Bennington vs. Harris

[chasedawg]

My decision came down to the same question...Bennington vs Harris. That was four years ago. Jason Wylie from the then current Channel Marine took me out for a demo. My criteria for a demo was to take me out in the most windy and large wave conditions. He called me on a December day and said are you ready for the demo ride. I said sure! It was blowing 20 knots out of the NW. I put on my ski jacket and out we went. Cold and blowing. I put the 25' tritoon through many challenging tight turns at WOT. I once drove offshore power boats and I wanted to put this boat through the same conditions I was once use too. I was truly impressed! Not once did it lose a grip and spin out. Never did a drop of water come onboard. I was sold. I ordered the 25' tritoon Bennington with at that time the largest 300 Verado. Channel didn't sell Mercury so I had Bennington factory install it. I actually went to the Bennington factory and watched the boat being built. Very impressive factory production. I am so impressed the Bennington and even more impressed with the Verado. I would today order the Verado 400HP if I were to get another.

However, I am also impressed with the Harris and Melvin Village Marina. Matt and the folks at MVM are great folks to work with. As are the WOW group. Ryan and the family clan are top of their game. It would be a difficult decisions for me today. Living closer to MVM is probably the way I would have to consider. I would have to do another sea trail and demo again. Both sell the Mercury Verado. That I know is an easy decision. Good luck you will love whatever you do!!

[TiltonBB]

I know it was not the question but a new pontoon boat company as of a couple of years ago is Barletta. They are great looking boats. Irwin has taken them on and is now a dealer. It might be worth a look.


https://www.barlettapontoonboats.com/

[ACME on the Broads]

Originally Posted by chasedawg

My decision came down to the same question...Bennington vs Harris. That was four years ago. Jason Wylie from the then current Channel Marine took me out for a demo. My criteria for a demo was to take me out in the most windy and large wave conditions. He called me on a December day and said are you ready for the demo ride. I said sure! It was blowing 20 knots out of the NW. I put on my ski jacket and out we went. Cold and blowing. I put the 25' tritoon through many challenging tight turns at WOT. I once drove offshore power boats and I wanted to put this boat through the same conditions I was once use too. I was truly impressed! Not once did it lose a grip and spin out. Never did a drop of water come onboard. I was sold. I ordered the 25' tritoon Bennington with at that time the largest 300 Verado. Channel didn't sell Mercury so I had Bennington factory install it. I actually went to the Bennington factory and watched the boat being built. Very impressive factory production. I am so impressed the Bennington and even more impressed with the Verado. I would today order the Verado 400HP if I were to get another.

However, I am also impressed with the Harris and Melvin Village Marina. Matt and the folks at MVM are great folks to work with. As are the WOW group. Ryan and the family clan are top of their game. It would be a difficult decisions for me today. Living closer to MVM is probably the way I would have to consider. I would have to do another sea trail and demo again. Both sell the Mercury Verado. That I know is an easy decision. Good luck you will love whatever you do!!

After researching all the top pontoon manufacturers, we opted for & bought a new Bennington 23 GSR w/Verado 250HP from Ryan/Max/Evan and the folks at WOW last year. Simply put, we had the best year of boating ever.

The boat is solid, tight, well engineered and exceeded our expectations in every way; the Mercury Verado, as quiet a motor as we have ever heard.......you can actually have a conversation at 35mph w/o yelling!

The entire process with WOW has been outstanding, these are good people and they treated us fairly. At the end of the season there were a few minor issues that needed attention, here again, the service manager Bob went over the entire boat and we left looking forward to summer 2019 .....our second season with this fantastic boat can't begin soon enough.

Thank you WOW, we look forward to dealing with you for many years to come!

[Barney Bear]

Suggest you wait until April 23rd @ 1:23 PM. 🐻

[Liquorish]

Thanks for all the input, sure we couldn’t have gone wrong with either the Harris or Bennington, took the plunge yesterday and ordered a new Bennington! Pleasure to deal with Ryan at Winnisquam, just a waiting game now...

[SAMIAM]

Originally Posted by Liquorish

Thanks for all the input, sure we couldn’t have gone wrong with either the Harris or Bennington, took the plunge yesterday and ordered a new Bennington! Pleasure to deal with Ryan at Winnisquam, just a waiting game now...

Congratulations......did you go with the 24' ?

[Liquorish]

Went with a 25 R series, 300hp Merc.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by Liquorish

Went with a 25 R series, 300hp Merc.

It will be a beast, 300HP.

[Top-Water]

Originally Posted by Biggd

It will be a beast, 300HP.

When it has three of them .................


One of a few top comments. "That Awkward moment your cigarette boat gets owned by a pontoon."

Good luck with your new boat.

[fatlazyless]

.... and a 25' Bennington pontoon boat with three pontoons, and a single Yamaha 300-hp outboard ... which is the biggest outboard they make.

... and a good example why Winnipesaukee has a 45mph-day/30mph-night, speed limit.

....and why the 27' Marine Patrol boats have twin 250-hp outboards .... plus no boat can outrun their police radio.

[Top-Water]

It all depends.............. is there a thirty pack at the other end of the lake?

Again, Good luck with your new boat.

[fatlazyless]

Originally Posted by Top-Water

It all depends.............. is there a thirty pack at the other end of the lake?

Again, Good luck with your new boat.

.... it all depends?

For a 25' pontoon with three pontoons like this boat, a Yamaha 175-hp outboard could get it going 50-mph, so's why the 'want' to go with a 300-hp Yamaha outboard, where the speed limit is 45-mph?

Becuz ..... I wanna get me the biggest outboard made ..... that's why!

[SAMIAM]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

.... and a 25' Bennington pontoon boat with three pontoons, and a single Yamaha 300-hp outboard ... which is the biggest outboard they make.

... and a good example why Winnipesaukee has a 45mph-day/30mph-night, speed limit.

....and why the 27' Marine Patrol boats have twin 250-hp outboards .... plus no boat can outrun their police radio.

Sorry FLL......300HP is nowhere near the biggest one out there.
Mercury makes a 400 and a 450
Also,Seven Marine makes 557 HP outboard....perfect for your boat.
The 25' Bennington's top speed is under 50mph with a 300

[chasedawg]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Sorry FLL......300HP is nowhere near the biggest one out there.
Mercury makes a 400 and a 450
Also,Seven Marine makes 557 HP outboard....perfect for your boat.
The 25' Bennington's top speed is under 50mph with a 300

Seven Marine also has a larger engine the 627SV.. Outboard power is taking over the market. Outboards surpass I/O power by a wide margin. Most large Center Console boats 40' and above here in Florida carry 4 of the Seven 627's total 2,500 HP. Top speed 89 MPH. Even Hinckley has some of their new CC boats powered by outboards. Who would ever thought.

Congratulations on your Bennington especially the 300 Mercury Verado. You will really love it.

[TiltonBB]

When it comes to outboard power it is the more the merrier! (Until you stop to fuel up)

If you miss summer and boating you can close your eyes and listen to the outboard sound from Seven Marine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM3c_Uc_7ug

[fatlazyless]

.....small boats give you a feeling of being close to the water .... that you just don't get with any boat bigger than an 18' v-hull and 90-hp. With anything bigger than 18' and 90-hp .... there's a disconnect .... no bouncing around .... no worries with the wind and waves .... the big boats just power straight through it.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

.....small boats give you a feeling of being close to the water .... that you just don't get with any boat bigger than an 18' v-hull and 90-hp. With anything bigger than 18' and 90-hp .... there's a disconnect .... no bouncing around .... no worries with the wind and waves .... the big boats just power straight through it.

A noodle will give you an even better feel of being close to the water, esp if you have to swim to retrieve it.

[fatlazyless]

Not on a big wave day, but on many days ..... with an 18' center console and 90-hp, you can go from Center Harbor to Wolfeboro, and return, in three hours, plus chill with a 15-minute noodle swim break, mid-way, at Sandy Island.

[Hillcountry]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

When it comes to outboard power it is the more the merrier! (Until you stop to fuel up)

If you miss summer and boating you can close your eyes and listen to the outboard sound from Seven Marine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM3c_Uc_7ug

Hah! The ultimate salmon trolling rig!

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by chasedawg

Seven Marine also has a larger engine the 627SV.. Outboard power is taking over the market. Outboards surpass I/O power by a wide margin. Most large Center Console boats 40' and above here in Florida carry 4 of the Seven 627's total 2,500 HP. Top speed 89 MPH. Even Hinckley has some of their new CC boats powered by outboards. Who would ever thought.

Congratulations on your Bennington especially the 300 Mercury Verado. You will really love it.

Outboards surpass I/O power? No they don't. The only difference between a stern drive and an outboard is where the motor is mounted. Other than the Evinrude's which are still two strokes. Why outboards have become so popular is because they are cheaper - the stupid government mandate to put a catalyst system (for emissions control) on stern drives made them more expensive than an outboard which ironically was just the opposite prior to this change. I suspect however this will apply to outboards soon enough and that will drive the prices of those up significantly as well. Just a matter of time. The funny thing is with modern day computer controlled fuel injection systems, especially the GDI systems the need for a catalyst is almost completely eliminated. Back in the day when carburetors were the norm, it made a little more sense to clean up what was coming out the tail pipe.

[Cal Coon]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

Outboards surpass I/O power? No they don't. The only difference between a stern drive and an outboard is where the motor is mounted. Other than the Evinrude's which are still two strokes. Why outboards have become so popular is because they are cheaper - the stupid government mandate to put a catalyst system (for emissions control) on stern drives made them more expensive than an outboard which ironically was just the opposite prior to this change. I suspect however this will apply to outboards soon enough and that will drive the prices of those up significantly as well. Just a matter of time. The funny thing is with modern day computer controlled fuel injection systems, especially the GDI systems the need for a catalyst is almost completely eliminated. Back in the day when carburetors were the norm, it made a little more sense to clean up what was coming out the tail pipe.

Not to hijack this thread, but,the debate over I/O and outboards is as old as chevy vs ford. Pros and cons to either, no right or wrong, just personal preference for the most part. However, the next debate is going to be electric vs solar!! Can't wait for that one...

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by Cal Coon

Not to hijack this thread, but,the debate over I/O and outboards is as old as chevy vs ford. Pros and cons to either, no right or wrong, just personal preference for the most part. However, the next debate is going to be electric vs solar!! Can't wait for that one...

Just the thought of all that voltage on a bucket in the water scares me. What happens when it goes under and your in the water?

[ishoot308]

Here’s a well written article by formula on the the outboard / I.O. Pros and cons.

https://www.formulaboats.com/blog/bo...vs-sterndrive/

For me, being islander, I need and want the long boating season and don’t want to deal with freezing / winterizing issues. Also easier servicing gets and keeps you on the water quicker. All my boats have outboards...

Dan

[Dionisio]

Originally Posted by ACME on the Broads

After researching all the top pontoon manufacturers, we opted for & bought a new Bennington 23 GSR w/Verado 250HP from Ryan/Max/Evan and the folks at WOW last year. Simply put, we had the best year of boating ever.

The boat is solid, tight, well engineered and exceeded our expectations in every way; the Mercury Verado, as quiet a motor as we have ever heard.......you can actually have a conversation at 35mph w/o yelling!

The entire process with WOW has been outstanding, these are good people and they treated us fairly. At the end of the season there were a few minor issues that needed attention, here again, the service manager Bob went over the entire boat and we left looking forward to summer 2019 .....our second season with this fantastic boat can't begin soon enough.

Thank you WOW, we look forward to dealing with you for many years to come!

We are also looking at a G@3 Bennington with a 250. Can I ask what your top speed is?

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by Dionisio

We are also looking at a G@3 Bennington with a 250. Can I ask what your top speed is?

I rented a Godfrey 25' tritoon with a 250 Yamaha this past summer and that topped out a 45mph.

[Hillcountry]

Originally Posted by Dionisio

We are also looking at a G@3 Bennington with a 250. Can I ask what your top speed is?

Not speaking for that person but it most likely tops out well over the 45 mph Winni speed limit. That said, I have seen some of the screamer boats out there doing well over 45 so...whatever.

[Liquorish]

Enjoyed our new Bennington R25/ with the Merc Verado 300 Immensely this summer, never did get it to top out much more than 45 though, probably cause we always had a ton of people on board.

[SAMIAM]

48.6 on my GPS
with Benninton 24/Merc 300
1/4 tank of gas, one passenger and flat water
Left the door open on the bow