Should I buy a Pontoon or a Tri-toon?

 One common question we see as a boat dealer in Northern Michigan is “Should I buy a tri-toon or pontoon?” We like our customers to think about what they will be wanting to do with their boat -- Skiing? Tubing? Cruising? Fishing? Putzing? Boating on the Great Lakes? All of the above? These are things that you will need to know when buying a pontoon boat. 

 If you know you are looking for performance and speed, you should definitely go for the tri-toon. Most pontoons do not go more than 20-30 MPH, but plenty of tri-toons can. Many of the triple tube pontoon boats can reach speeds over 50 MPH, depending on the engine applications and other features. The center tube in a tri-toon, particularly Manitou Pontoon’s patented V-toon Technology, helps with handling– allowing the pontoon boat to effectively operate like a speedboat.  Manitou hulls are designed to heel.  So when the speed increases, this ensures that the ride will be comfortable and safe.

  Another reason some of our customers are opting for the triple tube pontoon boat is because it increases the maximum carrying capacity of the boat. You may not care about top speed and performance, but you may want to be able to accomodate more of your family and friends on your boat for summer fun.

When it comes to the Tri-toon, there are other options you should consider as well. There are different versions of lifting strakes, which are additional aluminum welds added onto the tubes to lift the boat up and out of the water for better performance. (Again, think handling and making turns like a speed boat.) Some tri-toons have lifting strakes on the inside of of the outer tubes, some only on the center tube, and some have lifting strakes on the outer tubes as well as the center tube. 

With the Manitou Tri-toon, the VP package will give you lifting strakes on the center tube, and will allow you a max horsepower of 150. The SHP tri-toons, however, will have lifting strakes on each of the three tubes, giving you the ability to maximize your horsepower up to 350 or more, depending on the length and other factors of your boat. With these tri-toon features from Manitou Pontoon Boats, your boat may reach speeds 32 MPH to 57 MPH, depending on your engine application and length of your boat.

Manitou Pontoon Boats are barnone the leading Triple tube/tri-toon Pontoon Boat on the market, with 30 years of manufacturing expertise. The patented V-Toon Technology has changed the game when it comes to pontoon boat performance, so stop by and see the experts at Macon Marine Center in Houghton Lake or Sugar Springs Marine in Gladwin, and check out a Manitou tri-toon for yourself.