Ok heres the deal, last year I bought a lemon of a boat (not by choice), I liked it because it was a 20ft with lots of room for the kids and wife. Well every time we were out on the water no one really had fun because of all the problems it gave us. So now I am deciding on a pontoon. I get kinda eager to buy one when I think of relaxing with the family, swimming, and fishing with all that room. Then again can you really do some seriouse fishing in one? Also lot of big water over here, can a pontoon reach higher speeds? Help me out what do you think.
It all depends on what you really want.
I went through almost the same circumstances. I had a decent fishing boat that I had troubles at first but got it running like a dream. My wife and 2 little girls did not enjoy going with me because the boat was cramped and the girls really couldn't have that much fun on it. I actually sold it by accident. LOL (Never price anything unless you intend you actually want to sell it)
Since then I bought a 24' Lowe pontoon and I actually like fishing out of it a little better but I also has it's draw backs. It's not as fast , You are not going anywhere in a hurry in a pontoon boat anyways. If you are going to fish off of it make sure you get one that has a bow room to put you some fishing seats.
The most important thing is that my girls are more safe and it's also nice the whole family can enjoy fishing instead of just me, But I do miss the bass boat some, But the family involvement is fun too. Plus I can take a bunch fishing also(My kids My brother and his kids and what not.) You can make a mean fishing platform with a pontoon. Mine has a hardtop and I fabricated some rod holders and I can carry 18 rods out of the way.
__________________ An angler is a man who spends days sitting in his boat doing nothing because his wife won't let him do it at home.
I've owned a pontoon... and I loved it. It all depends on your preference.
The bad thing about the pontoon in my experience was it was too tall on the trailer to fit in my garage, it was like pulling a brick wall and sucked the gas out of my Explorer.... Other than that, I found it to be a great all around boat on the water.
If your pockets are deep you can have a go fast pontoon, if you want performance get a tripple toon, with 150 to 250 hp outboard and you will 40 45 + MPH
Manitou Osprey Pro SHP F2. Comes with two live wells, four fishing chairs (one on each corner), rod holders, rod locker, GPS/fishfinder. I added a double bimini and upgraded the forward chairs. I put a 175 Yamaha on the back end.
I get 37MPH top and it handles like a bowrider. I can do donuts, figure 8's, jump my own wake etc. Pulling a tube (3 person) is a snap.
We've fished 6 men and 2 boys off it at the same time. Everyone had room.
Truly an all purpose boat.
While I cannot get into some of the places a fishing boat can get, I've not had any problem getting anywhere I've wanted to go so far.
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2007 Manitou Osprey Pro SHP
Yamaha 175 HPDI VMAX
I have a pontoon boat as well, and the reason for having it is family fun. We enjoy the space, the smoothness of the ride, and the safety with small grand children. My days of high speed are behind me in the prop wash. From what I have heard and read, a deckboat might be what would work best for you. You get the space of the pontoon and the speed of your fishing boat.
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I've fished for half of my life, the rest I just wasted.
i have a 21 ft fishin barge (sun tracker) on a nice day i can go as low as one foot of water with trollin motor and engine out of water but trollin motor not much good in wind as stated early
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give a man a fish he eats for a day teach a man to fish and he is frustrated for a liftime :hillbilly
I have a Bass Tracker 175 with a 75hp and love the thing. But now I have a wife daughter and one on the way.
I am going to miss my 40 mph bass boat... but family time is always better than speeding around all by my lonesome. Toon here I come.
It is just very hard to beat the versatility of a pontoon boat,I have had both and I sold my bass boat to do a restore on my pontoon,I do not regret selling the bass boat,but would miss my pontoon boat if I sold it. A very strong troll motor will help with the wind problem but is still iffy if very windy.
i presently have a 20Ft with a 50 hp, it likes rough water. i am in the process of revamping it. to exactly what i want. it will have a 140 Johnson. i want to be able to walk all the way around the rails, swing back seats, you can face in or out. i love fishing off this steady platform. also have a wireless motor guide trolling motor.
we all need to support iboats marine store when ever possible. you get, competitive prices. fast shipping, top notch customer service. also it provides us, this great FREE forum.
[quote=tashasdaddy;2246825]i presently have a 20Ft with a 50 hp, it likes rough water.
Inland Rough is no where near Open Channel Rough, I have had mine in Puget sound when the Weather turn ... very Gray. WE had 3ft swells at 4' with 4' wind waves, Though the pontoon handled it well, (no concerns of being in danger) I was not a fan of taking water across the deck, in this case SALT water. Played havoc on the Wiring for a couple of years after that. Constantly having things stop working due to corrosion. Just my opinion, I'm not a fan of playing in swells that wash across the deck.
We have a '24 Starcraft Starfish pontoon. It's powered by a 115 merc, have a 9.9 merc four stroke kicker and a 55lb minn kota trolling motor up front. I have cannon electric down riggers , a hardtop with a bimini top and although it's not fast by any means, it's stable as can be.
I put rod holders on the hardtop and can store a dozen rods rigged and out of the way.
If you buy a Pontoon boat stay away from Godfrey's lineup. If your wife is mad over your last boats problems she will leave you if you buy one of Godfreys 2009's or even 2008's.
If ours wasn't such a lemon I am sure it would sink.
I would look at a Premier or Suntracker...Just not Godfrey.
Should I Buy A Pontoon Or A Fishing Boat?
Re: Should I Buy A Pontoon Or A Fishing Boat?
Re: Should I Buy A Pontoon Or A Fishing Boat?
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