how stable are the pontoon boats in wind and waves ?

[1krazybob]

I'm considering selling my bass boat and buying a 18-22ft pontoon boat. I'm currently looking at a 21ft Lowe with a 60 hp 4 stroke. My current boat is a shallow draft and when we get into some bad wind and rough waves, it does get somewhat hairy :-( The pontoon boats I've seen on our local lakes, seem to handle the rough conditions very well, but I haven't talked to any of the owners. Any pontoon owners on the forum care to give me some pro/con input ? Thanks.

 

[thumpar]

I am not a pontoon owner but have been on my GFs parents 22' Bennington quite a few times. What kind of waves are you talking about? Wind with push any boat and with a pontoon and the high sides are pushed around a little more. The 60hp seems a little low. It will get you there but it will be slow. On the Bennington with a 90hp Honda it took about an hour one way maxed out to make a trip that would only be about 20 minutes on my boat at cruise speed. The pontoons are pretty stable. We will usually tie up and have lunch on the pontoon since the layout is better suited for that than my boat.

 

[MTboatguy]

It really does not matter what type of boat you have wind and waves are going to push you around, but the toons I have been on, seem to "float" over the waves a bit better than the V boats I have been on, they are kinda like being in a Cadillac as opposed to a sports car in the way they take the "bumps(Waves) than the fishing and ski style boats do, if that makes sense?

 

[southkogs]

:welcome:

I've heard stories of 'toons doing better in stormy conditions that many V bottom boats. How "rough" of conditions are we talking about?

 

[S.A. Baker]

Isn't that somewhat like selling your Porshe and buying a mini van? How do you get one of those barges back in the slop to fish Bass? You gettin old on us?

 

[southkogs]

How do you get one of those barges back in the slop to fish Bass?

A 'toon? The one's I've run in the past could float in inches of water ... It was a great fishing platform.

As far as speed goes ... plenty of 'em running rings around anything I've ever owned.

 

[64osby]

Saw a flat bottom toon on Lake Michigan this past summer. Had a 200 hp motor hanging off the back. He was flying over the waves as we banged through them in a 21' Lund.

Met the guy at the launch, he just smiled when I asked him about the boat. He did say top speed was 55 mph.

 

[bruceb58]

I have both a pontoon and a deep V hull boat. Not sure I would want my pontoon on Lake Tahoe when it gets rough and windy.

 

[Jeep Man]

I have a 20' pontoon and find the ride quite smooth compared to any traditional hull. I tend to not go out if the waves top 2 ft. Once you're in more than that, any boat that size is going to be less than comfortable. With a higher profile than what you're used to, you will notice wind is a bigger factor when docking, loading or casting I am installing long guides at the rear of my trailer to help loading in windy conditions. Do get a layout that is conducive to fishing.

 

[1krazybob]

Thanks for all the input !! Come spring my bass boat will be on the market, and I'll be searching for just the right pontoon boat for me and the family.

 

[joetheis]

You know, years ago, I used to laugh at 'toons tooling @ the lake I was sailing on!
The grill bailing smoke out the back, OLD people sitting on them...........................
Now I'm the OLD guy and heck, they don't look bad!!!!:grumpy:
I fish on the St Lawrence and talked to a dealer who sells them.
He has one he installed a "rough water kit", (a wing on the toons to "push" the water away).
He also installed a third 'toon (tri toon)! Said it makes it more stable in rough stuff.
I keep meaning to rent one on a rough day, (we don't head out if there are "sheep"-white caps or waves over 2' either).
There is a 'toon at the marina I'm at, (French Creek).
It's a BIG 'toon. He has 2!! 200 merc on it!!!
Told me he hasn't had it WOT yet, "after 60 mph, the awning on the bar starts to fold back"!
Well to each his own!
There is a guy who has one there also, with a 50 "rude hanging off the back. He loads his family on it and off they go....
My boat does 25 mph tops, if I got a 'toon to do the same, well, that's good enough for me.
I like to try one, but the cost of even a stripped down bare deck used 'toon is high!
Let us know how you like it!
Joe
Funny how things change when you get "refined"!

 

[thumpar]

There is a toon at my home lake that has twin 300 mercs on the back. I have never seen it go more that 5mph but I bet It would get up there.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

You know, years ago, I used to laugh at 'toons tooling @ the lake I was sailing on!
The grill bailing smoke out the back, OLD people sitting on them...........................
Now I'm the OLD guy and heck, they don't look bad!!!!......

Yeah, I know the feeling. I used to tell my wife to shoot me if I ever start thinking about getting a pontoon, but darn, I do think it would be pretty cool to be able to tool around with the family while we're grilling burgers etc. Gonna' wait a while longer on that though, I think I've still got a few years of fast boats left in me.

Anyway, I'm reading this thread with interest. I'm kind of curious how much wave action 'toons are comfortable in. Also wondering if a deck boat would be a consideration.

 

[bobdec]

I've gone through a bunch of different boats as life changes..Started with runabouts.. Found the pontoon phase was great for the very young (2 years to pre-tween) kids. Really fun for swimming, beaching, grilling and they do make a good fishing barge. Had a lot of fun with it.. but then the kids grew up and tubes and boards became the requirement so the pontoon was replaced. Faster boat and waverunners became the requirement for a few more years.. Then the cruisers phase for adults and entertaining.. Now is back to just wife and me and we have a covered rack stored, low/no maintenance,100% glass, bullet proof, OB Pro-line walk around. No upholstery, no carpets, no plumbing and no winterizing. Just change plugs, impeller, filters and lube it once a year, spray it with a hose every so often and use the heck out of it. (aka: this is my boats s/b used, or fished and not worked on phase of life) .

What I trying to say is "if you want to try a pontoon go for it" . If you don't like it or things change and you can go to something different, or back to a fast fishing rig. Trick is to buy used to avoid the depreciation, select a good sound marketable setup and you will either break even or make a profit when selling it.. We have made profits, lost some $$ and broke even, but had the fun of trying out many different types of boat styles. Managed to pay cash for every one of them and worked our way up from 16 Ft to 32 Ft during the process, now back at just 20 Ft with money in the "boat fund " in case we see something different..

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, isn't anyone going to say that pontoon boats are only suitable for calm water? They never venture out into the bay, if there is some chop. if you boat on a large body of water, and you fish a lot, you will eventually hit rough water when fishing and then what?

If you are skeptical, take a look at the unlimited hydroplane racing boats. In rough water the monohulls always win, because they can handle the rough water. In smooth water the cats win, since they are faster. Take a pontoon boat out (or try to come home) in a 3' chop. The deck will be awash, and likely the deck will want to separate from the toons.

Gee, consider a deckboat. Nearly as much room as a 'toon, but faster and much more seaworthy.