Opinion on Choice of Three Tri-toons

[GaCarolinaTn]

After doing research for a while and driving some boats, I went with Manitou SHP and absolutely love it. You will not be disappointed, nor will you have to go shopping for another boat unless you desire a big cruiser or a speed demon like a Fountain, Baja, etc.

It's turning cooler here in TN (especially this weekend), and the kids still want to be out on the water. They love it as does their mother and I.

Good luck with making a decision, PM me if you want to talk about anything!

[jford814]

I am going to take a look at my budget and start thinking a bit more about the SHP option. I really would rather err on the side of too much power,speed and handling than not enough.

From my understanding a 225 at 5 mph or a 115 at 5 mph equates to roughly the same fuel usage?

It's expensive to change/upgrade boats especially when you are paying sales tax on every new purchase be it used or new.

Thanks for all the feedbackk everyone.

[Texoma Toon]

As "non-straked" JC owner, I can tell you I would go for a straked boat if possible. I love my JC, and it is worlds better than a 2 logger, but if I had it to do over, I would look for something with strakes. I will be adding strakes to mine in the near future, as I don't plan on trading boats anytime soon.

Thank you. The JC is definatley out. The two used tritoons have been for sale for some time now and I think that they might occupy a tough spot in the market at the moment. It seems there has been quite a few design tweeks involving strakes and pontoon design theory in the past 5 years.

I think I will be going new but may be adding another choice as I found a dealer in Tenn. that will sell a 25' Manitou Oasis SE with SHP, trailer and a 225 Honda 4 stroke for around 39K. It's a fairley big jump money wise but probaley a boat I won't outgrow anytime soon.

That sounds reasonable. Just make sure you get a dual axle trailer with brakes, a good quality depth finder preferably with GPS.

[realter]

I recently sold an 06 Aqua Patio, same model, 115 hp. 3 tube. My boy only tubed once, said it was no fun because the boat went too slow. He was 15 at the time. I sold it for 20,000 with a trailer. Have you considered a deck boat?

[jford814]

I recently sold an 06 Aqua Patio, same model, 115 hp. 3 tube. My boy only tubed once, said it was no fun because the boat went too slow. He was 15 at the time. I sold it for 20,000 with a trailer. Have you considered a deck boat?

The Aqua Patio's fate is sealed. I talked to a rep. from Godfrey and he told me that the center tube is placed just in from of the V transom. That probabley limits to boat in HP. I will end up going new most likely.

However a used boat came up loacally. Meticulously maintained G3 with thier sport package, trailer and Yahmaha 225. Year 2008. The G3 website tells me nothing about the performance package however and there is little info on the web.

Guy is looking for $30K, might be a good buy for mid to high $20's?