Eliptical pontoons vs round pontoons!

[Four R's]

Bennington advertises that their eliptical pontoons are mere effective and efficient than 27 ' round ones even with lifting strakes? What say the experts?

[Bamaman]

Ellipticals are more buoyant than round tubes, and they can carry loads approaching that of tritoons. They're less expensive to purchase than new than tritoons.

When equipped with factory lifting strakes, ellipticals are 3-4 mph faster than a comparable tritoon because of less drag and weight. That means they'll get better fuel mileage.

Ellipticals will handle better than pontoon boats, but not as good as a high performance tritoon. But many people are not into water sports and don't use the tritoon's handling advantage.

Tritoons are preferable on the used retail market, and a boat with them will sell faster.

Bennington buyers also have the Performance toon package that has a third toon 3/4 the length of a full toon. It gives 90% of the benefits of a full center toon at half the cost. It's priced right with the ellipticals, and most buyers are choosing to go with this package. There's certainly nothing wrong with the ellipticals, however.

[Four R's]

So you are suggesting adding the lifting strakes as well? I see that you have a 2012 Bennington and assume that you are pleased? We are trying to decide between Bennington and Sweetwater (with 27" pontoons and strakes) but the Bennington is much higher in price.

[Bamaman]

I wish that this was a season where you could get both brands out on the water.

I wasn't planning on buying a pontoon for another year, but I blew out my lower unit on my old 26 year old pontoon boat. We couldn't stand watching the world go by our house, with us just watching.

You should consider going to a big city boat show where they have 10-15 brands of pontoons competing for your business. Pontoons appear to be generic barges, and many have really nice seating. But when you get them side by side is when the cream rises to the top.

All we have in our retail market is Tracker, Cypress Cay and Lowe pontoons. Trackers are never the cheapest boat around, but they have a big dealer base. Cypress Cay is nice, but our dealer only orders 2 toon boats with 90's or 115's. The Lowes are constructed well, but styling's conservative and the seats sit poorly.

I went 100 miles for the Bennington. It was my wife's chosen brand.

Unfortunately, nothing on the water is really inexpensive. Sometimes you get what you pay for. I'm not one to trade boats, and hopefully this one will last me another 26 years.

[bassn386]

I'm biased because my Benni has the center elliptical log, but I think the ride is so much better. Now, that's entirely subjective on my part, but just about everybody who owns or owned a two log pontoon remarks on the smooth ride and how quickly it will get up on plane. Now, I also had mine underskinned so there's virtually no buffeting from waves or rough water. And the strakes help get the boat up nicely as well.
Tie that in with the 225 Yamaha and our boat has become the "go to" ride on the lake.
Expensive? Yep! Worth it? Yep, Yep, Yep!!

[Friar]

"Four R's" I have a 2010 G series Bennington with two ellipitcal pontoons. Powered by a Yamaha 90 with a 13 5/8" aluminum prop. If the information helps, I can get 25mph (gps) at 5900 rpms with two average adults and 20 gallon fuel on a calm day. Have never been on or seen a Sweetwater.

I would second Bamaman's suggestion to go to a good sized boat show if you can; the ability to look at numerous boats and make on site subjective evaluations on build/quality is worth the price of admission.

[Just Laxin]

Go to the Boat show as stated above. Don't go by what other's have said go by what works for you. It doesn't matter what shape the Toon is because when you are talkin below 150-200 hp it doesn't matter. Your top manufactures use the same materials in the interior as well as the exterior. Go for a water demo ride,,,, Insist on it! Sad to say with some brands you WILL Pay MORE for the name! That is a fact. Get what works for you but the basic's are,,,, get what you can afford in max. horsepower and go for the Tri-Toon package as well as full under-skinning. Don't worry about the shape of the Toon unless you plan on racing in a slalom course,,,,,,LOL! Half the Fun is buying one!!!

[Four R's]

"Four R's" I have a 2010 G series Bennington with two ellipitcal pontoons. Powered by a Yamaha 90 with a 13 5/8" aluminum prop. If the information helps, I can get 25mph (gps) at 5900 rpms with two average adults and 20 gallon fuel on a calm day. Have never been on or seen a Sweetwater.

I would second Bamaman's suggestion to go to a good sized boat show if you can; the ability to look at numerous boats and make on site subjective evaluations on build/quality is worth the price of admission.

How long is your pontoon because I was thinking of getting 90 or 115 HP.

[cwag911]

[/quote]


How long is your pontoon because I was thinking of getting 90 or 115 HP.[/quote]
A Bennington 2275 is 22'

[Friar]

Pontoon length is actually 22' 6".

At a minimum, suggest you go with the 115hp and 150hp would be better.

I was bored with 90hp on my second trip out and my 11 year old grandson (who does most of the tubing) is super bored with it. I would trade up to at least a 150hp if I wouldn't take such a beating on the trade in - wish I knew then what I know now!

[Four R's]

"Four R's" I have a 2010 G series Bennington with two ellipitcal pontoons. Powered by a Yamaha 90 with a 13 5/8" aluminum prop. If the information helps, I can get 25mph (gps) at 5900 rpms with two average adults and 20 gallon fuel on a calm day. Have never been on or seen a Sweetwater.

I would second Bamaman's suggestion to go to a good sized boat show if you can; the ability to look at numerous boats and make on site subjective evaluations on build/quality is worth the price of admission.

How long is your pontoon because I was thinking of getting 90 or 115 HP.

Yes you have been very helpful. I think the size and HP are right for me on this bay. Can get rough. Now I have to decide on either a new boat or used. It will be our first boat. It's hard to find relatively new pontoon boats for sale. Will keep on looking and learning from this forum which I really appreciate.

[Four R's]

Pontoon length is actually 22' 6".

At a minimum, suggest you go with the 115hp and 150hp would be better.

I was bored with 90hp on my second trip out and my 11 year old grandson (who does most of the tubing) is super bored with it. I would trade up to at least a 150hp if I wouldn't take such a beating on the trade in - wish I knew then what I know now!

Do you notice a big difference with the eliptical logs and do you also have lifting strakes?
thanks Friar.

[trktrd]

Just curious, are elliptical and U-toons the same or comparable?

[Bamaman]

U shaped toons look like a U from the rear, and they're filled with foam insulation. They're less expensive to make, but seldom seen on todays pontoon boats. My Starcraft has U shaped toons, and they've performed very well for the last 27 years.

Ellipticals look like an oval turned on their side. They're very buoyant and more expensive than round toons or U shaped toons. And with strakes, they're very fast hulls.
But Bennington sells more of their Performance Package 3/4 length toons for about the same money as ellipticals.

[trktrd]

Thanks for clearing that up for me. New to pontoons and still learning. I've read good things about U toons, wonder why ther're a thing of the past?