I purchased a new Manitou, but drove 385 miles to get the model and seat layout I desired. It's a 25' Oasis RL (Adjustable Rear Lounge). On this seat configuration, the (power) bimini rear legs rest on the wall frame, but do not latch or hook to the wall. The result is that the bimini legs bounce when trailering or boating through waves. During the ride home, the bimini bounced all around causing damage to the boat. The dealer, Heath's Marine in Linden, MI, will not take phone calls to help resolve issues. He does somewhat respond to emails and forwarded my requests to Manitou for replacement parts. After a few months, I have received and installed most of the damaged parts. However, neither Manitou nor Heath's Harbor is interested in resolving the design issue to the bimini rear legs. It wouldn't be difficult to imitate how every other pontoon boat manufacturer secures these legs to the wall frame. Manitou twice sent me replacment bimini legs
identical to the original ones, or replacement pads for the legs to rest on. However, they will not address the unsecured legs bouncing on the boat. They suggesting I use the power bimini's motor to hold down the legs, which doesn't do the trick. Also, the bimini is built to not fold down. Therefore I can not get my boat under low bridges while boating, nor can I get it to fit
decently under the boat lift canopy. Again, this could be an easy fix for Manitou with a slight change to the design. - and they could easily make and send parts to retro fit the boat.
I have other issues with the dealer and boat performance as well. For example, the dealer did a terrible job setting up the boat but not screwing down the some of the seats, interior lights and other seats were screwed in crooked. As for the performance of the boat, the turning radius is horrible as compared to other boats I drove - Bennington, Bentley, Crest, Harris.
I am not sure if it's a design flaw, poor outboard motor paring for my boat, or an outboard motor installation issue. read more