my brother wants a pontoon boat for christmas and our mom is willing to shell out about $300 for one...any suggestions?? we found some on ebay, bid is at $177 but can buy now at $275...old lady doesn't want to go through ebay...what do you know??

check out jerrys surplus in everett,they had a few hanging on the wall that were reasonably priced and if i remember right to most expensive was $500-$600 they are not top of the line but they looked like they would work fine i also am considering buying one now after looking at the prices the cheapest was $100-$200 i think later,Bruce

You can get a Buck's Bag Southfork 2 for $499 or there abouts at Eagleoutdoors.com. I LOVE my little raft!

You didn't say what kind of fishing he is planning on doing with it. For the price your mom is willing to pay, you are going to get a decent lake or pond boat. If your thinking rivers, forget it! A river is no place to take a bottom end priced boat of any kind. Figure on about $600.00 and up for a quality SAFE one, and even then narrow down your search and ask here again for feedback. I personally own a JW Outfitters with upgraded cataract oars. I run class 3-4 with no problems and the boat has help up great...Good luck

I have an 8' Water Skeeter Snohomish that i got from oregonfishing.com. it's a $600.00 boat but the price was knocked down to $420 just because it was out of the box and on the sale floors. Try and find a deal like that. I have only had time to run the middle Sol Duc so far, and i had no problems. I wouldn't want to try it when the water is really high though. It will probably be a low water, summer time boat. Definently do not go under 8'. I cannot think of much more other than that.
Hope this helps some.

Check out blackbearpontoons.com seems like this guy makes a good boat. he's from this state, and does most of the work himself, worth a look anyway! seen them at the sportmans show. anyhow good luck whatever you decide.

chumster

Check out G.I.Joes they always have them boats under $300.00 Bucks. Got one on a sweet deal last year but took it back because it wasn't what I wanted. I now have one from Bucks Bags a Alpine. It's rated for lakes only. Smaller pontoons. But it holds my butt out of the water and I weigh 250 plus. We woun't go into the plus. It just sits in my shed waiting to go out but I never seem to get it out there. I think that it's getting lonely. Price? too much for what you get. $450.00 I think.

thanks for the input...i believe he'll be using it on the upper chehalis for steelhead and on the nooch in the summer mainly...i'll give him a call and have him check it out between classes today..it sure will be nice when he gets it because i will go steal it from him quite often:)

philpac, i have a bucks bag 7' pontoon boat that im not selling, but however i would sell it if you were interested, its in good condition, its only been out like 4 times..mostly jus stored, its only missing one thing, the rubber grommet thing that is on the handle of the oars to keep it in the u shaped holding thing, i dont know what they call it..well, if interested jus drop me a email, and we can arrange sumthing...

Oarlocks