Searching in Cajun Counrty

[Boarider]

New member doing some research and looks like I came to the right place.

In the market for a 20' plus cruiser. I can't make up mind to keep looking for a good deal used or just order what I want from the get go ( I have the wife's OK). Seems our last boat was a bow rider that didn't get used as much but I'm a little older now and have slowed down some with the kids getting older also (9-18 four girls). I'm more of a Motorcycle guy and still am but want to enjoy some time with the kids before they move on with their life.
I live in south Louisiana (below I-10). So I have all kinds of water around me from the Atchafalaya Basin for fresh water and the Vermilion Bay for salt. Not much on fishing from it (got a Kayak for the marsh fishing). But would like to pull a tube and have friends come along.
I'm a 1600 Ton Captain offshore so being on the water is pretty natural.

I'd like to keep the price around $20K-$25K new. Thinking I need at least a 22 with a 115 on it. As I'm at work now and have been shopping around. I was sold on a 2014 22" Bently Cruise used for under $20K, but its been sold. Now the broker is coming at me with a 2013 Xpress 22 with a 115 yamaha but its the fishing model. New and he said the dealer would sell at whole sell (still no numbers yet). Now I've been eyeballing a 22' lowe cruise with a 115 2015. Just saw a 2008 Tracker Freedom 220 DLX with a 90 for $14K locally.
As you can see I'm all over the place. So if anyone can point me in the right direction here i'd love any and all advise and thanks in advance.

[smltooner]

Welcome to the club.
Good luck with your search.

[ROLAND]

Boarider..welcome from your neighbor to the north ( Shreveport ).... I think you're right on the money with a 22 footer with a 115.... if you could swing it, a 150 would give you a little bit of an edge.... I don't think I would consider the 90 hp rig if you're going to have 4 to 6 people on board and pulling tubes... I've got a 75 four stroke on my 20 footer and yes it will pull a tube, but it's not very exciting.... again, welcome to the group and have fun boat shopping.

[mogley]

welcome aboard. I started out 2 years ago with a 20 ft excursion with 90 four stroke yamaha. Premier performance marine, google that and it will take you to there web page. Last year I traded that 20 ft toon in on a Harris Flotebote 24 cruiser from Nunmakers in Madisonville. One it is where I keep my boat, in the dry stack storage and 2 they had the model I wanted when I was ready to move up to a tri-ple toon with a 150 mercury on the back. Big difference, 20 ft 2 toon with 90 saw around 25 on gps, that is with 2 on board and full tank of gas. As soon as you add people the speed went down to around 20, if I was lucky.
Now with the tripple toon and 150 I see 38 with 2 on board and full tank of gas, with 4, 5 , 6 people on board still able to see 34-35 at wide open throttle. What ever you decide, get strakes and the most HP you can afford.

[Boarider]

Its good to see some local people on here.
I had looked at the Bently line at Bayou Outdoors. How is their service department and with warranty work?

The broker I was talking with is out of Mandeville, he had the deal on the 22' Bently, but its sold.

I still haven't ruled out a deck boat, someone tell me something so I can rule those out of my searches.

I'm back on land now for a week and see a boat show in New Orleans, would it be worth going to for a pontoon boat? Looks like mostly fishing boats.

Has anyone dealt with Country Creek in Hattiesburg,MS ? They have a coupl nice Lowe models I like.

[Boarider]

Think I'm going new.
Its between a:

2015 Bennitongton 22 SLX with a 115 yamaha

VS

2014 Lowe SS210 115 ELPT

Both new and the Lowe is a couple grand cheaper. Any opinions ?

[mogley]

If budget will allow, go with the 150. I wish u would have on my first pontoon.

[RcgTexas]

Welcome Cappy!

You are going to want a three log boat with a 150 to do what you are talking about.

Any thing short of that I'm afraid you wont be happy with.

[Boarider]

If budget will allow, go with the 150. I wish u would have on my first pontoon.

I think 115 maxes out these models, unless I can throw a third toon.
Kinda jumping in the deep end with these, kids are asking why I'm trying to do the boat thing again. Hoping I can show them a good time this go around (get off those Ipods and computers).

[mrbigs3toon]

I would second on a third toon and 150 motor!

[Boarider]

As I still ponder over a pontoon boat, I figure I could show you the boat I drive around the Gulf of Mexico in the oilfield.
Seems like I read a lot about how much you guys love pics.
Its a Jackup boat, we elevate ourself out of the water so people can live on us to service the wells. My boat has 215" of legs.

[robertm]

I searched the entire middle corridor of the country for the best deal I could get on a Berkshire/ South Bay/ Xcursion. This place offered me the best deal of anyone:

Autumn Nelson
Internet Sales Manager
Bayou Outdoor SuperCenter
318.213.2628 or Toll Free 877.655.4542
318.213.7879Fax
www.bayououtdoor.com
autumn@bayououtdoor.com

Ultimately I was able to catch my local dealer in a moment of weakness at the boat show and made my deal with him.

I would definitely contact her though and tell her your budget and parameters. I believe they sell multiple brands of pontoons.

Good luck man!

(I'm not real sure on the forum rules for posting phone numbers/emails etc. If this gets scrubbed just PM me and I'll resend you her contact info)

[Boarider]

That's who I'm talking with, we'll another sells person there.
They have the Bennington about $1500 more out the door than the Lowe's model.
I asked the local Bennington dealer if he could match it and he didn't believe me on the price, so I sent him the paperwork that they sent to me. He was still $4K higher than them with a model he had in stock. Granted his had a couple extras but I don't see $4K.
I'm just not sure about warranty work, they are still about 3 hrs from me,How is Bennington Warranty, can I get it done at any dealership? I'm sure I want be priority being I didn't buy from them.

[ROLAND]

Bennington warranties are outstanding.... not saying other manufactuer's don't provide good warranties, because most do... but Bennington is noted for standing behind their boats...

[Boarider]

Bennington warranties are outstanding.... not saying other manufactuer's don't provide good warranties, because most do... but Bennington is noted for standing behind their boats...

So it seems the extra $1500 would be worth it to take the Bennington over the Lowe and get a Yamaha motor over the Merc.

I just hope my local dealer would cover the warranty down here so I don't have to haul it 3 hours back to where I bought it.