Never knew what I was missing.

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billsfan60
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2018 6:57 am

Never knew what I was missing.

#1 Post by billsfan60 » Sat Jun 23, 2018 10:59 am

After decades of sailing sloop rig boats from Lake Ontario, to the Gulf (with one totally forgettable season on the Alabama River), and finally here on Weiss Lake in north east Alabama, my wife Bonnie convinced me to give pontoon boats a try. We acquired a newly redone 88 Harris 24 ft and it's been a pleasant surprise right from the start. I realize now that I never truly relaxed on a sailboat (anybody that says different is lying).


We're having fun learning about the Harris and I'm sure as time goes on there will be things we will need guidance with. For now we're just glad ya'll are here for moral support if I do something stupid.

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ROLAND
Posts: 4248
Joined: Sat Oct 03, 2009 4:29 am

Re: Never knew what I was missing.

#2 Post by ROLAND » Sat Jun 23, 2018 11:10 pm

glad your enjoying your pontoon experience. Never owned a boat in my life til 9 years ago.. bought a pontoon and have said since day 1 " wish I had done this ten years ago"...
Roland & Jo
2010 Bennington 20 Sfi
Yamaha 75 4 Stroke
Shreveport, Louisiana

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zoom650
Posts: 659
Joined: Mon Feb 10, 2014 7:14 pm
Location: Macon, Panama City Beach

Re: Never knew what I was missing.

#3 Post by zoom650 » Sun Jun 24, 2018 11:23 am

I sailed (and club raced) a fractionally rigged sloop and it was never as relaxed as it looked. Much, much different with a slow cruise on a toon!
Michael and Laura
'12 Ford F150 Lariat SuperCrew Ecoboost
'14 Harris Solstice 220, P3 tritoon, Mercury Verado 150, Enertia 14p.
prior boat: '02 Century 2600CC, twin Yamaha EFI 200's, full instruments.

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smltooner
Posts: 2814
Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2008 12:53 pm
Location: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

Re: Never knew what I was missing.

#4 Post by smltooner » Sun Jun 24, 2018 6:22 pm

Welcome to the club.
We know you will enjoy the 'tooning lifestyle.
SMLTOONER
Ted & Emily
2019 Bennington 21SL Tri-toon
2019 Yamaha 150 HP
Smith Mtn. Lake, Virginia

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steve1313
Posts: 679
Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:33 am

Re: Never knew what I was missing.

#5 Post by steve1313 » Thu Jun 28, 2018 2:52 am

Last weekend, I took one of my closest friends and his teenage son out on my Pontoon for the first time. They have been boating with me a few times before on my Sea Ray bowrider, but seemed to turn down more invitations to go to the lake than they accepted.

It was a typical weekend afternoon, with tons of other boats including wake boats, bow riders, pontoons, and squadrons of Waverunners buzzing around like bees. We spent the day cruising, floating, tubing and just hanging out.

As we pulled back into my slip, my buddy said to me "we love your new boat. It's really a game changer. We did everything we used to do on your old boat. It's got a ton more room, it rides a lot better, especially when the lake is so rough. It even seemed quieter." HIs son commented that the tubing was great and it he thought my pontoon boat turns sharper than my bow rider.

Their comments made me realize just how much more I was enjoying my pontoon, especially when the lake is busy. I was reluctant to buy a toon because I didn't want to be that old man chugging across the lake. But with three pontoons, enough HP to run about 40MPH, the potential to throw people out of their seats (or out of their tube) with a sharp turn, the tons of room, the great stereo, and just the overall comfort factor, I know I made a great decision.

Welcome to the club!
Steve
"Serendipity" - 2017 Sweetwater 2286 WB Tritoon w/ 150HP Yamaha
Slipped at Lake Anna, Virginia
Primary Residence: Richmond, Virgina
Lake House: Lake Anna, Virginia

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TWB
Posts: 658
Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2018 7:40 am
Location: Navarre, FL

Re: Never knew what I was missing.

#6 Post by TWB » Wed Jul 11, 2018 5:15 am

Totally have to agree with steve1313. We had a SeaDoo 150 Speedster jet boat, but it's made for 2 things: to go really fast, and to go faster. It's a lot of fun, but the chop in the Santa Rosa Sound can be pretty stout and a small-hull boat will roll around a good bit when trying to have a sandwich. I always knew I wanted a toon, but didn't know just how luxurious even my 2003 Landau could feel.

Man! Can't get enough. Enjoy!

:biggrin2
Paul & Michele
2003 Landau DX 24' Cruise "Loretta Jane"
2003 Mercury 75hp
My Rebuild: http://pontoonforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=26135

"Don't waste brain cells over something you can do nothing about." --My Wife

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Coldbrew
Posts: 254
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2014 5:16 pm
Location: Bedford, NH

Re: Never knew what I was missing.

#7 Post by Coldbrew » Sat Jul 14, 2018 5:28 am

Every time I take someone new out on my boat I hear the same line: "Oh My God....this is so great!" :nana
2014 Premier Gemini 201
Tow Vehicle: 2019 F-150
Home Port: Newfound Lake, NH

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wwind3
Posts: 1515
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:03 am
Location: Lake Livingston Tx

Re: Never knew what I was missing.

#8 Post by wwind3 » Sat Jul 14, 2018 8:07 am

What everyone is saying! I did the bass tournament stuff with the go fast boats but I really enjoy the pontoon. I have the fishing model with the 4 seats and I really like it. Enjoy!
2009 LOWE SS204 25in logs
90 Merc Optimax
Motorguide W55 Wireless
Underskinning
28 GPS

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