typical new guy questions...

[LVjayhawk15]

You can skip this thread if you "dont want to hear it anymore" lol
Let me start off by saying-dont hate me!
Im a forum junkie in a lot of my other hobbies and i HATE when someone doesn't do a simple thread search and asks THE question for the 1,000th time!

With that said, I didn't honestly see threads pertaining to me so thats why there is this one!



Fresh start...

Hi. Im Corrie, my wife and I have a WaveRunner that we LOVE and we've LOVED the water for years, not its time to get a toon. We are the laid back people, 2 little girls, and 2 dogs (1 chocolate lab and a Basset Hound named Fred), we are really looking forward to getting one and starting to tour around our local Lake (Lake Mead in Vegas) and the river (Colorado)!!!


Here's where we're stuck-we can't seem to find really GOOD threads and info on Toons! When we bought our waverunner I knew how many hours per year was avg, which motors were desirable, etc etc.

Local dealers each obviously tell us their product is the best, BUT none have honestly said "xxx hours" is average for a round here" or "xxx hours is too much because then maintenence becomes an issue".



The point:

*After the limited research i've done I believe Yamaha makes one of the better 4-strokes (which we need, 2-stroke ban is in effect here), is this true?

*Hours-help! How many is normal/average per season? We are going to buy used and don't want to get screwed on a 'high mileage' boat.

*LOADED QUESTION--What is a good brand-really? Example: we found a 22ft Bennington that is a 2007 for $24K (had a fridge, microwave, generator, stereo, 115 horsepower, 135 hrs)

I apologize if the owner is reading this...BUT im too dumb right now to understand if this is a good deal.-ya know?

*We are literally going to own this boat forever, we want it to last, thats why I spent an extra chunk of change on my truck-nice features, got what i want, nice warranty, etc



ANY help would be appreciated, and YES i am fully aware im asking opinions and EVERYONE has one!

Thanks in advance all!

--Corrie & Jenn

[lakerunner]

First welcome

2 stroke ban?? modern 2 stroke are very efficient and EPA compliant but it could be true where you boat. Almost any toon that is well maintained will last many years.

Bennington is top of the line and even the entry level Bennies are well built. Pricing is hard as some areas are filled with toon dealers and some hardly any making used toons value higher.

[screwball]

I'm in Bullhead City and just bought a brand new Sun Tracker Party Barge. If you don't buy that Benny for 24 grand, let me know, I will. If the seats, carpet, and rails aren't screwed up and it looks like it has been taken care of you can't go wrong. I prefer Mercury motors, had a bunch of them and have never had any problems

Good Luck!

[ronb]

Get the computer on the engine read for accurate hours of use and what RPM they were used at. I bought a 2007 South Bay this year 90hp Mercury Optimax (2 stroke Direct Fuel Injected) with what I was told was 532hrs. Only to find out that it was more like 1050hrs, the onboard hour meter does not work (still).

I don't know if this translated over to pontoons, but my boat owning friends said 50-100hrs per year would be 'normal', which was partially why we bought it, 'normal' use. We found out later that it was the Bertha Boatworks 'demo' unit. If people wanted to rent or test out a South Bay, they sent them out in ours.. Upholstry and carpet was in good shape and after anothe 2k for engine repairs the engine is in great shape hopefully we will own his pontoon for a long time.

FWIW, we paid just over $20k, less hp, no fridge, no generator, or microwave. But it did come with a brand new bunk style trailer.

We have 2 small children also (ages 2 and 4) and a 65lb 'domestic mixed breed' dog (lab/springer/boxer? cross) and 22ft feels like a good length.

Does it come with a trailer? (if not and you don't have a slip figure on adding $2-3k to buy one)
Does it have a tube/ski bar? (factory one for my South Bay is $400)
Does it have lifting strakes?
Does it have underskinning?
Are they including any of the extras? (anchors/bumpers/life jackets?)
Do they have any maintenance records for the pontoon?

Maybe I am too non-commital, but with a used boat I think you should find yourself a good marine mechanic (one you can trust and has decent service) and ask their advice. If you buy a Yamaha but you can't get service for weeks/months you would be better off with a Honda that has good turn around (so long as it isn't always broken). I lucked out and found a place, and while he is a tad 'gruff' he won't lead me astray when it comes to repairs or upgrades. He is upfront with his schedule and pricing... take it or leave it.

One last thing.. check the NADA values
http://www.nadaguides.com/boats
Be sure you look up the pontoon itself, then go back and look up the motor and trailer (if included). Even with motor repairs we are still below 'average' price.

good luck,
-ron

[OK Toon]

I think the biggest difference you are going to see between your Waverunner and a Pontoon is the actual number of hours used. We had a Seadoo and it was going all the time at WOT. But since we got the Pontoon, we do more "slow puttering" if we are going anywhere at all -- we do a lot of just sitting out in the lake and swimming from the Pontoon boat.

[Bamaman]

The point:
*After the limited research i've done I believe Yamaha makes one of the better 4-strokes (which we need, 2-stroke ban is in effect here), is this true? YES. YOU CANNOT GO WRONG WITH OTHER MAJOR BRANDS, EITHER.

*Hours-help! How many is normal/average per season? We are going to buy used and don't want to get screwed on a 'high mileage' boat. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S AN AVERAGE, AS HOURS VARY. FLORIDA OFFSHORE FISHERMEN PUT HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF HOUR ON A BOAT. OTHERS MAY GO OUT 5-10 TIMES PER YEAR AND PUT 5 HOURS A DAY ON THEIR ENGINES. A MODERN 4 STROKE MOTOR WILL EASILY LAST 25-30 YEARS OF PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF FOR MOST PEOPLE.

*LOADED QUESTION--What is a good brand-really? Example: we found a 22ft Bennington that is a 2007 for $24K (had a fridge, microwave, generator, stereo, 115 horsepower, 135 hrs) TOP 4 BRANDS--BENNINGTON, MANITOU, HARRIS AND PREMIER. THERE ARE A DOZEN OF OTHER REALLY GOOD BRANDS, MANY OF WHICH HAVE LUXURIOUS FURNITURE. STRUCTURALLY, PONTOONS ARE ALMOST GENERIC. IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH AN OWNER WANTS TO SPEND.

I apologize if the owner is reading this...BUT im too dumb right now to understand if this is a good deal.-ya know? LIKE HAS BEEN SAID, GO TO NADA.COM AND PRICE IT. PRICES WILL VARY DEPENDING ON SUPPLY AND DEMAND, HOWEVER. MANY REALLY NICE TOONS ARE NOT OFTEN SEEN ON THE USED MARKET, AS OWNERS JUST DON'T TRADE THEM.

*We are literally going to own this boat forever, we want it to last, thats why I spent an extra chunk of change on my truck-nice features, got what i want, nice warranty, etc
OUR LAST BOAT IS 26 YEARS OLD, AND IS STILL PERFECTLY GOOD. THEY DO HAVE A LONG LIFESPAN, AND ARE GREAT VALUES. FOR THIS REASON, YOU SHOULD BUY WHAT SERVES YOUR PRESENT AND FUTURE NEEDS.

[GregF]

These days the engine itself will last a lot longer than the screw on parts. The last 2 motors I sent down the road were still running strong after 3000 hours or so but the other stuff was starting to "3 hundred dollar" me to death.

Yamaha is a great motor but the parts are expensive. In that regard a Merc is a better deal. I didn't buy another 60 Merc because of the China thing. That cost me an extra $1000. So far I am happy with the Yamaha tho.

I put 300 hours a year on my boat in a 12 month season.

[dockholiday]

Welcome
Lots of factors enter into the hrs on a used boat. Age of owner........an old fart is less apt to hitch up the boat every weekend to load and go to the lake. Accessibility........ if you live on the lake an have a boat lift naturally it only take seconds to launch an retrieve than trailering for 75 miles to the lake. Lots of others but you get the idea. Given 3 major holidays during the summer,about 24hrs plus a few more weekends, I would say 40 to 60hrs.

Makes........Suntracker and Bentley (encore) are the entry level and typically are not as plush, but Suntracker does make the regency. Most boat are well made so there isn't really a bad one to buy.
I probably could not have bought a used 2 log bennington or premier for what I paid new for my tritoon with the 150. I added the front bimini and perko switch running two batteries, and think I have it sold for 21,500. Think there have been two price increases since I bought new in 08. Plan to buy a similar boat in the next two years once I get a boat lift in an a new dock. Anyway that's my take on a few of your question............doc

[LVjayhawk15]

So far that has ALL been AMAZINGLY helpful, the wife and I put together our 'must haves' lists and compared, now we're on the lookout to keep comparing. Realisticly though we are hoping to buy this Winter when maybe the prices drop a bit, as we did with the Waverunner. Plus that way I can launch over and over and practice driving this big ol thing in the Winter when not as many people are on the lake...not as many to piss off that way!
Thanks for all the help so far, and for the warm welcome, I really appreciate it!

[Bamaman]

Winter's a great time to buy a pontoon boat. If you wait until the boat shows, the manufacturers often throw in some freebies/incentives. For example, Mercury threw in 2 more years' warranty this past Spring.

Anyway it goes, get a bunch of marine dealers under the same roof, and competition brings down prices.

Right now, the 20 footers with 50-60 hp boats are available. The $60K big motor, trihull boats are also on the lots. It's the mid range boats that sold well this year. There will be 22 foot twin toons with 90 hp left over when the selling season is over--which is about in a month. Dealers will really want to get rid of 2012's, as the 2013's are already arriving.

Just enjoy the search, and keep your feelings out of it. And don't be surprised when you spend 110% of what you intended to spend. That's what I did 7/6/12 when I bought a Bennington 24' SSLX with a 150 hp Yamaha.

[BoatCop]

Pretty much all has been said.

Regarding the Two-Stroke ban.........

Some California Lakes, Corps of Engineer Lakes, and all of the National Park System (Mead, Mohave, Powell and others) have banned PWC two-strokes that are not EPA/CARB 2006 compliant. Which is pretty much any PWC with a standard carburetor. Modern fuel injected two-strokes, outboards and PWCs alike, are still permitted.

In any event, old style carbbed two-stroke boats are still permitted and not subject to restrictions.*

*There may be exceptions to this on privately run lakes, like those controlled by water districts such as Lake Tahoe, Diamond Valley Lake in Southern California and some others.

[Kalop]

Don't have any tips or anything to add...

Just wanted to say WELCOME ! !!

-Kalop

[LVjayhawk15]

Don't have any tips or anything to add...

Just wanted to say WELCOME ! !!

-Kalop

And I appreciate that!!!

[Texoma Toon]

Don't have any tips or anything to add...

Just wanted to say WELCOME ! !!

-Kalop

And I appreciate that!!!

Ditto Welcome to the Party!

Lots of good info here on what to look for in a new or used Toon.

[ROLAND]

And don't be surprised when you spend 110% of what you intended to spend. That's what I did 7/6/12 when I bought a Bennington 24' SSLX with a 150 hp Yamaha.

Corrie, he speaks the truth... 2 years or so ago when we decided to "buy a boat", we were determined to buy used, and somewhere in the 6 to 8K range.... ended up buying new and considerably more than that, despite the fact my toon is an entry level toon...