How is the Crest ?

[smoker62]

I was going to repower my 2012 Southbay twin tube with a 115 to a 150. Knowing without strakes I would not gain much , I went to a local Southbay dealer and looked at a sport tube with a 150 for 35,000. Same layout I have , 522CR . What I dont get is why SB does not strake the center toon of the sport package .

Anyways I stopped across the street at an Avalon/Crest dealer and looked at a Crest III 250 that they have at as " boat show special package" . It had full teak flooring , cp3 3rd toon with strakes , outer tubes have inner strakes as well, , Powdercoated rails , Bluetooth stereo, lighted cup holders and speaker grills, stainless enertia prop ,integrated tow bar, 47 gal fuel cell,high back helm chair, underskinned, stainless ladder ,Bumper storage box, stainless rub rail, and a 150 Merc fourstroke.. Priced out the door at 41,750.

I have to say , I was impressed with the quality of Crest. Never considered one before but at that price , I may just jump ship. I love my Southbay but I cant get into a full tri toon for that price. Thoughts ?

[Bamaman]

My Bennington Express center tube is equipped with factory strakes, and it runs just great. A number of their customers have gone back after the original sale and ordered this tube to be installed on their twin 25" toon'd boats. It's a relatively simple installation of a 250 pound toon, and the holes are already drilled.

Can South Bay not furnish a center tube with strakes? I would think they'd add 3-4 mph to the 115 hp motor too.

Just the difference between a 115 hp and 150 hp motor would be $2500 or more if they were both new. After the 115 hp is used and depreciated, I'd hate to think what the cost difference would be to repower.

I guess it's just what the difference between the two boats are to trade. The Crest is a good boat, however.

[smoker62]

I ended up not getting such a great deal on the 150 after all said and done. Too much hassle for the savings , so I called the dealer and they wanted 6500 plus my 115 of course. Thats like 4k for my 115. I decided to either keep it as is for another year or bite the bullet on a tri with a 150.

I really liked the smooth full panels on the SB in Lieu of the short ribbed panels like on most other boats. But the Crest had some nice stuff on it.

[Cycleman07]

Having researched this before, South Bay does offer a straked Sport Tube. Just have to ask for it. I was quoted from my dealer around $2800 installed. Not too bad if you as me just havent done it yet as I am holding out to do a full length center tube and 250 Verado at some point down the road. Crest makes a nice product, but in my opinion not to the quality of South Bay. There is a reason Brad Rowland (World Record Holder for Top Speed in a Pontoon 114mph) runs a South Bay. They are very well made.

[smoker62]

I tried to order outside tube strakes and a sport tube with strakes. Southbay would not weld them on the sport tube , I would have had to buy the tube without strakes and have them welded on myself. No dealer in my area would install a sport tube after the fact . They all said I have to take it back to Southbay. Southbay also did not want to do it . They basically said I would be better getting a different boat. Cant blame them for that I guess.

Too much trouble for the costs involved. I think Brad Rowland could use any high end boat and make it go fast .He did a lot of structural mods to that boat . It sure is a long way from a showroom model 9 series .

Dont get me wrong , I love my SB . If I could get into a Trifecta boat with all the stuff on the Crest for anywhere even semi close I would be all over it.

[fergusmj]

I am curious as well if there is any testing between a Tri-toon with a sport tube with only inner strakes on outside tubes vs. a Tri-toon with a sport tube with strakes also on the sport tube. I’d be curious if the 2 inner strakes on the outside tube are enough to get the boat up and out of the water and the center tube strakes would be diminishing returns?
I myself have a South Bay chassis with the 3rd sport tube, but only strakes on the inner of the outside tubes.
I guess there is a possibility that additional strakes are more for marketing than actual function once you have a certain amount.

Someone should send me a straked sport tube and I'll do a comparison

[Cycleman07]

I tried to order outside tube strakes and a sport tube with strakes. Southbay would not weld them on the sport tube , I would have had to buy the tube without strakes and have them welded on myself. No dealer in my area would install a sport tube after the fact . They all said I have to take it back to Southbay. Southbay also did not want to do it . They basically said I would be better getting a different boat. Cant blame them for that I guess.

Too much trouble for the costs involved. I think Brad Rowland could use any high end boat and make it go fast .He did a lot of structural mods to that boat . It sure is a long way from a showroom model 9 series .

Dont get me wrong , I love my SB . If I could get into a Trifecta boat with all the stuff on the Crest for anywhere even semi close I would be all over it.

That is strange. i was quoted a few weeks ago that they are offering them now. Save your money, get a full length third tube and go 200 or bigger. My .02

[smoker62]

Cycleman, when you say full length tube , are you referring to adding to mine or buying a new boat ? I cant get anyone to install a sport tube let alone a full center requiring the transom work etc. That would be real costly.

I have another request in today at SB asking about the sport with strakes , figure I could bolt that on myself . She was going to get back to me. But again Im looking at 12-13k for a motor upgrade , sea star, tube purchase , welding etc.

Maybe Ill just weld the outer strakes on mine now and see what it does with the 115 . At least that would be under a K

[Cycleman07]

I was quoted from North texas marine in Gainesville Texas (where I bought mine) the cost to add a sport tube. They came up with $4700.00. Labor and everything included. To me it didnt seem worth it. South Bay however will add a full length Center tube with built in transom, re rig the motor etc but I never asked them to get me a price. You do not add any HP capacity by just adding the sport tube.

[smoker62]

Hijacking my own thread but how do you like the front bimini ? I was thinking of adding it, since I have been diagnosed with melanoma, for extra shade.

[Cycleman07]

I would never have a pontoon without it. Not only for sun protection, but we were doing a poker run on it last summer and a rain storm kicked up. We stayed dry while waiting it out at one of the stops and had 10-12 people pile on the boat to stay dry as well. Also, I have a 3yr. old and 7 yr. old so more shade the merrier. You wont regret it.

[smoker62]

When its full open does it just touch the rear ? Same style bimini as the back one right ? I can just order another of the same I have a figure out the mount location.

[Woody]

I would never have a pontoon without it.

Me either. Ours has came in very handy !

[Cycleman07]

When its full open does it just touch the rear ? Same style bimini as the back one right ? I can just order another of the same I have a figure out the mount location.

There is a gap of about 10-12" between the front and the rear when they are open. There is a flap attached to the front that connects (zipper) to the front of the rear bimini if that makes sense. Here is a picture of the first time it was opened and hooked together. I had not tightened the front straps down to pull it snug yet.

Bimini2.JPG (682.65 KiB) Viewed 5871 times

[BoatCop]

This is our 27' Crest tri-toon with the upper deck & full strakes. Powered by a Merc 150 Verado. Two fuel tanks, one in the center toon, midships and the second in the rear well.

It's a well made boat and plenty plush. We're happy with it, and I'd absolutely LOVE to have it for myself. (without all the cop stuff on it, though)

We can pull 36 MPH with 2 aboard, and that's with the heavy ass top deck. Would likely get low - mid 40s without it.