Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hello all,

I am new to the board so I apologize for all the questions. My wife and I have been looking at pontoons for about two years. I have decided to finally buy and should be placing my order tomorrow. We had our minds set on a sweetwater for many months, but we went to the boat show on Sunday and saw Bennington's for the first time. We are now switching to the Bennington, sweetwater is a great boat, but bennington seems better.

So we decided on a 2010 22SLi in Black:

Reclining helm seat
25" toons
docking lights
aft vinyl
privacy curtain
ski tow bar
tandem trailer w/brakes

My questions are related to the motor, the 23" toons rated at max hp 90, 25" toons max hp is 115. I had decided on a Yamaha 4 stroke 90hp, but wonder if I should get the 115? What kind of speeds should I expect, can you ski with a 90hp on this model? (person under 200lbs)

Also, my dealer started talking about E-tec, I have a honda 4 stroke on my bass boat and swore I would never go back to 2 stroke. I know the weight difference, but is maintenance really that bad on a Yammie? What about maintenance on a e-tec. I service the honda myself.

I promise to post pics when the boat is delivered, i have to order and WAIT.

Thanks for the help, sorry for the long post, look forward to hearing the replies.

jbirdbuc wrote:Hello all,

I am new to the board so I apologize for all the questions. My wife and I have been looking at pontoons for about two years. I have decided to finally buy and should be placing my order tomorrow. We had our minds set on a sweetwater for many months, but we went to the boat show on Sunday and saw Bennington's for the first time. We are now switching to the Bennington, sweetwater is a great boat, but bennington seems better.

So we decided on a 2010 22SLi in Black:

Reclining helm seat
25" toons
docking lights
aft vinyl
privacy curtain
ski tow bar
tandem trailer w/brakes

My questions are related to the motor, the 23" toons rated at max hp 90, 25" toons max hp is 115. I had decided on a Yamaha 4 stroke 90hp, but wonder if I should get the 115? What kind of speeds should I expect, can you ski with a 90hp on this model? (person under 200lbs)

Also, my dealer started talking about E-tec, I have a honda 4 stroke on my bass boat and swore I would never go back to 2 stroke. I know the weight difference, but is maintenance really that bad on a Yammie? What about maintenance on a e-tec. I service the honda myself.

I promise to post pics when the boat is delivered, i have to order and WAIT.

Thanks for the help, sorry for the long post, look forward to hearing the replies.

Hey welcome and ask away as that is how we learn. I to was looking at new toons but decided to keep the one I have.
What I found out about E-Tec's was amazing. 5 year warranty, no touch for 3 years, and no breakin. Quiet as a 4 stroke and push button winterization. I also said in past never another 4 stroke but now I want an E-Tec.
Yammie will service like honda and E-Tec you don't even change lower grease for 3 years nor plugs.

90 to 115 won't make that much in speed but pulling will be better. Speeds will be low 20's with 90 to mid 20's with 115 I would assume. It is a 2 log right?


And your right Bennies are the best

Sorry didn't see this just coming down the line. Low to mid 20's with the two log boats. Good to tube behind but not so much for skiing.
The 3 log will put you in the 37 to 45 range depending on motor size and prop. Being on Harwell you got a lot of lake to get around on. The tritoon will increase your cruising range a good bit. I was noticing I was only venturing about 3 to 5 miles from my lake property with the 2 log so when it was time to trade I went to the tritoon. I now can get to all the places I went with the bowrider at about the same speed, but with a little more comfort. Don't get me wrong, I had the two log with the 90 for over 10 years, and loved it.
doc

As it has been said many times - "I never heard of anyone wishing that they had a smaller engine." Get as much as you can afford and is allowed.

I went the other way - I wanted an e-Tec, but settled for a Honda. Only 'cause the unit was already rigged for the Honda.

Good luck.

Jbird.... there are alot of great boats out there but like you, I also bought a bennington this past winter. Although I went with a more economical boat, the bennington 20 SFi. You asked about motor size, my son has a bennington 22 RLI with a 115 yammy 4 stroke, My 20 footer has a 75 yamaha 4 stroke, and I can honestly tell you that there seems to be no significant difference in speed between the two boats ( although I havent checked it by gps. ). I'm assuming the reason my 75 seems to push our boat about the same as my sons is because we have a smaller / lighter boat. By the way, what color benny did you get? Ours is the burgandy or wine color. I belive there are pics posted somewhere on this forum about the time I got the boat. Got it going into november so I've only had it in the water 2 times, and can't wait for the first 70 degree day so me and momma can hit the lake. Congrats on the new benny!

Roland

I have a 4 stroke Mercury, I love my 4 stroke and also swore I would never go two stroke again. But the more I hear about the ETEC the more I like. Does any one have anything negative or heard of any problems with them..

I would go E-Tec. More torque, less maintenance and weight.

Post some pics when you can.

Thanks for all the replies. I thought about for quite some time and appreciate the responses. Folks will probably get mad, but I stuck with the 90hp yamaha.

I know that e-tec is a good motor, I do like them, but my plan from the beginning was a Sweetwater with a 90hp yamaha (model 2086). So I decided to stay with this motor configuration. I placed the order on the boat yesterday and now I have to wait. I am very pleased with the dealer so far and the price.

FYI, I currently ski behind a 17foot monark with a 50hp honda (4stroke). I just could not pull the trigger on the 115.

I will be sure to post pics and cannot wait for the boat to arrive. Thanks to all.

Congratulations on the new boat! We're in the same situation (just couldn't type boat there) as you. We just ordered a Premier pontoon and it'll be about 8 weeks before it gets here and then another 3 or 4 before we actually take delivery due a planned vacation.

At least the lakes are frozen over right now, so there's no rush to get it.

BTW, good job sticking with your plans, after reading more here and other places I "Tim Taylor'd" up and went with a 200hp motor after originally thinking 175 or 150.

Congrats on both boats..........bottom line once you weighed your options........get the one that is best for you and your pocketbook.
If money was not an issue, most of us would be cruising around in yachts. Easy for other folks to spend your money.
doc

Sounds like you made a good choice on your toon. We only have a 90hp. on our toon as well (2 stroke Merc ), and we are really happy with our choice. We actually didn't have much of a choice, as the toon we purchased, was the only one that we liked, in our price range, within 200 miles. I didn't buy our toon for skiing, just the occational tube or kneeboard, and cruising/sitting with beverages , but we have friends we go out with almost every time, and they have a nice Mastercraft to ski behind.

Enjoy your toon, and can't wait for the warm up here either.

Congrats!!
Now the only thing left is PICS!!

We want pics!

WaltF wrote:Congrats!!
Now the only thing left is PICS!!

We want pics!

Pics will be posted as soon as boat arrives!!!

ya, congrats on the new boat.

Need to add pics, picked boat up yesterday and have some more questions. Wanted to show pics first.