Advice for buying a pontoon boats/outboard motor

[tgsearay]

I've had four boats in the last 55 years. Latest one is a 1997 Searay 210 BR/Mercruiser. Thinking about a pontoon/outboard. Was always a Johnson/evinrude guy (1955 10 HP, 1972 9.5, 1976 115HP). I rarely see Evinrudes in upstate NY. Looking for advice on what to get. Thanks for any advice.

[TooStroked]

First, let me be perfectly clear. I'm a long time Mercury fan and love the 2.5 liter Mercury on my Progression. I also happen to work for a large Bennington dealer in upstate NY. Every Bennington we sell goes out the door with a, gasp, Yamaha outboard screwed to the transom.

So how do these Yamaha motors hold up? I have to admit, they're pretty much bullet proof. In fact they're so impressive that if I ever re-power the Progression, it'll most likely get a Yamaha. They're that good. So yes, I'd recommend on highly for a pontoon or any other boat for that matter.

Oh, and as something of a testament to how good they are, we had a local law enforcement boat in the shop this week with a pair of four stroke Yamaha 150's on the transom. How's 4,200 hours without a rebuild sound?

[Ing]

Go 4 Stroke Merc or Yamaha.

[Capt.Insane-o]

Yamaha ftw.

[coffeeguy]

Got a Harris Tri-toon with 115 merc last year. Been really good for rougher choppy water as well as regular cruising. Will do 35 on its speedo and cruise easily at 25. Tri-toon is the way to go.

[delawarerick]

Bennington is a good pontoon and has been around for a while yamaha I agree with the above. If docking in salt water proper prep for painting bottom is a must. I sold a brand name odyssey but they were by no means as well made as bennington.

[half fast]

We are an Avalon dealer for pontoon and tritoons . I have enjoyed the company and the products for eight years .We hang mercs on all our boats . Give them a look before you buy . hf...

[Flightplan]

Buy a Bennington and be done with it. The only brand new boat I have ever bought in my life was a 2009 Bennington 2275 SSR with a 150 Yamaha. I still have this boat on it's lift at home and have been extremely satisfied with its purchase.

http://benningtonmarine.com/publications/uploaded_files/142/Pontoon---Deck-Boat-Aug-2009-Pg-39.pdf

Only now am I considering an upgrade to a Bennington Q25 IO in black.

If I could only have one boat it would be a Bennington pontoon.(but with a bigger mota)

[gregpro50]

The dealer on my lake sells Manitou pontoon boats and is also in upstate NY. He sells them with the Evinrude motors. He is rigging a couple now with twin 300s. They seem like really nice boats. My family has a tri toon Manitou we got from him several years ago with an Evinrude 150 and have been happy with it.

[SS170]

I have an old 50 hp Yamaha four stroke on mine. It sips on gas and very quiet.