Question:
about to dive into the boating scene, looking at an 18' or 20'
pontoon for family cruising. We'll use it primarily on three inland lakes in
OK, and not concerned about enough power to pull skiers.
Any suggestions/recommendations from those experienced out there? Brands to
buy or avoid? Motor preference? Options one can't live without? New vs.
used?
Answer:
1. Recommend the 20' boat. 18' tend to be too short and set low in the
rear. The extra 2' makes a big difference.
2. Recommend a boat w/ engine covered/rear sun deck. This cuts down on
quite a bit of noise from the engine and provides for enclosed built in fuel
tank and battery. Helps to cut down on sun damage to the fuel tank and
hoses from sitting out. This is usually only available on a 20' boat due to
the weight and room of the deck pad/enclosure.
3. Recommend a 50 hp engine minimum. This is due to the fact that pontoon
boats have a lot of drag and the more people you put on board the more drag
you create. I know you stated that you were not interested in skiing but if
you want to be able to cruise without running the engine wide open all the
time (and sucking a lot of fuel) get an engine big enough to handle the
load. I really like the 75 hp engine on a 20' boat personally.
4. Recommend the 4 stroke engine. This will more than pay for the
difference in fuel and oil savings. Plus it does run quieter.
5. I personally like the marine plywood flooring over the aluminum or
composite. The wood floor is quiter and does not flex as much. It comes w/
a lifetime guarentee. Wood got a bad reputation from the cheaper
manufacturers years ago who did not use marine plywood (tracker, rivera
cruiser, etc...) Also be aware that composite floors must have everything
thru bolted. Screws will not hold in the composite floors.
6. Brand is not too important anymore. Just make sure it has the stuff on
it you want. Also make sure you check out the service department of the
dealer your looking at buying from. Make sure they have quality mechanics
that are certified and trained on the 4 stroke engines. Ask about time
required to repair if you need service (delay between you bringing it in and
getting it repaired). 2 weeks is not uncommon however this time of year
should be getting better now. Also, you might want to go to some of the
local marinas and ask around about where people purchased and have they been
satisified. People usually like to talk about their boat and are more than
willing to tell you if they like or dislike their dealer and product.
-I second that opinion. I have a Harris 20' with a 75 and that is a good
compromise for weight and power if you want to move along. Pontoons do have a
"step" and I can stay up on the bow wave at about 2300-2400. 3000 is a nice
cruising speed 16mph or so on my GPS. WOT will get me close to 25-26 with 2 in
the boat but it really sucks the gas at that speed.
Corrosion is not as big a problem in fresh water (I run salt) but it is still a
consideration. Look for stainless fasteners and corrosion protected structural
members.
Personally I like the back open so it is easy to get to the motor but I don't
use my top a lot. Tops trap the engine noise
