On the hunt for a new pontoon
Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 7:24 pm
So here's my experience on day 1:
So, my hunt for a triple tube pontoon started today. My first stop was at a Bentley and Veranda dealer. Bentley’s original owner has purchased the company back and shipments are supposed to restart mid-summer. Veranda’s (25 feet) were interesting. Snap-lock metal decking welded to the tubes and Yamaha only power. The metal decking was intriguing, but I am concerned about the furniture that is bolted on. In time they could work loose. It featured an exposed gas tank mounted under the sun pad and forward of the engine. Fuel fill was integral with the fuel tank. Good and bad. Center tube was not full length so the lifting stakes stopped short of the outside tube strakes. The motor pod made up the difference in length. Standard deck layout.
Next stop was to a Sundancer dealer. I knew Sundancer’s founder, Bob Falconer, when he worked at Lowe Boats, so I am a little partial. They had an ’08 that they were willing to deal, but it doesn’t have strakes. No ‘09s to look at yet. Although Sundancer (26 feet) was one of the pioneers of the middle tube, lately they are not innovators. They still have the battery exposed on a little pad on the motor pod. Their middle tube is also shorter than the side tubes with the motor pod making up the difference. Any motor is an option.
Next stop was Voyager (25 feet). The back fence and rail goes straight across the stern. The center log and strakes are full length and actually sticks out the back a bout 2 feet. Gas tank is in the back of the center tube. The provided chair seemed awfully high. Good thing it had a tilt wheel. I had to have it really slanted up to feel right. Kinda like an old bus steering wheel. Perhaps this a dealer issue? Heavy duty tubes – 0.100 inches. While the U-shape logs have block foam, the nose cones are filled with expansive foam. E-tec or Suzuki power.
All the above had heavy-duty bimini frames.
Last stop of the day was to look at JC Neptoons (25 feet) and Manitous. Manitous are out due to $$. JC Neptoon was, again, interesting. U-shaped tubes, but no foam. Besides the typical drain plug, it also has a small upper plastic plug to be removed during winter or after a decent temperature change to get rid of the “popping†that may result. Full length middle tube. This model had the curved front section that could be removed and moved to the back. Either way, a gate will be blocked unless the bench seat is left behind. It had a rear deck with vinyl non-skid covering allowing access to the motor. The gas tank is in the center tank, but a bit more forward. They installed a screwed down hatch to access it. The steering console was moved more forward almost to the center, so there is no gate on the starboard side. The bimini frame was the flimsiest of all the rest. It was made of smallish round tubing compared with the square tubing of the others. They offer only Honda and Mercury engines. He did offer a Mercury 2 stroke, but it would mean ordering new as all his units are rigged for Hondas. The sales guy was extremely knowledgeable and would point out the differences between various units; good and bad.
So what did I learn? First was a mild case of sticker shock. Second, each unit had its good and bad points; ergo, there is no thing as a perfect unit. I do like the e-Tecs over any 4-stroker. All 4-strokes require at least annual oil changes that need to be done by the dealer to maintain the warrantee. Only one had a close-by marina. Make the appointment, drive on by, and they do everything while you wait. Plus they give buyer discounts on parts and gas. All were willing to deal, within reason.
The other big issue had to do with length. I was sold on needing a 26 footer to deal with our lake’s cruiser wakes. Then it occurred to me that tack on another 2 to 3 feet for motor and final length is closer to 28 to 29 feet. My dock slip is 28 feet deep. Hmmm. The last guy (Tim) was the only one who suggested that try a 24 foot triple log first. Maybe I don’t need the extra length. I am not convinced, but at least he mentioned it. They have a 24 foot Explode that he is willing to deal. He took it to the shootout last year and made decent time with no porpoising at all.
So what now? I got a couple of others to look at and wait for the Bosslady to come down and we can make our cuts.
So, my hunt for a triple tube pontoon started today. My first stop was at a Bentley and Veranda dealer. Bentley’s original owner has purchased the company back and shipments are supposed to restart mid-summer. Veranda’s (25 feet) were interesting. Snap-lock metal decking welded to the tubes and Yamaha only power. The metal decking was intriguing, but I am concerned about the furniture that is bolted on. In time they could work loose. It featured an exposed gas tank mounted under the sun pad and forward of the engine. Fuel fill was integral with the fuel tank. Good and bad. Center tube was not full length so the lifting stakes stopped short of the outside tube strakes. The motor pod made up the difference in length. Standard deck layout.
Next stop was to a Sundancer dealer. I knew Sundancer’s founder, Bob Falconer, when he worked at Lowe Boats, so I am a little partial. They had an ’08 that they were willing to deal, but it doesn’t have strakes. No ‘09s to look at yet. Although Sundancer (26 feet) was one of the pioneers of the middle tube, lately they are not innovators. They still have the battery exposed on a little pad on the motor pod. Their middle tube is also shorter than the side tubes with the motor pod making up the difference. Any motor is an option.
Next stop was Voyager (25 feet). The back fence and rail goes straight across the stern. The center log and strakes are full length and actually sticks out the back a bout 2 feet. Gas tank is in the back of the center tube. The provided chair seemed awfully high. Good thing it had a tilt wheel. I had to have it really slanted up to feel right. Kinda like an old bus steering wheel. Perhaps this a dealer issue? Heavy duty tubes – 0.100 inches. While the U-shape logs have block foam, the nose cones are filled with expansive foam. E-tec or Suzuki power.
All the above had heavy-duty bimini frames.
Last stop of the day was to look at JC Neptoons (25 feet) and Manitous. Manitous are out due to $$. JC Neptoon was, again, interesting. U-shaped tubes, but no foam. Besides the typical drain plug, it also has a small upper plastic plug to be removed during winter or after a decent temperature change to get rid of the “popping†that may result. Full length middle tube. This model had the curved front section that could be removed and moved to the back. Either way, a gate will be blocked unless the bench seat is left behind. It had a rear deck with vinyl non-skid covering allowing access to the motor. The gas tank is in the center tank, but a bit more forward. They installed a screwed down hatch to access it. The steering console was moved more forward almost to the center, so there is no gate on the starboard side. The bimini frame was the flimsiest of all the rest. It was made of smallish round tubing compared with the square tubing of the others. They offer only Honda and Mercury engines. He did offer a Mercury 2 stroke, but it would mean ordering new as all his units are rigged for Hondas. The sales guy was extremely knowledgeable and would point out the differences between various units; good and bad.
So what did I learn? First was a mild case of sticker shock. Second, each unit had its good and bad points; ergo, there is no thing as a perfect unit. I do like the e-Tecs over any 4-stroker. All 4-strokes require at least annual oil changes that need to be done by the dealer to maintain the warrantee. Only one had a close-by marina. Make the appointment, drive on by, and they do everything while you wait. Plus they give buyer discounts on parts and gas. All were willing to deal, within reason.
The other big issue had to do with length. I was sold on needing a 26 footer to deal with our lake’s cruiser wakes. Then it occurred to me that tack on another 2 to 3 feet for motor and final length is closer to 28 to 29 feet. My dock slip is 28 feet deep. Hmmm. The last guy (Tim) was the only one who suggested that try a 24 foot triple log first. Maybe I don’t need the extra length. I am not convinced, but at least he mentioned it. They have a 24 foot Explode that he is willing to deal. He took it to the shootout last year and made decent time with no porpoising at all.
So what now? I got a couple of others to look at and wait for the Bosslady to come down and we can make our cuts.