ad express tube
- Thread starter sjane
- Start date
spinzone
Well-Known Member
Sjane,
I'm working through this same issue as we speak. The express tube should cost you around $3k to add. The standard full length tube was quoted to me at $5k to add.
More experienced express tube owners say the express tube will cause the boat to ride bow high. However, similar weighted boats are seeing mid 30's in performance.
Your current setup is only rated for 150hp. From hours of research, upgrading to this power plant without having strakes or a center tube, has provided little benefit in the form of increased speed regardless of manufacturer. I spoke with a Benny owner on another forum who upgraded his RCL to a 150hp and jumped from 25mph to 29mph on 25" toons w/o lifting strakes. It ultimately cost him $1500 per mph gain. He says he would have added a center tube before upgrading his power plant if he could do it over.
Forum member Mtudb has a 150 optimax pro and is flat out moving at 40+ with elliptical and strake setup like yours.
Now, if handling is what your after, I would assume a third or express tube would accomplish this but can't speak confidently to it as it is something I do not have experience with.
I'm working through this same issue as we speak. The express tube should cost you around $3k to add. The standard full length tube was quoted to me at $5k to add.
More experienced express tube owners say the express tube will cause the boat to ride bow high. However, similar weighted boats are seeing mid 30's in performance.
Your current setup is only rated for 150hp. From hours of research, upgrading to this power plant without having strakes or a center tube, has provided little benefit in the form of increased speed regardless of manufacturer. I spoke with a Benny owner on another forum who upgraded his RCL to a 150hp and jumped from 25mph to 29mph on 25" toons w/o lifting strakes. It ultimately cost him $1500 per mph gain. He says he would have added a center tube before upgrading his power plant if he could do it over.
Forum member Mtudb has a 150 optimax pro and is flat out moving at 40+ with elliptical and strake setup like yours.
Now, if handling is what your after, I would assume a third or express tube would accomplish this but can't speak confidently to it as it is something I do not have experience with.
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Link
Moderator
Thanks for the analysis Spinzone, but I have to ask which direction will you ultimately go. As you know I am also considering. I have decided to just take my two 25" tunes and see how it performs this year and make the decision before the end of the boating season so that it can be done over the winter.
BulldogsCadillac
Just some guy
Hi sjane, if I'm reading this right, you have the twin 32" elliptical toons with strakes? If so, I don't believe you can add the express tube. At least not when you go to the build a boat on Bennington's website. If you choose the twin elliptical, it removes the express option. But who knows. I didn't think you could, which was why I tried building one with it. Maybe your dealer knows more.
Derrick
Sjane-
I have the same set up as you when it comes to logs and strakes and waveshield. As spinzone stated, we are only rated to upto 150hp which is why I chose the merc. 150 pro xs model. More hp and torque which let's me run a 15x15 prop. I also think the enertia prop is one of the fastest pontoon props out there. From the mercury tests, 150 pro xs puts out near the max allowable 10% over hp ratings from factory. So I'm pushing near 50hp more then your 115 which let's me hit speeds in the 40's with light loads. Adding a 3rd tube not sure would increase or decrease speed on a 32" tube set up unless you increased hp over 150. 3rd tube will add more drag and weight and except for the esp setup, the 32" tubes have the highest people capacity rating
I have the same set up as you when it comes to logs and strakes and waveshield. As spinzone stated, we are only rated to upto 150hp which is why I chose the merc. 150 pro xs model. More hp and torque which let's me run a 15x15 prop. I also think the enertia prop is one of the fastest pontoon props out there. From the mercury tests, 150 pro xs puts out near the max allowable 10% over hp ratings from factory. So I'm pushing near 50hp more then your 115 which let's me hit speeds in the 40's with light loads. Adding a 3rd tube not sure would increase or decrease speed on a 32" tube set up unless you increased hp over 150. 3rd tube will add more drag and weight and except for the esp setup, the 32" tubes have the highest people capacity rating
Ben & Suzy
Well-Known Member
IMO, if I already had the 32" Ellipticals, I'd opt for the 150hp motor. You'll be much happier in the end.
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Bamaman
Well-Known Member
Bennington's 32" ellipticals are the fastest boats their product lineup. Twin ellipticals will also hold substantially more weight (passengers) than the twin 25" standard toons. The ellipticals will also get the best fuel mileage due to their extreme buoyancy.
The tritoons may be 3-4 mph slower than the ellipticals (with the same engine), however the ellipticals benefit in the way they handle (for tubers and skiers) and the way they handle heavy waves.
We are trying to decide right now whether to order the twin ellipticals with a 150 hp motor, or go with the Express third toon package on a 24SSL model boat. We want to do some long distance river trips staying in hotels and state park inns. But, we've got 1 year old and 4 year old grandchildren that we expect will put us back in the tubing business. It's a hard decision.
If twin ellipticals and a 115 hp motor don't provide enough speed, you should step up to a 150 hp motor. You'll be within 2 mph of the guys with the 250 hp big dollar high performance tritoons--probably the low 40's.
If you're going to be doing a bunch of tubing or pulling skiers, you should consider the two strokes: 150 ETEC or Mercury 150 Optimax Pro XS. They provide far superior acceleration over 4 strokes. If you're mostly cruising, go for the quieter and slightly more efficient 4 stroke motors.
The tritoons may be 3-4 mph slower than the ellipticals (with the same engine), however the ellipticals benefit in the way they handle (for tubers and skiers) and the way they handle heavy waves.
We are trying to decide right now whether to order the twin ellipticals with a 150 hp motor, or go with the Express third toon package on a 24SSL model boat. We want to do some long distance river trips staying in hotels and state park inns. But, we've got 1 year old and 4 year old grandchildren that we expect will put us back in the tubing business. It's a hard decision.
If twin ellipticals and a 115 hp motor don't provide enough speed, you should step up to a 150 hp motor. You'll be within 2 mph of the guys with the 250 hp big dollar high performance tritoons--probably the low 40's.
If you're going to be doing a bunch of tubing or pulling skiers, you should consider the two strokes: 150 ETEC or Mercury 150 Optimax Pro XS. They provide far superior acceleration over 4 strokes. If you're mostly cruising, go for the quieter and slightly more efficient 4 stroke motors.
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spinzone
Well-Known Member
Link, I am still not entirely sure yet. For $3k on the express, I can afford to upgrade to a 150 Merc down the road. For $5k on the SPP, and another $3k for upgraded motor, I could probably trade in and buy new for the same amount of money. I'm leaning towards the express tube with current motor setup due to financial sense. If I change my mind later on, I know that a tri-toon of any setup has a higher resale value. That way I can hopefully hold out for the Bennington "Shatter". Maybe Ben & Suzy can help me build one with a big Suzuki motor and prop it right!
Ben & Suzy
Well-Known Member
We are adding a SSP w/strakes/shields to a 2050RL with a Yamaha F115 this month. All said and done, the price between the two just isn't that far apart.
I'll post the performance results at a later date. The boat currently has no strakes on the outer tubes. My optimistic prediction is 32-33 mph. That would be a nice increase from the 27-28 mph that it runs now.
My friend will have a 24 S model with 32"ellipticals and the new Merc 150 four stroke that he will demo this summer. I will keep you posted as to performance numbers.
I'll post the performance results at a later date. The boat currently has no strakes on the outer tubes. My optimistic prediction is 32-33 mph. That would be a nice increase from the 27-28 mph that it runs now.
My friend will have a 24 S model with 32"ellipticals and the new Merc 150 four stroke that he will demo this summer. I will keep you posted as to performance numbers.
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Link
Moderator
Thats great Ben & Suzy, seeing those results will really help for those in making a decision. And Spinzone I am curios about your thought of trading in at the dealer. I have never traded in a recent model boat but would think that it would be a fairly big drop in what i just paid and what the dealer would give me in a year or two down the road.
spinzone
Well-Known Member
Boats do depreciate quickly. That being said, Bennies hold their values better than almost any other pontoon I've seen for sale (I lost 30% on a saltwater used, center console, after 5 years). I used my analysis to show that with an $8k total investment, for me at least, on the SPP with the 150hp upgrade, it would more than likely cover the 2 yr depreciation of a $40k boat. I really don't believe I will be trading in anytime soon though. I've only got 3 yrs., 8 months left to pay on this thing.
BulldogsCadillac
Just some guy
K, am I missing something here? I'm pretty sure what sjane is asking is that they want to add an express tube to the twin elliptical's, and is it worth it. To which the correct answer is, you can't, correct? I see everyone talking about adding more horsepower and the full length center tube, but I believing that they already HAVE the twins so those aren't options, unless they replace all 3 toons. I had a 90hp 2x25 toons and was maxing at 22-23 mph, you with the 115 and elliptical's are probably doing 30'ish do you have power steering? That was my biggest drawback, not having it, driver got more of a workout than the tuber! A 150 with power would be great if it's possible for you to do, but as for handling turns sharper, I think your out of luck. But I could be wrong.
Derrick
Found a site that has leftover/overstock boating parts and logs are on their list of goodies. This location http://greatlakesskipper.com/product/18_270_918-pontoon-boat-parts-transom-mount-logs/28559--custom-27-foot-x-32-inch-elliptical-transom-center-pontoon-boat-float-log-tube-w-2-fins-like-new.html shows an example of what looks like an ESP center tube with storage, for around $2700. For guys serious about doing mods this place may be a good source to save some coin.