pontoon horsepower for river?

[boatman37]

So mother and step-father are thinking about a pontoon. They will be boating on the Beaver and Ohio rivers near Pittsburgh. Generally pretty calm but occasionally get some current.and wind. They found a 21'er with a 9.9HP Tracker engine. My concern is if the wind and current pick up will a 9.9 pull them upstream? What would you consider a minimum horsepower requirement? 40HP? They are both inexperienced boaters but will be with us and other friends that have a pontoon (I think theirs is 60HP).

This is a 2000ish 2 toon 21' Sun Tracker. The toons look pretty big. I haven't seen it in person but have seen pics

 

[HotTommy]

Let's run some math for insight into your question. First, the Mercury prop selector tool predicts the top speed in calm conditions with 9.9 HP is 11 MPH. Pontoon boats have a large profile (big fences and often tops) so wind definitely has an effect. So, if you were to loose 6 MPH to a 20 MPH headwind and another 3 MPH to current going upstream, you'd have a net effective speed of 2 MPH. If you're only traveling a mile or two, that might be bearable. If you plan to travel eight miles, that will take four hours. ..... Now change the math by considering a 40 HP motor predicted to top out at 16 MPH. Under the same condition, the net effective speed is 7 MPH, or almost 4 times as fast. It would take just over an hour to travel eight miles. ... The lesson here is that when dealing with strong currents and headwinds, extra speed is very desirable. How much extra horsepwer and speed they will need depends in large part on how far they will typically travel and how much time they can spend getting there.

 

[boatman37]

Thanks. Love scientific data! When I called them they were on their friends pontoon talking to them about the one they looked at. Their friends said 1) that boat wasn't worth what they wanted 2) they would have to upgrade to a bigger motor anyway...lol. So they had the same concerns.

So sounds like 40HP would probably be a minimum for what they are wanting? And with what they are looking for likely 60HP would be about the upper limit unless they go to a bigger pontoon like a 25' or something?

 

[ahicks]

I would say 90-115 hp would be the upper limit on conventional pontoons in the 22-24' range - and that's if they have larger diameter pontoons (usually found on later model boats). On shorter older boats, generally with smaller pontoons, you're thinking regarding 50 or 60 hp is likely right on the mark.

Inexperienced boaters on rivers like that would do well to take a class or two regarding boater safety. Stuff can happen out there that I'm sure would never even occur to them until it happens.....

 

[Lightwin 3]

Inexperienced boaters on rivers like that would do well to take a class or two regarding boater safety. Stuff can happen out there that I'm sure would never even occur to them until it happens.....

I second that.

Losing power on a river with current can turn a fun day into a real mess, in a hurry.

 

[boatman37]

I second that.

Losing power on a river with current can turn a fun day into a real mess, in a hurry.

Agreed. I have taken the course myself and would encourage them to. my mother has a little boating experience from years ago but not much

 

[boatman37]

UPDATE: Well they called about one that was a 2013 24' with a 200HP motor. Great condition. Pics were very nice. $9600 firm. She emailed and got a response that he husband passed away last month and she had moved to MO to live with her daughter and just wanted the boat gone. My mother texted back and asked if she could come see it the next day. No response. So she tells me about it and I said well if you don't buy it then I will then I'll turn around and sell it and make bank! The next day they went and looked at another one. This one was a 2005 21' with a 40HP motor. They went out for a cruise on it and put a deposit on it. They left for a cruise yesterday and are picking it up when they get back.

The next day the first lady texts back. Tells her the boat is in MO and she has a 3rd party handling all monetary transactions. Tells her to send the $9600 to them and she can try the boat out for 5 days...lol. SCAM!!!

So the end of next week they should be proud owners of a new pontoon. The pics look pretty good. It has the double bimini. Forget what brand it is. She said the wood floor looked like brand new. She asked if they had replaced it and they said it was originsl.

 

[Silver Eagle]

First never send money for any reason, Does the boat have a trailer, If so what will they tow it with.

 

[boatman37]

The 2013 was likely a scam. They didn't proceed any further on that one. They bought a 2005 Odyssey Millenuim 21'er with a Mercury 40HP 2 stroker. They put it in the water yesterday but haven't been out on it yet,

 

[pontoonsaloon]

I grew up on the Mississippi river...... I would go out on any type boat with anything less than 40hp....pontoon, 50hp. I've been "downstream" many many times and storms have blown up in short notice ! Regardless of wether or not the wind is blowing north or south or west, those waves get dangerous. Many times we would be on a sand bar and or island and would just stay put. Tryi g to go upstream with a pontoon /40hp is scary!! I have also lived north of Pittsburgh but never got caught out on any of the 3 rivers in a bad storm.
Play close attention to the weather,always!! And good luck on the new boat. Doesn't get any more fun than being on a boat!

 

[giegerkey]

I would say a minimum of 90. I have a 60 Bigfoot and its great but lacks that extra power in the ruff. I get about 17 MPH give or take. I also run on the st johns in central Florida and the current can be very strong especially when the tide is going out or coming in. I would skip the 9.9

 

[boatman37]

They have had their new pontoon out a few times and so far so good. The first time they went out they were going to follow us around but it wouln't start and he ended up draining the battery so he bought a new battery and still wouldn't start. He pulled the plugs and they were soaked so after changing plugs it fired right up. They took it out a 2nd time for a short ride and rafter up with us then they had it out by themselves the other day. So far they are happy with it. It has the 40HP Merc 2 stroke but he cruises nice and slow in it.

 

[Cat nip]

I run a older 60 hp on a 20' soon to be 22' toon on the Mississippi. It is enough I get 18.5 mph going up stream in high and fast water with a couple people on board.

 

[boatman37]

I run a older 60 hp on a 20' soon to be 22' toon on the Mississippi. It is enough I get 18.5 mph going up stream in high and fast water with a couple people on board.

Yeah. They said the top speed on theirs was 22MPH. It has the 2 stroke 40HP Merc. I know next to nothing about outboards so that's all I can tell you. I don't think he has taken it over about 10MPH though...lol