Rough water took its toll on the Premier

[Bryden24shp]

Wearing your life jacket and attaching the kill switch was always mandatory when the big motor was running on the bass boat.

Even on the pontoon boats, I attach my lanyard to my WE lifevest.

[Bamby]

Despite what you may actually think Bryden24shp is in a sense doing a public service of sorts. Though I wouldn't knowingly expose my boat to the conditions Bryan subjected his to, I actually may have subjected mine to maybe worse a few times. BMR for sure has his and he's got pictures and a thread here somewhere to prove it. Let's face it when we're out enjoying ourselves on the water often enough sooner or latter you're going to find yourself subjected to the extremes of what Mother Nature can and will dish out. That's the primary reason we want a sound well built boat that will hold together despite any water conditions it may be subjected to.

Simply because the ride of your life may be "in the hands of Mother Nature" and simply having nothing to do with "your hand on or in the throttle"...

[Bryden24shp]

Ya wanna talk adrenaline rush, try strapping into a 550-600 hp Dirt modified, on a 1/4 mile bull ring with 24 other crazies, and run 3 wide into the turns at 90 + mph and toss it sideways, while yanking the left front off the ground by 2 ft.

that aint no "little adrenaline rush"

Exactly! You know the feeling, you get it on the track. I get it on the water!
You push your car to the limit, safely. I push boats to the limit, safely.
You break your car, you fix it. I break my boat, I fix it.
You make improvements to make your car perform better and safer, I do them to make boating more enjoyable and safer.
We are both the same.
S'all good!

[Bryden24shp]

Thanks, Bamby. I tell it how it is! If it would have held up exceptionally well, I would have told the forum and Premier, of that, as well.
Now that Premier knows of the side skirts being poorly bolted on, I'm sure they will fix that. The bolts holding the pontoons on were not lock washered, just Nylocked over flatwashers. They may address that. Don't know... But they are now aware of it.
Thanks Again!
Bryan

[playcat]

Just got back from trip to Keys in ocean up to 4 ft. However I was only going 20mph. Anyway first thing I did was check underneath. So far no issues. However at 45mph, I may not have been so lucky.

This is an interesting issue, as I want to put a 150hp on the back, however I have wondered if the boat could take the pounding in rough seas that I typically encounter. Speed is one thing, but speed and rough waves have me a little worried. Not sure my boat is designed for such a pounding.....?????

Check out Avalon's website for video and writeups of their trips to the Bahamas and back, across Lake Michigan, down the east coast offshore to see how well Avalons hold up!

When the Volvo decides to run, I have ben very happy with my Playcraft's ability in ship wakes and 2-3 footers during windstorms. if it is rougher than that, I keep the toon home.

I think we are seeing folks exploring the limits of their pontoon boats while others see pontoons as not inherently designed for high speed operation in rough water. Last time I checked, we still live in America, so...we are still free to see the positives in both points of view, and express those views among friends.

Thanks everyone for sharing...Now go have a cold one!

[pond tuuunes]

Theres toons running 110 mph gps, plenty of them running 70+. anything running them speeds need to nut n bolt now and again. Pushing a vehical to a limit, dont make you crazy, its an adventure. JT

[OldePharte]

But Bryden, did you have fun????

And yes LOTO can be a washing machine, which is one reason we go out during the middle of the week. But then my JC doesn't get close to 45 either.

After the 4th of July weekend, a guy across the cove was putting his Baja(?) on his lift and found most of the bottom gel coat was gone. Just a bunch of fibreglass matting hanging loose. I hope he had fun, 'cause his summer boating is pretty much done.

[Bryden24shp]

Yes, we did! Had a great time, as always! We met up with 2 of my cousins I haven't seen for over 30 years. Took the whole bunch of us to Backwater Jacks and Frankie & Louies. We had 14 on board and everyone had a great time! They were all very impressed with the boat. It really rides well! Even with 14 of us. But man was it hot, 102 out that day.
You are on the 11 mm by Four Seasons? We were right there, several times.
Next time we are down, we need to get together!

[fwood]

Thanks Bryan for posting what you have found on your boat after hard running. I feel a little bit better with my purchase of the Manitou.
I do not run my boat nearly as hard as you do yours on a regular basis but I do have to contend with rough water and big waves from cruisers, etc and I do like to run 40+ on occasion (it IS very fun and a good rush). I too check my boat regularly for things loosening or breaking and just see that as regular boat maintenance and upkeep and being a responsible boater.
I do not have a Manitou dealer for hundreds of miles from me and that has been a concern of several of my friends who have commented such. Not so much a concern to ME as I have been in contact with Manitou and though I have not needed much warranty support, I know they are there when I do need it.
Part of my purchase decision was made from previous posts you had made with your Manitou. I looked at Premier, have a local dealer but still decided the Manitou was better for me.
I have not had anything break on the boat and have had it in some pretty rough water situations at speed (never got it completely airborne though). Not saying that the Premier could not have taken what I have been through with my Manitou; I would have expected it to hold up just as well though.
Thanks again though for pushing the limits and posting about it. It's guys like you that drive the builders to improve their products and make it better, safer for all of us.

[rancherlee]

Seen your comment on the Premier Facebook page when I followed a link from the Suzuki Outboard page, nice! Same actions I would take personally. I like pushing the limits and Hotrodding stuff, which is why I have a 600$ 20' pontoon boat with about 5000$ worth of stuff added. Center tube, welded on 35' of 3" angle for strakes, welded on transom, welded cracked risers, Added cross members and more risers, all in the name of Speed and handling a bigger motor. I already have fun terrorizing 115hp+ pontoons, and can't wait to bolt on a Suzuki DF115a (2013 DF115 is getting the bigger 140hp block and lean burn) and shoot for 40mph and terrorize the 150HP+ pontoons. Hot rodding and pushing/finding the limits is the American way!

The look I got from a guy on a 24' 2 log Premier with a 150 Suzuki last weekend was priceless. The lake was glass smooth and my dad and I were running back to shore from fishing leisurely crusing 20mph and went to over take the Premier, he looked over and seen another pontoon passing him and he pushed the lever to WOT. Didn't think I had a chance but I pushed the happy lever all the way forward too, played with the trim a bit, and ever so slowly over took him. The look on his face having a pontoon with less than 1/2 the HP over take him was priceless!

[fwood]

Seen your comment on the Premier Facebook page when I followed a link from the Suzuki Outboard page, nice! Same actions I would take personally. I like pushing the limits and Hotrodding stuff, which is why I have a 600$ 20' pontoon boat with about 5000$ worth of stuff added. Center tube, welded on 35' of 3" angle for strakes, welded on transom, welded cracked risers, Added cross members and more risers, all in the name of Speed and handling a bigger motor. I already have fun terrorizing 115hp+ pontoons, and can't wait to bolt on a Suzuki DF115a (2013 DF115 is getting the bigger 140hp block and lean burn) and shoot for 40mph and terrorize the 150HP+ pontoons. Hot rodding and pushing/finding the limits is the American way!

The look I got from a guy on a 24' 2 log Premier with a 150 Suzuki last weekend was priceless. The lake was glass smooth and my dad and I were running back to shore from fishing leisurely crusing 20mph and went to over take the Premier, he looked over and seen another pontoon passing him and he pushed the lever to WOT. Didn't think I had a chance but I pushed the happy lever all the way forward too, played with the trim a bit, and ever so slowly over took him. The look on his face having a pontoon with less than 1/2 the HP over take him was priceless!

Sweet

[pond tuuunes]

Its alot of fun beating other boats that think there is no way a pontoon can beat them. I like just bearly beating them, that way I can watch them playing with their trim and trying to push harder on the throttle, and the look of disbelief on their faces.

[OldePharte]

Yes, we did! Had a great time, as always! We met up with 2 of my cousins I haven't seen for over 30 years. Took the whole bunch of us to Backwater Jacks and Frankie & Louies. We had 14 on board and everyone had a great time! They were all very impressed with the boat. It really rides well! Even with 14 of us. But man was it hot, 102 out that day.
You are on the 11 mm by Four Seasons? We were right there, several times.
Next time we are down, we need to get together!

Actually, we are closer to F&Ls. We are in the cove between Ozark BBQ and Lone Oak Resort, just west of the boat ramp.

We haven't been out as the Bosslady just can't stand the heat anymore. 90% of the time we are here, just let us know.

[Bryden24shp]

rancherlee and fwood, Thanks Guys! We'll see what developes!

Oldepharte, I know exactly where your at, now! I'll be in touch before our next trip down! We can grab a drink at the BBQ!

[Bryden24shp]

Was contacted by Premier, they are looking into addressing several items to remedy the issues I found. Most of my items would have been under warranty. If I elected to take it to my nearest dealer, they would have been than happy to do it. Which I new, but it only cost me about $3.00 for rivets and about 4 hours (including several long breaks) to fix everyting. Would have taken longer to drive to and from the nearest dealer. However, my steering wheel, is NOT covered by warranty, because it only has a 1 year manufacturers warranty, on it. No big deal, I have temporarily fixed mine until my new one gets here, a replacement was $75.00.
I'm very pleased to know that they are concerned about my findings, and are looking at it. He said "They rarely have a chance to test the boats on "Big Water" and were pleased that I took the time to test and evaluate their product, to help the company make the next generation Premier, even better."
No problem, glad to do it...
Now, off to the river to test a new prop!