Advice needed from experienced toon owners

zackrowe · #1 January 29th, 2009, 11:29 PM

Hey everybody,
Im on a fact finding mission here. I just picked up a 1992 SunToon 20 with a 75 Suzuki. I am trying to plan a trip down the Arkansas river and then down the Mississippi for a ways. Can anybody tell me what sort of fuel economy I could expect, resources for route finding, tips, advice on what to add to the boat. Anything. Thanks.

tashasdaddy · #2 January 30th, 2009, 07:01 AM

fuel consumption 7.5 gallons per hour, you need to set the motor up properly, so that it turns the recommended rpms, at wide open throttle, which may mean a prop change. routing, river charts.
VHF radio, Gps, extra fuel just in case.

steelespike · #3 January 30th, 2009, 07:43 AM

7.5 per hour is at wot(wide open throttle.) you could make decent speed
at a throttle setting that gets 4 to 5 gph.I would suggest a couple of shorter trips to see how things go.

Silvertip · #4 January 30th, 2009, 10:29 AM

By all means, if you have not already done so, take a boating course through the coast guard or other boating organization. You need to understand how to read the channel markers on the Mississippi. Getting on the wrong side of a bouy can put you in shallow water in a heartbeat and you risk damaging a lower unit. Also be aware of barge tows and the dangers regarding them. These things are huge and meeting one on a relatively blind curve can have catastrophic results unless you know how to navigate around them. A cell phone and VHF marine radio are also helpful on navigable water like the Mississippi. As for fuel consumption, 5 gallons/hour at moderate throttle setting will be fairly close. Take extra fuel along if you are unsure about frequency of fuel locations. A spare prop is also suggested.

tashasdaddy · #5 January 30th, 2009, 11:06 AM

might be a good idea to have some of this, http://www.allfixepoxy.com/servlet/t...ine/Categories just in case you bump something.

flounderman · #6 January 31st, 2009, 03:54 PM

Many years ago I was planning the same trip. I contacted the Tulsa branch of the COE. For a fee they sent me a chart book of the Arkansas River I also got the lower 1/2 of the Mississippi from them or the office in Vicksberg Miss. I don't remember. There are other map producers that shoud have info. My pontoon was a 24' with a 90hp, gas useage went from a few gallons/hr. to 10 gallons/hr. I never did do the trip. I moved to Northwest Washington instead. Good luck Jerry