1999 16 foot pontoon Motor upgrade

[harley707]

Hello all, so I currently have a 16 foot crestliner with a 25 hp merc 2 stroke 23 inch dia. logs.
Top speed GPS 12.4 mph 2 adults plus two trolling batterys and fishing gear 6 gals of fuel no wind smooth water.
If passenger sits up front boat picks up speed if we both walk up front seems to pick up a bit more speed not much but 1 mph or so. Curious why boat prefers more weight up front?

 

[KD4UPL]

Re: 1999 16 foot pontoon Motor upgrade

It could be that moving weight forward lightens the rear and lets it float out of the water a bit. This would lessen the drag of your lower unit slightly. Raising your OB might help. It could be mounted too low or be too long for the application.

 

[harley707]

Re: 1999 16 foot pontoon Motor upgrade

Boat was purchased from crestliner dealer with that motor, back in 1999. But your theory sounds interesting. I plan on putting a 60 hp motor on it. I also am considering the Water Glide to go with the 60 hp seems like it did wonders on the 18 foot test boat may even do better on a 16 foot as the Water Glide is 10 feet long would almost be like adding a 3rd toon and that would also possibly raise the motor up a few inches.

 

[steelespike]

Re: 1999 16 foot pontoon Motor upgrade

I think also moving weight forward gets the motor pod out of the water better.
I think also being a non planing boat it slices through the water better at a flatter angle.
From the videos Ive seen the glide makes the toon behave almost like a runabout.

 

[Old Screwball]

Re: 1999 16 foot pontoon Motor upgrade

For what it's worth my 18' Party Barge with a 75hp 4 stroke and a 13 pitch prop will do 24mph @ 5000 rpm. I'm just a shade faster than my neighbor's 22' with a 90hp Merc.

Funny, two old men on Social Security drag racing pontoon boats on the Colorado River.... My Seadoos are faster than his Yamaha PWC's and I outweigh him by 60 lbs.

 

[The Rooster]

Re: 1999 16 foot pontoon Motor upgrade

I think also moving weight forward gets the motor pod out of the water better.
I think also being a non planing boat it slices through the water better at a flatter angle.
From the videos Ive seen the glide makes the toon behave almost like a runabout.

+1 ^^^