I have been placed in charge of getting the family a new Pontoon boat. I have never owned one or know anything about them. I was wondering if I could get some tip's on buying one. How big? What options to get or stay away from. Speed is not a priorty its just gonna be somthing so Mom and Dad can get out on the water at the new lake house.

Check out the Veranda pontoon boats <a href="http://www.verandamarine.com" target="_blank">www.verandamarine.com</a> , built really well, nice interior, and priced right. Depending on where you are in Cali, ask your dealer about the "deal" boats. Cant tell you what size you need or options, most get a 22-25 footer, Privacy rooms are a plus because some lakes require a potty,and the girls like the enclosed room, but they take up some of the seating and if mom and dad have a house on the lake where the boat is going just use the house. Gluck.

Uh oh, be prepared to get shouted out for posting about pontoon boats on this site. <BR>Anyway I just got a pontoon boat, bought an older Sun Tracker Party Barge. 21ft, good for 13 people supposedly but would seat 10 comfortably. If it's just a couple of people using it for smaller trips an 18 or 20 ft with a 60hp will do the trick. Some new pontoons are sold with real small engines (25hp) but they would be mind-numbingly slow. Mine has a 90 hp outboard and will do low 20s comfortably or upper 20s with the right prop. <BR> <BR>I looked at a couple of brands but there is some awful quality out there so keep that in mind. I think Sun Tracker are no. 1. Another consideration is the pontoons - 2 or 3, and what diameter and shape they are. Typically there are 2 pontoons and they're round, but some are squarish and smaller diameter. The bigger the better and 3 pontoons (ie a tritoon) will give most stability. <BR>Good luck. I'm sure that although wakeboarders typically don't like pontooners you'll find them congregating on your 'lots of space' boat!

My parents have a 22 footer which seems to be a good size. It is a JC tritoon. They are just like any other boat - look at the quality and decide what works for you. Of course quality will sometime cost more. I would recommend a 4 stroke outboard for sure. A lot of times you will be putting around and nothing is worse then getting smoked out by a two-stroke. <BR> <BR>We have a 13O HP Honda which moves pretty well and can tow tubes and skiiers well. <BR> <BR>If you have kids you will love it.

You will be amazed at how much new ones cost. You know how wakeboard boats really hold their value? The same is not as true for pontoons. I would definitely check the used market.

G - If you are looking for something new, my cousin carries Crestliner 'tooners at his shop (Xtreme Marine, Paso Robles). Got to play on one of 'em last year at Naci. We anchored @ Las Tables, used it as wakeboard basecamp. Pretty nice, big sofa, reclining captains chairs that would make even Captain Kirk at home, wet bar, etc... The 4 stroke Honda was quiet and smooth. <BR> <BR>(Message edited by socalwakepunk on March 19, 2007)

My parents have always owned a pontoon boat. The two brands they have always liked are Bennington, and Monato (sp)

definitely get a 4 stroke - the noise reduction alone makes a cruise so much more enjoyable. One thing you will realize is that you can keep getting bigger and bigger motors, but the difference between a 35 horse and a 75 horse may be less than 5 mph. <BR> <BR>In the midwest, Bennington is a real nice brand.

Can't wait to see what Grant does with a Pontoon...can you imagine the LED possibilities alone...... <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/rofl.gif" border=0>

Grant, I have a friend with a fibreglass hull pontoon boat that is very comfortable. It cost over 100k, but with the big block turbo and I/O it does 70. If you want I can find the name but I'm pretty sure he bought it at Lake Havasu. <BR>It is a lot more elegant than the aluminum pontoon types. <BR>There is also on out that has a slider on each side so it goes from 8' to 12' like an RV

The Bennington's look plush. You can get them with a I/O too.

art id love to see that pontoon...amazing

Benningtons are like the Bently of Pontoons. Really comfy and plenty of bling. My Bro in law had a 9.9, but you couldn't kick up a breeze to blow away the mosquitoes. You could however get about three weeks out of 6 gallons of gas.

"Benningtons are like the Bently of Pontoons" <BR> <BR>Funny you should say that, since another popular brand in Wisconsin/Minnesota is Bentley

pontoon boat ha! <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.sunnyledfurd.com" target="_blank">www.sunnyledfurd.com</a> <BR> <BR>go see him on the tour <BR> <BR>guy is legit <BR> <BR>say i wont <BR> <BR>grant loves country ha! <BR> <BR>"Can't stand that Jack Johnson racket" <BR> <BR>words to live by <BR> <BR>Good luck with your purchase! <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.polarboats.com/index_aquapatio.cfm" target="_blank">http://www.polarboats.com/index_aquapatio.cfm</a>

We have a 25 ft party barge that is great. only has a 50hp motor, but we only use it for slow cruising so it works out fine. Sun Tracker Party Barge. Got it brand new for 10k. My friend bought it and 50% ownership in a lakehouse with me and he hated the lake (yeah, they are weird), so I bought them out of the lake and he practically gave me the brand new pontoon for 10k! helluva deal and good luck finding used, at least around here they are hard to come by.

Bentley pontoons are the ones with the slideout to go from 8'6" to 12'. New.

Veranda pontoons are really nice. I would check them out.

I found these the other day. <a href="http://stores.ebay.com/Evolution-Power-Boats" target="_blank">http://stores.ebay.com/Evolution-Power-Boats</a>

I would say the most important thing to look for is comfortable seats, layout, and build quality. since it's basically a floating living room there really isn't anything else to differentiate. seriously, they are not all the same. take your friends and sit in any one you can find and get what feels the best. i also like to sitting on the front deck so take a look at where they put the docking lights so you can maximize your deck size. 4 stroke motor is the only way to go. depending on how big your lake is, 40hp should be plenty. i have a 27 gallon fuel tank that lasts me all summer...i rarely get above 5MPH. i love pontoon boats. in the summer we always. wakeboard -> pontoon -> wakeboard. we call mine the nap machine. the hum of the 4 stroke, comfy seats, water splashing the toons...that will put anyone out.

also, new ones aren't cheap. you could easily spend 20-25K on a 22'...which is probably as small as you would want to go.

Its interesting that you only get a little more speed out of a larger motor. What size engine would be too small for a 23 footer?

Erik is right, getting more speed is difficult by motor hp alone, and the 4 strokes are really nice. If you want performance, which G said he did not, you can add lifting strakes, splash sheild, and a third log. But you can get a nice setup with a 115hp or 150 that'll really go, 45mph-ish, pull skiers or riders, yes tubers too. or go ahead and spend the $jack and get a 225hp or more on a 25' and push the over 50 mark. Then mom and dad will be wanting to go to mardi gras (mom will come home with lots of beads), running of the bulls, wakefest, etc.

we have a 28 footer with a 50 horse and that goes just fine. My uncle has a 22 or 23 with a 25 horse 4 stroke Honda and that powers it fine as well. If speed is important on a pontoon, you are getting the wrong type of boat.

My uncles boat is a Bennington, he bought it about 3 years ago with the 25 Honda for somewhere between 15 and 19 I believe.

just go with the 34' with the 275 hp <BR> <BR>install one of your crazy systems, corona kegerator, and a margarita machine. <BR> <BR><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MASSIVE-34-Evolution-Power-Boat-275hp-VERADO-34-Deck_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ63684QQitemZ320092 565340" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MASSIVE-34-Evolution-Power-Boat-275hp-VERADO-34-Deck_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ63684QQitemZ320092 565340</a>

Premier Pontoons smoke Bennington, they even have a 20yr warranty on the bimini for crying out loud. Very high quality! <BR><a href="http://www.pontoons.com" target="_blank">www.pontoons.com</a>

that is the funniest ebay listing i have ever seen.

I think it all depends on what you want to spend along with what you want it for and only you can make that decision. I have a Sun Tracker 21' with a 50 HP 2 Stroke. We love it. Not fancy it is a second boat for just drinking and partying on. It allows me to use the wakeboat for skiing and if other people just want to go anchor and hang out they can use the pontoon. If you are going to use the hell out of the boat I would get something more upscale than the Suntracker. Eventhough they are great boats there are alot more tricked out one out there. <BR> <BR>Hope that helps

Grant here is the one you need for sure. <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/426067.jpg" alt="Upload">

Here is the layout.. <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/426086.gif" alt="Upload"> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/426087.jpg" alt="Upload">

how about this one. <BR> <BR><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CUSTOM-BUILT-40-FOOT-PARTY-BOAT-BUSINESS-OPPORTUNITY_W0QQitemZ140098499903QQcategoryZ63684Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CUSTOM-BUILT-40-FOOT-PARTY-BOAT-BUSINESS-OPPORTUNITY_W0QQitemZ140098499903QQcategoryZ63684Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem</a> <BR> <BR>i was going to post the one with the 275hp motor but someone beat me to it

Why screw around??? 32 footer with twin Yamaha 300s... Git 'er done!!! <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.alohapontoons.com/2006line/P_06-07TwinX32.htm" target="_blank">http://www.alohapontoons.com/2006line/P_06-07TwinX32.htm</a>

You should buy the one you can wake surf behind<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/rofl.gif" border=0>

I had no idea that a pontoon would msrp at over $100K.

Look at the Harris Flotebotes. They are by far the best built on the market today. The Crowne model is hot.

This is the one I plan on buying this spring - the upper deck is awesome: <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.aquapatioboats.com/cf/featuresheets_2007/fs_index.cfm?series=aquapatio&amp;modelName=AP240% 20SD" target="_blank">http://www.aquapatioboats.com/cf/featuresheets_2007/fs_index.cfm?series=aquapatio&amp;modelName=AP240% 20SD</a> <BR> <BR>MSRP is around 30K with a 50 hp 4 stroke.

Grant how about that jetboat that the furniture guy has??........<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/biggrin.gif" border=0>

G... is your daddy into systems and LEDs? <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/uhoh.gif" border=0>

Love the Aquapatio. All it needs is another set of controls on the upper deck.