Moving small pontoon boat between lakes.

[TKOMike]

I have a FiveXTen (Hotwoods) pontoon boat I use at a private sportsman club. The two lakes we have are about 100 yards apart. I do have a trailer, and have used it to move between lakes. I’d like a easier way to quickly move between them. I park the pontoon on a beach area, which is close to the other lake’s launch and dock. If I trailer it, I have to cruise across the lake to the launch, trailer it up, then proceed. Anyone made a dolly for such short hauls? I have a 4-wheeler with a hitch I could use to pull it, or I probably could muscle it to the other lake. Any DIY ideas?

 

[jimmbo]

Use the Trailer and the Launches. In the end it will be quicker, cheaper, and fewer problems. Building a 'Dolly' is really building another Trailer. But if you insist on trying to shortcut it, why not use your existing Trailer, with the 4-wheeler?

 

[TKOMike]

Use the Trailer and the Launches. In the end it will be quicker, cheaper, and fewer problems. Building a 'Dolly' is really building another Trailer. But if you insist on trying to shortcut it, why not use your existing Trailer, with the 4-wheeler?

The launch on the upper right lake is useable, but because of the recent flooding, the trailer parking area isn’t, and won’t be repaired for 4-6 months. So it’s ~half-mile round trip hike to the truck from the launch.
My MO has been to dock at the launch, hike to the truck, drive to the launch, trailer it up, pull to lake #2, launch, dock, drive to the parking area, hike back, go fishing (Bowfishing lately.)

The pontoon is an ultralightweight, and I can easily beach and drag it completely out of the water by hand.

The soft beach (sandy soil) doesn’t lend itself well for backing the trailer down it without tearing it up. Also, pontoons sit very high on trailers, (no keel), there’s no way to trailer it up when out of the water.

I think I’ll build a simple wood t-bar dolly with wide, short-height tires I have from my boys kart racing days. Adding a electric motor from an old trolling motor, chain and sprockets is a thought too.

 

[ahicks]

Actually, you can pick a pontoon boat that's sitting on the ground up with a trailer. You just don't have the right trailer. The right trailer raises and lowers, and carries the boat between the pontoons. This type trailer will carry your boat as low as you would ever want to as well. They are of capable of launching in very shallow water. Probably much more suitable than the trailer you have for your purposes.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Get a scissor trailer

 

[ahicks]

Or a cantilever trailer....

Or, don't worry about how it works, and just get one the carries the boat between the 'toons!

 

[GA_Boater]

Mike - Please post a pic of your boat. Most of the commenters think you have a full-size pontoon. You have a roughly 400 lb. mini toon after looking at Hotwoods site. I'm not sure which model you have.

 

[TKOMike]

Mine is the FiveXTen, now called the Lil Sport. It’s only about 30” between the 4 pontoons. About 375 lbs empty. Bought about 10 years ago and never has left the club since new.

Tried to to upload a picture, but am getting an error. Will post the text and try the photo upload with a new post.

Going to make a T-Bar dolly this week.

Again, the boat beach isn’t accessible as it’s a very soft sand/soil. I’ve seen some pretty funny stuff of guys trying to pull a trailered boat from that beach.

 

[TKOMike]

Pic from their website. For some reason the photo of my boat on my iPhone won’t load.

 

[ahicks]

Mike - Please post a pic of your boat. Most of the commenters think you have a full-size pontoon. You have a roughly 400 lb. mini toon after looking at Hotwoods site. I'm not sure which model you have.

Guilty as charged!

 

[H20Rat]

Do you have an ATV/UTV? Slap some atv balloon tires on your trailer, and it will easily float on the sand and can be towed by a ATV.

If you plan on pulling by hand, it is going to be harder than you think. My sailboat trailer has ATV tires on it, and I'm on soft sand also. I can push it in alone, but pulling it out is a challenge even with two guys. Even a modest 500cc side by side makes easy work of it!

 

[TKOMike]

Do you have an ATV/UTV? Slap some atv balloon tires on your trailer, and it will easily float on the sand and can be towed by a ATV.

If you plan on pulling by hand, it is going to be harder than you think. My sailboat trailer has ATV tires on it, and I'm on soft sand also. I can push it in alone, but pulling it out is a challenge even with two guys. Even a modest 500cc side by side makes easy work of it!

As mentioned in my first post, I have a 4-wheeler (atv) with a hitch.

My son and I moved the pontoon between lakes today using a heavy duty garden wagon I had modified years ago to move racing karts around the pits.

A bit wobbly with the narrow wheelbase, but had it moved and in the water in about 10 minutes.

i don’t think I’ll be using it again, but shows that a dolly is doable. I may drop by harbor freight this week and look at their pneumatic tired casters and make a plan for a simple dolly.

 

[oldjeep]

Get a couple guys and just pick it up and move it to the other lake. That is how we take my moms mini pontoon in and out of the lake.