Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hello all! I've been a lurker here for awhile and finally registered today so I can post. My wife and I are planning on buying a toon and I need your advise. I know these questions have been asked a million times already and I DID read through all the old posts but was hoping for some updated info for today's economic conditions.

I am planning for a min 24' length and so far the only dealer I have visted is Lake Hopatcong Marine in NJ who handles Bentley Pontoons. I actually stood aboard the Cruise 240 model and it seemed really nice. They look great but I have seen some bad reviews on them through various forums and now I'm nervous purely based on this. I saw somewhere that Bentley had closed it's doors but then somewhere else that the old owner has purchased them back, there were warranty issues and also reports of shoddy equipment/materials etc. Anyone on here have experience with Bentleys? what can you tell me?

Based on my reading so far, I'm planning on the biggest motor possible that the budget will allow as I am pretty sure we will regularly have a good amount of passengers and hope to tow some tubes etc. while out on the lake. I also love to fish and will be using this for my primary fishing boat as well.

I have also read that there are some great deals to be had out there due to the economy but noone has specifically posted the numbers. I'm not really sure what a great deal would be on something like this as I've never even owned a boat before nevermind gone through the negotiating/purchase process on one.... If the dealer's sticker price is say, $28k..... what would be a good target to try and get him down to? He did mention that this time of year, I could probably get a free slip for the remainder of the season (usually a $1500.00 cost which is pretty common around the lake) and maybe a free fishfinder installed (total value around $300.00) aswell as an included coast guard kit?. I know that with cars, there is an invoice price that is usually used as a basis for what my cost should be, is there something similar with a boat?

I was also thinking of researching sun tracker boats as well as G3 as they all have dealer presences on my lake, any feedback on them?

Lastly, what is the average cost to insure a boat like this for the year? and can anyone recommend a good place to inquire about boat financing?

I know I asked a lot of questions and I do appreciate any and all information you can provide. I look forward to becoming a longstanding and contributing member to this forum!

Welcome Super

Bentley is now taking orders according to my source, the dealer I purchased mine from. At the mid 20k range for a 150 on a tritoon and a tandem trailer, I am well pleased with mine. Can do what most of the 45k boats do, but with the lifting strakes you do have to slow down in the turns, but I can live with that for 20k difference. Wish I had more hours on mine so I could really say I put it through the torture test, but I love it so far. Not real plush but it is comfortable. I would recommend getting the double bimini if you order. Been pretty impressed with the suntracker here lately, especially the Regency. A 24ft tritoon with a 150 will put you at about 40mph with the right prop. Good Luck
Forgot to add the seastar steering which is usually put on with the higher hp motors
doc

dockholiday wrote:Welcome Super

Bentley is now taking orders according to my source, the dealer I purchased mine from. At the mid 20k range for a 150 on a tritoon and a tandem trailer, I am well pleased with mine. Can do what most of the 45k boats do, but with the lifting strakes you do have to slow down in the turns, but I can live with that for 20k difference. Wish I had more hours on mine so I could really say I put it through the torture test, but I love it so far. Not real plush but it is comfortable. I would recommend getting the double bimini if you order. Been pretty impressed with the suntracker here lately, especially the Regency. A 24ft tritoon with a 150 will put you at about 40mph with the right prop. Good Luck
Forgot to add the seastar steering which is usually put on with the higher hp motors
doc

Hey Doc, Thanks for the welcome!

Are you saying that for a 24' tritoon with a 150, I should expect to pay in the neighborhood of $25k for the Bentley? I am just looking to clarify because on the price sheet I picked up from the dealer it was around $28k for the 240 cruise (2 tube) with a 115 motor...

Welcome I can't help you as my toon is older than dirt and I'm older than that , but the other guys will help you out I'm sure

Some thoughts:

Rent a bunch of different ones at different lakes / rivers, make note of the brands and how old they are, what kind of shape they're in after a few seasons of sitting out in the weather and abused by renters. Ask rental places (owner/manager) which ones they've found to hold up better, have better value. They'll know because these are the guys trying to make a profit on boating, while having little reason to lie to you. How do they handle? Comfy? Enough power? Suitable seating? Safe? Great (not just good) visibility with passengers in all seats (take a couple full-sized riders along and get them to move around during the trip to see if they can make driving hazardous for you)? You might also try hanging out at the local ramps, and asking owners about their boats. Mostly they're proud of their vessels, and will be glad to tell you about them for a few minutes, and you may even get offered a ride, especially if the owner is by themselves.

Look at construction, especially grade of aluminum, thickness, and welding. Spot welding of the rails to the tubes is a shortcut versus a full-length weld. Not all tubes are mounted the same, so look at the differences there too. How far apart are the cross members? Is the rail screwed to the deck or through-bolted to the frame? How long is the structural warranty? It seems to me the brands willing to warranty a boat longer are more confident in how well their product is built. They all expect the boat to outlast the warranty by a week...returns are not profitable. In cases of very long warranty, see if it's transferable. If it's not, they're rolling the dice that you'll sell it or void the warranty long before it expires. Shake the rails, console (especially centers) and any seat on a pedestal and see how well it's mounted. If you can flex the floor, walk away. Buy the local independent service shop manager lunch and pick his brain. He can tell you what comes through his doors, and as an independent, he doesn't care what you buy.

Seriously consider what you want to use it for, both most of the time and occasionally. Pontoons in general are very flexible in what they can do for you, but some floor plans lend to different purposes better than others. Yes, get all the motor you can afford, as that's going to be the most expensive component on the boat, both now and later. Personally, I prefer the new E-Tek 2-strokes by Evinrude. Lighter, more torque (think launch and load) clean, quiet, and nearly zero maintenance. You'll hear from others that like the four-strokes, and Honda makes a great line of 'em (different strokes for different folks :P ) When I got mine (2006 / 250hp) I was all set to buy a Honda 4-stroke until I got to the shop that would be doing the power, and two hours later after being shown the facts by the owner of the shop who sold both Honda and Evinrude, I got the Evinrude and am extremely happy with it. They took less of my money, and made less margin, and sold me the right power for my boat. Again, this was my experience, decide for yourself and hear all the input you can on this.

Factor in the trailer too. Unless you live on the water, and/or will be keeping the boat at or near the water year-round, take a pass on scissor trailers and get the bunk style...much safer. In NJ, you have a short season, so check out cost of in-building storage. It will probably be more to store it for 7 months than slip it for 5, but inside a building it will stay nicer longer. Don't get sucked in to the free gadgets as those give-aways are often last year's model they bought on clearance, in bulk, for almost nothing. Want proof? Ask them to swap the $300 gadget for $300 off the cost of a full cover and see if they turn pale.

Finally, remember that pontoons are semi-displacement hulls by design. They aren't wave-pounders like your typical bass boat, but given decent power they will climb up to semi-plane (yeah I know, some of the big-power models will get on top, they are very light triples and will really fly, and they'll pound more as a result - your own experience is your guide as to what you like). A decent reference might be 5 hp / foot of wet length since you said you plan to pull tubes and such. I have more than that on mine but at nearly 2 tons I need a bit more. Don't trust speedo's either - use a GPS - mechanicals are never right.

Keep us posted how you get along, ask everything, and take your time. This is serious coin, and maybe a decision you'll need to live with for 5 years.

One other thing, and I'm embarrassed to have left this as an afterthought because it's very important...

Set aside a couple grand for all the things that don't come with a boat. Safety gear, especially life jackets, first aid kit, anchors, ropes, etc. etc.

Take a boating safety course...really...do it for your family and have them attend too. It's a lot easier to be under prepared than over.

SuperOx wrote:

dockholiday wrote:Welcome Super

Bentley is now taking orders according to my source, the dealer I purchased mine from. At the mid 20k range for a 150 on a tritoon and a tandem trailer, I am well pleased with mine. Can do what most of the 45k boats do, but with the lifting strakes you do have to slow down in the turns, but I can live with that for 20k difference. Wish I had more hours on mine so I could really say I put it through the torture test, but I love it so far. Not real plush but it is comfortable. I would recommend getting the double bimini if you order. Been pretty impressed with the suntracker here lately, especially the Regency. A 24ft tritoon with a 150 will put you at about 40mph with the right prop. Good Luck
Forgot to add the seastar steering which is usually put on with the higher hp motors
doc

Hey Doc, Thanks for the welcome!

Are you saying that for a 24' tritoon with a 150, I should expect to pay in the neighborhood of $25k for the Bentley? I am just looking to clarify because on the price sheet I picked up from the dealer it was around $28k for the 240 cruise (2 tube) with a 115 motor...

Not sure if they are shipping the tritoons yet but can check. Think my dealer can be beat those prices. Now I did get the family discount, but I know he has the lowest prices on the bentley in the South East and has had a few come from Texas to buy from him. Let me know what you want and I will see about getting a price, or just call and tell him you want a boat like doc's and a price
http://www.tnsmarine.com/bentley_pontoons.htm

I JUST BOUGHT A G3 20 FT ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO- I LOVE IT; I LOOKED AT SUNTRACKER AS WELL AND LIKE THE G3 MUCH BETTER- THE REGENCY IN THE SUNTRACKER IS SIMILIAR TO THE LX MODELS OF THE G3'S- I THINK BOTH ARE NICE BOATS... YOU CAN GET UPGRADES ON BOTH... THE YAMAHA MOTOR IS BETTER FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD THAN MERC. THANKS. HAPPY JULY 4 YALL FROM EAST TEXAS!!!

We like our Bentley but if I were buying new I would wonder about the future of the company. I am glad to hear they are taking orders again since I own one though. I have put some good money in this boat with customizations and would not have done so if I didn't think it would last.

We pay less than $300 a year to insure our boat.

I'll let the other guys answer your buying new questions as I have never bought a new boat.

Good luck and welcome to the forum!

We own a Sun Tracker Party Cruiser, love it and would buy another in a heartbeat. The company has been around longer than most pontoon manufacturers and they stand by their product.

dockholiday wrote:

SuperOx wrote:

dockholiday wrote:Welcome Super

Bentley is now taking orders according to my source, the dealer I purchased mine from. At the mid 20k range for a 150 on a tritoon and a tandem trailer, I am well pleased with mine. Can do what most of the 45k boats do, but with the lifting strakes you do have to slow down in the turns, but I can live with that for 20k difference. Wish I had more hours on mine so I could really say I put it through the torture test, but I love it so far. Not real plush but it is comfortable. I would recommend getting the double bimini if you order. Been pretty impressed with the suntracker here lately, especially the Regency. A 24ft tritoon with a 150 will put you at about 40mph with the right prop. Good Luck
Forgot to add the seastar steering which is usually put on with the higher hp motors
doc

Hey Doc, Thanks for the welcome!

Are you saying that for a 24' tritoon with a 150, I should expect to pay in the neighborhood of $25k for the Bentley? I am just looking to clarify because on the price sheet I picked up from the dealer it was around $28k for the 240 cruise (2 tube) with a 115 motor...

Not sure if they are shipping the tritoons yet but can check. Think my dealer can be beat those prices. Now I did get the family discount, but I know he has the lowest prices on the bentley in the South East and has had a few come from Texas to buy from him. Let me know what you want and I will see about getting a price, or just call and tell him you want a boat like doc's and a price
http://www.tnsmarine.com/bentley_pontoons.htm

Doc, Who would you recommend I speak with over there?


Thank you everyone else, there has been some great info shared here! Keep it coming!

Talk to Terry or Brian

dockholiday wrote:Talk to Terry or Brian

Cool, I'll give them a call!

dockholiday wrote:Talk to Terry or Brian

Doc,

Spoke with Terry tis morning. Super nice guy! Thanks for the referral!