Name: |
racquetman
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Subject: |
Pontoon Boats
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Date:
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4/17/2007 8:09:14 AM
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Hearing good reviews on the Premier Pontoon. Before, I was leaning towards a Bennington or Manitou. Any suggestions? Also, I have been told I can get a 6-year warranty on a Yamaha. Who on the lake has the best and/or worst service department? Is there an advantage to look at non-lake stores for competitive pricing? Thanks in advance for advice....
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Name: |
Lakeman
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Subject: |
Pontoon Boats
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Date:
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4/17/2007 8:15:09 AM
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Rumor has it. Stay away from Manitou. Once they get your money there is no service.
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Name: |
Osms
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Subject: |
Pontoon Boats
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Date:
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4/17/2007 8:22:56 AM
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Hope you get lots of responses. I'd like to know the same info
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I guess that would depend on the dealer, but Reid and Patty Mitchell have given me great service over the years.
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Name: |
8hcap
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Subject: |
Pontoon Boats
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Date:
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4/17/2007 8:44:41 AM
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Friend of mine on the lake had a 27 ft Premier (triple tubes). They liked it ok but recently traded it for a 22 Harris and they love it. i know he had trouble with the motor and found out it was not new as represented and they did replace it but that has nothing to do with the boat. Not sure who the dealer was when he purchased it.
8
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Name: |
8hcap
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Subject: |
Pontoon Boats
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Date:
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4/17/2007 8:47:54 AM
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I have a Bennington that i purchased used. It is a good boat and seems very solid but at the fireworks last year we did a nosedive after a wake boat cut in front of us off plane. Man that was scary.
8
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Name: |
Excape
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Subject: |
Pontoon Boats
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Date:
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4/17/2007 9:24:56 AM
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I didn't buy mine from them, but have gotten excellent service on all of my boats from Mitchell Marine
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Name: |
BhamGirl
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Subject: |
Harris and Blue Creek
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Date:
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4/17/2007 9:48:54 AM
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We have a Harris and love it. We bought it at Blue Creek and so far the service has been great. Very friendly staff, and you never get the "I'm too busy to be talking to you" feeling like some of the other marinas. We shopped around at the Russell Marinas, 280 marina, and the others but decided on Blue Creek and haven't regretted it.
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Name: |
Lakeman
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Subject: |
Pontoon Boats
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Date:
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4/17/2007 11:01:10 AM
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Well I'm glad someone was finally treated right. 1 of 10 ain't bad in the boat business I guess.
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Name: |
Lakeman
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Subject: |
Pontoon Boats
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Date:
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4/17/2007 11:02:38 AM
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2 of 11.
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Name: |
Lakeman
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Subject: |
Harris and Blue Creek
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Date:
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4/17/2007 11:03:41 AM
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I have heard good things about Blue Creek.
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Name: |
pontoon
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Subject: |
Harris and Blue Creek
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Date:
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4/17/2007 11:07:42 AM
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I am on my second Harris pontoon & love it, no problems Lost a belt last year way over over by Sinclairs- Called Blue Creek & they actually sent out via ski boat a belt & fixed it on the spot - I was impressed I recomend the Merc over Volvo The interior has a live time warrenty
Good luck - The Harris is a great boat
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Name: |
surfjumper
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Subject: |
Pontoon Boats
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Date:
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4/17/2007 11:50:15 AM
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I'm note sure of your location but I believe Skier's Marine is a Premier Pontoon dealer (they are on hwy 280 just out of Birmingham - you can google their website).
I use them for scheduled maintenance and have been happy with their service the last two seasons. They are extremely personable.
It might be a good place for pricing if nothing else.
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I know many others that do business with the Mitchell's and have never heard a bad comment from any of them.
Like I said, Reid is a good man that has always been fair with me. He also volunteers his time for the Angel Flight program which gets critically ill patients the emergency care they need; I think that also speaks well of his character.
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Name: |
Lakeman
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Subject: |
Pontoon Boats
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Date:
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4/17/2007 12:43:52 PM
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Jlazc if you're satisfied with him that's all that counts but for every chance I get to cancel out your vote I'm gonna do it because he caused me pain and misery when he had a chance to do good.
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I'm sorry you had a bad experience; I know it happens sometimes with all businesses. Your vote should be counted, but I hardly believe that Reid has the 10-20 percent satisfaction rate that you implicated. My bet is that he would score well in a standardized survey of all marinas when it comes to service.
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Name: |
Tallyman
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Subject: |
Pontoon Boats
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Date:
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4/17/2007 5:10:53 PM
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I bought a Crest from Lee Lewis at Harbor Pointe. It has a 135 Honda. I love it.
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Name: |
MotorMan
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Subject: |
Pontoon and deck Boats
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Date:
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4/19/2007 10:10:43 AM
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you said: I bought a Crest from Lee Lewis at Harbor Pointe. It has a 135 Honda. I love it.
I have had three Crests and each was a great value. (1991 with 40hp $9,995) Don't worry about engine warrenty. If it is broken in right and maintained, it may outlive you. Salt water kills engines. The 6 year Yamaha warrenty is 3 years on the coast.
My 1971 Evenrude 85 powered a ski boat for 17 years in Wis. then the hull rotted. It was put on a pontoon boat for 12 more years the that hull rotted. My Nephew was called by some guy 3 years ago who wanted it. Steve said "take it". Man needed a check in Steve's name for $5 to Wis DNR . They traded checks. It is now rebuilt and running again. Only got 29 years before it needed an overhaul,but it sat in a vacant lot for at least 4 years, unserviced.
Engines are much better than that now. I did not pick my user name by chance.
I now have a Hurricane fiberglass deck boat and like it. Not love, but like. $29,900 in 2004 and 2.5% tax in County then at Koliga. Salesman Benny was not entirely truthful with me. The truth is the perfect defence in Libel suits. The Volvo duo-prop tracks straight and cannot be faulted. It does NOT need a water pump impeller every year no matter what Koliga Marine says.
If I was getting a new one, I would step up from the 270hp to 300hp, but I'm not sure that's even enough. It is VERY heavy but quiet. It has a tendency to "porpoise" (bounce up and down) if the lower unit is not trimed down and that lowers speed. It can do one thing far better than any pontoon. It can be driven at 12-17 mph with the bow up and then you never do nosedives nor get green water over the bow. You can safely drive it home in six foot waves.
Never get an Apache Seamaster. It will drown all but the most skilled sailers in six foot seas.
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