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Old 08-19-2018, 09:53 PM   #21
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Just spent the last couple of days coming through the AICW in North Carolina and they are a big percentage of the boats on the water and on the docks.

I guess they are like Crocs - there is a big market for them although they are not my style!
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Old 08-19-2018, 10:12 PM   #22
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There are quite a few in our area (river cruising). The owners seem to like the SQFT/LOA that they provide. I've yet to see a high HP twin OB but there is a nice Bennington with a big block that can really lay some tracks.
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Old 08-19-2018, 10:33 PM   #23
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Greetings,
Mr. t. The Admiral and I (and Cruiser the Redbone Coonhound) just got back from a 2 week adventure on our "small" boat. We saw several pontoon boats set up as cruisers (full canvas/screens). Vagabonds? Perhaps but they were on the water. Horses for courses and ya run what ya brung. No less "ridiculous/poinless" than this:






The tent in the aft cockpit housed 2 young men (9 and 12 years). 3rd year in a row and looking forward to the 4th.
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Old 08-20-2018, 12:50 AM   #24
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You can't beat the cost per sq ft of usable space on a pontoon boat (when buying new).
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Old 08-20-2018, 06:59 AM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RT Firefly View Post
Greetings,
Mr. t. The Admiral and I (and Cruiser the Redbone Coonhound) just got back from a 2 week adventure on our "small" boat. We saw several pontoon boats set up as cruisers (full canvas/screens). Vagabonds? Perhaps but they were on the water. Horses for courses and ya run what ya brung. No less "ridiculous/poinless" than this:



The tent in the aft cockpit housed 2 young men (9 and 12 years). 3rd year in a row and looking forward to the 4th.

RTF, pic not showing.....I see a link in there but hidden...
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Old 08-20-2018, 09:36 AM   #26
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IMO putting big motors on a pontoon boat is like putting a supercharged big block in a minivan.
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Old 08-20-2018, 10:59 AM   #27
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IMO putting big motors on a pontoon boat is like putting a supercharged big block in a minivan.
That would be so cool!

Big tires in the back, shag carpeting inside. Just like in the 70's.
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Old 08-20-2018, 12:05 PM   #28
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A buddy of mine has a marine dealership in Central Alabama. He used to sell mid-tier ski boats. Now not so much, mainly sells pontoons and bass boats. Most of the pontoons he sells have 200+ HP on the transom.
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Old 08-20-2018, 02:26 PM   #29
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"Most of the pontoons he sells have 200+ HP on the transom."


And pull water skis or tubes for the kiddies.
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Old 08-22-2018, 01:59 PM   #30
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Get on a nice one on an inland lake (like Lake of the Ozarks, where we spend a lot of time) and your impression will change. It will likely change instantly if you take a ride on one.


There is a reason these boats are dominating market share right now on lakes across the country. You have to purge any thoughts of "your grandpa's pontoon" you may have from days gone by. With 3 pontoons, lager pontoons, lifting strakes they plane beautifully (no longer displacement hulls). They bank like a v-hull. They cut through fairly rough water (as in inland lake rough water -- not talking 4' seas here, but just choppy lakes) better than a like-sized v-hull. They are far more comfortable. They hold more people. They can have plenty of shade with a big dual bimini tops. Their square footage for their length cannot be touched by a like sized v-hull. They seem to be an ideal safe platform for kids, for dogs, and for those getting up there in years. They really are amazing boats.


I was on LOTO in a 24' open bow sea ray and a buddy was in a 24' tri-toon. It was a little choppy. We were going about 8 miles up the lake to a restaurant. There is NO WAY I could run the sea ray in the chop and keep up with them without beating ourselves to death. They were as comfortable as could be in the tritoon and outrunning me by probably 10 MPH. They were probably on their 2nd drink by the time we got there and tied up. That was around 2007, when they were just starting to get nice. By 2010, we owned one. I have bought and sold about 7 boats since then.... we still have the South Bay tritoon.

In my opinion, for a day boat on an inland lake, there is nothing even close to a nice tritoon. Try one. They may surprise you!
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Old 08-22-2018, 04:42 PM   #31
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I see them on the ICW down here and am always amazed at how smooth they can go fast. Many of them come out of the boat club/rental spots so the Captain always seems to be white knuckling it and nervous. Everybody else looks happy as a pig. Much different boats than the ones I knew as a kid in the 60's-70's, they've really changed. Thank goodness I am exactly the same as back then and haven't aged a day. Hey, coulda happened.
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Old 08-22-2018, 06:34 PM   #32
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I could never understand why anyone would want own a pontoon boat. Then I came across this video that explained the benefits. Clearly I need to own one.



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Old 08-22-2018, 06:53 PM   #33
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IMO putting big motors on a pontoon boat is like putting a supercharged big block in a minivan.
My point exactly.
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Old 08-22-2018, 07:07 PM   #34
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except that pontoon boats are no longer the mini vans of the boating world if they handle with some of the best boats outside of racers.
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Old 08-22-2018, 07:30 PM   #35
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except that pontoon boats are no longer the mini vans of the boating world if they handle with some of the best boats outside of racers.
You could put 1200hp on a pontoon and it will ALWAYS be a mini-van. I have the same disdain for pontoon boats as I do jet skis.
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Old 08-22-2018, 08:29 PM   #36
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Well, the truth is finally out....

It's not that you don't get them, you just dislike them.

See, wasn't hard at all...
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Old 08-24-2018, 02:55 PM   #37
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and



One slow. One fast. Like everything else, it's how they are used . . .
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Old 08-24-2018, 04:01 PM   #38
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Don't see any sinking going on.

Yeah people got wet. But in both cases the boats are still afloat. The second video seems to show that the boat can shed a significant amount of onboard water with no ill effects (as far as the video shows).
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Old 08-24-2018, 07:13 PM   #39
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Like any watercraft - use it within it's useful parameters and it's good. Exceed them and ...... stuff happens.
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Old 08-25-2018, 08:35 AM   #40
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Pontoon? Boat?

Please don't confuse the word pontoon with boat or watercraft.
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