Sylvan RPT pontoons VS strakes on pontoons

[UPTHECREEK]

Ok.... I'm still new at this and just doing my research. I know that the RPT pontoons are exclusive to Sylvan but how do they compare to all the other pontoon manufactures using strakes ? Are they better performers ? I know that I want one or the other on my new boat. I just don't want a traditional tube to push thru the water. Thanks and I hope this makes sense.

[rdeterman]

The RPT tubes work great. They are basically built in strakes and the boats plane off extremely fast. Everyone will have an opinion on this good or bad but I really like ours and ive driven quite a few different tri too setups.

[UPTHECREEK]

The RPT tubes work great. They are basically built in strakes and the boats plane off extremely fast. Everyone will have an opinion on this good or bad but I really like ours and ive driven quite a few different tri too setups.

Thanks Rdeterman ..... We may check out a Sylvan dealer tomorrow. Is your model a twin toon or tri ? I'm assuming you have a pretty big pontoon running a 200.

[pond tuuunes]

I havnt seen any pics of them, but if tbey are like strakes but formed into the toon, vs welded on that would be much better, every fall I have to take my toon to a welder to get the cracked welds on the strakes repaired. JT

[Bamaman]

Sylvan had a bunch of problems with the structure of the RPT toons. I honestly thought that they'd been withdrawn from the market. I was thinking they perform well, but I wouldn't want to risk spending so much money on a boat that has had so many past problems.

Just give me a good ole tritoon with lifting strakes and a big motor. They're tried and true--and perform very well.

[rdeterman]

The RPT tubes work great. They are basically built in strakes and the boats plane off extremely fast. Everyone will have an opinion on this good or bad but I really like ours and ive driven quite a few different tri too setups.

Thanks Rdeterman ..... We may check out a Sylvan dealer tomorrow. Is your model a twin toon or tri ? I'm assuming you have a pretty big pontoon running a 200.

Its a Tritoon

[rdeterman]

Sylvan had a bunch of problems with the structure of the RPT toons. I honestly thought that they'd been withdrawn from the market. I was thinking they perform well, but I wouldn't want to risk spending so much money on a boat that has had so many past problems.

Just give me a good ole tritoon with lifting strakes and a big motor. They're tried and true--and perform very well.

that was true in years back. pre 2012. All the newer ones are newly designed. Ours has the new 2.0 verison and I have not heard of any failures.

https://youtu.be/yBbym1wkNoI

[UPTHECREEK]

[quote="rdeterman"


that was true in years back. pre 2012. All the newer ones are newly designed. Ours has the new 2.0 verison and I have not heard of any failures.

https://youtu.be/yBbym1wkNoI[/quote]

Rdeterman is your Sylvan 2 or 3 toon ? How's it perform with the Yamaha 200 ? Thanks

[rdeterman]

Its a Tritoon. The Yamaha 4 cylinder 200 is a great motor. It puts the boat right on plane and top speed is 42-43mph. Its also very efficient and quite.

[RcgTexas]

[quote="rdeterman"


that was true in years back. pre 2012. All the newer ones are newly designed. Ours has the new 2.0 verison and I have not heard of any failures.
Rdeterman is your Sylvan 2 or 3 toon ? How's it perform with the Yamaha 200 ? Thanks

https://youtu.be/yBbym1wkNoI[/quote]


That's a good looking pontoon in the video. I built my center toon much the same way. The bottom of my center log is flat though and really speeds planning.

[Kramfam]

I have a new Sylvan with the RPT tubes and have no complaints so far. I previously had a ski boat and was worried about handling...I've been impressed with the handling so far. Given that i have two tubes I'm going to credit the RPT design for that.

I boat on a very large, rough lake and also like that the RPT tubes are 27"s. Very stable in rough water.

[ToonGuy]

Sylvan had a bunch of problems with the structure of the RPT toons. I honestly thought that they'd been withdrawn from the market. I was thinking they perform well, but I wouldn't want to risk spending so much money on a boat that has had so many past problems.

Just give me a good ole tritoon with lifting strakes and a big motor. They're tried and true--and perform very well.

that was true in years back. pre 2012. All the newer ones are newly designed. Ours has the new 2.0 verison and I have not heard of any failures.

https://youtu.be/yBbym1wkNoI

I believe most of the issues were due to the "M" style mounting brackets. There were a few issues with nose cones, but nothing major and probably not even worth mentioning. Sylvan has switched to a continuous outside riser (among other changes) and as far as I know this eliminated the issues they had with leaking tubes.

[flossy2150]

I have a 2015 Sylvan with RPT PR25 package and a 150 Yamaha. My top end is about 36-38 mph with 3-5 people and gear. I could maybe get a bit more out of it as I learn and get a better feel for the trim vs. RPM.

I need to get my prop info but it looks to be a stainless prop.

I've been pleased so far but this is my first "real" power boat.

It turns very well and feels stable in the turn.

[UPTHECREEK]

I have a 2015 Sylvan with RPT PR25 package and a 150 Yamaha. My top end is about 36-38 mph with 3-5 people and gear. I could maybe get a bit more out of it as I learn and get a better feel for the trim vs. RPM.

I need to get my prop info but it looks to be a stainless prop.

I've been pleased so far but this is my first "real" power boat.

It turns very well and feels stable in the turn.

Flossy your boat sounds great.......do have any pics you could share ??

[hypnoj]

Honestly, the best thing you can do is get out and drive them. Don't sit back and hope there is a difference; make sure there is. I think all pontoon boat owners like their boats, but I was amazed at the difference in all of them when test driven. In fact it seemed that no two companies even felt the same. My wife and I were lucky enough to happen upon an on-water boat show, so we were able to test drive several different companies and boats in one day. Unfortunately, Sylvan was not at that show, or we would have tried one on for size.
Bi-toons felt much different from tritoons, and full length center tritoons felt much different from sporty/short center tritoons. Harris has a lowered middle toon on their tritoons; which felt different then those with all 3 toons the same height. Some had lifting strakes on the outside toons; some only had strakes on the inside. I'm not going to tell you what I thought about all of these (unless you really want me to) because it's important for you to feel the difference.