Tritoon vs. Deck boat

[greenvilleNC]

We are new to the pontoon/deckboat world and we cant decide which one we want. If we get the pontoon it will definitely be a tri-toon. We have done a test ride on one and really liked it. When comparing similar sizes it seems that the deck boats, like the Hurricane Fundeck are about 7-10K cheaper. We have not had the chance to test a deck boat yet. Any insight on the smoothness, handling, and performance of a deck boat compared to a tritoon? And we were told that Hurricanes have a lot of warranty claims, not sure if there is any truth to that or not. Is there somewhere that you can research warranty claims?

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Tritoon vs. Deck boat

I cannot offer an unbiased response, so...

Just get the cotton-picking tri-toon!!!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Tritoon vs. Deck boat

What do you want to do with the boat? IF you plan on any watersports (tubing is not a watersport) then go with the deck boat. If you are looking for a beer drinking platform then the pontoon is superior

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Tritoon vs. Deck boat

What do you want to do with the boat? IF you plan on any watersports (tubing is not a watersport) then go with the deck boat. If you are looking for a beer drinking platform then the pontoon is superior

Came here to post EXACTLY that! Tri-toons are only marginally capable at watersports. They will pull a kid on a tube and will get someone up on 2 skis, but beyond that, they are a very poor choice for wakeboarding or slalom skiing. A deck boat has all the advantages of a standard hull for all those other things.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Tritoon vs. Deck boat

If going to be stored dry stack the fork lifts are not fans of 'toons,,, fiberglass holds up better to salt,,,you will not hit the high waves of the ocean so--- which ever you like-- have fun.

 

[greenvilleNC]

Re: Tritoon vs. Deck boat

Thanks for all the replies. We will use it mostly to cruise (fast and slow), park at sand bars, and maybe some fishing every now and then. We have two small children. I think we would mostly pull tubes and knee boards. Neither one of us know how to ski or wakeboard but if the kids got into that as they get older then we may do that in the future. My main concern with the deckboat is the ride. I want a safe/smooth ride. We will mostly be in the sound and river, I'm not too concerned about the river but it does get pretty choppy in the sound.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Tritoon vs. Deck boat

Nothing worse than a pontoon in waves, the deckboat is superior in choppy water.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Tritoon vs. Deck boat

Nothing worse than a pontoon in waves, the deckboat is superior in choppy water.

Incorrect when you are talking about a tritoon (which the OP IS talking about). The tritoon rides the chop like a dream.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Tritoon vs. Deck boat

Incorrect when you are talking about a tritoon (which the OP IS talking about). The tritoon rides the chop like a dream.

So the tritoon doesn't take water over the front with every wave? How are they accomplishing that?

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Tritoon vs. Deck boat

So the tritoon doesn't take water over the front with every wave? How are they accomplishing that?

THREE PONTOONS, and usually larger diameter. The bow rides pretty high! I have yet to get a wave onto the deck of mine, and I pursue big wakes, cutting over them just to marvel at how smooth it rides.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Tritoon vs. Deck boat

Nothing worse than a pontoon in waves, the deckboat is superior in choppy water.

This would not be my experience. I have a normal toon with 25" x 25' toons. The front deck is 2ft off the water surface and it doesn't hit the troughs due to the lenght. Rides on top.

Anything that is too rough for my toon would be very uncomfortable in a deckboat. Many of those also have hulls that are more modified tri-hull with low deadrise in their shape for on the hook stability, which will kill you in the chop.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Tritoon vs. Deck boat

I think either design would work well for your intended use. Maybe make your decision based on price, condition or the ability of your tow vehicle.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Tritoon vs. Deck boat

This would not be my experience. I have a normal toon with 25" x 25' toons. The front deck is 2ft off the water surface and it doesn't hit the troughs due to the lenght. Rides on top.

Anything that is too rough for my toon would be very uncomfortable in a deckboat. Many of those also have hulls that are more modified tri-hull with low deadrise in their shape for on the hook stability, which will kill you in the chop.

We've got a 22 ft pontoon and it sucks in the chop - water over the front of the boat is common in waves that wouldn't phase my 19ft bowrider, maybe the magic of a third log takes care of that.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Tritoon vs. Deck boat

I think either design would work well for your intended use. Maybe make your decision based on price, condition or the ability of your tow vehicle.

Also make sure that you get a good test drive in each one - in the conditions that you expect to use it in.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Tritoon vs. Deck boat

I agree that either one will suit your purposes, so buy based on quality and price. The tritoon will not be better in chop than a deckboat with the V or modified-V hull (tri-hull is a different story). The third log is helpful, but does nothing for cutting through waves, it just has more buoyancy to bounce the boat off of the wave. I'd look into fuel efficiency between them as well. The longer pontoons (in my couple of experiences) don't seem to respond to motor trim very much, so a long tritoon may have more drag than a comparable deck boat. I always prefer the look/ride of a deckboat, but as far as sheer usable deck space it's tough to beat the pontoon/tritoon layout.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Tritoon vs. Deck boat

The longer pontoons (in my couple of experiences) don't seem to respond to motor trim very much, so a long tritoon may have more drag than a comparable deck boat.

Really important about that, is to get a tritoon with lifting strakes. (I wish I had!)

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Tritoon vs. Deck boat

We've got a 22 ft pontoon and it sucks in the chop - water over the front of the boat is common in waves that wouldn't phase my 19ft bowrider, maybe the magic of a third log takes care of that.

A 22ft double pontoon is a long ways from a 26ft tri-toon. Even your compared to a larger double toon will be a lot different. (22 and below is a tough size for a pontoon, they will often have water over the front.)

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Tritoon vs. Deck boat

Really important about that, is to get a tritoon with lifting strakes. (I wish I had!)

I agree. However, I remember seeing advertisements for some of the 25ft "sport" tri-toons that had lifting strakes and (496 Mag HO) 425HP in order to get to to 58mph. I know of a few 26' runabouts with the same engine package that run low-to-mid 60's, so there has a little bit of a penalty for drag on the pontoon/tritoon just due to the increased surface area.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Tritoon vs. Deck boat

The words "sound" and "'toon" should not be together. Saw a nice 'toon come out of the river into the ICW today into a slight chop, more of a big ripple. Handled well until the wake from the passing Silverton added to the ripple. The 1st one it just popped but the 2nd washed over... and darn if a charter boat did not add to the ride. No doubt a deck boat would have been uncomfortable-- but less so than those on that 'toon.
Yes, I owned a 'toon. Long ago my wife talked me into buying one. After 2 months I bought a deep V and after 8 months the 'toon became a back yard ornament. A 'toon is a great party barge on a relatively calm lake.

 

[greenvilleNC]

Re: Tritoon vs. Deck boat

We finally narrowed our choice down to a tri-toon. Now we are just trying to decide between the Manitou and a G3. Manitou is a little nicer but G3 is more affordable. Decisions decisions....