Best brands of deck boats?

[ChrisGUGA]

I know this thread doesn't really belong here so I apologize in advance, but my sister and her husband are in the market for a deck boat and none of us have any idea which brands are best.

He already has a 2500HD diesel truck so they're looking for the biggest deck boat they can find up to about 30 feet. Speed really isn't the biggest concern, but amenities, room for friends, and partying is.

They're moving up from a 22 foot bowrider with a 350ci small block, for reference.

Thanks for your suggestions.

[stoneman]

Sea Ray,Crownline,and Tahoe i believe are some of the better built deckboats.

[boatless]

I agree with the Sea Ray and Crownlines. But coming from someone that dealt with the Tahoes first hand. I would stay away from them. They are known for gelcoat and quality issues. my .02

[Capt.Insane-o]

Tahoe boats suck. Godfrey are a halfway decent choice too.

[6Killer]

Cobalt.........Chaparral

[Bies]

Charger, have a 21', with a 302 and Mercruiser, sleeper

[greg scott]

Ebbtide makes a great boat also

[2 De River]

we have a crownline and love it,never had a problem

[Instigator]

I was going to say Tahoe but only worked a show for a friend selling them w/no other knowledge. Fit and finish was good as was creature comforts but is what you expect at a show. As far as deck boats in general, where I live along a river they are maybe THE perfect boat. Neighbor has an old 22' beater w/an old 2.0 150 Merc and I love that boat! Runs 40 MPH's w/a crap aluminum prop and zero set up. Fast enough to ski and suck the bimini top off.
Drive it right up on the beach of the islands.
My wife likes it better than anything we've owned for the 5 yrs we've been in Fla!

[fasttoons]

The Deck boat market has been moving to the Tritoon pontoons. Why- The Tritoons offer a lot more usable space, are easy to maintain, run as fast or faster with the right power. The real selling point is that you can run in a 3-4' chop without the pounding you take with a deck boat. A nice 27'+ tritoon with a 200hp outboard will run in the mid 40's with a cost of about $45,000 new. They also come with dual motors and I/O's if you want. Suggest you look at this test-

http://www.boatingmag.com/VTD/2011/PlayCraft/X-Treme2800/index.html

and go to this website/facebook page-

www.fasttoons.com (http://www.fasttoons.com)

Good luck!

[schiadart]

Sorry about the plug but.

28' Entertainment Deck by High Maintenance Boats

Highmaintenanceboats.com

Has a bathroom area and a sink.

[schiadart]

231924231925

[ridgerunner]

The Deck boat market has been moving to the Tritoon pontoons. Why- The Tritoons offer a lot more usable space, are easy to maintain, run as fast or faster with the right power. The real selling point is that you can run in a 3-4' chop without the pounding you take with a deck boat. A nice 27'+ tritoon with a 200hp outboard will run in the mid 40's with a cost of about $45,000 new. They also come with dual motors and I/O's if you want. Suggest you look at this test-

http://www.boatingmag.com/VTD/2011/PlayCraft/X-Treme2800/index.html

and go to this website/facebook page-

www.fasttoons.com (http://www.fasttoons.com)

Good luck!

Never got to meet you but the toon at RR was very impressive. I would have to consider one if in the market. Nice plug...

[mattrogers1234]

Tri Toons are the way to go. 40k gets a great one but check out some of the others also. We sell the Bentleys an they seem to do great for the money 20k - 30k depending on what you get.

www.centralgeorgiamarina.com

[fast fun 2]

I like the Chapparrals a lot for what they are!

[ChrisGUGA]

I do love the idea of the tritoon and I know my brother-in-law does too. He'd love to have a stronger runner than what they have now. I bet he'd love a 28 footer with a 250-300hp outboard or a couple of 150s hanging off of the back.

They want to stay around $20k, but I know they'd go higher if it meant a jump in quality.

[captrex]

Harrison-Kayott had one and use to barefoot behind it and was an outboard

[opsdave]

Ultra Custom makes some pretty nice looking deck boats. Check them out here...... http://www.ultraboats.com/

[FOXLAKE-H.O.]

$20,000 does not at all buy a NICE Deck Boat, shoot you can hardly get a Nice 17ft Fishing boat for 20k. Now if thats a Trade Difference maybe, If I were buying a Deck boat knowing what I know Id look at Princecrafts Vhull aluminum, with a 150 Outboard it runs 50mph, turns sharper than ANY Tri Hull design you will see, Eats up chop, Reverse CHine for Dry Ride.....Tri toons Look at Avalon/Tahoe, Manitou, Crest, They ride so much smoother, 24ft Avalon Windjammer with a 200HO or 200 Pro XS will run 50, Ive done it many times.....I sold a 26 with a 250 Pro XS on saturday, that will really move.....

[ChrisGUGA]

I definitely agree that you can't buy a super nice deck boat for $20k. They're pretty nifty though and bought their current bowrider for around $15k 3 years ago, spent about $2k doing an all new interior, custom fiberglass dashboard with new gauges, steering wheel, throttle, stereo, vinyl stripe down the side, etc using items bought off of ebay and friends and family to do a lot of the work and now they're going to make money off of the boat.

They can buy a decent deck boat and fix it up pretty nicely, I bet.

[Jadmas]

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This is a great device! I found some more information on this website:

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http://www.nauticexpo.com/boat-manufacturer/deck-boat-17483.html

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[GIL_CV21]

Here's a link to Boating magazines pontoon tests . Wow those things are pretty pricey .
http://www.boatingmag.com/find/pontoon

[Ira Tindale]

hurricane what else

[dumbnfun2]

Amen .... Had a hurricane we got for 2k w a rude 135 ran fast could pull a skier and ran in shallow water was great ...., we ran the .... Out of that boat :)

[Ally101]

If ur buying used a chaparral 252 is hard to beat it holds 15 people. Mine has mercruiser 6.2 and will run 55 with 4 people.if u load it down it will still run mid 40's

[JPEROG]

I have a Harris-Kayot 24 foot Legend. Its a tunnel design, seats 16 people, has a built in head, dual seating at the helm, 320 h.p. Volvo penta GXI, and runs 55 on its best day.--for 20k or so, I think its hard to beat. This is one of six boats that I have (but is #1 for the family, friends and practicality). They are not common due the fact that they were expensive when new but ended up being worth the search for me. Otherwise, spend the money and get a nice tri-toon.

Joe

[MCRacing]

I have a Harris-Kayot 24 foot Legend. Its a tunnel design, seats 16 people, has a built in head, dual seating at the helm, 320 h.p. Volvo penta GXI, and runs 55 on its best day.--for 20k or so, I think its hard to beat. This is one of six boats that I have (but is #1 for the family, friends and practicality). They are not common due the fact that they were expensive when new but ended up being worth the search for me. Otherwise, spend the money and get a nice tri-toon.

Joe


Is it for sale?

[JPEROG]

No, I would replace it with the same or a playcraft. They come up on boat trader.

Joe

[mackeral5]

After crawling around in many of them over the years, tearing them apart for stereo installs, pulling engines, etc, I saw a lot of the areas the typical boat owner would never see. Chapparral bilges damn near always came clean/like new before the motors went back in. The Sunesta was nice deck boat, would run around 50 with a 305. I had about a dozen customers with them that were all late 90's- early 2000 models. No structural issues, but the colored gel did fade a bit in the sun. Nice boats if an I/o bowrider/deck boat is what you're looking for.

I didn't care for ebbtides, build quality seemed to be hit or miss in the areas below deck/behind hatches/etc. Saw a lot of poorly finished wood in those areas....

[STV_Keith]

Really depends on what their goals are. Do they want a 100+MPH deck boat (29 E-ticket comes to mind), or something like an Advantage Party Cat? Conquest makes a nice one too.

For pontoon type decks, Bennington's are pretty much the tops out this way.