Posted: 06/03/2009 at 4:56am | IP Logged

  I first came across this forum when I was looking for info on accesories for our pontoon. We decided to purchase our Bentley for use on the lake we live on. I would have liked a 24 ft. but our CC&R's limit boat length to 21' and second boat HP to 75. Its used for dinner cruises on our lake plus I fish off of it. We also use it at the Colorado River below Blythe, Ca. We always bring both boats when we travel since most of the kids, grandkids,and friends come with us. It seems lately I've been watching the forums to find out when Bentley restatrs operations. I  still like our boat but have seen some of the same minor problems I've read about in some of the forums( chrome covers on nav lights falling off,speakers not working intermittently,etc,). Our closest dealer was 400 miles away in Phoenix so it was easier just to deal with the minor stuff ourselves but when the blue vinyl started cracking and the bimini material started wearing thin we contacted the dealer. Yes, the seats and top material had a 5 year warranty and we had 2 1/2 years left according to the dealer and the would contact Bentley. This was May 08 and after getting little response the dealer bowed out and left us trying to deal with them. Long story short, we had to send our corner seat cushion(  the smallest piece to Bentley) to send to their seat manufacturer to see if it was covered. Shortly after that their lack of customer service turned to no customer service at all. All I would like from them now is to return my seat since I'm getting ready to have the whole boat reupholstered before our Lake Powell trio this year. Its amazing that the white vinyl is still soft and like new and every inch of blue is hard and cracked.

Other than that we still have fun with it.

Posted: 06/19/2009 at 6:36pm | IP Logged

That's what landed me here 2 yrs ago, bought one and checked out 3 pontoon forums and found this one to my liking.

Posted: 06/22/2009 at 3:27pm | IP Logged

I was invited to Cedar Creek Lake last year to 'fish' and cruise on a buddy's toon.  Being a life-long bass boater, I laughed at myself but went anyway.  I was floored and hooked all in the same breath.

He had an '84 24' that had been rebuilt and I knew it would be a great way for my family to get involved in the boating life I grew up enjoying.

The owner told me of this site as a great place to buy replacement furniture and that's when I found the forum.

I bought an '89 MonArk 24' last week and borrowed his trailer to move it 25 miles.  I ended up with 2 blown tires on his trailer.  More to come in another post on that.

I'm glad to be here!

Posted: 06/29/2009 at 8:59pm | IP Logged

Curtis, sounds like an excellent plan to me

Posted: 09/16/2009 at 6:13pm | IP Logged

Hello Stephen (aka shorton), welcome to the forums. Got a great bunch of people here. Glad to see you come join us. Be sure to post some pics of your boat(s) in the 'Show Off Your Pontoon' section (or rebuild depending if you have before/after pics), as we'd love to see them. Also tell us your story in How did you come to join the forums? (just click on the red link and tell us all about it ).  You probably did like a lot of us have. Looking for pontoon accessories and either found it through www.PontoonStuff.com ebay site or web store. Jim (administrator) and Andrea (pontoongirl) Myers (our hosts) have excellent staff members to help them help you find whatever it is you're looking for your boat and has excellent shipping and customer service. Have fun and happy boating. Be sure to edit your signature line to include details of your boat and motor so folks won't have to ask for it if questions arise later. Also visit our other sections like Where are you? so others will know what part of the country you're from. If you need any help editing your uploading your photo's, check out our primer here How To Upload Your Pontoon Boats Image, if you need help resizing them check out Software that helps you with pics & such. Be sure to review the posting rules and policies of the forum. If you have any issues with seeing photo's this link will explain it Issue regarding seeing photo’s on site. Please read all the posting rules. Some forums have additional specific rules for that category.

By all means, do lots of research and take your time as this is a major step. I think though you've already narrowed down your choices though based on your job demands its seems feasible to me that'd you would go the new boat route so you don't have to expend the time and energy needed for a rebuild. Not only that, warranties come into play as well as the dealer who would service you among other aspects. Your girls will grow up on that boat and you guys would have loads of fun whenever your job will let you (just don't let it slip away while they are small though)

Posted: 09/28/2009 at 10:36pm | IP Logged

Hi!  Well, let me see.  I am a big fan of forums. Dogs, pellet stoves, RV's, they all are a huge help. So naturally, I looked for a pontoon forum.  I found two and here I am!  I've been boating most of my life. My last boat was a 14 foot Baja jetboat and the boat before that was a 36 foot Carver Mariner which my wife and I lived on every summer for 7 years so I've got lots of experience...just not too much with 'toons. One of my hobbies is buying used, neglected boats and fixing them up and eventually selling them.  My hope is to do this to my Aloha, use it for a couple of years then sell it and buy a newer, smaller, 'toon with a four stroke.

Chandler

Posted: 10/25/2009 at 2:40pm | IP Logged

Welcome to the forums Kenny (Nostrildomus). Got a great bunch of people here and we're glad to have you join us. Be sure to post some pics of your boat(s) in the 'Show Off Your Pontoon' section (or rebuild depending if you have before/after pics), as we'd love to see them. Also tell us your story in How did you come to join the forums? (just click on the red link and tell us all about it ). You probably did like a lot of us have. Looking for pontoon accessories and either found it through www.PontoonStuff.com ebay site or web store. Jim (administrator) and Andrea (pontoongirl) Myers (our hosts) have excellent staff members to help them help you find whatever it is you're looking for your boat and has excellent shipping and customer service. Have fun and happy boating. Be sure to edit your signature line to include details of your boat and motor so folks won't have to ask for it if questions arise later. Also visit our other sections like Where are you? so others will know what part of the country you're from. If you need any help editing your uploading your photo's, check out our primer here How To Upload Your Pontoon Boats Image, If you need help resizing them check out Software that helps you with pics & such. Be sure to review the posting rules and policies of the forum. If you have any issues with seeing photo's this link will explain it Issue regarding seeing photo’s on site. Please read all the posting rules. Some forums have additional specific rules for that category.

Sounds like a good plan for next year. And the dock/property price can't be beat. Shoot us some pics of your toon when you get a chance in the 'Show off your Pontoon' section. We love to see pics.. Also, include the info (year and make) of your new toon and motor in your signature. Again, welcome and we look forward to your posts..

Posted: 10/25/2009 at 7:36pm | IP Logged

Hello Bob & Sandy (aka Tooner), welcome to the forums. Got a great bunch of people here. Glad to see you come join us. Be sure to post some pics of your boat(s) in the 'Show Off Your Pontoon' section (or rebuild depending if you have before/after pics), as we'd love to see them. Also tell us your story in How did you come to join the forums? (just click on the red link and tell us all about it ).  You probably did like a lot of us have. Looking for pontoon accessories and either found it through www.PontoonStuff.com ebay site or web store. Jim (administrator) and Andrea (pontoongirl) Myers (our hosts) have excellent staff members to help them help you find whatever it is you're looking for your boat and has excellent shipping and customer service. Have fun and happy boating.  Also visit our other sections like Where are you? so others will know what part of the country you're from. If you need any help editing your uploading your photo's, check out our primer here How To Upload Your Pontoon Boats Image, if you need help resizing them check out Software that helps you with pics & such. Be sure to review the posting rules and policies of the forum. If you have any issues with seeing photo's this link will explain it Issue regarding seeing photo’s on site. Please read all the posting rules. Some forums have additional specific rules for that category.