer used one in the next few months. I don't want to spend over 23K, I want 22-24 feet. In that price range, two toons, hoping for 25 or 26 inchers. I'm thinking either 90 or 115 hp. I'm not interested in skiing, but definitely pulling a tube around. We've got 3 kids, 14, 13 and 11. We'll be cruising, floating, swimming, and I would love to start fishing again at some point. We'll be on one of the Atlanta area lakes, Allatoona or Carters probably, so not hugely crowded or rough waters (hopefully).

If I had to pick today, I would probably choose the Harris CX220, I'm going to drive one of those again Friday, I can get that with a 90hp around the high end of the price range I'm looking at. But I could also get a Bentley 240 Cruise SE, which is a really sharp boat with a 115hp for less money. And my closest dealer sells Sylvan, the Sylvan 8522, is another beautiful boat right in the middle of that price range. I think you guys will say they're all great boats, and go with the one that feels the best and be happy! But just wanted to throw it out there, along with what we're going to use it for and see what you guys thought.

I really appreciate it, and all the other great information.

[lakerunner]

If the Harris is in you range I would do it. Old company and you don't get to be an old company unless you make a good product.

[Bamaman]

Russell:

Loyd's right about the Harris. If you can get one for the price, do it. Their dealers don't post prices on the internet, and it's hard to get a handle on them. They're very well built, however.

For your use, I would certainly recommend a 115 hp motor that's just about $600-700 more than a 90 hp.

Atlanta's big enough to have a competitive boat market. Many of the dealerships are out at Lanier, but the Bentley dealers at Oakwood and Macon have good reputations. You won't have to go far.

Buyers are now in the driver's seat, as the market just went flat after 7/4. Mid line tritoon 150 hp boats are about sold out, but dealerships still have boats like you're looking for in stock.

I bought a Bennington Saturday after my old boat died.

[robster]

It would be worth a drive to Greenville,SC to water test a Manitou at Palmetto Boat Center and or look at the 2008 Bennington with 115HP Yamaha that they have for sale. We bought our Manitou from Palmetto April 2011 and have been very pleased with it.Ask for Marty he's the co-owner and he wants to sell boats at a fair price,great customer service . http://www.foothillsboats.com/CatalogPr ... &Item=1884

[gramps]

We bought a Berkshire from Bolling Bridge Marine and love it. After owning 3 pontoons I would highly recommend Berkshire. I think you can get everything you want for the price you want to pay in this boat.
I would compare it to anything on the market.
It won't cost you anything to look at one, good luck.

[curtiscapk]

Russell:


I bought a Bennington Saturday after my old boat died.

Bama what the hell and no update!!!!!

Russell,

get a 115 you won't be unhappy

[ardcp]

we just bought a bennington w/a 90hp motor thinking we wouldn't need more to tube. well now that we have it, the kids want to waterski and the 90hp maxes out at 24mph w/the kids on a tube so water skiing would be tough. hindsight being 20/20, we should've gotten a 115hp!

[russelljackson]

Thanks for all the info guys! Sounds like any way I go, the 115hp is what I will be happiest with. Going to test ride that Harris on Friday, I'll let you know how it goes. LIke you said, not knowing their prices, it's hard to know where to start the negotiations.

Appreciate all the help. Really enjoying this forum, hopefully I'll have stories to contribute soon! Most likely stories of dumb things I did trying to learn something or strange things I lost overboard... lol

[bassn386]

Russell, what we found when looking at boats was the dealer was willing to come off the MSRP on a new boat about 30%. So, figure everything up (take a calculator if you aren't good with percentages), and make your first offer be lower than that. Usually you'll get a response that they paid more than that for the boat. Then ask them what they think they can let the boat go out the door for.
DO NOT take that figure! Even if it's low enough that you are wetting your pants, tell them you have to talk it over with the boss and leave, even if it's just to get something to drink and get away from the dealership.

[russelljackson]

Interesting, it looks like Harris does post their MSRP numbers on the "Build a Pontoon" section of their website if anyone is interested, http://www.harrisflotebote.com/build_a_pontoon

[ROLAND]

russell.... based on what you said, a wife and 3 kids I'd opt for the 115.... I don't own a harris, but I hear from friends that have them that they love them... good luck with your boat shopping... and yeah, that "fun" feeling you get sitting at the launch when you don't have a boat, just watching others coming back and loading up.... I remember that feeling.... plus it's fun to watch people who have no idea what they're doing trying to put a boat on the trailer, or just back the trailer down the launch... ahhhh... good times! Let us know what you get.

[rbiederwolf]

It would be worth a drive to Greenville,SC to water test a Manitou at Palmetto Boat Center and or look at the 2008 Bennington with 115HP Yamaha that they have for sale. We bought our Manitou from Palmetto April 2011 and have been very pleased with it.Ask for Marty he's the co-owner and he wants to sell boats at a fair price,great customer service . http://www.foothillsboats.com/CatalogPr ... &Item=1884

Nice Bennington. Any idea on the price????

BTW I know a new Tritoon is probably not in the budget, but used???? After switching to a tritoon, I would not let someone I know not buy a tritoon. The handling and stability is amazing. If you get in any type of chop, boat traffic, windy conditions, it is like having a V hull boat.

Anyway good luck. WHatever you do get the 115hp.

[Bamaman]

If you can go around $35K, Athens Marine has a black 23' Manitou Aurora for $32,995 not including trailer. It's a full tri-toon VP hull with a Value package, in toon storage and a 150 hp ETEC. The boat performs extremely well. Athens Marine is a pretty impressive dealership.

The TN dealer I bought from had a Bennington 24' SSLX twin tube with a 115 hp Yamaha for $34K including tandem trailer w/o brakes. I just say that for relativity. It's not the cheapest hull they make, however.

It seems as if the lower horsepower boats are available. There are also some high line, big horsepower boats available. Most boats sold are in the middle--and they're in short supply in many dealerships. The 2012 selling season is just about over.

My old Yamaha 115 hp 2 stroke's lower unit gave up the ghost after only 26 seasons. A new aftermarket lower unit is $845 plus shipping, so I decided to just buy a new boat. It's a 24' Bennington SSLX (rear facing double bed) with virtually every option and a Yamaha 150 engine. Okay, okay--pictures are coming as soon as I build a 11' x 18' rack to hang the boat on.

I'm sold on Bennington and Manitou. Harris and Premier are also very nice. Bentleys will do the job, but I don't care to have powercoated fence tubing. Lowe had a 23' tritoon with strakes and the new Merc 150 Fourstroke for $28K, but the seats were very uncomfortable.

The Atlanta boat market (or within 90 miles) will provide you with whatever boat you want.

[ronb]

Interesting stuff here...

Okay, okay--pictures are coming as soon as I build a 11' x 18' rack to hang the boat on.

Hang a boat?

I'm sold on Bennington and Manitou. Harris and Premier are also very nice. Bentleys will do the job, but I don't care to have powercoated fence tubing. Lowe had a 23' tritoon with strakes and the new Merc 150 Fourstroke for $28K, but the seats were very uncomfortable.

The Atlanta boat market (or within 90 miles) will provide you with whatever boat you want.

Out of curiousity, I see no love for the Forest River brands here (Xcursion or South Bay) I love mine. Are they not a big enough company to be considered? Locally we only have Sun Tracker and Sweetwater dealers, both of which we looked at but neither came close to how nice a 5 year old South Bay is for comfort.

-ron

[homey]

For comparison I know my Bennington dealer in Indiana is selling the Bennington S with the 25" tubes for $ 17,400 plus tax with a 50 Yamaha. I asked about the 90 and they didn't recommend it due to the extra weight on back? but offered me the Yamaha 70 upgrade which is very close to the 90 in performance due to the much lighter weight for $18,500. Bennington actually lists this boat with a 70HP max but others have said they will get you a different rating plate to put a 90 on it.

The basic Harris 200 cruiser was under 17K with a 50 at the same dealer. I think it was just about 20K with the 90HP. I bought a leftever 2011 with a single rear lounger for just over 16K with a 50HP Big Foot. I tried to upgrade motors but they really wanted to sell the setup they had which is why I got the price I did.

One thing to take note of is that there is an additional cost in having to add hydraulic steering to the 115. It is not needed on the 90HP.

I love my Harris and am happy to answer any questions you have about it.