25 Tritoon 200hp or higher.?

[Bamby]

Quote:"Strake" We have the F200LB on our Berkshire tuition 23' 9" with full length tubes and lifting strakes, and it's a GREAT choice. I was able to get 42 mph once (GPS) and consistently get 40 mph.

I agree with the earlier comment about diminishing returns....... fuel consumption, engine cost, and performance delta...... compare them all using Yamaha's performance spec sheets. I did that choosing Tritoons that are similar in specs to ours. In every case, the F200 was the best overall choice. It gets GREAT fuel consumption.... since ordering the boat new, I've tracked every fill up using my Garmin GPS chart plotter and hour meter. It has tank after tank gotten about 2.4 to 2.7 gallons per hour overall. Another metric is that I get between 4.0 and 4.4 miles per gallon.

I typically cruise at 3000 rpm, which equates to 17 or 18 mph over the water. I also run it wide open each outing for a few minutes, as well as the numbers above include idle, docking, etc.

My boat will take up to a 300hp engine, but when I did all the comparisons, it was clear that the best choice for us was the F200. NO regrets ! End Quote.....

Finally a voice of some sane sensibility and reason, thank you. For some of you newbies here one thing we do have here is a bias for insensible spending when it comes to power. Don't be fooled by the so called go fast crowd that is so prevailing and vocal here on the forum. Yea many of them have the potential to go fast but in reality of real hours of use very few of those hours are clocked at speeds or rpms faster than 90hp could actually provide. After you've had your boat for awhile you'll find that you to will settle down into a boating routine and it likely won't be clocking huge amount of hours ripping up and down the lake at full speed ahead. It will more than likely be a nice comfortable cruise to some water or shore-side destination you've taken a liking to maybe spend the entire day until the evening cruise home. I know I made my choice to suffer a bit of LDS myself but overall it's allowed me to keep some "top shelf" refreshments in my cooler.

[ron nh]

90% of the people that I take out get a little squirrely above about 27 or so. So as much as I love speed, The right thing to do if you need to keep on budget would be to listen to the last 2 posts. multi thousands for a few MPH doesn't make sense unless money is no object.

[Toonnut86]

[quote="willy13"]While I would love to have the fastest pontoon on my lake, my lake has too many rich people on it for me to compete.... its obvious that no one ever complains about having too big of a motor, but most of us have a budget to work with, and breaking that budget means suffering in other financial aspects of our lives.[/quote]

I agree that budget is important, But buying brand new boats isn't for people with budgets... That's why I bought a MInt used tritoon with 300hp, I was patient took my time saved my cash and jumped at the opportunity to buy a gently used playcraft tritoon with less than 200 hours on it that was lift kept. I personally would never take that inital hit on a brand new boat. my boat would probably sell for more than what I paid if i went to sell it tommorow. I could have afforded a brand new one.. but why spend 20-30k more for the same exact boat...

[mpilot]

What brand and model boat? There may be tests out there that show the performance differences. I know on some boats the bigger motors are actually more fuel efficient because they are running at considerably lower rpms than smaller motors. Know people that have 225 and 250's on their boats that use less fuel when cruising around than I do with my 150. The reason being I'm turning 3500 rpms to run high teens or low 20's and they are turning 2500ish rpms to do the same speed.

[ron nh]

If I remember right, he's talking going from a 200 to a 250 or 300. When you're Talking about the difference between a 115 or even a 150 to the others on a huge toon then that is a consideration. cruising speed efficiency would be a big difference in some cases.

[mpilot]

[quote="ron nh"]If I remember right, he's talking going from a 200 to a 250 or 300. When you're Talking about the difference between a 115 or even a 150 to the others on a huge toon then that is a consideration. cruising speed efficiency would be a big difference in some cases.[/quote]

Going from a 150 to a 225 or 250 is the same hp jump roughly he's talking about. Of course wot it should burn more fuel but I'd be willing to bet his mpg at around 20 which is a nice comfortable cruise will be substantially better with the bigger motor. Also, often the mpg at WOT will be better even though the gph will be higher.

[smoker62]

I have a 300 on my 25 and if my tag was rated higher I would be upgrading to a 400R. I never had a passenger get nervous at any speed. They actually get a big grin when they feel the acceleration and can sip their beer at 45 without splashing it all over like a v bottom. My 78 year old mom, who comes out a couple times a summer , is always telling me to get this thing movin .

[willy13]

Is the original poster still reading this thread. More info on his boat could better answer his question.

[Drago]

This is the busiest thread here in months. It is one of those issues that most guys want to talk about. Our boat is rated for 300HP. Eight years ago 300's were pretty scarce as well as really expensive. We got a great price on our boat at the Houston Boat Show from Jerri Rinker of Rinkers Boat World. The package included a 225 4S Yammi. Not long after we got ours in the water, The faster hulls started becoming common with a jump in speed of about 5-10 MPH. I would not have waited those years to purchase a pontoon and am very happy with high 30s all the time when needed. I agree with Bamby completely. A typical day is exactly as he described - very little ripping around. About the only time we run WOT is when running from weather or when we first leave the bridge to open water to head to one of our favorite restaurants. Joy likes to feel the wind in her hair and I like to blow out the gunk.

[ZeroG]

Old thread and very applicable to me as a potential first time pontoon boat buyer. Great info from pontoon owners.

I've been boating 35 years. Always in a V bottom boat. My parents had pontoon boats so I've spent many hours on the water in both boat types.

I have to disagree with this statement:

They actually get a big grin when they feel the acceleration and can sip their beer at 45 without splashing it all over like a v bottom.

I can easily drink a beverage while cruising 45mph in my V bottom. There are reasons for both types of boats. I prefer V bottom go fast but am getting older and tired of taking the boat out of the water after every weekend of boating. Plus, from what I've read Pontoons seem to cost less to operate. I have a 288 Sunsation Mid Cabin Open bow boat with a 496HO (high output) engine, 425 HP. Awesome boat that cuts the wake like nothing else. Yet, here I am doing research on a pontoon and considering selling my favorite boat ever. We normally cruise at 35mph. Top speed is 70 but I've only seen 66 on gps once. I will bump it up tween 50 and 60 every weekend but that's about it. The speed does put a smile on ones face and on the face of most passengers.

I'm glad to see that 30 to 35 cruising speed is easily attainable with the right pontoon engine setup. What pontoon make is best for cruising at these higher speeds? I boat on the Ohio river so white caps and wakes from cruisers and barges are part of everyday boating. Any tips appreciated.

[zoom650]

You will certainly be pleased with the 200 for when there's few on board. But, the first time you load her down, you'll wish you'd gone bigger. We love spending your money, so keep to your budget.

[Steiner]

Whatever the max hp rating is on the boat, do that. F200 I4 is a great engine but loaded the displacement advantage of a V6 will be evident even at identical hp. I don't regret my F200 for a second since I was looking at the F150, needed the boat immediately, boat was rated for 225hp, no V6's in stock, and they priced the F200 only a couple grand over the F150. But this is on a 22 foot boat. Jump to a 24, 25....go big as they'll let you.

And if you can't drink at speed without spilling it..... it ain't the boat, it's you. Either get a nipple or leave it to the professionals.

[ZeroG]

Thanks guys.

And if you can't drink at speed without spilling it..... it ain't the boat, it's you. Either get a nipple or leave it to the professionals.

I agree. I'll drink to that. Cheers!!!!!