Is the performance package worth it?
- Thread starter ChuckL
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Jack M
Moderator
Myself I wouldn't buy a toon without any of those things.The wave shield will stop the water surge on the cross members, strakes will get you upon plane quicker , and the steering is a world a difference 150 and higher
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Jack M
Moderator
Also get the 200, you will never get HP for that low of a cost than at the initial time of purchase. Take it from someone who made the 150-200 mistake. It was more cost effective to purchase a new boat than upgrade from a 150 to a 200
Bobby Bass
Well-Known Member
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Agree go for the max horsepower the boat is rated for and the performance package. My max HP was 150 and with the performance package the boat flies compared to my old one. No problem pulling skiers or tubers with a full boat.
Knowing the length and model of Bennington might be helpful.
IMO, if you have to select one or the other, go with the performance package and the 150, but upgrade to the Vmax /SHO for a minor charge. Yes, you will loose ~4 or 5mph, but the floatation and smoothness of the performance package is critical. Obviously go for both if funds are not an issue. It doesn’t make sense to me to go for the 200 without the performance package, but others might have more experience with that combination.
IMO, if you have to select one or the other, go with the performance package and the 150, but upgrade to the Vmax /SHO for a minor charge. Yes, you will loose ~4 or 5mph, but the floatation and smoothness of the performance package is critical. Obviously go for both if funds are not an issue. It doesn’t make sense to me to go for the 200 without the performance package, but others might have more experience with that combination.
I agree with Pbakk, need to know model of boat. Many of the SPS's can bet had with a 250hp motor and not just the 200hp. So not sure what model you are looking at?
I would also agree if 200hp is the max hp for the model you are looking at, I would do a Yamaha SHO VMAX or a Mercury PRO XS. They typically have better hole shot and top end speed / better components then the standard models of a given HP and not much extra cost. At the time I bought mine, the difference between a standard Mercury 150 2 stroke and 150 Pro XS was less then $500 dollars (2011 pricing). Yes, I'm dating myself as now everything is 4 stroke. Hyd steering is very much worth the cost. Hyd steering is a must but I didn't need the extra $2k for the power steering on top of the hyd SeaStar steering with the 150hp. It was good enough for me to run with a 1 hand operation and it wasn't heavy at all. I can imagine anything over 250hp, the power steering is a mandatory upgrade
How you plan on using the boat is crucial too. Just cruising the lake or water sports? Any sort of tri toon (SPS etc) will turn so much better then a twin tube boat and will be night and day difference with water sports etc. Sliding in a turn on a twin tube vs carving a turn on a 3 tube boat is huge.
The body of water you are boating on is a huge factor as well. Inland lake, Great Lakes, big body of water, etc?
The only twin tube boat I would ever consider is the twin Elip package with wave shield and lifting strakes due to the body's of water I boat on (Saginaw Bay / Lake Huron). It ran high, dry, straight and true even when the lake showed its ugly side with pop up storms or a solid chop. If straight line speed is your goal, then the TE is usually the winner apples to apples But no matter what boat model you choose, the TE will only give you a max of 200hp due to the mega pan it sets on vs a actual pontoon mount on a SPS etc.
If doing any type of watersports, I'd go with the SPS and this is coming from a guy who bought the 1st TE boat sold at Spicers Boat City in Houghton Lake Michigan back in 2011. But it did show its weakness while towing my kids on tubes and water ski's. My kids were 7 and 4 when I bought my boat and my cousin had a 320hp twin engine jet boat at the time and we used his for water sports and ours for cruising and taking lots of people in total comfort for canal and sunset cruises, trolling for walleye, and heading out to the sandbar etc.
When the kids were young and my cousin wasn't around (he owns the cottage 2 doors down from us), the Bennington was good enough to give them a thrill on the tube. However, over the years with the kids getting older and now with them being 21 and 17, the Bennington became a liability not only for watersports but for the drop in water levels we have on the Great Lakes. which is why I sold the Bennington last year for my own twin engine jet boat.
I was completely happy with the twin TE set up until the above conditions were applied to my situation the last few years of ownership. Can't fault the boat, we just outgrew it's capabilities and our needs as a family changed.
Would I have liked to get a new triple tube pontoon to satisfy the watersports need, heck yeah! But the water level decline killed us. We have about 300yds of channel into the bay from the mouth of our canal of 2.5 feet of water or sometimes less depending on the wind direction and all the pontoons have to putt out with their outboards up the whole way which takes forever to get out to deep water where they can jump up on plane. The jet boat even in 2.2 feet, punch the throttles and your on plane instantly and can run in less then 2 feet of water running on plane.
Just for giggles, I used a 2375 RCW on the boat builder site (as a reference to my old build 2275 RCW), the TE with waveshield and lifting strakes is approx $5800 vs $10,300 for a SPS hull with strakes, foils and waveshield. Depending on your needs, that's about $4,500 you can add other options or save in your budget. But again, if you're a watersports person, SPS is a must have over the TE's and well worth the extra money.
I'd also suggest adding the rough water package. It beefs up many components like front boxed spray fins, solid M brackets in the rear and other braces as well. Its a cheap package that is well worth it in my opinion for about $285 bucks.
Here was a couple old thread that talked a bit about SPS vs twin elips
club.benningtonmarine.com
club.benningtonmarine.com
and then of course the Bennington video on all their toon configs
All comes down to model of boat and your intended use of the boat. Bottom line, watersports, SPS or better triple tube packages. Cruising, going back and forth to sand bars, sunset cruising, etc, its a toss up in my own opinion. I ended up spending the money saved by going with the TE over SPS on exterior lighting, under water lighting, cupholder lighting, Bimini top lighting, faux teak rear decking, raised helm, etc as at the time of purchase, that was more important to us then watersports and i knew the TE's would be good enough for ride and handling on the big water.
Others may have other thoughts as well.
Keep us posted on what you decide.
I would also agree if 200hp is the max hp for the model you are looking at, I would do a Yamaha SHO VMAX or a Mercury PRO XS. They typically have better hole shot and top end speed / better components then the standard models of a given HP and not much extra cost. At the time I bought mine, the difference between a standard Mercury 150 2 stroke and 150 Pro XS was less then $500 dollars (2011 pricing). Yes, I'm dating myself as now everything is 4 stroke. Hyd steering is very much worth the cost. Hyd steering is a must but I didn't need the extra $2k for the power steering on top of the hyd SeaStar steering with the 150hp. It was good enough for me to run with a 1 hand operation and it wasn't heavy at all. I can imagine anything over 250hp, the power steering is a mandatory upgrade
How you plan on using the boat is crucial too. Just cruising the lake or water sports? Any sort of tri toon (SPS etc) will turn so much better then a twin tube boat and will be night and day difference with water sports etc. Sliding in a turn on a twin tube vs carving a turn on a 3 tube boat is huge.
The body of water you are boating on is a huge factor as well. Inland lake, Great Lakes, big body of water, etc?
The only twin tube boat I would ever consider is the twin Elip package with wave shield and lifting strakes due to the body's of water I boat on (Saginaw Bay / Lake Huron). It ran high, dry, straight and true even when the lake showed its ugly side with pop up storms or a solid chop. If straight line speed is your goal, then the TE is usually the winner apples to apples But no matter what boat model you choose, the TE will only give you a max of 200hp due to the mega pan it sets on vs a actual pontoon mount on a SPS etc.
If doing any type of watersports, I'd go with the SPS and this is coming from a guy who bought the 1st TE boat sold at Spicers Boat City in Houghton Lake Michigan back in 2011. But it did show its weakness while towing my kids on tubes and water ski's. My kids were 7 and 4 when I bought my boat and my cousin had a 320hp twin engine jet boat at the time and we used his for water sports and ours for cruising and taking lots of people in total comfort for canal and sunset cruises, trolling for walleye, and heading out to the sandbar etc.
When the kids were young and my cousin wasn't around (he owns the cottage 2 doors down from us), the Bennington was good enough to give them a thrill on the tube. However, over the years with the kids getting older and now with them being 21 and 17, the Bennington became a liability not only for watersports but for the drop in water levels we have on the Great Lakes. which is why I sold the Bennington last year for my own twin engine jet boat.
I was completely happy with the twin TE set up until the above conditions were applied to my situation the last few years of ownership. Can't fault the boat, we just outgrew it's capabilities and our needs as a family changed.
Would I have liked to get a new triple tube pontoon to satisfy the watersports need, heck yeah! But the water level decline killed us. We have about 300yds of channel into the bay from the mouth of our canal of 2.5 feet of water or sometimes less depending on the wind direction and all the pontoons have to putt out with their outboards up the whole way which takes forever to get out to deep water where they can jump up on plane. The jet boat even in 2.2 feet, punch the throttles and your on plane instantly and can run in less then 2 feet of water running on plane.
Just for giggles, I used a 2375 RCW on the boat builder site (as a reference to my old build 2275 RCW), the TE with waveshield and lifting strakes is approx $5800 vs $10,300 for a SPS hull with strakes, foils and waveshield. Depending on your needs, that's about $4,500 you can add other options or save in your budget. But again, if you're a watersports person, SPS is a must have over the TE's and well worth the extra money.
I'd also suggest adding the rough water package. It beefs up many components like front boxed spray fins, solid M brackets in the rear and other braces as well. Its a cheap package that is well worth it in my opinion for about $285 bucks.
Here was a couple old thread that talked a bit about SPS vs twin elips
Another Recommendation Needed - Twin Elliptical vs. SPS Draft Difference?
Hey all...so I am about to order a new 22' SXSRC and deciding between the twin ellipticals or the SPS - both would be set up with a 150 Yamaha SHO and the Saltwater set ups. My dock is in a shallow river and I am putting in a boat lift so draft is really important; however, I am unclear if the...
club.benningtonmarine.com
22SV - Twin Elliptical vs SPS Tritoon
Hello, I’m new to posting on the form but have been a long time reader. This group always seems to have helpful insight so figured I share my situation and get other owners thoughts. Currently own a mid 2000s 22’ Bennington Sedona and looking to upgrade. I’m in the market looking to buy a new...
club.benningtonmarine.com
and then of course the Bennington video on all their toon configs
All comes down to model of boat and your intended use of the boat. Bottom line, watersports, SPS or better triple tube packages. Cruising, going back and forth to sand bars, sunset cruising, etc, its a toss up in my own opinion. I ended up spending the money saved by going with the TE over SPS on exterior lighting, under water lighting, cupholder lighting, Bimini top lighting, faux teak rear decking, raised helm, etc as at the time of purchase, that was more important to us then watersports and i knew the TE's would be good enough for ride and handling on the big water.
Others may have other thoughts as well.
Keep us posted on what you decide.
ILLINOIS AVE
Well-Known Member
As we say "Buy your Last Bennington First"
Vikingstaff
Moderator
Agree with so much above. If you can afford to do both, go 200 HP with the SPS hull. If you MUST choose between one or the other, go the 150 with the SPS hull. The added ride comfort and performance of the SPS hull is much more valuable than going form 150 to 200 HP IMO.
As a matter of fact, I would not bother with the 200 without the SPS in this scenario. As others said, if you cannot do both the 200 and SPS, can you upgrade to a 150 VMax or Mercury Verado (performance level 150 instead of standard 150)? That would be worth it too for reasons cited above.
All of that said, an SPS hull with a standard 150HP motor will facilitate any water sports you want, including water skiing without any issue. Moving up to the 200HP will mainly give you more MPH at WOT, and better ability to hold higher speeds with a heavier loaded down boat (people and gear). I mention this, because if you don’t see yourself going WOT often, or going fast with a loaded up boat, then odds are you wont “tap into” the full power of your 200HP motor often anyway.
For reference, when we were looking throughout summer-fall of 2016, we were focused on a 150 HP tritoon due to our budget. In the end we ordered a 2017 24’ SSBXP with a 200HP Verado Pro and SPS hull. It pushed us up a good $5k above what we anticipated as our upper budget. No regrets. Totally worth it. Had I stuck with the 150 and the SPS hull, it would not have impacted our usage. We’d simply be 4-5 mph slower at most equivalent throttle ranges.
Finally, a couple people mentioned both model and length. That does factor in. A 22’ with the 150 might perform the same as the 24’ and 200 if both have the SPS hull. Or a lighter model and 150 vs heavier model and the 200, assuming both have the SPS hull. So that is certainly a factor too.
As a matter of fact, I would not bother with the 200 without the SPS in this scenario. As others said, if you cannot do both the 200 and SPS, can you upgrade to a 150 VMax or Mercury Verado (performance level 150 instead of standard 150)? That would be worth it too for reasons cited above.
All of that said, an SPS hull with a standard 150HP motor will facilitate any water sports you want, including water skiing without any issue. Moving up to the 200HP will mainly give you more MPH at WOT, and better ability to hold higher speeds with a heavier loaded down boat (people and gear). I mention this, because if you don’t see yourself going WOT often, or going fast with a loaded up boat, then odds are you wont “tap into” the full power of your 200HP motor often anyway.
For reference, when we were looking throughout summer-fall of 2016, we were focused on a 150 HP tritoon due to our budget. In the end we ordered a 2017 24’ SSBXP with a 200HP Verado Pro and SPS hull. It pushed us up a good $5k above what we anticipated as our upper budget. No regrets. Totally worth it. Had I stuck with the 150 and the SPS hull, it would not have impacted our usage. We’d simply be 4-5 mph slower at most equivalent throttle ranges.
Finally, a couple people mentioned both model and length. That does factor in. A 22’ with the 150 might perform the same as the 24’ and 200 if both have the SPS hull. Or a lighter model and 150 vs heavier model and the 200, assuming both have the SPS hull. So that is certainly a factor too.
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Potomacbassin’
Well-Known Member
I have nothing else to add, other than financing is your friend! 
Go big or go home!
Go big or go home!Thanks so much to everyone for the comments and opinions. Trust me, I took your recommendations to heart. Tomorrow, I will be moving up from a 21SLX with a Yamaha 115HP to a 23SL with the SPS package AND a 200HP Yamaha VMAX! I put out about $5K more than I planned, but I'm very happy with the deal. Can't wait to get it on the water. Thanks again for the valuable feedback!
Vikingstaff
Moderator
Sounds like you have a heck of a boat on the way. Congratulations! Hoping you share pictures as well when you get it.
Potomacbassin’
Well-Known Member
That girl should scoot! Congrats!
Thanks so much to everyone for the comments and opinions. Trust me, I took your recommendations to heart. Tomorrow, I will be moving up from a 21SLX with a Yamaha 115HP to a 23SL with the SPS package AND a 200HP Yamaha VMAX! I put out about $5K more than I planned, but I'm very happy with the deal. Can't wait to get it on the water. Thanks again for the valuable feedback!
Me too, actually. It's a long story, but I thought I was gonna get the 150 VMAX with SPS package. This boat cost more than I wanted to spend. The other boat was bought right out from under me. I think the dealer felt bad because two people were told they had the boat, but the other guy was technically ahead of me. So, they gave me the better boat at the same price. I'm very happy with the 200 inline 4. Perhaps, the VMAX would have more out of the chute, but the regular 200 is everything I need and more!
Good deal. Pics are awesome of your new boat. You will most certainly enjoy it!
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Chuck 21SLX
Active Member
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To follow up… we took the boat out again yesterday. My almost 8 year old grandson got up on skis for the first time. I tested it at WOT. 3 adults and 1 kid, all our gear, 25 gallons of gas, with the Bimini down, fairly smooth water. 40.7MPH @ 5600RPM. Nice!!