who makes the best handling pontoon boat

[robster]

[ There were three drealers down at the Lake of the Ozarks. I arranged all 3 to meet me at the State Park boat launch, with boats in the water. I told them I was gonna buy one that day, which was a Saturday,

Simply amazing you were able to get all three dealers to show up for a water test on the same day.. I salute you.

Cheers,
Robert

[Bryden24shp]

It took some work. They realized I had to drive 360 miles to do it. But on the chance to sell one, they were all willing to do it. It was kinda like a family gathering at the dock, they were all real cool. Boat sales were stone cold when we bought ours. So they were very willing to do it. So cold in fact that the boat we bought that day, was taken by the bank 3 days later. Thats a long drawn out story. If ya want to hear it. Let me know. But be warned it may contain some un-suitable language. I'm getting just re-hashin the event in my head.

[fasttoons]

IMO-

Premier- great built boat,handles very good, boring conservative look for a performance pontoon,slow lower top end compared to others

Manitou-22' package very quick and handles very good, the more load you put on it (people)or the larger the hull the less advantage the hull design has ,looks like any other pontoon

Bennington-good boats but not in a performance class of Premier/Manitou,again-boring looking

Playcraft- best rough water hull out there, best HD build,king of performance pontoons, looks that are in a class by themselves with a price to match-custom builder

[fasttoons]

BTW- the top big photo is a 8.2HO Mag I/O (430hp). If you want a 525hp Racing motor they will build it. If you want DUAL 525hp IO they will build it.

I've got to ask- If the Manitou, Premier, Bennington and the Playcraft were all parked together at any performance gathering which one would get the attention-

[jafo9]

funny, the racing looks of the playcraft would keep my from choosing it over the others mentioned. this is where my kids would start calling me old.

[playcat]

Well, My 1993 playcraft doesn't look anything like those, but its still in great shape and runs in rougher water than other toons will run in around here. It rides low in the back, as usual and i don't have a 8.1L, just a puny 5.0. But with 5 aboard, an upper sundeck, fill-width swim platform and only 2 pontoons, it will just make 30mph.
My dream toon will resemple the twin OB Playcraft, but with a fishing layout, so I can scare and embarass the bass tournament guys!

[fasttoons]

funny, the racing looks of the playcraft would keep my from choosing it over the others mentioned. this is where my kids would start calling me old.

They are custom built-look at this one-same hull conservative look-

[Bryden24shp]

I know Jim Dorris, the owner of Playcraft. We have talked several times down at LotO. Jim is one hell of a nice guy and makes some very nice boats. Our joke between us was watching his wife drive the boat, topless, (they took the Bimini top off of their Playcraft, when she ran it in the Shootout, Powder Puff division.) And ya. They are the Top Dog in speed in the Performance pontoon market. I very much agree. Martys Marine in Osage Beach is the dealer down at the lake. Nice guys, as well. And I did check into Playcraft, when I was looking for my first pontoon. The stigma of going from Baja to a pontoon was killing me. I was a BajaBoomer! Poker runs and offshore events, it was a blast, (until the family outgrew the boat, I needed more room.) So the Playcrafts really caught my eye, and were the first ones I looked at and test drove. But they were not only are the fastest, they were pricey. A 25 Xtreme, with a 250 Verado, same options as my Manitou, was $18,000 more. If it would have been a $2000 or $3000 dollar difference, and handled like the Manitou. I would have considered one. It was fast, but it didn't corner like the Manitou and it pounded the waves rough. Jim needs to drop that middle pontoon 4 or 5 inches. It would be deadly! The interiors, I would rank right next to Manitou, and Premier in 2007. Splashy looking, but not as well crafted as Bennington. Today, I think they are all very comparable.
I never knew about Leisure Kraft back in 2007, I would have looked at them, too.
If any builder wants a shot at building my "Dream" Performance Pontoon Boat. PM me.

[DougS]

So is this your boat fasttunes? Very nice boat.
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2011- ... 0-99614052

The pontoons with dual motors are incredible. Incredibly more expensive than the accountant/wife will let me spend on a boat.

[fasttoons]

So is this your boat fasttunes? Very nice boat.
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2011- ... 0-99614052

The pontoons with dual motors are incredible. Incredibly more expensive than the accountant/wife will let me spend on a boat.

Yes it is-buying another one!
Thanks!

[Nighthunter]

We have a 23.5' Premier Elite with the 36" ptx package and it is a very dry ride. Strakes on the outboard tubes do cause a craft to bog in turns. The ptx package works and works well. Feels more like a v-hull in the turns and is the smoothest ride I've ever experienced. We've simply loved the performance and the ride. I highly recommend.

[Silver Eagle]

My 24 ft StarCraft handles like a tank. You really have to hold onto the steering wheel, The slower you go the better. It'll make a 180 at reduced speed liks a speed boat. When they call this boat a barge they mean it. Get it in deep rough water and you rule the water.

[Just Laxin]

I have never driven any newer Tritoons besides ours. The South Bay lifting strakes are on the inside of the toons of ours and I have cranked it while at WOT and it tracked like it was on rails. I can only compare it to our past Deck and Bass Boats. I was impressed how well it tracked in high speed turns.

[Just Laxin]

So is this your boat fasttunes? Very nice boat.
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2011- ... 0-99614052

The pontoons with dual motors are incredible. Incredibly more expensive than the accountant/wife will let me spend on a boat.

Yes it is-buying another one!
Thanks!

Wish I could afford to have twins on the back, I would do it in a heart beat!!

[Bamaman]

For handling, put me into a Manitou.

But whatever you do, get power steering option on the SeaStar hydraulic steering. It makes tight turns so much quicker and easier.