Pontoon boat in the Puget Sound

[Sea_lover]

Hi all
We are in the market for our first boat and was hoping to see if anyone has ventured out on the Puget Sound in a pontoon. I’m thinking a 22’ with a 150hp engine. We have four kids, not sure how much they’ll love water sports yet, so wanted the versatility of being able to just putz around the sound too. We’d mostly be going around the Colvos passage and Hood Canal. Would be awesome to head into Seattle on a nice day though. Is this at all possible with a pontoon or does anyone else have a better option? We’d like to be able to take a few friends, so seating for 8 or 10 would be a plus.
TIA!

 

[Sprig]

Pontoon or patio boats are great fun boats but are really designed for lakes or large wide slow moving rivers. They do not do well in wind, waves and current/tides like you will find in the sound. Because of their design they are hard to maneuver when it’s windy or a strong current running. You definitely don’t want to be on one when waves are 3 or more feet.

 

[MTboatguy]

I would not take a toon on the sound, I have dove the sound many times as well as fished and when the wind kicks up it is difficult to maneuver any boat and I find toons to be sluggish to steer most of the time even on a glass smooth lake.

 

[Sea_lover]

Thank you for posting- I really appreciate it. Would a deck boat fall into the same category, or would that be an ok compromise?

 

[Sprig]

A deck boat would probably be a good compromise. Look for one at least 20’ long with high sides.

 

[Madmooner]

My neighbor runs a newer pontoon boat in the sound. His is 18', maybe 20'. Runs a small 60hp Merc outboard.

He loves it. He is an avid diver and uses it for spearfishing and also for work as a commercial divier. Takes his family out on it often.

I wouldn't hesitate if the platform suited your needs.

 

[ahicks]

If it's anything like the Gulf of Mexico, it's doable, but it's difficult to make plans as you have to be very careful regarding conditions. Weak spot on a 'toon is taking anything much from either side, makes no difference what size it is. The only advantage of more power is you can get out of it quicker!

 

[Sprig]

A pontoon boat is fine on the sound as long as you are only out there on the calmest of days when it’s windless. The wind is the enemy of those boats. When strong wind hits them from the side they are very difficult to maneuver. Docking them in the wind is quite an adventure. I don’t own one but have been out on many and driven several. They are great fun boats but they are not designed for big water like the sound.

 

[southkogs]

A few years back I had a rented deck boat (Hurricane 24ft Outboard) while staying on an island in South Florida. We were on the intercostal and in the bays, but couldn't really venture out into the gulf. One of the bays was rather large, and the Hurricane did just fine (even a little bumpy one day).

I didn't see a single pontoon even on the intercostal while I was there. (Though, I have seen them advertised for rent)

I'd lean toward a deck style boat.

 

[Sea_lover]

Thanks everyone!!!