Performance Pontoons?

[Fl Boy in ILL]

Thinking about getting a pontoon, wife doesn't like my small performance boats. Had 5 Allison but the river gets rough sometimes and she says it isn't smooth. (no I don't want to leave her at home, LOL)

I have been looking at Playcraft Tri-toons and they look very nice and with the right HP they run pretty darn fast, is there any other brand that has equal performance as the playcrafts that I should look at also.

Something about running past a Baja with a toon just makes me giggle, 300XS or a pair of then maybe on a toon????

Thanks
Rick

[BottomsUp]

If I were you I would look at the boats running now. I have seen the mfg on one boat more then the owner. Stress fractures,motor problems,etc. I would look into a west coast deck boat before a toon as they just are not holding up.....

[WARLOCK]

Playcraft, Manitou, South Bay, and Bennington are the ones I'd be looking at. I had a South Bay tritoon with a small block and was extremely happy. I ran the crap out of it for 2 seasons and never had any of the trouble Bill is talking about, but he deals with them more. My toon ran about 44 mph. I would have preferred an outboard, but we bought it used and thats what was in it. Later, Dave

[Still Crazy]

Playcraft, Manitou, South Bay, and Bennington are the ones I'd be looking at. I had a South Bay tritoon with a small block and was extremely happy. I ran the crap out of it for 2 seasons and never had any of the trouble Bill is talking about, but he deals with them more. My toon ran about 44 mph. I would have preferred an outboard, but we bought it used and thats what was in it. Later, Dave

Good suggestions. I would look real hard at the Manitou. Very high quality plus excellent performance.

[fasttoons]

Playcraft, Manitou, South Bay, and Bennington are the ones I'd be looking at. I had a South Bay tritoon with a small block and was extremely happy. I ran the crap out of it for 2 seasons and never had any of the trouble Bill is talking about, but he deals with them more. My toon ran about 44 mph. I would have preferred an outboard, but we bought it used and thats what was in it. Later, Dave

All good suggestions-each has it's own attributes. Playcraft is the most extreme look and will really build anything you want-dual outboards and BB I/o's. Manitou is a good single engine boat but still looks conservative as do the others. It's all about what you want out of the boat. There are performance pontoons that are built to handle the power and there are pontoons with performance packages, that will give you problems later on. I suggest that whenever you shop for a pontoon you crawl under them and check their construction. They may all look the same from the top but the differences in build quality will amaze you. If the dealer you visit shows you the wine rack first and doesn't talk about the construction I'd leave. Again ,as suggested, stay with the better high end boats . Good Luck in your search!

[imq707s]

Why not just look into a deckboat, or one of the cats that have the open bow seating?

My parents have a 21' Tahoe deckboat with a 150 Merc on it that will run low 50's on the GPS with a few people in the boat, and has just as much room in it as a toon, and will suck up much less fuel.

[OMCD]

Why not just look into a deckboat, or one of the cats that have the open bow seating?

My parents have a 21' Tahoe deckboat with a 150 Merc on it that will run low 50's on the GPS with a few people in the boat, and has just as much room in it as a toon, and will suck up much less fuel.

Great point........just bought a 23 hurricane fun deck for a friend with a 200 yammy 4 stroke, awesome family boat and goes great. If I had the money though I would go with the Hampton Playcraft, really nice layout with a 250 yammy.

[OMCD]

Fasttoons, Are the Hamptons a little slower than the xtremes? or the Escapes?

[Hoovershark]

Catamaran Coaches out of Sarasota, FL. John Christensen the former builder of Lightning Powerboats owns and builds them. They are bad ass! Check em out. http://www.catamarancoaches.com/

[polarized]

Manitou tri toons SHP. Hands down. I ran a 22ft. powerd by a 250 HO E-tec last year going 57MPH gps 1 person light on gas. Loaded consistant 53-54 mph gps. Go into a corner at 50mph turn that steering wheel as hard as you can. Quality is state of the art. Smooth in the rough water. If interested pm me if have lots more info on Manitou pontoons. I have these all over the state of Michigan including Orlando, Fl. and also Canada. We are Michigan tri toon head quaters. Another one going to canada next week with a new 250 pro Verado. Verado is about 5mph slower than a 2 stroke.

[imq707s]

What is the advantage of a toon over a deckboat? With the same power a deckboat is faster...hands down. So is the rough water ride better in a toon?? What are you getting in exchange for the extra fuel costs you have to pay compared to a more efficient hull design like on a deckboat?

[BottomsUp]

As far as pontoons I would for sure go aluminum if I was going to do one. The boats I have seen fail are older and over powered so new ones will have more structure. They have learned some. I would still go west coast as it is a buyers market outthere and they have some way cool deck boats. I forget the mfg but the side of the deck and hull open up on one models. Cool stuff. Something to think about I guesseither way would be a full enclosure and ice fishing holes cut out as we will be icing over soon. Lol

Freaking weather.

[OMCD]

Now these arhttp://eticketboats.com/e deckboats

[Fl Boy in ILL]

Thanks guys for the feedback, I will look pretty hard before I decide what to do or what the wife tells me to do, LOL

Rick

[Billy Sedman]

Crest hpt pontoon for sure!!!! Rigged a 25' with a 300 xs last year and just got done rigging a 23' with a 175 pro xs this afternoon, badass for sure!!!! 59 mph in the 25' with 2 aboard, waiting for break-in mode on the 23' so only time will tell!!!!