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New Pontooner from Indianapolis

Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2017 9:51 am
by Helmrod
Hello all. All new to pontooning as of yesterday. Purchased a 2018 Harris Cruiser 22' with a 90 Horse Merc. Question I have is what do you all think of Harris? It was between Bennington which was about $2000 more for similar package and a Berkshire which didn't have the bells and whistles in a similar price. Please be kind as this is my very first boat purchase and I am super excited to be a boat guy next year when I take delivery. :nana :biggrin2

Re: New Pontooner from Indianapolis

Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2017 11:40 am
by Bamaman
I consider the Harris one of the Big 4--with Bennington, Premier and Manitou.

Re: New Pontooner from Indianapolis

Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2017 5:20 pm
by smltooner
Welcome to the club.

Re: New Pontooner from Indianapolis

Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2017 6:37 pm
by Opie
I have a 2018 Harris Sunliner 200 on order, and actually went to the factory for a tour. I researched several makes before settling on Harris. Being a cabinetmaker, I like to know how things are built. Their deck construction is the only one using tongue and groove joints with sealant in the joint, then smeared on top after sanding, 3/4" marine plywood. They attach the deck with a special screw that self taps and welds itself to the frame, can't work loose like a bolt and nylon nut, and they use almost twice the number of fasteners. Their log sections are crimp fit and continuous welded with reinforcement bars and interior bulk heads with continuous welds, all pressure treated for leaks. I liked the full length metal edge at the rub rail, look up underneath other boats, and they just run the plywood up to the back of the rub rail, Harris uses a large extrusion between the rub rail and plywood deck, much stronger. They were the first to use continuous supports between the tube and frame for attachment, and have patented the continuous "M" bracket others copy. 16" center frame pieces with closer additional supports in the stern with a reinforced bow piece. Yeah.........I'm a happy Harris guy, everything you need to know is on these videos. Part 1; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGTo2Vxj3FA
Part 2; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CvWqQkTo9E I was very impressed with the factory, and the fact that they are a division of Brunswick (which owns several boat companies) gives you a large corporate backer, they also own Mercury so you get motors perfectly matched to the boat. I loved that I could get almost any option on the Sunliner, and the fit and finish is excellent.

Re: New Pontooner from Indianapolis

Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2017 11:04 pm
by ROLAND
I have a bennington, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy a harris. I love their boats. I was visiting a relative last year who lives on table rock lake.. they have a " community " dock where all the residents keep their boats... there was a harris parked there and I fell in love with it.. gorgeous boat and looked to be very very well built. Congrats on the new toon.. don't forget to post some pics.

Re: New Pontooner from Indianapolis

Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2017 5:22 am
by crookedlaker
I had a 2014 20' Cruiser and loved it, very nice boat. i sold it this spring to upgrade to a 20" Harris sunliner tri toon with 150.
both boats were very well made and we have had no problems with either boat. I am partial to Harris as they are made in my home town of Fort Wane. That being said my dealer also sells Bennington and would not have a problem buying them as they are also very well made boats. I don't think anyone really makes a bad boat but there are bad dealers out there, I think that it is more important to have a good dealer as they will make or break you boating experience

Re: New Pontooner from Indianapolis

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 4:46 pm
by Helmrod
Anyone have any tips for a new pontooner? Any and all suggestions appreciated.

Re: New Pontooner from Indianapolis

Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2017 5:15 pm
by tkrein
Make sure you have all the safety equipment on board, life jackets throwable etc. check your state for the boating laws. By bumpers to protect the exterior of the boat not the small one buy the nice bigger ones, I even bought ones that matched my boat. Clean and put 303 protectant on all the seats you will thank me later for this as it makes cleaning the seats easier. Make sure you follow the break in procedure of the motor this will help with maintenance later. Don't for get to have fun, I bought the family a large uno card game and off we went. Learn to read the water, this is a hard one I boat on the mighty Missouri River and it changes every year, learning to read the water has helped a lot, this is a difficult skill to learn and I even have issues with it. Again have fun, this is all I can think of, O wait have fun lots of fun.

Congrats on the new toon you will love it :wink:

Re: New Pontooner from Indianapolis

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2017 6:02 am
by Helmrod
Make sure you have all the safety equipment on board, life jackets throwable etc. check your state for the boating laws. By bumpers to protect the exterior of the boat not the small one buy the nice bigger ones, I even bought ones that matched my boat. Clean and put 303 protectant on all the seats you will thank me later for this as it makes cleaning the seats easier. Make sure you follow the break in procedure of the motor this will help with maintenance later. Don't for get to have fun, I bought the family a large uno card game and off we went. Learn to read the water, this is a hard one I boat on the mighty Missouri River and it changes every year, learning to read the water has helped a lot, this is a difficult skill to learn and I even have issues with it. Again have fun, this is all I can think of, O wait have fun lots of fun.



What is 303 and where can I get it? Is a throwable like one of the floatable rings? I guess I have never thought about reading water but I will be on a lake so not sure if this applies. What do you mean by reading the water?

Re: New Pontooner from Indianapolis

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2017 6:00 pm
by Steve7
[quote="Helmrod"]

What is 303 and where can I get it? Is a throwable like one of the floatable rings? I guess I have never thought about reading water but I will be on a lake so not sure if this applies. What do you mean by reading the water?[/quote]

I agree, 303 is supposedly some of the best Protectant you can use for vinyl, plastic, decals, etc. Great UV protection. I use it. And the throw devices are part of the laws in most, if not all states. If your getting a new boat the dealer may provide one. Here’s a couple pics from Walmart site.

Re: New Pontooner from Indianapolis

Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2017 1:46 am
by tkrein
its the protectant foe the seats. on the lake you shouldn't need to read the water for say. just know your areas to boat in. Reading the water is looking at it and knowing a change in depth or bottom surface is coming the ripples on the water tell you this.

Re: New Pontooner from Indianapolis

Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2017 11:52 pm
by Helmrod
Got it. Thanks all. I will be slowly getting the stuff I need for spring. Need to get some flares and an air horn as well and a few other things that Ill be going to our local boat show for. Hopefully I can score some deals there. I never even thought about those things when on my friends pontoon in MI.