Pontoon Boat Brands Explained

[@barrybebenek8691]

Wow. I didn’t realize how these are not “your grandparents” boat anymore. This is food for thought during a change. Is this the Lens Cove Marina showroom? Thanks for posting. 🇨🇦

[@boatinglessons]

It is at a local boat show (Ottawa Ontario). Are you from the area? If so, please feel feee to email me directly at [e-mail]

[@n-da-bunka2650]

Our budget was $80K for a higher-end pontoon with a minimum 200HP but most lacked specific features we wanted (e.g. Powered Bimini, larger pontoons capable of handing larger engines, Upgraded Stereos, Integrated engine control and large NAVI/SimRad screens, etc) . In the end, we decided to raise our budget to $100K as we discovered that dealers were FAR more likely to discount the higher-end variants. We narrowed it down to the following three manufacturers: Bennington QSB, Harris Solstice or Barletta Corsa with MSRPs ranging from $175K to $145K. Each of these options had a 35% or more discounts off those MSRPs. We went with a local Barletta Dealer and picked up a Corsa 23UC with upgraded stereo and 300 Mercury Verado motor. Our neighbor just down the street actually bought the Harris Solstice that was our second choice. The QSB was from a Michigan dealer & that aspect alone increased what had originally been a competitive price by an ADDITIONAL $10K for the taxes ALONE so be SUPER careful about the non-boat aspects of any deal.

[@boatinglessons]

Great choice! You are going to love it 😍

[@douglasmontgomery6315]

Now that it's been a few months....do you think the Corsa was a "better" choice than the Harris?

[@robertsrt]

145-175 and only a single 200?? I would think boats in that price range would be dual engines. Especially at 175k. 🤯

[@SKLIFEstyle]

We bought our used boat from a local marina, and your videos really made us confident in how to assess the boat & trailer and the dealer itself. We have owned a jetski and been boating for some time, but this is our first boat. They reminded me a lot of Lens Cove, professional, willing to take time, no nonsense, and all-around great experience end-to-end. Thank you a ton, and keep up the great work!!

[@damienmacaluso]

Great review! The best and most informative I’ve seen!

[@bnbcraft6666]

I work at smokercraft as a forklift driver and I see the assembly line and i can confidently say out boats are well made and Sylvan and Starcraft are our most popular brands and we also make sunchaser boats and they're all really nice boats, we also make aluminum fishing boats under the starcraft, smokercraft, and starweld brands and fiberglass boats are made under the starcraft brand, I hope the boating market picks back up so we can sell more boats and in turn make more money through our production bonuses and working more hours

[@mjo8856]

Thank you for this, and thank you for your channel. Just found it and subscribed. Wow...been thinking of a pontoon in addition to our ski boat. I had no idea there were so many choices. Great video!

[@boatinglessons]

So glad we could be a bit of help! What water do you boat on?

[@mjo8856]

@@boatinglessons I'm actually in Montana. We boat on Hauser Lake which is part of the Missouri River. However, we are thinking of purchasing our retirement "snowbird" home on a lake in Georgia.

[@coyotesnper]

We own a 2022 Avalon 2485 entertainer with a 200 suzuki and absolutely love it.

[@208flatbedOO]

Great video! I think you guys carry EVERYTHING!

[@boatinglessons]

We have a few tricks up our sleeve ;)

[@nealblue6413]

I would have liked to see a Veranda? Were they at the show?

[@boatinglessons]

No, they are not represented in our market. They are a relatively new brand that is not taking off at the same pace.

[@jamesdeanboatrv]

Well done! We sell the Barletta’s Great job on your videos

[@AZFarrierSupplyLLC]

We made the mistake of buying a Godfrey, from a dealer in a different state when we were on vacation, they lied and said we had a dealer in our home area, well it happens to be 2 hours away and we have had a lot of warranty work that needed done and it is a total headache to get it done in a timely manner, needless to say this has made us not want another Godfrey when we upgraded

[@richejanik5375]

How about Crest Savanah 250NX L 300hp

[@reneev5039]

This was great info!!

[@shakeelali2471]

Which is the best you recommend to start a pontoon rental business in Austin Tx area

[@boatinglessons]

The brand that you can get serviced well locally by a good dealer.

[@theoldshooter9011]

Any particular reason, other than maybe you didn't have one, Crest was not mentioned??

[@Whodaleewho]

Or Bentley either.

[@nealblue6413]

No Veranda either.

[@TheJpep2424]

Because it was not a video on every maker. There are hundreds of makers. The video selected only a few.

[@TheJpep2424]

@@Whodaleewho because its not a video of every maker.

[@TheJpep2424]

@@nealblue6413 its not a video of every maker.

[@stephs1571]

Great info. Thanks.

[@grassjunky3705]

Great video

[@richardcasey4439]

I didn’t see Lowe boats there

[@TheJpep2424]

it was only a selected few makers not all of them.

[@jaylove3487]

Berkshire is owned by Forest River / Berkshire Hathaway. Just like their RVs they are incredibly problematic in regards to getting any warranty work done. Just like the RV industry their goal is to blow you off until you eventually trade in it or sell it. I traded mine in at a 12K loss (after one summer) as they would not complete the warranty work. My Berkshire required a very expensive repair, they had no intention of completing it. The repair was beyond dealership level so I thought they were going to take it back (to the Factory) and give me a replacement. That was wishful thinking. I bought a Bennington and it’s a far superior product. Avoid a new Berkshire at any cost!!

[@boatinglessons]

That’s a very unfortunate experience and it gives the whole boating world a black eye when it happens

[@Oldwiseguy-59]

What no one mentions is all the spiders living under the docks leaving hard to clean spider poop that covers the boat and requires constant scrubbing driving you nuts.

[@Anthony-uy2im]

What u do on d water if u have 8 people on d boat & 3 need 2 use d Toilet & u 2 far from land.

[@boatinglessons]

That’s not a fun situation to be in :)

[@jn-gmail3140]

U up shhhh1tt creek without a paddle. 😂🎉

[@paullowell3342]

You pee in the water. Toilets on boats are nasty

[@jbrannon509]

You look just like Kevin Harvick

[@dmancini9385]

If it isn’t a JC Pontoon no other pontoon compares

[@boatinglessons]

Sounds like that is your favourite?

[@dmancini9385]

Hey Lens Marina you know who copies JC pontoons hull G3 pontoon you know who owns G3 Yamaha and you are right I do like JC I’ve owned 2 JC were the first too come out with 3 logs besides that I like your videos they are interesting

[@yeulakho6574]

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