Tritoon Dilemma

[Fixbonz]

Hey Everyone!
I’m getting ready to purchase a tritoon. I have narrowed it down between a 2023 Barletta Corsa 23UC and a 2023 Manitou 23 LX SRW SHP. The Manitou is brand new and the Barletta is barely used with 17 hours on it. Both have Mercury 300s on them. The Barletta has a 300L Four stroke DTS V8 and the Manitou has a 300XL ProXS. I like certain features on each. Any thoughts. Thanks.

 

[RiverDave]

I’m not really familiar with the models.. ultimately though I think I’d take the V8 with dts

 

[shueman]

Manitou … drives like a v-hull

 

[Gramps]

Manitou … drives like a v-hull

Question from someone that knows nothing about 'toons............what makes the difference between the two in their ride??

 

[riverroyal]

Mani has a larger center toon in diameter. This creates a V effect. Essentially it has more buoyancy dead center. So when it turns it has a lean.
I believe the toons might be oval ish as well. Flat side down.
At the end of the day it's just another manufacturer claim to be the best. They all have something.
Mani over Barletta.

 

[rivermobster]

Get whichever one you like the creature comforts best.

- The one with the Biggest fuel tank.

- The one has the best bimini top.

- Trailer (if you'll be towing any distance anyway).

Power would be my last priority. It's toon. Not a Stoker.

 

[Fixbonz]

I’m not really familiar with the models.. ultimately though I think I’d take the V8 with dts

Thanks!

 

[Fixbonz]

Get whichever one you like the creature comforts best.

- The one with the Biggest fuel tank.

- The one has the best bimini top.

- Trailer (if you'll be towing any distance anyway).

Power would be my last priority. It's toon. Not a Stoker.

Great point. Thank you

 

[Fixbonz]

Mani has a larger center toon in diameter. This creates a V effect. Essentially it has more buoyancy dead center. So when it turns it has a lean.
I believe the toons might be oval ish as well. Flat side down.
At the end of the day it's just another manufacturer claim to be the best. They all have something.
Mani over Barletta.

Is there a downside to having lean when turning on a tritoon? Would the ride be smoton the Barletta?

 

[Fixbonz]

Is there a downside to having lean when turning on a tritoon? Would the ride be smoother the Barletta?

 

[PlanB]

Is there a downside to having lean when turning on a tritoon? Would the ride be smoton the Barletta?

A lot of the performance toons these days lean into turns. It's much more like driving a V than a toon. It's a good thing. The only thing I have to add is check under the deck on the Manitou. I was looking at one a few years ago and when I reached under the deck I could feel self tapping screws sticking through. The deck was not through bolted.

 

[185EZ]

Is there a downside to having lean when turning on a tritoon? Would the ride be smoton the Barletta?

You should go for test rides.
Our Avalon has all 27" tubes with a 300 and turns on rails and takes off like a rocket.
That's what sold us during a test ride at the boat show.
Maybe the performance package with lifting strakes really do work.
Tritoons are known for stability. If ours leaned during a test ride we wouldn't have bought it

 

[Melloyellovector]

Does the used one carry warranty to second owner? advise to consider that

 

[Fixbonz]

A lot of the performance toons these days lean into turns. It's much more like driving a V than a toon. It's a good thing. The only thing I have to add is check under the deck on the Manitou. I was looking at one a few years ago and when I reached under the deck I could feel self tapping screws sticking through. The deck was not through bolted.

Will do for sure. Thanks for the info

 

[Fixbonz]

Does the used one carry warranty to second owner? advise to consider that

Great point! The used one only has a 5 year warranty

 

[Fixbonz]

You should go for test rides.
Our Avalon has all 27" tubes with a 300 and turns on rails and takes off like a rocket.
That's what sold us during a test ride at the boat show.
Maybe the performance package with lifting strakes really do work.
Tritoons are known for stability. If ours leaned during a test ride we wouldn't have bought it

I absolutely will go for a test ride thank you. I’m leaning towards the Barletta. I like the features on it a bit more. The Manitou doesn’t have switches to control control everything which makes me a little nervous.

 

[Keymyster]

Barletta is not that well built of a boat. Neighbor has one and it has had a lot of issues. Bimini’s folded up like a lawn chair. He bought it in town and the dealer tells him nothing is under warranty.

 

[Mrhavasu]

The bimini tops on the Avalon are no better, I had two of them and they were garbage.

 

[RiverDave]

The only downside to the manitou with the larger center toon is they kinda flop on one side when you beach them.

 

[Fixbonz]

Barletta is not that well built of a boat. Neighbor has one and it has had a lot of issues. Bimini’s folded up like a lawn chair. He bought it in town and the dealer tells him nothing is under warranty.

Thanks. Good to know. Appreciate the feedback

 

[Fixbonz]

The only downside to the manitou with the larger center toon is they kinda flop on one side when you beach

That’s a good point. I never thought of that. Thank you. I’m leaning towards the Barletta. The comment about the biminis make me a little nervous

 

[Fixbonz]

The bimini tops on the Avalon are no better, I had two of them and they were garbage.

Thanks. Maybe they’re all cheap?

 

[RiverDave]

That’s a good point. I never thought of that. Thank you. I’m leaning towards the Barletta. The comment about the biminis make me a little nervous

All the factory biminis are junk

 

[C-Ya]

That’s a good point. I never thought of that. Thank you. I’m leaning towards the Barletta. The comment about the biminis make me a little nervous

I see a Barletta at the Fort Lauderdale sandbar all the time. From what I have seen, the Barletta appears to be a quality tritoon. Well above average. Just from looks. I like it’s seating arrangement.

 

[185EZ]

All the factory biminis are junk

My bimini boots got tears in them the first year and some holes in the top.
Avalon was denying the claim because of their 25 mph tag on the top and they knew our toon was faster than that.
Thanks to Josh at germaine marine he got both biminis and tops replaced under warranty.
The material is garbage. Feels like a thick paper.
And the top doesn't sit right from front to back. Looks like a 2 year old buillt it

 

[rivermobster]

I replaced mine with a full stainless bimini as soon as I got it.

At the river...

A good breeze is 25mph minimum!

 

[SkyDirtWaterguy]

25’ Avalon Pontoon Bimini replaced with full stainless steel frame and canvas at Seam Dreams. 7k. The original was cheap and looked like an Amish buggy.

 

[PlanB]

Seam Dreams did our Bimini on our Bennington with Sunbrella before we took delivery. Much better looking than the crappy factory material.

 

[rickym20]

25’ Avalon Pontoon Bimini replaced with full stainless steel frame and canvas at Seam Dreams. 7k. The original was cheap and looked like an Omish buggy.

Haha , Damn it …. Now that you said that I will not be able to unsee that image when I look at mine . I’m okay with looking Omish for 7k though since it goes about as fast as one of their buggy’s anyway

 

[Canuck 1]

Hey Everyone!
I’m getting ready to purchase a tritoon. I have narrowed it down between a 2023 Barletta Corsa 23UC and a 2023 Manitou 23 LX SRW SHP. The Manitou is brand new and the Barletta is barely used with 17 hours on it. Both have Mercury 300s on them. The Barletta has a 300L Four stroke DTS V8 and the Manitou has a 300XL ProXS. I like certain features on each. Any thoughts. Thanks.

Get this top on it

 

[FlyByWire]

View attachment 1370462
Get this top on it

I’d agree. The towers make a big difference with the stability of the Bimini.

This is the setup on my Manitou (selling it though) and it’s been great.

 

[riverroyal]

25’ Avalon Pontoon Bimini replaced with full stainless steel frame and canvas at Seam Dreams. 7k. The original was cheap and looked like an Amish buggy.

Pics?

 

[Fixbonz]

I see a Barletta at the Fort Lauderdale sandbar all the time. From what I have seen, the Barletta appears to be a quality tritoon. Well above average. Just from looks. I like it’s seating arrangement.

Thanks! I hear mostly good feedback on Barletta.

 

[Fixbonz]

25’ Avalon Pontoon Bimini replaced with full stainless steel frame and canvas at Seam Dreams. 7k. The original was cheap and looked like an Amish buggy.

View attachment 1370462
Get this top on it

I really like the tower but much more $

 

[SkyDirtWaterguy]

 

[Fixbonz]

View attachment 1370585 View attachment 1370586

who did that Bimini? And what’s the speed rating? Looks good!

 

[SkyDirtWaterguy]

who did that Bimini? And what’s the speed rating? Looks good!

Talk to Kristen at Seam Dreams in Havasu. The speed rating is well above what that Pontoon boat can do.

Home | Seam Dreams

www.seamdreams.com

 

[Canuck 1]

I really like the tower but much more $

The tower is worth the $$, that is what we have on our Barletta

 

[rivermobster]

The tower is worth the $$, that is what we have on our Barletta

Can you tell me why?

I'm rebuilding my toon as we speak. Thanks.

 

[RiverDave]

Can you tell me why?

I'm rebuilding my toon as we speak. Thanks.

For the most part it looks better.. but the second bonus is it’s a giant rigid structure to attach the bikinis too.

 

[185EZ]

For the most part it looks better.. but the second bonus is it’s a giant rigid structure to attach the bikinis too.

 

[Canuck 1]

Can you tell me why?

I'm rebuilding my toon as we speak. Thanks.

It is a solid structure that you can hit trees with and not bend or destroy it, even fat guys can swing on it

 

[PlumLoco]

For the most part it looks better.. but the second bonus is it’s a giant rigid structure to attach the bikinis too.

I like the way you think.

 

[joecfd1]

I tried to order ours without the factory aluminum bimini. Bennington wouldn't do it as the rear bimini has the navigation light on it. So I just bought the rear and shit canned it when we took delivery. I had Michelle at https://www.customcoverslhc.com/ build the new tops. We've never had an issue with speed although we normally cruise at 35 or so. I've never really cared for the arch style. A little too Miami Vice ish for me.

 

[throttle]

I really like the tower but much more $

I really liked the arch / tower on our last toon, however I had nothing but problems with it. It shook crossing wakes and the connecting points on the bimini were a pain in ass!
They used something similar to a rubber strip piece of molding that had a round edge, it was designed to stay in a track that was fastened to the arch and then using a zipper and velcro to hold it. The rubber would come out of the track, the zipper then had no purpose leaving the bimini flapping uselessly.
We did find a fix to it... leaving the velcro and the zipper in place but adding turn buckles.

No arch on new boat for us. Only thing I miss are the speakers above us when driving but Wired 4 Sound made up for that by putting the sub under my seat

 

[rivermobster]

How's everyone doing the rear Nav light? I just have a small LED bar, facing backwards, on mine.

I need a better idea?

Thanks!

 

[Groper]

I also had an issue ordering my JC without a Bimini, it was either an electric 1/3 length or a full non electric, we all know how long the electric one have lasted. I wanted to have a nice stainless one built in LHC, so I ordered it with a full factory Bimini with misters It turned out to pretty dam solid after adjustments and deeper set screws though it's not the look I was after, but I'll live with it, I have to say that this boat is solid as a rock, no complaints

 

[PlanB]

How's everyone doing the rear Nav light? I just have a small LED bar, facing backwards, on mine.

I need a better idea?

Thanks!

It has to be able to seen 360 degrees. Mine is on top of the rear bimini. 360 degree LED bulb on a 12" stainless poll.

 

[Melloyellovector]

How's everyone doing the rear Nav light? I just have a small LED bar, facing backwards, on mine.

I need a better idea?

Thanks!

Whatchu talkin bout Willis.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

It has to be able to seen 360 degrees. Mine is on top of the rear bimini. 360 degree LED bulb on a 12" stainless poll.

That’s the white anchor light.

Rear nav light is just that, rear. Doesn’t have to be seen 360 degrees or that would confuse people. The trend has moved to white light on a short pole at the stern but typically you can’t always see it from dead on.