NEED ADVICE ON BEST PONTOON BRANDS

[Jenny]

HELLO, MY SISTERS AND I ARE LOOKING TO BUY A FAMILY PONTOON BOAT (24 FOOT) TO USE ON KENTUCKY LAKES FOR LEISURE AND PULLING KIDS ON TUBES. WE LIKE THE LAYOUT AND STYLE OF THE "BENTLEY" PONTOONS, BUT HEAR THEY ARE A NEW COMPANY AND NOT HAVING MUCH LUCK ON REVIEWS, ETC.

IF ANYONE KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT BENTLEY OR WOULD SUGGEST A DIFFERENT BRAND, WE WOULD APPRECIATE THE INFO. WE TEST-DROVE AN 2002 PLAYCRAFT LAST WEEKEND AND HAVE ONLY SEEN THE OTHERS ON-LINE OR AT A DOCK. NEED ALL THE ADVICE WE CAN GET BEFORE SINKING MONEY INTO SOMETHING.

THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE US!

[lakerunner]

Last I heard Bentley was belly up. Check Godfrey Marine as they make a variety of brands and price toons. Tracker Regency Models are good, Bennington higher end, Starcraft, Lowe and many others build good boats.

Welcome and good luck with shopping

[curtiscapk]

Welcome!!:drink2

You might try looking on Craigslist for used boats also, You might get lucky like I did...

Or go to a local marina to see different brands.

[scfishnman]

I have been very pleased with products by Godrey Marine. My last two pontoon boats have been Godfrey brands. They have several different brands in various price ranges but they all have the same basic construction. They vary in trim levels primarily. My pontoons have been Sweetwater and Aqua Patio -- very well built boats. I have a new Polar Kraft (also a Godfrey Marine product) fishing boat on order now.

[dockholiday]

Welcome Jenny

You can now order a Bentley. The company was sold a year or so ago and the new owner bankrupt. The previous owner has taken the company back over and back in production. Personally I like my boat a 243 with a 150 hp. Not real plush but didn't pay 40 to 50k either. You can tube pretty well on a 2 log with a 90 or 115hp, if you want to ski get the tri toon with a 150 or better.
The suntracker is another nice affordable boat, the regency looks pretty sharp.
doc

[badmoonrising]

Welcome ! These days all the major brands are about equal in quality, some have better warranties than others. Most have the same brand engines as well. In all comes down to personal preferrence.

[Alohatoon1]

Aloha boats are built like a rock and are made in Arkansas.
Really nice folks there too.

alohapontoons.com

[onthelaketwo]

check out JD powers pontoon ratings....

http://www.jdpower.com/Boats/ratings/po ... at-ratings

[gkckak]

From what I hear The g3 sun catcher, lowe sun cruiser, sun tracker and sweetwater pontoon are the best and most affordable pontoon boats on the water

[JohnO]

I'm thrilled with my Manitou.

With the SHP package (three tubes, center tube set lower, lifting strakes on all tubes, power steering) It handles as well as any bow rider out on the lake. I can do donuts at speed and jump my own wake. I hit high 30's (38.6 was top speed with an aluminum prop. Could probably hit 40 with a stainless) with a pretty good hole shot (10 seconds to 15MPH and 20 to 30 MPH).

[dockholiday]

I'm thrilled with my Manitou.

Could probably hit 40 with a stainless) with a pretty good hole shot (10 seconds to 15MPH and 20 to 30 MPH).

You could definately hit 40 with a stainless.
doc

[gkckak]

Do you guys know if they can put lifting strakes on a 2 toon pontoon boat. Because Im interested with the sylvan mandaly 27ft with sun roof and I want it with lifting strakes and rct tube I think they are called.

[dockholiday]

Suntracker puts them on some of their two log boats. The stakes may help on a 27ft boat but you would probably need to get them fabricated, and need enough hp to make them work properly. If you are sold on the boat a better option might be adding a middle toon, especially if you have the sundeck.
doc

[gkckak]

yes it would be powered with a 200hp rudie or twin 100hp suzukis. The dealer told me rct tubes and strakes would increase speed by possibly 5mph

[gkckak]

sweetwater also lifting strakes option on 2 toon pontoon boat.