Pontoon Trailer Need

[Captain Caveman]

I'm about to buy an old 16ft pontoon to use as a barge. I've owned several boats but this is my first foray into pontoons. I merely need to get this from the seller to my lake where it will permanently stay in the water or on shore. I need to rent a pontoon trailer to get it there.

My question: will any pontoon trailer that I rent do it? Some of the trailers that I see for rent look like they are made for taller/bigger pontoons. Do I need to look for a special type?

 

[JimS123]

Custom drive-on trailers are designed to fit the dimensions of the tubes. Not likely to find one to fit.

Local Marinas that transport to and from storage usually use a scissors trailer. back it underneath between the tunes, crank it up and go.

 

[ahicks]

Second the scissor option. Just COOL it going around corners!!

And be aware that there are different length trailers so that different length boats fit correctly, allowing for some tongue weight on the tow vehicle so it pulls properly.

For instance, a trailer set up for a 28' 'toon, backed under an 18' 'toon, may not have ANY tongue weight when cranked up, causing it to be a handling nightmare on the road.

A trailer set up for a 20' 'toon would work MUCH better....

 

[Captain Caveman]

Thanks for the advice. Just what I needed!

 

[Captain Caveman]

I need a bit more of advice. What is standard practice for strapping a pontoon in place on a trailer? My regular boat is heavy, aerodynamic, and secured using the two transom straps attached to my trailer in addition to safety chain and winch hook on the bow eye.

1. Do pontoon scissor trailers have attachment points for straps?
2. Should I bring a bunch of long ratchet straps?
3. Where are the best spots to tie down? I assume all four corners but would like to be sure.

I don't want to be the idiot who loses his load on the highway.

 

[ahicks]

Boat to the trailer straps in each corner should be plenty. If you cool it when turning a corner you should be fine. I saw some idiots from a local marina take a corner too fast, fast enough for the 'toon to end up on it's side. As if that wasn't bad enough, the battery then shorted out (probably because it wasn't secured), turning the back of the boat into an inferno that destroyed the boat completely. Would be interesting to know who ended up paying for that mess. To this day I can remember hearing one of the marina crew saying it wasn't their fault.....

 

[Captain Caveman]

I always appreciate the words of caution, so thanks for relating that story. I'm only in my mid-40s, but I pretty much always drive slow. I've been admonished by mechanics for not pushing my vehicles harder. I'm also a tire saver, so I don't like taking corners fast!

Thank you for the advice

 

[ahicks]

These scissor trailers have a really narrow wheel base, are EASILY tipped because this results in them being so top heavy. It happens all the time. USUALLY, it just scrapes up the bottom of the toons, and then plops back down. Makes a huge racket. There's no way on God's earth you won't know it happened, and if it does, you'll never do it again. I promise! Darn right I've been there..... -Al

 

[Captain Caveman]

The advice was great. I had no problems towing that thing back. I made a couple of safety checks during the drive but no issues.

This thing ended up having a 1994 Evinrude 20hp on the back. I couldn't run it before purchase so got the whole rig for a song of $600. However, I did check the compression (120psi on both) and was able to turn the prop so the powerhead wasn't stuck. We threw a new starting battery on it and got it to turn over so I'm stoked. Time to drain fluids, change out the impeller, and see how this thing runs. I suspect it will need a carb rebuild but who knows.

 

[ahicks]

Cleaning that carb may not even require a kit if you're careful. Excellent DIY project if you take the time and patience.

Carb cleaning WAY high on my to do list when I get a motor. Probably right even with the pump and thermostat......

Sounds like a great buy. Best of luck on your project! -Al

 

[Captain Caveman]

I like the process of a carb rebuild. It is almost relaxing as long as one does a good job of labeling all of the parts as they come off.

For a motor that sat so long without use, I suspect that some of the gaskets are dry which is why I plan to get a kit. If I'm pulling off the carb and blowing out the passageways, it doesn't take much more effort to unscrew/unbolt some things and throw in some new gaskets and needles.