Pittsburgh
Commodore
I will admit to making some mistakes in the actual purchase of my Beloved Benny
Being prepared for a Big Purchase is imperative, I did a ton of research to decide on Bennington as my Boat of Choice
So for those out there who are researching or in decision mode this article may come in handy
Ask questions we have an amazing group of people here willing to give of their time and knowledge.
PontoonHouseboatOdyssey
The purpose of this article is to provide you with enough information about pontoon boats that you can make a satisfactory selection in what is a bewildering choice of boats. If you are considering the purchase of a new or used pontoon boat the options, features, size and the number of available models is staggering. Remember that price is not the only way to measure the value of your potential purchase. Quality construction with good durable materials is essential for long term satisfaction of your purchase. Remember the most expensive and unsatisfactory pontoon you can buy is one that does not fit your intended uses or needs.
Pontoon Boats have come a long way towards closing the gap though in recent years. With all the new developments in Pontoon technology they can do more than a fair job with the water toys. There's been a lot of improvements in recent years and hopefully more to come. You'd be surprised how many people are letting go of their "go fast" boats and buying the more performance oriented Pontoon models that are available on the market now. But the thing all Pontoons still retain is the ability to take a nice slow relaxing ride with all your friends when you want to. Then you can beach it into shore or a sandbar and easily get on and off the boat.
There are a lot of choices that need to be made either way to find the one that fits you. Unfortunately if one size boat and motor and one floor plan fit everyone needs these choices would not be so difficult to start with. But unfortunately this would make everything just too simple and easy for everyone. So I guess the thing now is to try to figure what size pontoon will fit your needs best and understand these recommendations will be suggestions at best.
Most trips out how many people will usually accompany you on your boat?
For 2 to 6 people a 18 to 20ft. pontoon boat should work
For 6 to 10 people a 22 to 24ft. pontoon boat
For 10 or more people only consider 24ft. and larger pontoon boat
What percentage of time will be spent fishing on your pontoon boat?
70 to 100% should consider dedicated fishing model pontoon
10 to 70% a fish and cruise model pontoon
Under 10% probably should consider dedicated cruising pontoon
Will you want to cruise and pull water toys, or wish to pull adult skiers?
Don't consider anything under 90hp. and a bit more motor would be even better yet.
Are you planning any long cruises on your pontoon? Are you going to want camping capability? Are you or any family members sensitive to sunlight or burn readily?
If yes is the answer things such as a changing room with a porta potti, double biminis with side kits, a grill and sink, plus seating that pulls out to make beds may all be important for you to be happy and satisfied with your pontoon boat purchase. My personal preference for overall boat length is 24ft. though in most of our actual use there has just been the two of us. But some of our best times and cherished memories on the water has involved an unexpected boatload of passengers. So what I'm trying to say is, if there's any doubt give serious consideration to the larger side. I'm willing to bet you'll never regret it.
If you are considering a new or used pontoon boat there are still a lot of considerations to think about. How sound the flooring is and what kind of material is it made out of. Were bolts or screws used to fasten it down to cross members? While screws will work for this application, bolts are superior in every way for this purpose. I'd urge everyone to actually crawl under the pontoons and see for themselves that there are adequate cross members between pontoons and how the flooring is fastened to them for this is that important. This can and often is the difference of a good quality long lasting investment or just another pontoon boat.
The question that may be most often may be what is the best deck material? The decking on a pontoon boat provides several key functions other than just a surface to walk on.
The flooring is a key structural element. The more rigid the deck material the more structurally durably the boat will provide. The rigid deck materials will absorb torsion that would otherwise be entirely transferred to fasteners and other structural components.
The flooring also provides some sound insulation. Pontoon hull design results in a considerable amount of water spray upon both the cross members and the underside of the deck. The more speed the more pronounced the spray of water is. The primary insulation from this is the deck material itself. (under- skinning also vastly improves this too and you may see slight improvement in speed)
The flooring also is a big factor in thermal insulation. Since pontoon boats are most utilized most during the hottest periods of the year the decking is exposed to high temperatures. The ability of the decking to work as effective heat sink to lower temperatures can vastly improve the comfort of the occupants.
The flooring is the base for whatever is used for a deck covering. Though carpeting is the most widely used covering there are a few other choices available. The floor covering life and appearance is the key to maintaining an attractive looking appearance. For maximum life of the flooring the underlayment or deck must have a smooth level surface with as few seams as possible. Therefore with seams minimized there are less occurrences of panel shifting which can wear carpet backing and loosen adhesives and significantly shorten the life of the flooring. With all these thoughts in mind you may better evaluate the various deck materials that are available.
Composites: In recent years some manufactures have made more composite flooring options available. There's been a effort to meet customer demand for a decay proof deck material without all the structural drawbacks normally associated with aluminum decking. Composites are made largely made of recycled plastic products formed into panels similar in size and thickness of wood. Composites are far superior to aluminum in insulating qualities. Rigidity is generally superior to aluminum but still inferior to wood. Earlier versions did over time suffer from sagging. However the later composites panel decking has fiberglass reinforcement that has corrected these concerns. However this piece of mind does come with a price however, for composites often is a more expensive option if available.
Aluminum: Is available as a deck material from various pontoon boat manufactures. Aluminum is generally offered as an option to ease customer fears of woods potential to decay. And aluminum does offer peace of mind for the customer and has become a major marketing tool for those manufactures that offer it. However when considering some of the desirable characteristics described earlier, aluminum does indeed have some shortcomings to consider as a deck material. Aluminum has poor panel span strength and rigidity. To compensate this most manufactures lay aluminum in sections of pieces six to eight inches wide. While in comparison other materials are generally four foot wide sections. To cut costs many manufactures also use self tapping screws to fasten it in place. All the additional seams also result in an increase of stress and wear on the carpet over time. Aluminum also has poor insulating qualities of both sound and heat. But there are many people who feel that the prospects of no decay over ride all the negative aspects of this material.
Wood is the most traditional of all the decking materials. In almost all the above desirable characteristics it has the most desirable qualities. Wood also has the greatest rigidity and panel strength of all the available materials. Its insulating qualities are as good as the composites. It's also one of the least stressful and maybe best substrates when used with carpet. However wood can, have and does exhibit decay. Like any organic material if it's left untreated it will have poor survivability in a wet marine environment. Therefore you should be certain that a good grade of marine plywood was used in the construction of your boat. If marine grade CCA treated 3/4 in. plywood was used in construction and some general care was taken of the boat, you can rest assured that you'll get many years of relatively carefree service from your pontoon boat purchase before any issues or observation of any decay.
Discover Outstanding Outboard Engines
Only a few years ago those buying outboard engines for boats longer than 20 feet had basically one choice: the conventional 2-stroke. Notwithstanding Honda's lineup of smaller 4-stroke engines, your basic decision boiled down to color: black (Mercury), white (Johnson), blue (Evinrude), or gray (Yamaha or Suzuki). Nowadays, no matter what boat you have, you can find the perfect engine. You may even have a hard time choosing — every manufacturer produces clean-burning, fuel-efficient 2-stroke engines and 4-stroke engines capable of handling a wide range of activities. Your decision now relies on more than color alone.
Saddle up to boat engines with the right horsepower
Picking an outboard engine with the right amount of horsepower for your boat involves more than checking a boat's capacity plate (for maximum horsepower rating) or referencing the manufacturer's price sheet to find the lowest-priced models. The best choice usually lies somewhere in the middle, taking both performance and cost into consideration. Generally speaking, if you exclude the smallest engines available and very upper tier, careful scrutiny reveals which engines offer the best bang for your buck.
Finding the sweet spot in engine pricing has a lot to do with boat type; some boats won't benefit much by additional horsepower. Take a twin-tube pontoon boat, for example. With a 90-hp 4-stroke engine it runs at 13.9 mph at 4,000 rpm (a typical cruising speed), while a less expensive 60-hp 4-stroke of the same make pushes it at 13 mph at 4,000 rpm. For a less than 1 mph difference, you can save money on the engine and at the gas pump.
Sterndrive-powered boats are another good example; the manufacturer of a popular 22-foot bowrider equipped with a 300-hp 350 MAG MPI engine estimates a top speed of 52- to 56 mph. The same boat with a 375-hp 496 MAG MPI is estimated to have a top speed of 54- to 59 mph, but costs thousands of dollars more. The best source of engine information can come from your boat dealer or boat manufacturer, but you have to ask for it. See if they have performance data with different engines — you’ll usually get solid information.
I hope this may help you in picking the perfect Benny for you and your family's needs.
All I can say is Bennington to me is The Gold Standard of Pontoon so no matter which model you choose from know you have chosen the Industry's Best
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